In the Garden: March

March can be a busy time in the garden, but it’s mostly happy productive time. The first thing for Point Roberts gardeners to do will be to take stock of their gardens.

We experienced an unprecedented long freeze, ample snow and several windstorms over the course of the winter. So now it is time to take a walk around the garden to see if there is any damage that needs attention.

I had one tree come down, a few damaged tree and shrub limbs to saw off, and a lot of storm debris to move off paths and planting beds. It’s likely that other gardeners will find similar damage.

Not everything looks alive yet, but it is time to take knowledge of plant timelines out into the garden to see how everyone is doing. I am familiar with which plants in my garden are slow awakeners and which one are early spring awakeners. If you are unsure of a woody plant’s yearly cycle, you can examine the plant carefully for buds.

With many, you can use a thumbnail to scratch the bark. If green shows, the plant is still just slumbering.

Sadly, my Brachylottis (a New Zealand native formerly labelled Senecio) greyi looks dead, dead, dead. This handsome sprawling zone 8 shrub I planted in 2010 is hardy down to 20 degrees F., but our temperature dropped below that point for not just one, but several days. The last of the Garden Club’s Ceanothus ‘Dark Star’ on Tyee Drive with the same hardiness rating has also succumbed. Hopefully, you won’t have lost too many favorites in your own garden when you do your March walk around.

I will start garden cleanup this month as well, although this can be done at a leisurely pace. Gradually, the form of the garden will emerge as old flowers are cut and composted, and tired foliage trimmed.

By the end of the month, a tidier garden structure will have emerged and I can plant new acquisitions such as those I bought via the Garden Club’s group order from the Whatcom Conservation District native plant sale. Planting all but the most tender of plants now will take advantage of spring rains to help the plants settle in and spread their roots.

Seeds like grass, micro-clover and most wildflower mixes can similarly be sown to take advantage of natural rainfall. Even a few vegetables like kale, peas, and radishes can be sown directly into the vegetable garden should our temperatures remain seasonable, and the soil temperature reaches 45 degrees F.

March is also an ideal time for starting seeds indoors or in another protected environment like a greenhouse. There will be another Point Roberts Seed Share event this month, so watch for an announcement. Seed shares are a great way to pass on last year’s unneeded seeds, pick up some seed varieties that others are passing along, or simply talk to fellow gardeners.

Most flower seeds can be started indoors now, as can many vegetables such as broccoli, lettuce and peppers. Why not start some extra to donate to the Garden Club’s May plant and garden sale? Need seed starting equipment like trays and lights? West Coast Seeds has moved its retail operation to its main site at 5300 34B Avenue, just off Arthur Drive in Ladner. They have a great selection of seed starting equipment, and you can pick up a copy of their 2024 Growing Guide while you are there.

If you want to buy seeds there, make sure that you let the cashier know that you are taking the seeds to Point Roberts and they will provide you with an import sticker for seeds that have been awarded pre-clearance for entry into the United States.

If you have a lawn, March is the best time to revitalize it by aerating, fertilizing and reseeding. For reseeding, many people here are experimenting with micro-clover, which remains green throughout the summer and can be mowed to the height of lawn grass. Micro-clover is a win-win for pollinators and soil health. The only reason to not use it as a replacement or supplement for grass is that the flowers attract bees. I think that is great, but people with allergies or small children might think otherwise. Micro-clover seeds are available online from Territorial Seeds and American Meadows.

If you are looking for conversation and information not only seed related, nurseries and garden clubs are awaking from their winter slumber.

Our own Point Roberts Garden Club meets on the last Tuesday of growing months. The South Delta Garden Club meets on the third Tuesday of each month. Ladybug Nursery will soon reopen. And, lastly, you can start planning your trip to the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival.

Yes, March is a busy time for gardeners