Last updated on February 28th, 2021
Happy third day of March, everyone! If it wasn’t for my calendar, I’d hardly know that spring arrives in 17 days. Winter continues here New York’s Hudson Valley (zone 5-b), along with bitter cold and gale-force winds. And would you believe that another snow storm is expected tonight? We won’t open our swimming pool this month, but we WILL attempt a weather-proof list of house and garden chores:
TIP: For more details about the various subjects in this post, click the highlighted text.
Winter-Sowing. No matter the frigid weather, plant perennials and hardy annuals (including spinach) outdoors in make-shift greenhouses. Wait until later this month or early next to sow tender annuals and vegetables.
Play “Pick-Up-Stix.” Is your lawn littered with twigs and branches that broke loose during winter storms? Then do what I’m currently doing, and spend a few minutes each day picking up the debris. You’ll be glad to have the job completed before it’s time to fire up the lawn mower.
Gather and Shred Leaves. Shredded leaves make a terrific — and free — mulch for all veggie and flower beds. I shred mine with this light-weight machine.
Save Your Newspapers! I rely on the New York Times and a layer of mulch to keep my garden beds weed-free for an entire season. Here’s the how-to.
Arborvitae. If heavy, wet snow has flattened branches, lash them into place with twine. Stems should regain their upright habit over the course of spring and summer. More details.
Roses. Wait until the end of the month to uncover shrubs (you remembered to mulch them, yes?). Prune the shrubs at your convenience but before the leaf buds break. (I prune my David Austin roses back by half; I do not prune my climbing roses, except to relieve them of dead wood.)
Grab Your Pruners. Cut out all dead wood from trees and shrubs. Also, prune for shapeliness your Peegee hydrangeas, Rose of Sharon, and other shrubs that bloom in late summer. Cut Buddleja (the common “Butterfly Bush”) back to ground-level now, unless you want a monster-size shrub (like mine, pictured above).
Iris. Examine these and other rhizomes for signs of heaving. Especially if your garden has not been mulched, you will need to go over plantings and firm back roots dislodged by frost.
Spring-Flowering Trees & Shrubs. Want flowers for the house? Cut dormant stems of forsythia, pussy willow, crab apple (above), and quince. Give the stems water, light, and warmth (65°F max), and they will bloom for you in only two weeks time. More ideas.
Houseplants. These are growing rapidly now, due to lengthening hours of daylight. Reward them with extra food and water.
African Violets. Are yours refusing to bloom? Better read this post.
Forced Tulips & Other Dutch Bulbs. Only some of these are worth keeping for future planting outdoors. For details, be sure to read this fascinating post: Forced Bulbs: What to Keep, and What to Toss.
Clean Your Bedroom. Or, just watch me clean mine.
Make Almond Butter Cookies. As a reward for your garden and household work, treat yourself to these gluten-free delights. As cookies go, they’re actually healthy. My step-by-step recipe.
Bake a Seasonal Tart. Grab some fresh asparagus spears, and turn them into a tart. Check out my recipe for The Best Asparagus Tart in the World.
Make Polpettine! These old-world Italian meatballs (which we should never confuse with American meatballs) are flavored with Parmesan cheese, fragrant herbs, and a big burst of lemon. They’re perfect for a March dinner party. The easy recipe.
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Carol says
We are in the middle of another snow storm here. I’ve been setting at the table watching the bird feeding frenzy at the feeders. The word is out that the feeders are full and the variety of birds that show up increases every winter.
Soon I’ll be gathering up supplies to head down to the basement to fill some more jugs and plant more seeds. I may even snip a few branches when I take the jugs outside. Some new blooms to brighten things up sound heavenly.
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Hi Carol – Winter bird-watching is one of my favorite activities, too. Enjoy your day!
Christine says
Great list of winter chores….I’ll be setting down my teacup shortly. Keeping my sanity this month by going to the garden and flower shows for an early dose of spring. For any New England gardeners, Smith college in Northampton, MA has a Spring Bulb Show in their antique glasshouse through March 17th. Berkshire Botanical Gardens has same through March 29th.
Joanne says
With overnight temperature of 35 below and 2 feet of snow covering my garden here in Alberta it will be a very long time before I do any outdoor chores. Instead reorganizing some cupboards, knitting, and reading.
But, today, to try and keep warm and to not pay too much of our ridiculous, cruel, sardistic carbon tax I am making bierocks (runzas), a meat, cabbage, sauerkraut filled bun of Russian and German origin. It’s a first for me so hope they turn out well.
Keep warm, Kevin, and everyone else out there affected by this return of 1890’s weather.
Betty says
Here in northwest Iowa we have a high for the day in negative numbers (and don’t even ask about wind chill) and 30 inches of snow in a week there is not much outdoor activity. Hoping this means March will go out like a lamb and then we can get busy with all those spring chores. Last year we didn’t have spring, went from winter to summer.
Sue in Oregon says
Feeling bad for all you people in the mid-west and east coast. Wow. You have had one nasty winter.
We have had snow in some places. It was spotty. Where I live just two tiny snow mornings and gone by noon. You must have a terrible Spring Fever by now. It has to end though, doesn’t it?
Marlyn says
-11 today for a low, it was -15 yesterday. There’s 30″ of snow in my yard. I know it’s over my knees when I slog thru to fill the bird feeders. It will be long time before any outside garden chores will happen. March has just begun and that is typically the snowiest month in MN. We broke the record for Feb. for snow by 6″, which was from 1975. Feb. total was 28″. I enjoy seeing you clean, since I don’t much. I also enjoy your recipes for a variety of foods. Happy Spring in 17 days!
Debbie - MountainMama says
Up on the mountain top we are still deep in snow, and frigid temps expected all week – the only garden chore I’m doing right now is seed starting in my utility room….but next season I am TOTALLY trying your milk jug trick!!! I have tons of sticks to pick up once the snow melts – I always throw them into my bonfire pit for the first fire of the season. Looking forward to that!