Priscilla’s Garden To-Do List for March into April

Remove winter greens from containers, once unfrozen
Rake out beds, trim brown stalks, assess winter damage and prune out
Prune shrubs such as inkberry, holly, yew that may be overgrown
Prune butterfly bush, caryopteris, smoke tree, St. Johnswort, and other cutback shrubs
Shear ornamental grasses
Shape lavender, sage, germander, thyme and other woody herbs by cutting off at least 1/3 of the old growth
Cut back any perennials left standing last fall
Edge beds
Plan to divide and transplant fall blooming perennials mid April to mid May
Continue dormant pruning of fruit trees and other decidious material
Plant containers with spring flowers when nights are reliably above freezing
Plan for first spraying of horticultural oil on fragrant viburnum, V. carleii, to prevent damage from snowball aphid
Return contracts by April 1 for tick and mosquito spraying, antidesiccant and deer repellent and compost tea applications – along with fine garden maintenance!
Prune raspberries and blueberries if not done earlier in the winter
Sow seeds of salvia and lettuce indoors now but hold off on starting more vegetables until April 10 for basil, tomatoes, eggplants and peppers
Houseplants can be fed a diluted fish fertilizer every two weeks for a spring pick-me-up