March Garden Checklist

Hold off on major yard clean-up until it gets a bit warmer.

Survey Your Yard and Garden

Check trees and shrubs for dead or damaged branches, and prune those out. For safety, call in an arborist for help with large trees. Likewise, avoid pruning near electrical or utility wires. Contact your municipality or utility to handle those situations.
Survey your lawn while it’s still dormant. Think about what you might want to change. If you have a tough spot to mow, consider what else might work there. If one area thaws before the rest of your yard, it may indicate a microclimate suited for a garden.
If we have a stretch of nice weather, consider waiting a few more weeks to start your garden clean-up. Even though the ground may be thawing, It will still be too wet to work. Try to stay out of garden beds to avoid compacting the soil. Waiting a little longer will also keep pollinators and other beneficial insects protected until the winter weather has truly passed.

In Orleans County, the average last frost date is May 2, so be sure to read your seed packets closely to figure out when to get started. While it’s still too early for most seeds, March is the perfect time to get your onions, scallions, leeks and seeded shallots started indoors.
Consider joining us March 15 at 10 a.m. for Seeds to Seedlings, to learn everything you need to know about starting seeds indoors and out. Part of our Seeds to Splendor education series, this class will be held at the Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension Education Center, 12690 State Route 31, Albion. Suggested donation: $5. To register, call (585) 798-4265 or email klo54 [at] cornell.edu (klo54[at]cornell[dot]edu).
Come back on March 22 for our Spring Seed Swap from 1 to 4 p.m. In addition to sharing seeds, the event will include seed starting demonstrations and more.
Remember to check out the Orleans Community Seed Share, a new seed library based at the Orleans County CCE offices in Albion.

Your houseplants will begin perking up as we have longer daylight. They will need a little more water, and it's a good time to start fertilizing them again. This is also a good time to consider pruning your houseplants and repotting any that have outgrown their containers.