5. Fertilize spring flowering bulbs. An application of bone meal top dressed around your plants will give your flowers a boost.
6. If you have major landscaping plans in mind, start getting bids on your project now before the landscaping season starts.
7. Take in a few branches of flowering bushes and trees to force. Some good choices for forcing are forsythia and pussy willow.
8. In the southern portions of the Great Lakes Region, start to gradually remove mulch. Press back any plants that may have suffered frost heave.
9. As the soil dries, seeds of poppy, sweet peas, and larkspur can be directly seeded in their growing sites. Those who live in zone 4 might wish to wait until early April to do this.
10. If you can't wait for the season, buy a few pansies to pot up. They are very hardy, and will stand a light frost and even snow. If colder temps than 30 degrees are predicted, move them to a sheltered spot or cover them.
11. As March progresses, some of the more cold-hardy vegetables such as broccoli can be planted. Set the plants out in areas with protection, or apply row covers.
12. In zones 5 to 6, apply acid-based fertilizer to plants such as rhododendrons and azaleas. Zone 4 gardeners can apply these fertilizers the last of the month.
13. Continue to feed the birds until late Spring.
