March 13th 2006
 
Let the planting begin! The soil is workable and the temperatures are 
conducive for planting. Workable soil should be damp and break apart 
easily, not soggy or looking like modeling clay. Mid-March is usually 
the earliest that we can start planting things like peas, onion sets, 
broccoli and cabbage. Even lettuce plants can tolerate temperatures 
just 
above freezing. Pansies can be planted outside now as well as seeds for 
larkspur and sweet peas. To hasten the germination of sweet peas, prior 
to planting soak the seeds overnight to soften their hard seed coats. 
Make sure to harden-off new seedlings before setting them directly into 
the garden. Just leave them out overnight for a couple of days in a 
protected area sheltered from strong wind and sun.
 
Early spring is the time to start planting trees, shrubs and 
perennials. 
Many species of trees and shrubs are best planted while they are still 
dormant. Now is the ideal time for planting fruit trees, birch, 
flowering cherry, dogwood and Japanese maple. All of these species 
transplant best early in the season. If you need to move a tree or 
shrub 
from one location in your yard to another, early spring is the best 
time 
to transplant. Dig up as much of the root area as you can physically 
move. Always dig the new planting site at least twice as wide as the 
root ball or container of the plant. It is not necessary to dig any 
deeper than the existing root ball. Try to plant the tree or shrub the 
same depth as before. The line where the trunk meets the soil should be 
the same.
 
The latest research indicates that replacing the soil in the planting 
hole is not beneficial. Trees and shrubs need to acclimate to the 
native 
soil starting at planting time. Remove any rocks or other debris. If 
you 
choose to add organic amendments such as compost or peat moss, keep it 
to a minimum. Fertilizer should also be withheld until the following 
season after the tree has acclimated to it’s new site. Water is the 
most 
important addition. Water all new plants at planting time and plan to 
water once a week for the first year if rainfall is insufficient. Most 
new plantings require an inch of water a week. Long slow soaks are the 
best.
 
The second half of March and through early April is the best time to 
fertilize many of our landscape plants. Trees and shrubs both deciduous 
and evergreen can be fed. Fruit trees, berries, bulbs and perennials 
can 
all be fed at the beginning of the growing season. Feed acid-loving 
plants such as dogwoods, blueberries and most evergreens with a 
fertilizer for acid-loving plants. Hollytone, which contains organic 
components including many essential micronutrients, is a good choice. 
For the non-acid loving plants you could use the product Planttone, 
which has similar ingredients
 
Not all the plants in your landscape may require feeding or you may not 
have the time to get to all of them. Weak plants or those that had been 
injured, previously diseased or stressed should be priority. Plants 
that 
are growing well don’t need to be fertilized. And trees that are 
growing 
in the lawn areas will get fed if you regularly fertilize the grass.
 
The early spring is the best chance you will have until late summer to 
do any lawn repair. Bare spots can be seeded now, taking advantage of 
the cool temperature and the spring rains. Scratch up the soil to get 
good seed to soil contact. Cover the seeded patches lightly with straw 
mulch. The seedbed needs to be kept moist until sprouting. The new 
grass 
should be up and growing well by the time we have to start mowing.
 
The daytime temperature has been warm enough to apply a dormant oil 
spray (above 40 degrees). This non-chemical product can be sprayed on 
many landscape plants during the dormant season to smother 
over-wintering insect pests. It is used for lacebug, mites and scale- a 
few of the common landscape pests. Dormant oil is commonly used on 
hemlocks, andromeda, azalea, rhododendron and fruit trees for 
prevention 
of insect pests. And don’t forget to start spraying for those other 
garden pests. Deer repellents work best when sprayed early in the 
season 
as soon as new foliage appears.
 
Beth Nardone, botanist, is a resident of Hillsborough and is the 
Nursery 
Manager at the Belle Mead Co-Op. Questions and comments can be sent to 
bethtanical@patmedia.net 
<http://us.f210.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=bethtanical@patmedia.net>