March is a transition month within the low desert backyard—cool-season crops are wrapping up, fruit timber are setting fruit, and warm-season planting is in full swing. Pruning frost-damaged vegetation, thinning fruit timber, and pulling weeds earlier than they go to seed are just a few important duties to maintain your backyard thriving earlier than temperatures climb.
That is additionally some of the lovely months of the yr within the backyard. Wildflowers bloom, citrus timber are aromatic with blossoms, and delicate temperatures make it the proper time to take pleasure in your out of doors house. Many native gardens provide spring backyard excursions this month—these are a good way to see what’s thriving in Arizona landscapes and collect concepts on your backyard.
Whether or not tending to fruit timber, refreshing raised beds, or planning your warm-season crops, this month’s backyard guidelines will provide help to keep on monitor.
Be aware: The low desert contains elevations beneath 3,500 ft within the Southwest, such because the Phoenix and Tucson metro areas.
“Spring makes its personal assertion, so loud and clear that the gardener appears to be solely considered one of his devices, not the composer.”
Geoffrey Charlesworth
Click on on the title to leap to that part and be taught extra about what to do throughout March:
March YouTube Movies:
Vegetable Gardening Duties for March
March is a busy month for vegetable gardening in Arizona. Whereas cool-season crops are ending up, it’s time to arrange beds, keep wholesome soil, and set up warm-season crops earlier than summer time’s warmth arrives.
In case you’re questioning what to plant this month, try my What to Plant in March weblog submit and my Arizona Planting Calendars for an entire information.
Put together Backyard Beds for Spring Planting
A profitable spring backyard begins with wholesome, nutrient-rich soil. March is a superb time to refresh backyard beds:
Add compost and natural matter to enhance soil construction and fertility.
In case your soil stage has dropped, that’s a very good signal—it means natural materials has damaged down and fed your vegetation. Now, prime up your beds with worm castings, compost, and a raised mattress combine. I get all of these issues from Arizona Worm Farm.
For beds with present vegetation, feed them by layering compost and worm castings over the mulch, then water deeply to soak it in.
Contemplate soil testing at the very least annually to observe nutrient ranges and soil well being. I take advantage of this soil check equipment from Amazon. Add a balanced natural fertilizer if wanted based mostly in your soil check outcomes.
For extra soil-building suggestions, try my information to making ready your soil for planting.
Vermicomposting: Pure Fertilizer for Your Backyard
I don’t use a lot fertilizer in my backyard as a result of my worms do the work for me!
In-bed vermicomposting is among the best methods to create nutrient-rich compost proper the place your vegetation want it.
Worms break down kitchen scraps into a strong pure fertilizer, enhancing soil construction and microbial life.
In case you haven’t began vermicomposting but, now is a superb time so as to add a worm bin to your raised mattress.
Study extra about how one can add in-bed worm bins to your backyard beds in my Composting with Worms Information.
My March Backyard Journals
Twice a month, I ship my private backyard journal to members of “Rising within the Backyard Academy.” From the primary seedling to the final harvest, you’ll be able to observe my gardening adventures in Arizona’s distinctive low desert. Entry the previous three years of backyard journals and month-to-month lessons as a member.
Backyard Pests in March
As temperatures rise, harassed winter crops entice pests. As an alternative of treating infestations, it’s usually greatest to take away struggling vegetation—lower them off on the base to go away roots in place for soil well being. Preserve bolting herbs like dill and cilantro to draw useful bugs that assist management pests naturally.
Aphids love tender new progress, however ladybeetles, lacewings, and hoverflies will deal with them if given time. Companion planting with alyssum, marigolds, and nasturtiums also can assist.
Genista caterpillars on Texas Mountain Laurels trigger some defoliation however often don’t hurt the tree. If wanted, deal with with Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) whereas caterpillars are small.
Companion planting helps pure pest management—flowers like alyssum and marigolds entice predatory bugs, whereas basil and cilantro deter pests. Study extra warm-season companion vegetation on this information.
Container Gardening Duties
In case you’re rising greens in containers, keep in mind they usually want extra frequent watering than in-ground beds. March can also be a good time to fertilize containers, particularly in case you’ve seen slowed progress or pale foliage.
Selecting the Proper Container Dimension
Greater is healthier—for tomatoes, peppers, and different bigger vegetation, at the very least 10 gallons is good, however 20 gallons is even higher.
Bigger containers retain moisture longer and supply extra root house, resulting in more healthy vegetation.
Need assistance selecting the best dimension? Try my Information to Container Sizes.
Feeding Container Crops
Worm castings are a superb natural increase for container soil. In case you harvest out of your backyard beds, combine them into your containers to help wholesome microbes and plant progress.
No worm castings? This natural fertilizer works effectively for container gardening.
Watering Containers Effectively
As a result of containers dry out quicker, verify moisture ranges usually and alter your watering schedule as temperatures rise. As an alternative of watering every day, I take advantage of oyas to maintain containers evenly hydrated with minimal effort.
What Are Oyas & How Do They Assist?
Oyas are porous clay pots buried within the soil and full of water. The water slowly seeps out because the soil dries, delivering deep, regular moisture on to plant roots.
This implies much less watering, much less evaporation, and stronger, deeper roots. Good for decent, dry climates.
Forestall overwatering: Pop off the lid—if it’s empty or the water stage is low, it’s time to water. If there’s nonetheless loads of water inside, the soil has sufficient moisture.
Wish to strive oyas in your container backyard? Click on right here to buy oyas.
Flower Gardening Duties
March is a spectacular month for flowers within the low desert, with wildflowers in full bloom and cool-season hardy annuals blooming.
Wildflowers & Perennials in Bloom
Fall-planted wildflowers—together with poppies, lupine, and blue flax—will proceed blooming via a lot of March. Benefit from the present!
Purple lilac vine is in full bloom now. This Australian native thrives in Arizona winters and appears lovely on a trellis or as floor cowl. Its shiny inexperienced foliage stays even after the flowers fade.
Sunflowers: Lengthy Blooming & Warmth-Tolerant
Sunflowers could be planted from February via July, that means you’ll be able to take pleasure in their blooms practically year-round.
These brilliant, cheerful flowers add colour and selection to any summer time backyard. For rising suggestions, try Easy methods to Develop Sunflowers.
Making the Transition to Heat-Season Annuals
Keep away from planting new cool-season annuals—their rising time is brief, and warmth will stress them quickly. As an alternative, plant warm-season annuals as they turn out to be accessible at nurseries. Preserve seedlings thinned for higher blooms.
Wish to know which flowers to plant this month? Try my Flower Planting Information and Arizona Flower Planting Calendar for one of the best choices!
Caring for Roses Throughout March
March is a key month for pruning, fertilizing, and planting roses to make sure robust progress and exquisite spring blooms.
Prune & Clear Up: In case you didn’t prune in January, do it now. Take away useless or broken branches, skinny weak progress, and clear up fallen leaves to stop pests and illness. For youthful roses, prune evenly.
Fertilize: As soon as new leaves seem, begin feeding. Use liquid fish emulsion for newly planted roses and granular natural fertilizer for established ones. All the time deep-water earlier than and after fertilizing.
Plant New Roses: Container-grown roses could be planted now to determine earlier than the summer time warmth. I get mine from Heirloom Roses—use code GARDENAZ20 for 20% off via 2025.
Mulch for Wholesome Development: A 2-4 inch layer of compost or wooden chips helps retain moisture, suppress weeds, and stop illness as temperatures rise.
For extra detailed rose care, try my Rose Rising Information.
Herb Gardening
March is the proper time to reap, prune, plant, and divide herbs whereas temperatures are nonetheless delicate. Taking good care of your herbs now will hold them wholesome, productive, and prepared for the hotter months forward.
Let annual herbs like dill, cilantro, and fennel bolt—their flowers entice pollinators, and it can save you seeds for subsequent season.
Take away bolted cool-season crops by slicing them on the base. This leaves the roots in place to complement the soil and stop soil disturbance. Spent vegetation could be composted or fed to chickens.
Trim again woody herbs like oregano, rosemary, and thyme by about one-third. This promotes recent progress—in case you see useless wooden on the base, lower simply above the place new inexperienced progress is rising. Study extra in my Oregano Rising Information.
Pinch again basil as soon as it has a number of units of true leaves to encourage bushy, wholesome progress.
Harvest chamomile flowers when the petals start to fall again. Dry them for home made chamomile tea—use one teaspoon dried or two teaspoons recent per cup of water. Learn my Chamomile Rising Information for extra particulars.
Harvest lavender as buds start to open. Reduce early within the morning and dry in a cool, shaded place.
Divide mint or lemon balm in the event that they’ve outgrown their containers—this prevents overcrowding and encourages wholesome regrowth.
Lemongrass grows quick, and a very good spring pruning retains it manageable and wholesome. Reduce it again to a few foot tall, eradicating any useless or dried-out stalks. In case your lemongrass is overcrowded, you may as well divide it now. Learn my Lemongrass Rising Information for extra particulars.
Fruit Timber, Berries, and Citrus
March is a vital month for planting, fertilizing, and pruning fruit timber whereas making ready for the upcoming rising season.
Planting Fruit Timber & Citrus
March is a superb time to plant fruit and citrus timber earlier than the summer time warmth arrives.
Select low-chill varieties (lower than 400 chill hours) that mature early and are self-pollinating. See my Fruit Tree Planting Information for advisable varieties.
For citrus, choose the precise selection on your house and style preferences. Study extra in my Citrus Rising Information.
Blackberries and grapes may also be planted this month.
Thinning Fruit for a Higher Harvest
Skinny fruit on deciduous timber when it’s smaller than an inch in diameter, a few month after full bloom.
Depart 4-6 inches between every fruit—this prevents small, crowded, lower-quality fruit. See my Information to Thinning Fruit Timber for extra particulars.
Fertilizing & Feeding
After bud break, fertilize deciduous fruit timber and citrus with an natural fertilizer.
Fertilize blackberries with a balanced fertilizer.
Water deeply earlier than and after fertilizing to assist vitamins attain the roots.
Pruning & Cleansing Up Timber
In case you haven’t already, prune deciduous fruit timber and clear up fallen leaves and particles to stop pests and illness. Learn to prune fruit timber on this information.
Prune grapevines earlier than they start to leaf out in case you didn’t do it in February.
For citrus, prune evenly—solely take away useless, broken, or crossing branches.
Keep away from over-pruning citrus! Preserve decrease branches intact to shade the trunk and stop solar harm. For extra citrus care suggestions, try 10 Frequent Citrus Rising Errors.
Correctly thinning, fertilizing, and pruning will set your fruit timber up for a robust rising season and a greater harvest.
Panorama Plant Duties Throughout March
March is the time to prune, plant, and management weeds earlier than the warmth arrives.
Weed Management: Take away Stinknet Now
Pull weeds earlier than they go to seed—use a hula hoe or weed torch, and keep away from chemical sprays.
Look ahead to stinknet! This invasive weed spreads quick, chokes out native vegetation, and triggers allergic reactions. Take away stinknet earlier than it flowers and bag it—don’t compost it.
Prune & Clear Up Frost-Broken Crops
Trim frost-tender vegetation like hibiscus and lantana to encourage recent progress.
Form evergreen timber and shrubs and take away useless branches from cold-hardy timber.
Test if struggling vegetation are alive—scratch the bark. Inexperienced? Give it time. Brown? Exchange it.
Planting Timber & Shrubs
Plant cold-tolerant timber, bushes, and perennials, together with frost-sensitive vegetation like hibiscus and lantana.
Add summer-flowering shrubs, however house them correctly to stop overcrowding.
Don’t prune or fertilize newly planted timber or shrubs—allow them to set up first.
Fertilizing Panorama Crops
Fertilize solely established timber and shrubs—native vegetation often don’t want it.
Increase plant restoration with Nutrient+ from Arizona Worm Farm:
Apply 1 cup per 3-foot tree top on to timber and water effectively.
Dilute 4:1 for smaller vegetation.
Watering Your Backyard and Panorama
Constant, deep watering is crucial for serving to vegetation set up robust root techniques and making ready your backyard for the hotter months forward.
Use watering grids in raised beds to make sure even moisture, no dry spots, and no wasted water. Since they’re linked to irrigation, it’s simple to regulate watering as temperatures rise.
Test your irrigation system and timer—run the system, examine drips and sprinklers for leaks, and guarantee correct protection.
Deep water panorama vegetation this month to arrange for summer time and flush extra salts from the soil.
Annuals will want extra frequent watering as temperatures rise. Water to a depth of 6 inches, letting the highest of the soil dry out earlier than watering once more.
Containers dry out quicker—verify moisture ranges with a meter or really feel the highest inch of soil earlier than watering.
Water citrus timber as soon as each 2-3 weeks and fruit timber each 7-10 days.
Try my Watering and Water Conservation Assets for extra particulars on environment friendly watering.
