Vegetables
Prepare
garden soil for Spring planting.
Plant
Seeds.
Beans (lima and
snap), beets, Corn, Cucumbers, Jicama, Melons (Cantaloupe,
Muskmelon, Watermelon), Okra, Green Onions, Peanuts, Pumpkins, Radishes,
Squash and Sunflowers.
Plant
Transplants.
Artichokes (Globe & Jerusalem), Eggplant, Peppers and Tomatoes.
Roses
Continue
fertilizing established roses with granular fertilizers once every 6 weeks. Remember to water the day before application and the day after.
Apply 1/4 to 1/2 cup of Epsom salts.
Fruit
and Nut Trees
Fertilize
deciduous fruit trees with nitrogen when they leaf out.
Thin
deciduous fruit to 6 inch spacing. The earlier this is done after fruit set,
the more size response will be expected in fruit remaining on the tree.
Prune
frost sensitive citrus until mid March, after they begin to leaf out with
new spring growth. Wait until all chance of frost has past but allow time
for re-growth to shade exposed bark, protecting it from sun scald as the
days get longer and hotter.
Plant
Citrus Trees - Young two to five year old trees transplant most
successfully. Larger, older trees are more costly, harder to transplant
without injury (to yourself and the tree), and suffer more from transplant
shock. It will generally be three years after transplant before fruit
production and that is the same whether you plant a 2 year old tree of a 10
year old tree. Go small!
Landscape
Plants
Water
at least once a month unless rains provide adequate moisture.
Control
weeds while they are young, tender, and their roots are manageable, or
before they sprout. Be sure to remove before they set seed. Remove London Rocket and other weeds in the mustard
family now to prevent large populations of False
Chinch bugs in
April. Pre-emergent herbicides containing Pendimethalin or Isoxaben can be
used to control prostrate Spurge and other weeds.
Prune
frost sensitive plants like bougainvillea after they begin to leaf out with
new spring growth.
Apply
mulch around the base of plants to conserve moisture and prevent weeds.
If
you have previously had a problem, apply around the base of agaves a
pesticide labeled for use on grubs to kill the grubs of the Agave Weevil.
Repeat application in June.
Make
plans for Arbor
Day.
Flowers
Plant bee balm (Monarda sp.), black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia
hirta), celosia (Celosia sp.), cosmos (Cosmos sp.), desert marigold (Baileyea
multiradiata), English daisy (Bellis perennis), gilia (Gilia sp.),
firewheel/indian blanket ( Gaillardia), hollyhock (Alcea sp.), marigold
(Tagetes sp.), Mexican hat (Ratibida columnifera), Mexican sunflower (Tithonia
rotundifolia), portulaca (Portulaca sp.), primrose (Primula sp.),
safflower (Carthamus tinctorius), sage (Salvia sp.), verbena (Verbena
sp.), wild hyssop (Agastache sp.) and zinnia (Zinnia sp.).
Herbs
Plant anise, basil, bay, caraway, catnip,
chamomile, chives, curry, epazote, fennel, feverfew, French tarragon,
garlic chives, germander, horehound, hyssop, lavender, lemon balm, lemon
grass, lemon verbena, marjoram, mint, oregano, parsley, rue, safflower,
sage, salad burnet, santolina, savory (summer and winter), scented
geraniums, tansy, thyme, and yarrow.