Planting
- Set out most shrubs and trees.
- Divide violets, Shasta daisies, liriope, ajuga, mums, and other perennials.
- Plant okra, melons, peas, corn, beans, eggplant, cucumbers, and tomatoes.
- Set out summer annuals if danger of frost has passed: ageratum, alyssum, begonias, geraniums, dianthus, celosia, marigolds, moss roses, petunias, impatiens, coleus.
- Plant summer/fall blooming bulbs: callas, cannas, dahlias, gladiolus, and gloriosa lilies.
Fertilizing
- Fertilize vegetables at planting according to recommendations.
- Fertilize shrubs if not done in March.
Pest Control
- Spray new rose leaves for black spot weekly.
Pruning
- Disbud roses and peonies for specimen flowers.
- Lightly shape any formal hedges to remove new growth.
- Prune azaleas and other spring-flowering shrubs after blooming.
Mulch
- Replenish mulch around Azaleas and Camellias. To properly mulch, apply 2-3 inches of mulch to the base of trees and shrubs. If mulching trees, do not place mulch in direct contact with the tree trunk.
Miscellaneous
- Paint and repair garden furniture and other hardscapes (bird baths, bird houses, mailbox, deck).
- Buy azaleas in bloom to be sure of color.
- Always mulch new plantings to help ensure success.
- Hummingbirds are here! Check out this blog post on ways to attract hummingbirds to your yard. It covers everything from the type of food to put out, to the specific flowers and shrubs that welcome the small creature to your landscape. https://extension.msstate.edu/blog/how-attract-hummingbirds-your-yard
Hummingbirds are back in town.
(Photo by MSU Extension/Gary Bachman)
Home Accent
- Divide or repot overgrown houseplants. Cut back weak parts to encourage new growth. Apply fertilizer every 2 weeks or so.
In Bloom
- Encore azaleas, blueberries, fringe trees, blackberries, pyracanthas, hawthorns, pittosporums, Japanese snowballs, pieris, cliftonia, ginkgos, deutzia, sweetshrubs, sweetspires, cotoneasters, oakleaf hydrangeas, roses, spiraea, rhododendrons, and ninebarks.
- Ajuga, alyssum, bleeding-hearts, candytufts, columbines, daffodils, daisies, daylilies, forget-me-nots, grass pinks, irises, Jacob’s ladder, lilies-of-the-valley, pansies, phlox, primroses, ranunculus, shooting stars, sweet Williams, thrifts, tulips, vincas, violets.
The Lafayette County Master Gardeners are pleased to welcome the public to their Annual Spring Lecture Series
Dr. Chris Cooper will be presenting his PSI: Plant Scene Investigation
The Annual Spring Lecture Series which will be held in the Dotsy A. Fitts Auditorium of the Oxford & Lafayette Public Library at 401 Bramlett Boulevard. Parking is available at the library or across the street at the Oxford Skate Park. For more information or questions follow us on Instagram or Facebook, visit our website or call the MSU Extension office at 662-234-4451. The next presentation is on April 9, 2026 at noon. The speaker is Dr. Chris Cooper. The title of his presentation is PSI: Plant Scene Investigation – This presentation teaches participants how to read plant symptoms and damage patterns to identify common pests and pathogens affecting our landscapes. Chris Cooper serves as the UT Extension County Director in Shelby County (Memphis). He is actively engaged throughout Shelby County and West Tennessee, delivering educational programs that address issues impacting urban and home horticulture.
You can find more garden related articles and videos on our MSU Extension website https://extension.msstate.edu/search?query=march or by clicking here.
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