With the arrival of March, we find ourselves once again preparing our garden for the upcoming growing season, which means it’s time to replenish our essential seed starting supplies and planting trays. Specifically, peat pellets are absolutely at the top of our priority list this month, as they are so crucial for getting our seedlings off to a healthy start. Beyond that, we’re also making sure to stock up on high-quality beefsteak tomato, cherry tomato and eggplant seeds, ensuring we have a diverse and bountiful harvest later in the year. The good news is, we were smart enough to save our planting trays from last year’s gardening adventures, so we’ll be happily reusing them this season, reducing waste and getting a head start on our gardening tasks!
Field Mice
I recently found something unusual in my lawn, I noticed the appearance of numerous holes and what appear to be snakelike markings across the grass. After some research to understand the cause, I’ve concluded that these are being caused by field mice or voles, which are apparently quite active beneath the current snowpack, creating tunnels and pathways through the ground.
Although they look bad, these trails generally do not permanently damage the lawn, and the grass usually recovers on its own or with light raking and reseeding.
As soon as the winter snow has fully melted away and the ground is workable, I will start my annual spring lawn preparation. This will involve thoroughly raking to remove all the accumulated dead grass, fallen leaves, and any small branches that may have been left behind by the harsh winter storms. Following this initial clearing, I plan to make a trip to my local garden center to purchase pelletized lime. The purpose of the lime is to help neutralize the soil, which often becomes acidic after the winter months. Once the lime has been applied, I will rely on the spring rains to naturally dissolve and distribute the lime throughout the soil, ensuring an optimal environment for healthy plant growth. After the lime has had sufficient time to work its magic, I will then proceed with planting new grass seed to rejuvenate my lawn for the upcoming growing season.
Seed Starting – Cherry Tomatoes and Eggplant
It’s that wonderful time of year again – time to get a head start on my garden by starting the vegetable and flower indoors, preparing for the spring planting season. I’ve prepared by reusing my trusty seedling trays from last year’s successful harvest and stocked up on a fresh box of peat pellets, ensuring a healthy and sustainable start for my seedlings. I kicked things off with some exciting varieties, including cherry tomatoes and eggplants, eagerly anticipating the arrival of my beefsteak tomato seeds. Beyond the delicious edibles, I’m also nurturing a colorful array of flowers, including cheerful African daisies and the vibrant Mexican sunflowers, promising a beautiful display later in the season.
Winter-sown Sunflowers
Although our winter-sown sunflower bottles endured a covering of snow from the February storms, the resilient seedlings now appear to be progressing well, suggesting they will indeed give our flower garden a significant and welcome head start this season.
