Here are your monthly tips for March:

• As soon as the snow has melted and the weather permits, you can clean out your beds. Remove wintermulches from your flower beds, the purpose of winter mulch is to act as a protector from sudden changes of temperature and chilling winds, so keep in mind that it is still winter. Acclimatize your plants by removing the mulch over a period of days, allowing the light and air to reach the new growth slowly. It is much better to remove the mulch a little later than to remove it too early.
  
  
• It is a good time to rake and clear your planting areas of dead branches, leaves and debris. Once clean, it is a good time to mulch, while there's still plenty of space between the emerging bedding plants.
  
  
• Late March is a good time to transplant shrubs and trees. As soon as the soil is workable, but before buds have swelled or broken open, you can move shrubs and trees.
  
  
• Fertilize shrubs and trees if this wasn't done in February. Use an acid type rhododendron fertilizer to feed evergreens, conifers, broad leaf evergreens, rhododendrons, azaleas and camellias. Use an all-purpose fertilizer to feed roses and other deciduous trees and shrubs. If you use granular type fertilizers, be sure to water it in thoroughly.
  
  
• Finish pruning fruit trees this month - before the buds swell.


• If weeds occur in bulb beds, pull them by hand so that the bulbs and roots will not be disturbed.


• Plant Primroses and Pansies now for color.

Try to attend one of the Flower and Garden shows in your area to get some great ideas for your garden this Spring.

The 2009 Philadelphia Flower Show “Bella Italia”
Dates:   Sunday, March 1st through Sunday March 8
Place:    Pennsylvania Convention Center
                             12th and Arch Streets
                     Philadelphia, PA 19107-2299
Hours:
Sundays, March 1 and March 8:                              8 am to 6 pm
Monday through Friday March 2 to March 6:         10 am to 9:30 pm
Saturday:                                                                      8 am to 9:30 pm