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Being a Neighborhood Planters' Kiosk host is fun and easy.  We'll email you the latest post each week.  All you need to do is print it out and slide it in the frame.   This is a delightful way to build community and share gardening information with family, friends, and neighbors!  Spread the Garden Love!!

Please email us at npkposts@gmail.com for more information.

Garden Activities for March

~What to do in the Garden in March~

Planning

•    Plan your vegetable garden for spring, summer, and fall vegetables that can be eaten fresh or preserved.  Container gardening might be a great option if sunny ground space is limited.

•    A soil thermometer can help you know when to plant vegetables. Some cool season crops (onions, kale, lettuce, and spinach) can be planted when the soil is consistently at or above 40F. You can also use this chart to estimate dates. Planting Date Chart

Maintenance and Clean Up

•       Compost grass clippings and yard waste.  Avoid pesticides (including weed and feed, weed killers, or insect killers).

  If pesticides have been used, do not compost contaminated plant material.

•       Spread compost over garden and landscape areas.



•       Fertilize evergreen shrubs and trees, only if needed. If established and healthy, their nutrient needs should be minimal.



•       Prune spring-flowering shrubs after blossoms fade.



•       Fertilize caneberries using band fertilizer, broadcast fertilizer or a complete fertilizer or composted manure.

•       Prune fall-bearing raspberries (in late-February or early-March).



Echinacea purpurea (Purple Cone Flower)

Planting/Propagation

•    Divide hosta, daylilies, mums, and other summer or fall blooming perennials that need dividing.



•    Use stored scion wood to graft fruit and ornamental trees.

  This is an informative article from the University of Minnesota.  Please note that in Oregon we graft earlier in the year.

•    Plant insectary plants (e.g. Alyssum, Phacelia, coriander, candytuft, sunflower, yarrow, and dill) to attract beneficial insects to the garden. See Encouraging Beneficial Insects in Your Garden (PNW550).



•    If soil is dry enough, prepare vegetable garden and plant early cool-season crops (carrots, beets, broccoli, leeks, parsley, chives, rhubarb, peas, onion, and radishes).

•    Plant berry crops (strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, currants, gooseberries, and other berry-producing crop plants). See OSU Extension publications for berry varieties.

Pest Monitoring and Management

•    Spray trees and shrubs for webworms and leafrollers, only if present.



•    Protect new plant growth from slugs. Least toxic management options include barriers and traps. Baits are also available for slug control; use with caution around pets. Read and follow all label

•    Learn to identify the predatory insects that can help keep aphids and other pests under control.

  See this article from Washington State University Extension.

•    Prune densely growing mature ornamental shrubs and trees for air circulation, which helps reduce fungal disease.  See this article from Purdue University about pruning shrubs and trees. 

•    Monitor landscape plants for damage or disease. Don't treat unless a problem is identified. Ask Master Gardeners if you're not sure about whether something is a problem or what to do about it. You can even email us a photo.
(541) 766-6750      4077 SW Research Way, Corvallis, 97333   bentonmg@oregonstate.edu

Garden Activities for February

~What to do in the Garden in February~

Planning

•    Select and store healthy scion wood for grafting fruit and nut trees. Wrap in damp cloth or peat moss and place in plastic bag. Store in cool place.



•    Plan an herb bed. Choose a sunny spot and plant seeds or transplants once the danger of frost has passed (late-April or early-May).



•    Plan to add herbaceous perennial flowers to your flowering landscape this spring. Ex:  sweet alyssum, yarrow, penstemon, and coneflower.



Maintenance and Clean Up

•    Make a cold frame or hotbed to start early vegetables or flowers.



•    Cut and lightly incorporate cover crops or other organic matter into soil.



•    Prune and train grapes; take cuttings.



•    Prune fruit trees and blueberries.

•    Prune deciduous summer-blooming shrubs and trees

•    Prune and train trailing blackberries and back raspberries.



•    Prune fall-bearing raspberries (in late-February or early-March).



Planting/Propagation

•    Plant windowsill container gardens of carrots, lettuce, or parsley.



•    Plan to add herbaceous perennial flowers this spring: columbine, candytuft, peony, daylily, and iris.



•    Good time to plant fruit trees and deciduous shrubs. Replace varieties of ornamental plants that are susceptible to disease with resistant cultivars or natives.

•    Plant asparagus if the ground is warm enough.



•    Plant seed flats of cole crops (cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, and Brussels sprouts), indoors or in a greenhouse.



•    Where soil is dry enough and workable, plant garden peas and sweet peas.

Pest Monitoring and Management

•    Monitor landscape plants for problems. Don't treat unless a problem is identified.



•    Use delayed-dormant sprays of lime sulfur for fruit and deciduous trees and shrubs.



•    Elm leaf beetles and box-elder bugs are emerging from hibernation and may be seen indoors. They are not harmful, but can be a nuisance. Remove them with a vacuum or broom and dustpan.