Pictures of chickens, flowers, wheat, a boy looking through a magnifying glass, irrigation pipe, soybean pods, and fruits and vegetables.

Cooperative Extension Service

Search | Publications | Jobs | Personnel Directory | Links
County Offices | Departments

About Us

Find Us

For the Media

Agriculture

Business & Communities

Families & Consumers

Health & Nutrition

Home & Garden

Arbor Day
Commercial Horticulture
Composting
Control of Disease, Insects,
     and Weeds
Fruits, Nuts,
      Vegetables & Herbs
Gardening Calendar
Gardening with
      Janet Carson
International Master
      Gardener Conf.
Landscaping
Lawns
Master Gardener
Plant of the Week
Your Home

Links
Newsletters

Natural Resources

4-H Youth Development

Public Policy Center

For Faculty & Staff

Giving

Division Home

Agricultural Experiment
      Station Home

Cooperative Extension
      Service Home

Gardening Calendar

Spring is on the horizon and our gardens are beginning to have color again. From early azaleas to daffodils and crocus the signs of the season are here. March is a busy gardening month, and the weather usually is ideal to be outside. This is a transitional month, so pay attention to the forecast and be prepared to protect tender, emerging plants.

For many folks, last year was not an ideal season for hydrangeas. The big Easter freeze took its toll. Keep in mind that the big pink and blue hydrangeas set their flower buds at the end of the gardening season, and don’t begin blooming until early summer. The buds break dormancy easily in late winter or early spring and can be quite sensitive to late cold snaps. Keep some covering handy now, and if a hard freeze is protected, consider offering them some protection. If the plants are small enough, an inverted cardboard box works well. If not, use the frost protection sheets or blankets. As the growing season continues, you will know your success based on where the plants begin growing-either from the tops-and your flowers should be gorgeous, or from the base of the plant, and your flowers may be non-existent unless you have the re-blooming types.

While many people consider February the pruning month of the year, don’t despair if you didn’t get your pruning jobs done. There is still plenty of time this month. Know the season to prune the specific plants. Evergreens that you are growing primarily for foliage can take a light pruning anytime. If you need to do some hard pruning try to get it done before May 1. By pruning now, your plants will catch the spring burst of growth and recovery will be much quicker. If you have spring blooming plants, wait to prune until they have finished flowering. For plants that bloom in the summer on the new growth-crape myrtles, roses, althea, buddleia, etc. there is still time to get the pruning done. They may be showing signs of growth, but if you don’t prune, and they need it, they won’t perform as well for you this summer. If you didn’t cut back your ornamental grasses last month, do so ASAP. Ornamental grasses or grass‑like plants benefit from a yearly shearing before new growth gets very tall. Check the new foliage that is emerging, but cut back the old growth. You want to start the season off clean and healthy. If they need dividing, do so now as well.

Speaking of division, fall blooming and summer blooming perennials that need division, should be divided as they emerge this spring. Dig up the clump and divide them. Set out as many of the plants as you can use, then share the rest with friends. Don’t try to keep them all, or you may be overrun with one plant.

Vegetable gardeners should be planting now. The early, cool-season crops are the easiest to grow since the insects and diseases have not had a chance to take over. From potatoes and onions to broccoli, cabbage and greens, there are lots of vegetables that can be planted now. Onions can be planted either from seeds, sets or dry bulbs. Most gardeners choose either the bulbs or the sets, since growing from seed takes a longer time. If you have an established bed of asparagus, you will begin harvesting soon. Use caution when cutting the spears that you don't damage any tender tips coming up nearby. Use a sharp knife and cut just below the ground line. Harvest every other day. Asparagus should be used quickly as it doesn't store for long periods of time. Remember, full harvesting doesn’t really begin until age four. If you over-harvest the first few years after planting, it can damage your harvest season for years to come.

Winter weeds are actively growing, and many will begin blooming soon if they aren’t already. Many winter weeds are annuals, and will bloom, set seeds and die in the spring. If you want to knock them down with herbicides, do so soon. Otherwise, hand pull or mow to keep them low and prevent them from setting seeds. If you allow them to set seeds, your problems will be magnified next growing season. If summer weeds are a problem, use a pre‑emergent herbicide by mid month. Avoid fertilization of warm season grasses until the lawns have fully greened up.

The date for Arbor Day in Arkansas is always the third Monday in March - this year, March 17. While we often prefer to plant trees in the fall, now is a fine time to plant, as long as you can water and care for them this first growing season. Consider planting a tree in your yard, or a local school or building. Trees add much to our landscapes. They give us shade, reduce our utility bills and help to clean the air.

Don't get overzealous in your gardening pursuits this spring. Even though the weather has been mild, avoid planting warm season plants too soon. Think back to last Easter. We don’t want a repeat, but we also don’t want to have to replant because we planted too early. Warm season

Vegetables prefer warm weather and warm soil, so hold off on planting tomatoes until April. Caladiums won't grow in cool soil, and may be overly delayed if planted too soon. If you want to, you can start the bulbs indoors. Water with warm water and keep them in a warm location, and then you can plant the plants outside in late April.