Inspect gardens for overwintering pests and diseases.
Once the soil has thawed and is dry enough to work, begin preparing beds for planting.
Begin removing cool-season weeds from beds.
Apply soil amendments in accordance with soil test recommendations.
Ornamental Garden
Redefine bed edges with a sharp, straight-edged shovel or half-moon edger to keep grass from growing into flower beds.
Fertilize spring-blooming bulbs with a balanced fertilizer.
In late March, cut back perennials such as coneflower and sedum that were left standing over the winter.
Cut back ornamental grasses before they start to display new spring growth.
Direct sow hardy annuals such as larkspur, sweet peas, and love-in-a-mist.
Prune evergreen hedges; keep the base wider than the top of the hedge.
Apply dormant oil to trees and shrubs as needed to control overwintering pests and diseases. Make sure temperature will remain above freezing for 24 hours after spraying.
Prune tree or shrub twigs that were affected by winter kill; cut back to green wood. To determine if the twig is alive or dead, scratch the bark with your fingernail.
Plant bare-root roses after the ground thaws, but is moist without being overly wet.
Start feeding house plants with a diluted solution of soluble houseplant food.
Edible Garden
Once soil can be worked in spring, till under or mow cover crops.
Add compost and other amendments as needed to soil in preparation for planting.
Plant bare-root bramble fruits and grapevines in mid to late March.
Set out dormant strawberry crowns about 3 to 4 weeks before the average last frost date.
Plant potatoes from mid-March to mid-April using seed pieces measuring about 1 to 1.5 inches and having one or two good buds or “eyes” per piece.
Fertilize established fruit trees about 3 to 4 weeks before active growth begins, starting about 2 feet from the trunk and extending to just beyond the drip line.
Direct sow cool-season vegetable crops such as peas, carrots, collards, leeks, mustard greens, spinach, and arugula after the soil temperature reaches 40-50° F.
Harden off cool-season crop seedlings in preparation for planting in the garden.
Prune older canes of everbearing raspberry varieties to the ground, leaving 1-year canes in place. This assures a mid-summer crop as well as a larger fall crop. Or, if you prefer, cut all the canes back to the ground, which will result in one large crop.
Lawn
Once soil is dry enough, aerate and de-thatch lawn as needed.
Inspect the lawn for bare spots and sow grass seed where needed.
Keep grass seed moist until it sprouts and becomes established.
Eliminate standing water on the lawn by correcting drainage if needed.
Get a soil test done to find out what, if any, nutrients your lawn may need. The Virginia Cooperative Extension office (at 460 Stagecoach Road, Charlottesville, VA 22902) provides soil test kits and instructions for the residents of Albemarle County and the city of Charlottesville. Follow the instructions for preparing the soil test and submitting the kit along with $10.00 to Virginia Tech for analysis and recommendations. NOTE: If fertilizer is needed, it is generally best to apply it in the fall rather than in the spring.
