March 2011 – Sue McDougall
March is officially the start of autumn but it can also be the time of the year when we have some of the hottest days. Don’t despair. As gardeners we are always looking forward to the change of the season and it’s only just around the corner. There is moisture in the air, the days feel like they have got shorter all of a sudden and there is much anticipation for the breaking rains. All of this means we can start planting.
Jobs to Do
March is the change of the season with the fruit garden. Most of the stone fruit has finished, only a few late plums left to pick. Our focus is on the citrus trees as the first mandarins and oranges are only a couple of months away from ripening. At this time they need a little extra water, particularly if they are in full fruit and the summer has been dry. An application of mulch with lucerne hay or pea hay will help protect their shallow roots and feed the soil as it breaks down.
If there is curling and silvering of the soft new growth it could be Citrus Leaf Miner, a little flying insect that lays its larvae under the top layer of the leaf. Treat with white oil or use a gloved finger and squash them if you only have a few damaged leaves.
It’s time for planting the first crop of potatoes. Get them in early before the frost sends them black. Seed potatoes are available from Better Pets and Gardens later this month.
In the vegetable garden (or where ever you have some space) it is time to plant cauliflower, brussell sprouts, broccoli and cabbage. Get these in nice and early so they can be harvested before the cabbage white butterfly eats them for you. Other vegetables to plant include dwarf beans, beetroot, carrots, loose leaf lettuce, Asian vegetables and silverbeet.
As soon as it starts to cool down, plant coriander. It loves the cool weather and will stay in leaf and not go straight to seed.
March is the month for dead-heading roses, pruning agapanthus flower stalks, tidying up annuals for their second flowering flush and pruning the new growth on the wisteria.
Fertilise the lawn with a slow release fertiliser to help strengthen the root system to build resistance against drought.
Feed all pots with slow release fertiliser for pots and planters. Top up pots with potting mix if needed and replace tired annuals with pansies, violas or lobelia.
It’s time to feed roses to enhance the autumn flowering.
The Ornamental Garden
March is the month to plant everlasting seeds. Prepare the soil by lightly digging over or raking and add some soil improver and blood and bone. Mix the everlasting seed in a bucket with the soil improver so it will spread further as it tends to stick together, scatter on the soil and rake over lightly. When it rains up comes a carpet of seedlings that snails will love. Often a quick scout around at night with the torch and a heavy boot is all that is needed to control these menacing pests. Everlastings look fantastic scattered on road verges or in mixed shrubberies and once planted will germinate year after year.
Hibiscus are looking their best at this time of the year and are a perfect choice for the warmer areas of our state. Many people think that they are at their peak in summer but it is actually Autumn. Enjoy them and if you are looking for a medium to large shrub for a hot position in the garden, select a hibiscus. They hate the frost and need to be protected from the cold while getting established with a guard of plastic or shade cloth.
March is bulb selection month and who can resist the colour brochures and displays? These are one of my favourite, most rewarding things to plant as you are guaranteed of a flower in the first year if you select the biggest fattest bulbs possible. They may cost a little more but the results are worth it. It is so exciting when they flower for the first time. There is plenty of information available about what varieties are suited for warmer/cooler areas or tubs. Choose carefully and the flowers will speak for themselves.
Pests and Diseases
Mite are prevalent in March and love hydrangeas, fuchsias and mini roses. These insects can be easily spotted by the fine webbing around the leaf axis and general dulling of the leaves. They love a dry environment so to reduce the population, hose the foliage of the plants when watering every now and again and treat with dusting sulphur. In cooler temperatures, treat them with Pest Oil.
If March suddenly becomes cool, blackspot and mildew may start appearing on the roses. Milk is a mild fungicide and is safe to use on roses for mildew but if you have no success at keeping it at bay you may need to spray with a rose fungicide. The trick to controlling fungal problems is to ensure the plants stay healthy and strong and this helps them to build up a resistance to fungal diseases.
