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Finally, Flowers!
 Greetings!
They're here! They're here!
Sunday
on a walk I spotted the first flowers of the year, a big patch of yellow snow
crocuses in a neighbor's yard. And then Monday I noticed some in my yard.
I
can't tell you how happy this makes me. That and the fact that today in central Iowa we got our first 60-plus weather.
Now
I'm noticing all sorts of things--the buds on the pussy willow are swelling.
Time to cut some and force them indoors! All sorts of green things are
pushing up through the soil. Time to get out there and pick up trash and sticks
and start the spring pruning.
It's
supposed to snow--again--Saturday, but it should melt quickly. Then a fairly
sunny Sunday with a high of 40. I'm reserving it for gardening, gardening,
gardening.
Spring
indeed has sprung. Thank goodness!
Happy gardening!
 Veronica Lorson Fowler |
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Love My Lettuce
If you don't regularly plant lettuce, give it a try. My mom always planted reliable but rather dull Black-Seeded Simpson and never made anything but wilted lettuce salad with it. But folks, do try all  the cool gourmet mescluns out there.
A total taste treat and a huge savings over supermarket
gourmet blends. Just dress lightly with a little oil and vinegar and perhaps
add some fresh minced herbs. Plant in the next couple of weeks, as soon as the
ground is dry enough to crumble nicely when you turn it over. Available through
mail order and better-stocked garden centers.
Tip:
Plant a new crop every two to three weeks, planting heat-tolerant types later
on. You'll have lettuce all but the end of July and through August!
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Cut it Out
 Hurrah! The weather is
warming up! Time to get out there and prune trees and shrubs, hedges, cut back
perennials, and more.
Pruning evergreens
will be tough this year. Deer denied regular food sources by
the heavy snows have heavily damaged many of them. Click here for helpful tips
on tackling this job.
Other
trimming and pruning tasks to tackle now:
ˇ
Rake any leaves and winter mulch off of perennials and groundcovers as soon as
new, green growth starts. Cut back any perennials you didn't get in the fall.
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Prune large, established trees.
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Prune small trees.
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Prune shrubs.
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Wait to prune roses.
I like to wait until the swelling red buds (which develop
into stems) are a half-inch long or so. That way it's easier to tell what parts
of the wood is truly dead or alive. Also, pruning roses too early in Iowa
prompts new growth that will get zapped by any late spring cold spells.
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Truly Cool Trees
 Operation Releaf is a program by Alliant Energy and the Iowa
Department of Natural Resources to
encourage the planting of shade trees, which can reduce your cooling costs.
Through
this program, high-quality trees are available for $25 each, well under half
their normal retail price, at selected retailers. Go to www.alliantenergy.com/operationreleaf
for details.
Since
2001, 49,770 new trees have been planted in Iowa through Operation Releaf.
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Garden Quote:
"Spring is nature's way of saying, 'Let's party!'
"
-- Comedian Robin Williams
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Ask Veronica a Question
If you're a subscriber, email Veronica with your garden questions and
she'll do her very best to get back to you within two business days. Click here. |
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Garden To-Do List
Click here for a printable version of March garden tasks.
Click here for a month-by-month listing of What to Plant When in Iowa.
Click here for a Lawn Care Schedule for Iowa.
Take advantage of nice days
to get out in your yard and pick up trash and sticks, inspect for winter
damage, and just generally check out the state of your garden.
If perennials
are sending up a little fresh growth, rake leaves out of flower beds and cut
back any perennials left standing. Toss the old stuff in the compost
heap. (Please tell me you have one, right?)
Edge beds, walks, and
drives as desired.
Prune most garden plants,
except roses, as directed in text to the left
Start seeds
indoors now of perennials, onions, and slower-growing annuals
that you should start 8-10 weeks before the last average frost date (in Iowa,
that's in mid-May.)
The last week of March or
first week of April, start seeds
indoors of annuals that you should start 6-8 weeks before
the last average frost date. These include marigolds, globe amaranth, sweet
alyssum, and flowering tobacco.
Once you can easily work
the soil outside, plant directly in the ground seeds of fast-germinating cool-season
vegetables, such as radishes, spinaches, and lettuces.
In southern Iowa, plant bareroot trees,
shrubs, and roses at the end of the month, once you can work
the soil easily.
Prevent diseases and
insects on fruit trees by spraying with horticultural oil, also called dormant oil. Do so when
there is little wind and temperatures are in the 40s.
The bright yellow forsythia
will be blooming soon. When it does, that means its time to sprinkly any
preemergent (kills weed seeds, such as Preen) herbicide on flower beds, if you
choose to use it. It's also the time to apply a preemergent to your lawns. Or
save time with a weed and feed combo!
Stock up!
Work off your spring fever to buy now pots, potting soil, seeds and
seed-starting supplies, tools, soil amendments, fertilizers, etc. You'll save
trips to the garden center during the spring rush. And get out there and clean
up and organize your garage or shed, wash up pots, etc. so you're ready at the
starting gate.
How's your mower? If you didn't get it tuned up last fall and the blade sharpened, do it yourself now or take it in before the spring rush.
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Garden Events
Now through March
Reiman Gardens, Ames
Sit and relax in the conservatory with a collection of whimsical, traditional and colorful seating
arrangements
throughout the Conservatory. Free to $7.
March 19-21 Iowa Flower, Lawn, and Garden Show http://www.iowaflowershow.com/info.html State Fair Grounds, Des Moines Interesting speakers and hundreds of displays. Free to $6.95 March 26-28
Quad Cities Flower and Garden Show
More than 250 exhibitors
showcasing the latest techniques, supplies and equipment; landscaping companies
and DIY projects. The Iowa Gardener will have a booth and Veronica will be
speaking daily. Free to $6.
March 27-28
Natural Living Expo
Polk County
Convention Complex, Des Moines
The largest
"green" event in Iowa. Booths, presentations, and more on gardening
and living in harmony with nature. Free admission and free parking on weekends.
Sunday, April 11
Project GREEN Sunday Garden Forums
Public Library, Iowa City
2-4 pm. Robert Henderson, assistant director of Horticulture Programs
for the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum, will speak on "Great Plants for the
Great Plains."
Saturday, May 8
Story County Master Gardener Plant Sale
Reiman Gardens, Ames
8 am-3 p.m. Hundreds
of locally dug plants that are sure to do well in your garden.
Include your upcoming garden event (we love garden clubs!) in our Events
listing. Click here to send us the info!
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