March Garden Checklist: Tasks & DIY Projects

For cold-climate gardeners, March signals that we’re almost there—spring is just around the corner! Now’s the time to gear up for indoor and outdoor seed sowing and start some garden art projects.

If you are starting late, be sure to see the February Garden Checklist for more ideas.

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March Garden Checklist

Here in southwestern Ontario, Canada, March is the month of hope! Spring is in the air. No matter what snow storm might be thrown our way, the lighter days tell us the growing season is coming soon.

Early-flowering bulbs pop up, bird mating calls rings out from morning to dusk, and tree sap runs once again.

While no two gardens are the same—and our growing conditions vary—it’s very handy to create your own task list based on the suggestions here to reuse each year.

If you would like a printable copy, get your free Spring Gardening Checklist in the Resources section (below).

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Grow

Planting, Sowing, & Preparations

Outdoors

• While it’s tempting to “clean up” the garden on warm days, the longer you leave old perennial growth and the “mess,” the better. Countless animals (great and small) rely on those materials for food and shelter.
• This lists vegetable seeds you can sow directly outdoors weeks before your last frost.
• Continue checking on potted plants in winter storage and water if soil is dry.
• Warmer, brighter days may mean your winter vegetable garden may need the covers off (or lids up).
• Late winter is prime time for pruning many trees and shrubs. And a good time to visually assess their structure and health.
  
  The two hydrangea species that get pruned in early spring are smooth hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens), also known as Annabelle, and Panicle hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata) or peegees. This has a pruning tutorial.
• Unless frozen, turn your compost pile when you can. Good air flow helps with the decomposition process.
• Want to tap trees for syrup? Get your supplies ready asap.
• Take some pussy willow branch cuttings and display the catkins indoors.

Indoors

• It’s prime time for indoor seed starting! Grow annuals including veggies, and perennials.
• It may be time to start sweet pea seeds too.
• Grow salad greens, and other veggies and herbs indoors any time of year.
• This has list of flowering shrub and tree branches you can force to bloom indoors.

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Pond

• I keep pond deicers going on colder days and turn them off on warm days (to avoid algae growth).

Wild Things

• Make sure nesting boxes are ready for bird mating season. Find out which local species could benefit and get boxes designed for their needs.
• Also consider adding bee, bat, or owl boxes if you have a larger property.
• Wash your bird feeders and suet cages on a regular basis. The freeze/thaw cycle can cause the spread of disease.
• You can track the hummingbird migrations on this map to know when they’ll arrive in your area.

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Make

Creative Projects

Use that restless March energy to create some new art for your garden.

Here are some project ideas.

• Make decorative garden art alliums
• Build a nesting box
• Build a bee box from scrap 2x4s
• Create a giant coneflower
• Make a stone birdhouse

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Ideas

Dream & Scheme

• Order seeds
  
• If you pre-ordered bare root plants like asparagus or fruit bushes it may be planting time now or soon.
• Planning to get hens? Get their house in order—chicks will soon be available.

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Observe & Enjoy

You may not know it by the name phenology, but you certainly know what it is.

Phenology is the science of observing annual first events in nature.

When flower buds open. When peepers first peep. When bees appear. When migrations arrive. When bulbs pop up. The list is endless.

Seasonal changes prompt natural responses in the plant and animal kingdoms. It is interesting to note these events and compare them year over year.

Spring Phenological Events

March marks the beginning of the busy season for annual firsts!

• Sap runs in trees.
• Leaf buds start to unfurl.
• Birds are dating, mating, nesting, and practicing their finest mating songs.
• Some insects start to emerge if it’s warm enough.
• Flowering bulbs are blooming.
• Weather toggles between winter and spring.
• Days are lighter, putting most humans in a better mood.
• Frozen waterways start to thaw and aquatic life including fish become more active.
• As snow melts, new perennial growth emerges.

Book

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Resources

~Melissa the Empress of Dirt ♛