Skagit County Master Gardener Foundation

Cultivating plants, people and communities since 1977

March Work

If you are in the garden, here is a list of general things to do as needed in March.

  • Leaf blow to keep the organics off our gravel paths.
  • Pick up fallen branches and put them into our compost.
  • Check the plant stakes and tags. They take a beating in the winter and frequently get knocked down.
  • Trim winter storm damage and put cuttings in our corner compost.
  • Pull weeds. The bittercress is already blooming. We need to get it while it is easy to pull and hasn’t seeded. We have really dealt the weeds a knockdown punch the last few years.
  • Pull up Salal that is creeping into the garden from the back hedge while the ground is soft. However, avoid the Salal hedgerow area (6’ wide along the NWREC property line). We have ground nesting bees there, and we are going to try and create a sanctuary for them there this year – more to follow.
  • Cut off old leaves from hellebores when they show new growth.

March 12

  • Prune back the tall clumping grasses.
  • Cut large barberry to ground so it can rejuvenate.
  • Put mason bee cocoons in house if the temps are warm enough and there are blooms.

2024 Projects

  • Skimmer and bog install

Standing Notes

  • Box combo is 2023 (current year).  Make sure the box is locked before we leave the garden.
  • Please review our annual calendar below and send me additions/changes so we can continue to refine it.
  • Fish food is in back right corner of the box.  Feed about 1 tablespoon starting in April.
  • Send Kay your Naturescape pictures - more pix will be posted on this page soon.
  • If you need supplies, let Kay know.

Plant Removal - invasive plants not desired in Naturescape.

  • Lady’s mantle
  • Bracken fern
  • Salmonberry/Blackberry
  • Jacob's ladder

Lunch link

 

Annual Calendar

Plant lists should be updated throughout the year, but are due to Claire late summer each year.  Updated plant lists should be laminated and re-posted as needed.  Naturescape does our own signs due to the number of our rooms

February through first half of March

  • Cut the barberry to the ground every 2-3 years to keep it under 24".  Alternate plants to cut to keep a natural look.
  • Weeds, particularly shot weed, starts showing up early.
  • Prune out winter damage and put cuttings in corner composting.  Hold off on pruning back the perennials.  The oregano, sword ferns, and ornamental grasses that we left up over the winter looked great and still add winter interest.  No need to be in a hurry as we have another month before things start growing.
  • Pull up Salal that is encroaching into the garden from the back hedge.
  • Cut back the top of the grasses, but leave the side and bottom as insects (bumble bees) nest there
  • Check the plant stakes and tags. They take a beating in the winter and frequently get knocked down.
  • Cut off old leaves from hellebores when they show new growth.

Second half of March through early April

  • Cut selected twiggy dogwoods to the ground so they rejuvenate each year.
  • Begin spring cleanup/pruning after daytime temps reach 50deg for the insects/bees.
  • Cut sword ferns to the ground or remove old brown fronds.  For all other ferns only cut dead leaves.
  • Don't cut back the fuchsias/salvia until they show green.
  • Orchard Mason Bees will emerge as the weather warms (highs around 55deg).  Prepare houses for them and purchase dormant bees to set out as flowers begin to bloom.
  • In March, de-winterize the pond.  Vacuum the bottom, remove the net.   Replace the UV light and turn on the waterfall.  Wait until people are in the garden routinely before removing net as it keeps the fish safe from herons.  Start feeding the fish wheat germ food at 50 deg and regular food at 60deg.
  • Apply Sluggo weekly.

April – June

  • Weeding and pruning.
  • Fertilize rhododendrons after bloom and remove spent flowers to keep plants tidy.  If you need to prune, now is the best time as the flowers set in the summer for the following year.
  • Prune spring flowering shrubs after bloom. Remove spent flowers from spring flowering bulbs; leave foliage as long as it is green, because the bulb is storing energy for next spring’s bloom.
  • Support the Lucifer crocosmia.
  • When Japanese anemonies reach about 18", cut them down to 6-8" so they bush out a bit and don't fall over in the summer.
  • Eastern redbud in the entrance area leafs out late; maybe mid-April.
  • Depending on the weather, it may be time to start watering as early as May.
  • Check to see if Autumn Joy stonecrop, especially in the Alpine bed needs cutting back to induce more blooming.

July Aug

  • Watering, weeding, and pruning.  Water trees, shrubs, and perennial plants deeply once a week (more often if necessary, especially with first-year plants)
  • Deadhead flowers to encourage continued bloom.
  • Harvest mason bees for storage when they become inactive (August).
  • Add leaf cutter cocoons to house

Sep Oct Nov Dec

  • Budget inputs for following year due.  Spend remaining funds or let the Treasurer know if you won't be using funds.
  • Remove dead leaves off hostas and day-lilies before they become slimy. Spread in back corner or back side of hedgerow for mulch.
  • Thin bulbs and other perennials and give to Plant House.
  • Pull back salal creeping into the Corner and Hedgerow.  Prune the backside of the Hedgerow.
  • Try to leave the Joe Pye weed as is has great stem structure for insects to overwinter.  Broken stems can go to the corner mulch pile and the insecst can use the stems there.
  • Leave the leaves lay!  Leave the grasses and the sword ferns until spring for the wildlife.
  • The willow starts shedding in October.
  • Leaf blowing needed to keep organic matter off of paths.
  • Bittercress weeds starts emerging (again).
  • In October, clean the mason bee cocoons.
  • By the first week of October the pond temperature is around 60.  Switch the fish to wheat germ food.   Once the temperature drops to 50 stop feeding.
  • Pond - Mid-October. Vacuum pond and install net over pond.
  • Pond - In December (dependent on forecast) turn off the waterfall, clean filter, and empty water.  Leave the UV light running to help with fish health.  Leave the water fountain on to provide aeration and  creating a blow hole for the fish with the pump for winter ice.

Read the Pond Diary

Naturescape Diary

2023

6/23 - installed paths between Naturescape and NWREC.

11/23 - installed pond skimmer and updated signs.

2022

1/13/2022 Two conifer trees removed from the Corner (Pinus flexilis NSE124 and Pinus heldreichii NSE125).  Willow had pruning and support system installed.

3/13/2022 Mason bee house installed

5/17/2022 Bee swarm (see below)

7/5/2022 Re-potted water lilies

7/11/2022 Harvested 16 tubes of mason bee cocoons

9/15/2022 Discovery Garden 25th Birthday!

9/2022 The Enabling Garden treated their pavers with polymer sealant.  We need to monitor the willow's health since its roots likely extend under what was a  semi-permeable layer.

10/4/2022 Added wood chips around mason house and carnivorous plants

10/18/2022 Added Skagit Soil Landscape Mulch (hogfuel) around the North end.  Irrigation Team adding 1/2" lines.

10/29/2022 Started to expand the Corner compost area.

11/01/2022 Added Japanese maple to the Corner. Planted daffodil bulbs around the hostas next to the pond for early spring interest.

2021

9/22/2021 Placement of Gloria's memorial

Garden areas renamed

2020

Oct - Path Team installed gravel path through the length of Naturescape.  Old wood chips moved to secondary paths behind the pond.

2019

Feb - Pond Renovation

On May 17, 2022 after the potluck, a honey bee swarm was spotted in the corner of Naturescape. Kay Torrance and Sandra Swarbrick took some pictures and Don Ham came to the rescue and gave the bees a proper new home. Never a dull moment in the garden!
Read more on honey bee swarms. In addition to Don, Chuck Howell is a Journeyman Beekeeper, and Ian McKellips has just finished his beekeeping training. Lots of MG experience with bees if you need help.
Click here to watch the bee video