March Lawn, Garden, & Landscaping Tips 2023
Our March Lawn Garden and Landscaping Tips revolve around the fact that March ushers in longer days with warming soils that lift lawn turf from slumber and encourage new growth throughout the landscape.
Did You Know This About March?
-We add nearly one full hour to our day in March. (March 1: 11:32:24, March 31: 12: 27:30)
-Daylight Savings Time begins on Sunday, March 13 (Spring forward; Fall back).
-Spring officially arrives on Monday, March 20.
Get To Pruning, Planting, & Watering:
We’ve likely seen our last frost and freeze days. New growth appears everywhere, from the oak trees’ recent leaf and catkin drop to those woody stems pruned back from winter damage. Plants with brittle stems that have no green remaining, we can conclude, were lost to old man winter and can now be safely replaced.
The University of Florida IFAS Extension office recommends March edible plantings of Arugula, Eggplant, Kohlrabi, Ginger, Peppers, Swiss Chard, Tomatillo, Tomatoes, Boniato, Spinach, Sweet Potatoes, Lima Beans, Bush Beans, and Pole Beans, Cantaloupes, Carrots, Corn, Cucumbers, Okra, Onions, Peanuts, Peas, Radish, Squashes, and Watermelon.
Emerging from a Record-Dry Winter
Besides the cold Winter, your lawn, garden, and landscape damage could have been from lack of precipitation. “Retallying the winter stats of 2022-23, in Jacksonville, we had our 72nd warmest December, the 41st warmest January and the sixth warmest February,” according to News4Jax Weather Insider. “Add it all up, and we had the 16th warmest Winter! The bigger winter story was the total lack of rainfall. Just 3.85 inches of rain the entire Winter!” That’s compared to an average winter rainfall in Jacksonville of 9.5″. Check your irrigation system for proper operation and get ready to increase your watering regimen.
In Duval County, water restrictions lessen during Daylight Savings Time, allowing twice-per-week residential landscape irrigation with no limits for new landscapes and hand watering. “Residential properties with even-numbered addresses or those ending with A-M** may water on Thursday and Sunday; properties with odd-numbered addresses, those ending with N-Z*, or properties with no street address may water on Wednesday and Saturday, according to the City of Jacksonville. “Non-residential irrigation is only permitted Tuesday and Friday. Irrigation is not permitted between 10 am and 4 pm.” Be vigilant in ensuring your lawn and garden are sufficiently watered. Earth Works lawn care division recommends two weekly rain or watering events for a healthy lawn.
Chinch Bug Threat Strong During Drought Conditions
Drought conditions can increase the chance of chinch bugs infestation in your St. Augustine turf. Chinch bug season in North Florida is typically March through November. “Chinch bug damage can be confused with certain lawn diseases or other physiological disorders,” according to Texas A&M. “For example, brown patch is a common disease affecting the leaf blades of St. Augustinegrass. Brown patch symptoms, however, usually occur in a circular or semi-circular pattern, as opposed to the irregular-shaped areas of dead and dying grass that result from chinch bug feeding. Chinch bug damage also can be difficult to distinguish from that caused by drought.”
Let Earth Works Lawn Care, Fertilization and Lawn Pest Control service take the work and worry out of your beautiful lawn.
When to Fertilize?
Palms: For palms we recommend quarterly fertilization with heaviest feeding in Fall and Spring and lighter fertilization in Spring and Winter. We recommend: Palm Tone by Espoma and Jacks Palm Food 16-5-25 that’s water soluble with micronutrients.
Birds of Paradise: These heavy feeders require fertilization to maximize foliage and flowering capacity. While the UF/IFAS recommends quarterly fertilization Tropical Plants of Florida recommends bi-weekly fertilization in Spring and monthly during the Summer months.
Crape Myrtles: Crape Myrtles are heavy feeders that respond well to liquid and granular balanced fertilization as often as every two weeks during Spring and Summer. You’ll want to use a balanced fertilizer such as Jacks All Purpose 20-20-20.
Roses: Consider monthly fertilization from mid-February through November for optimum foliage and blooms on your roses. Roses are highly susceptible to powdery mildew and leaf spot that you can curtail damage from with regular Bonide copper fungicide treatments.
Fruit Trees: “You can apply a slow-release citrus fertilizer in March, June and September or apply 6-6-6 or 8-8-8 starting in March once every six weeks through September,” according to Becky Jordi, the Nassau County extension director and horticulture agent. “No fertilizer should be applied from October through February.” We recommend Jacks Citrus Feed.
Weed & Feed Facts:
We are at the right time to consider Weed & Feed fertilizer. They typically contain a pre-emergent herbicide for preventing weeds from germinating. The “N” component of fertilizer’s NPK macro-nutrient makeup is nitrogen, which is not necessary in high concentration at this time. However, phosphorus and potassium (PK) can provide current benefits for root health.
Plan Your Landscape Design With Earth Works
Interest increases among home and business owners wanting to redesign their landscapes, and Earth Works Landscape Designers are here to help. We offer site visits and consultations with CADD drawings of plans that we can then schedule and install. Our landscape designers and installation crews are courteous and knowledgeable and strive to complete your project’s vision on time and within budget.
Seeding Jacksonville, LET’S GROW A BOTANICAL GARDEN
Thursday, March 23, 2023 • 5:30 pm – 8:00 pm
WJCT Studios
Join us at Seeding Jacksonville for an evening of cocktails and a discussion on the health and future of the Jacksonville Arboretum & Botanical Gardens. The Arboretum will share insights on its remarkable achievements over the past year and provide a glimpse into its exciting future.
Plus, learn how a botanical garden can serve as a green hub of its community and gain a new perspective on its potential impact with guest speaker, Mary Pat Matheson, the CEO of Atlanta Botanical Gardens.
With her proven leadership skills, Mary Pat has successfully transformed Atlanta Botanical Gardens into one of the top 10 gardens in the country! What an exciting opportunity to learn from her extensive leadership. Mary Pat will be speaking on “Connecting to community – How a botanical garden can be the green hub of its community.”
Our Spring Sip & Shop is Back!
Join us at Earth Works Gardens from 11 am until 2 pm for complimentary beverages served by one of our landscape designers, who can answer your landscape design questions. Enjoy the renovated facilities at Earth Works Gardens while you Sip & Shop!
And see you next month for more Lawn Garden and Landscaping Tips!
Written by John Hawley, Earth Works Content Manager.
Services
- Landscape Design & Installation
- Paver Patios, Paver Walkways, Paver Driveways
- Firepits, Retaining Walls , Seat Walls,
- Landscape Lighting, Drainage design & Installation,
- Lawn Care Services, Lawn Maintenance, Lawn Fertilization
- Lawn Pest Control, Lawn Weed Control
- Aeration and Top Dressing
- Water Features, Koi Ponds,
- Waterfalls, Bubbling Fountains
- Garden Center & Pond Supply Store
General Services Areas
Jacksonville (Jax), Jacksonville Beach, Neptune Beach, Atlantic Beach, Ponte Vedra Beach, Ponte Vedra, Fernandina Beach, Amelia Island, Orange Park, St. Johns, Nocatee
Location
GARDEN CENTER
12501 Beach Blvd
Jacksonville, FL 32246
LANDSCAPE OPERATIONS
(not open to the public)
St. Johns Bluff
1057 St. Johns Bluff Rd. N.
Jacksonville, FL 32225
Hours
Monday-Saturday 9-5
Sunday 10-5
HOLIDAY CLOSINGS
New Year’s Day • Easter • Memorial Day
July 4th • Labor Day • Thanksgiving Day
Christmas Eve • Christmas Day