Maybe gardeners can be more like a lion in March, as there is much pruning and cutting, fertilizing and weeding to be done.
Winter weeds should be cleaned out before they drop seeds in the ground for next fall’s germination. Then, in six weeks, the summer weeds will begin to grow. Keep the same theory in mind and remove them before they seed.
The lovely, colorful foxtail grass has me stumped. In the fall, it looked pretty much done for, so I cut it down. New growth came up, and the January winds desiccated the leaves, and the pot of purple grass looks terrible. So, out with the hedge shears, and I’ll cut it again. I now know I should have waited until February to mow it. Poor thing, it keeps wanting to grow, and I keep cutting it down.
Ornamental grasses are special and make their own statements in a landscape.
Muhly grass should be treated the same way; wait until it starts putting out new leaves, then shear it back. There are other beautiful grasses that grow in our area – and I’m not thinking of St. Augustine.
Try clumps of miscanthus, a.k.a. Japanese silvergrass or pampas grass. The tall plumes look beautiful waving in the breeze. Florida natives, mountain oats (Chasmenthium latifolium), Fakahatchee (Tripsacum dactyloides) and sea oats (that I never see in a nursery) are worth growing. Sea oats are protected on the beach and are not to be disturbed in anyway by humans, although we all know what hurricanes can do to them.
Blue fescue is beautiful as an edging plant, but needs dappled sun only. Mine has been growing for two full years in containers and in the garden. The ones in the sun lasted only a year.
Keep the grasses watered and lightly fertilized during heavy growth (summer) with a fertilizer that has higher nitrogen, the first number given on the package.
The azaleas are showing off their beauty now. The time to prune to shape is after they’ve bloomed. They also can be pruned remedially, but only one-third of their growth should be removed at a time. Cut the heavy oldest stems back to 1-foot. If the shrub is 4 feet tall with four stems coming out of the clump, cut one down this year. Some are late bloomers and may not produce flowers until April. Whatever the season, be a lamb and enjoy the gift from Eastern Asia.
Events for garden enthusiasts
• The Florida Herb Society will meet on Tuesday, March 21, 6:30 p.m., at the Clearwater Main Library, 100 N. Osceola Ave. Herman Trappman, park ranger from Boyd Hill Nature Park in St. Petersburg, will speak on How Native Peoples Used Plants. How to make an herbal deodorant will be shown. Call Penny at 797-1179 or Gail at 393-3943.
• The Pinellas Rose Society meeting will be Wednesday, March 22, at Clearwater East Library, 2251 Drew St. Rob Russell, consulting rosarian, will present how to grow hybrid tea and miniature roses in pots. Call 784-1284.
• Ikenobo Ikebana, Suncoast Chapter is celebrating its 30th anniversary with a Symposium Thursday, March 23 to Sunday, March 26, at the Clearwater Beach Gulfview Resort. A reception is on Thursday from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. A workshop will be on Friday from 10 a.m. to 3:15 p.m., at a cost of $100. A demonstration will be on Saturday, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., at a cost of $15; and a workshop will be on Sunday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at a cost of $100. The resort is at 400 Mandalay Ave. Call 702-496-3763.
• Pinellas County Extension, 12520 Ulmerton Road, will offer Earth’s Most Wonderful Factory, Saturday, March 25, 1 to 2 p.m. The program will show children why plant leaves are important. They also will make a picture from nature’s gifts. A $1 fee covers supplies.
• Sunken Gardens, 1825 Fourth St. N., St. Petersburg, will celebrate its seventh annual Butterfly Festival on Saturday and Sunday, March 25, 26, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Authors Pam Traas and Craig Huegel, members of the North American Butterfly Association, and others will share their knowledge of these amazing insects. A children’s craft area will have butterfly-themed crafts and face painting. Matt Edmonds will present Wonders of Wildlife with free-flying birds and wildlife.
On Sunday, The Tricky Dog Show will be on stage. Plants and a variety of butterfly-themed books, artwork, and more will be available for purchase.
Admission to Sunken Gardens is $8 for adults, $6 for seniors, and $4 for children ages 2 to 11. Call 551-3100.
Ruth Davies is a Pinellas County Master Gardener. Questions can be sent to her at editorial@TBNweekly.com.
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