Gardening With Allen: March good time to start garden

Recent springlike weather has stimulated my interest in getting outside to improve the landscape around my home. Is it too early to begin planting trees, shrubs and flowers?

There are a lot of gardening projects you can do right now. This is a great time to move or plant trees and shrubs. If you have a tree or shrub that you would like to move to a new location, this is the ideal time to move it before it begins active growth. Cool, moist weather is also an advantage when planting new trees and shrubs. They have a chance to develop their roots before there is a big demand for water caused by new leaf growth.

Selection of plants may still be limited at big box stores, but you will find a complete selection of plants at full-service nurseries and garden stores. In addition to a greater selection, they usually have qualified people who can help you select the best plants for your particular locations.

Measure the height and width of any location where you plan to plant shrubs. Then check plant labels for their mature size. If you select plants that fit your height and width requirements you will save a lot of time and expense on pruning them later on. Perhaps you already have some shrubs that should be moved to a place where they have more room. Sun and shade requirements are other things to check for on plant labels.

Envision the mature size of large trees before you plant them too close to your home. What location will give you the best afternoon shade for your patio or deck?

Now is an excellent time to plant fruit trees and berry plants. Roses and other perennial flowers can be planted now.

The average last frost date in Vancouver is mid-April. It is later in some of the higher surrounding areas. However, a number of flower plants that are hardy to several degrees of frost can go in now. These include alyssum, calendula, carnation, daisy, dianthus, nicotiana, pansy, petunia, phlox, poppy, snapdragon, sweet peas and verbena. I plant my sweet peas from seed in early March. Other hardy flowers that do well from early seed planting include alyssum, four o’clock, nasturtium and poppies.

Hardy vegetables can also be planted by mid-March. If you eat the leaves, roots, stems or flower buds it is a hardy vegetable. Although the potato is a tender vegetable, potato starts can also be planted soon because it takes three or four weeks for them to emerge from the soil. Asparagus is also hardy and starter roots can be planted now. I have planted lettuce, spinach and pea seed outside already. I plan to plant started plants of cabbage family vegetables soon, including broccoli and cauliflower. I will plant seeds of root vegetables like beets and radishes. Onions can be planted from either seed, sets or started plants.

Another early spring job is weeding around trees, shrubs and perennial flowers. I like to apply a mulch of compost or bark dust as soon as I finish weeding. An inch or two of mulch will prevent 90 percent of new weed growth.

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