Garden Tips - March:

Plan your vegetable garden on graph paper. Remember to rotate crops just like the farmers do. Tomatoes and peppers use many nutrients from the soil and should be moved from year to year to prevent mineral deficiencies.

Place birdhouses outside this month. Clean out any existing houses for new bird families to move in.

After pussy willows have bloomed, prune the shrubs drastically to encourage long branches and large fuzzy catkins for next year.

Remove mulch or covers from roses, clematis, perennials, and other tender plants after night temperatures remain in the 30's. Be prepared to re-cover if a cold snap returns.

Touch up garden and landscape areas with a fresh layer of bark mulch. Give your houseplants a good once over. Dust leaves with a moistened cloth, re-pot in fresh soil, and give them a boost with some water-soluble fertilizer.