Spring Awakening: Preparing Your Garden for a Flourishing Season
Welcome to March—the month of renewal, warmer days, and fresh garden beginnings! As we move into spring, it’s the perfect time to prepare your garden for a season of abundant growth. This month, we’ll focus on soil preparation, pruning, fertilizing, and planting, as well as the best flowers, herbs, and vegetables to grow in Central Florida this time of year.
Preparing Your Garden for Spring
Refresh Your Garden Beds – After winter dormancy, your garden needs a little TLC. Remove dead plants, trim back perennials, and clear away weeds to give new growth a strong start.
Revitalize Your Soil – Soil health is key to a productive garden. Turn the soil, add compost or organic matter, and test pH levels to ensure your plants get the nutrients they need.
Prune & Trim – Spring is the best time to prune fruit trees, roses, and other flowering shrubs before new growth begins. Cutting back old wood encourages fresh blooms.
Fertilize Wisely – Give your plants a boost with an organic fertilizer. Use compost, aged manure, or balanced fertilizers tailored to your plants’ needs.
March Planting Guide: What to Grow Now in Central Florida
March is prime planting time! With warm days and mild nights, now is the moment to get your vegetables, herbs, and flowers in the ground.
Vegetables: Tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, cucumbers, squash, zucchini, green beans, corn, and sweet potatoes thrive when planted now.
Flowers: Marigolds, zinnias, sunflowers, salvias, cosmos, and pentas bring color to your garden while attracting pollinators.
Herbs: Basil, mint, oregano, thyme, rosemary, and lemongrass all love the warming temperatures of early spring.
Direct Sowing vs. Transplanting:
- Direct Sowing: Beans, corn, sunflowers, and squash prefer to be planted directly in the garden.
- Transplanting: Tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants grow best when started indoors and moved to the garden once they are strong enough.
Companion Planting Tip: Pair tomatoes with basil to enhance flavor and deter pests, and plant marigolds near vegetables to keep aphids away.
March in Central Florida
The days are growing longer, and temperatures are rising, with highs in the mid-70s and lows in the 50s. Rainfall starts increasing, making now a great time to mulch your garden beds to retain moisture and suppress weeds.
Did You Know?
Did you know certain flowers, like zinnias and marigolds, attract butterflies and hummingbirds while also repelling garden pests? Adding these to your garden can reduce the need for pesticides while making your garden more vibrant!
Garden Quote of the Month
“The best fertilizer is the gardener’s shadow.” – Chinese Proverb
(A witty way to remind gardeners that the more time they spend tending their plants, the better their garden will thrive!)
Ready to start your spring garden? If you need help designing, planting, or refreshing your space, visit www.steppingstonegc.com to join my waiting list.
Here’s to a flourishing and bountiful March!
Happy Gardening,
~ Larissa
Stepping Stone Garden Coach