Here in Connecticut, it can be the worst, most wintry month of all the worst snowstorms and blizzards I can remember have happened in this third month of the year. On the other hand, March can also be a month that dishes up our first taste of spring, and that is what is happening to us in my area as winter 2010 withers away. March did come in like a lion, all tough and cold and blustery, but the middle of the month has felt more like the end of April. What a treat! Also, for us, the weather has been fairly dry. What a nice change after the last two and a half years when it rained so much that the arks we built got swamped!

The buds on all the trees and shrubs are swelling and look ready to explode. The roses are budding out, too. Crocus have appeared and popped overnight, and the tulips, hyacinths, and daffodils are reaching up out of the ground. My mom always worries about weather like this, saying, What if it gets cold again? Worry not, my friends, nature knows how to take care of itself, and everything is going to be just fine. A little snow, if it happens, is not going to hurt anything, and the frost is mostly gone from the ground, so if winter delivers a grand finale, chances are it will melt just as quickly as it arrives. At that point, we can brush winter off our hands and begin to open the rose garden.

March in the Rose Garden

We dont want to begin pruning too quickly because that will really stimulate new growth, and if we get a big cold snap (in the teens), that could damage our tender shoots. Be patient just a little longer! A good marker to work with is blooming forsythia. Generally, when the forsythia blooms, the chances are that the really cold weather is over.

If the weather is nice where you are, do your body a favor before the garden season really begins, and do some stretching exercises. Go for some good walks. Wake up your muscles gradually so you dont wind up walking like a plastic cowboy after your first few days working in the garden. Check with your doctor and find out when you had your last tetanus shot. Tetanus is a serious disease, and very easily prevented by getting inoculated every ten years. If you cant remember when your last one was, get another. Your arm will feel like you were sucker-punched for a few days, but you wont have to worry about getting another shot for a decade!

Pests in Spring

With the warm weather arriving this March, the fleas and ticks will be waking up, too. Black flies and mosquitoes will also be on the wing. Thats when I pull out the insect repellant. I always use Deep Woods Off or Cutter Deep Woods, because they are loaded with DEET. I know, I know, the stuff really stinks. But, you need to look on the positive side of things! I call the stuff my Eau de Summer, and after my 30+ years of gardening, I havent contracted Lyme Disease yet. Save yourself batting bugs while youre working in the gardenspray yourself down when you go outside.

So, hang in there just a little bit longer, Tiger! Sharpen up your pruners if you havent had a chance to do that yet, and clean up your garden tools. Dont remove your winter protection yet, and dont do any pruning. The forsythia will tell you when its time to begin, and well talk about pruning and planting bare-root roses next time. Enjoy this beautiful weather, and Happy Early Spring!