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Practical Gardening Monthly

Hello Gardening Friends!  March is here at last!  We're getting closer to Spring and preparing our gardens for the next growing season. I'm back this month with more gardening tips, advice, and inspiration especially for you ... 


Read on for what's new with my FlowerChick website, a handy March Garden "To Do" list, plus see what botanical gardens we've been to lately and more ...

March 2020 Edition
March Garden Tips for the Zone 5 & 6 Gardener
  • START THOSE SEEDS: It’s not too late to get seedlings going indoors, in fact, you still have plenty of time for indoor seed starting.
  • FERTILIZE BULBS: Spring blooming bulbs should be fertilized in March or early April.
  • CLEAN BIRD FEEDERS: As soon as the snow is gone, thoroughly clean out bird feeders and store them until next year.
  • PRUNE DEAD STEMS:  Get outside and begin to cut back dead stems of any perennials or grasses that you left standing over winter. Do Not prune spring flowering shrubs now. Wait until about a month after they bloom. Pruning now may remove this year’s flowers.
  • PLANT BULBS:  Plant summer and fall flowering bulbs as soon as the soil has thawed and dried.
  • TEST YOUR SOIL:  This is a good time to test the soil in your lawn and gardens so you know if lime or other additives / nutrients will be necessary before the growing season starts.
  • DIVIDE PERENNIALS:  Later this month is the ideal time to start dividing perennials. Most perennials do best when divided every three years or so.
  • PRUNE ROSES:  Usually in March, before new growth begins, prune away dead, broken and wayward branches from hybrid tea, grandiflora and floribunda roses. Cut back to about 6 inches tall.  When the forsythia blooms, it's time to prune roses.
  • HOUSEPLANT LOVE: As the days grow longer, you'll probably start to see more growth on your houseplants. You can typically start watering and feeding them a little more this month to help them push new growth.
  • MAKE NEW GARDEN BEDS: Add beds now while you have the time ... before getting caught up in other garden chores and maintenance.
  • PULL WEEDS: Pull any weeds that sprouted or survived over the winter. They’ll come out easier in the soft, damp soil than in summer. Wait until warmer weather to add new mulch.
  • ATTEND A FLOWER / GARDEN SHOW: Attend a flower and garden show in your community. You will learn about new plant introductions, garden design, solutions to landscape problems, and more!
Latest Flower Chick Posts
Read Now


Best Flowers To Grow From Seed

You can save money on flowers for your garden by buying more seeds and fewer plants. Starting plants inside can be very fun and rewarding … plus it helps satisfy your itch to dig in the dirt and garden during the cold months of the year.

Looking for the best flowers to grow from seed? Read on for my all-time favorites …

Explore Here
Top 10 Easy Care Houseplants

A conversation with a coworker inspired me to make a list of the Top 10 Easy Care Houseplants - that anyone can grow! 

These are not needy, drama queen plants. They are hardy, low maintenance, attractive indoor plants that don’t require a green thumb for success ...

Discover Them Now
"All through the long winter, I dream of my garden. On the first day of spring, I dig my fingers deep into the soft earth. I can feel its energy, and my spirits soar."

Helen Hayes

Travel To Midwestern Gardens

Need a little gardening inspiration? Crave a little cheer on these gray, chilly days before Spring has officially sprung?  Get inspired by the Midwest’s gorgeous botanical gardens, arboretums, and other stunning natural attractions! Join us as we visit these wonderful Zone 5 & Zone 6 sites. 

Follow along and plan your own trips … you’ll even find a guide of local attractions to enjoy in the various towns and cities. Come back often as we keep adding new posts to our Illinois Gardens , Indiana Gardens, Michigan Gardens & Wisconsin Gardens categories.

Cantigny Park Wheaton IL

Located approximately 30 miles west of Chicago, Cantigny has a rich history and offers 30 acres of spectacular gardens that change every season.

Indiana Dunes & Friendship Botanic Gardens

Much of Indiana’s Lake Michigan shoreline is part of America’s newest National Park, the Indiana Dunes National Park.

Rockford IL the City of Gardens

My three favorite gardens in the Rockford area are Anderson Japanese Gardens, Klehm Arboretum & Botanic Garden, and Nicholas Conservatory & Gardens. They all offer so much to see!

Visit The Domes in Milwaukee WI

The perfect antidote for cold weather and the winter doldrums?  Why, a visit to the indoor horticultural paradise of Milwaukee’s famous Domes!

Do you like sharing stories?

Is there a botanical garden, arboretum, or nature area you love and would like to see us feature?  Please share below ...

Tell Us About Your Favorite Garden

Did you know ...

Tulip Trivia -   At one point in history, tulips were the most expensive flower. In fact, in the 1600s the flowers were more valuable than most people's homes, and cost almost 10 times what an average working-class man earned in a year.

Thanks for reading!!  I hope you enjoyed the March newsletter.  Take care and I'll see you in April with more tips and inspiration for your gardens. We're getting closer to planting time!  Hurray!

~ Laura a.k.a. Flower Chick


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FlowerChick.com

3820 Capri Court Suite 306, Naperville
IL 60564 United States

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