Weekly Gardening Checklist
The Third Week of March
My first daffodil bloomed this week! And I have some Muscari blooming, too! It's happening! Spring is coming! In fact, I am seeing lots of signs of Spring. Here in Colorado it all seems to come in a big swoosh after weeks of nothing. It's a joy! I know some of you wait even longer – I'm looking at you Minnesota! But I promise, it is coming for you, too!
With that in mind, here is your Gardening Checklist for the third week of March:
Take Some Beautiful Photos
Things are dark right now. Every day is a new low, a new horror, a new crisis. But part of Resistance Gardening is gardening so that we are mentally and physically able to do the Resistance work. Go outside. Now if you can. And take some photos of the signs of Spring. Look at them every day — if you can’t just be outside every day. Allow them to calm you and to instill some hope. We are in this together, friends. And we need each other.
Start Weeding
I mean, isn't it your favorite part of gardening? I know it is mine. Nope. But here's the thing: the more weeding you do now, the less you'll have to do in the summer. You want to get at those annual and perennial weeds early in the season – especially the tricky ones like Bindweed and Canada Thistle.
Is my garden weed free? Nope. Never. And I tell you: if I could afford it, that’s the job I would hire someone to do for me. But every year gets a little easier. And the more I do now, the less I do later.
I have a full guide on how to manage weeds in a garden without chemicals. Click below!
Gather Your Frost Protection
If you are starting to plant out and your average last frost date isn't far in the rear view mirror, be sure you have some frost protection nearby and always check your forecast. I watch for about 3-4 weeks after our average last frost – just to be sure I don't get caught off guard.
Here's what I keep on hand:
Frost cloth
Landscaping staples (to hold down the frost cloth; stones also work)
Large pots from the nursery: pop them over plants like peonies that have already come up.
Watch the weather, and if the lows are going to be in the lower 30s, cover your tender plants in the evening and uncover in the morning once temperatures warm up.
Watch this Interview
Jess Zander is a fabulous garden consultant in the Boston area. She was recently on Catherine Smart’s Substack talking gardening, and this is worthy of your time. Enjoy!
Happy Gardening!
Angela
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