Don’t be Fooled! The average date of “last freeze” in Dallas County is March 21st-31st.

Planting

• Plant ornamental trees and shrubs while the weather is still cool.
• Divide and replant fall flowering plants such as asters and mums.
• Complete transplanting of established woody plants before budbreak.
• Plant cool season flowers such as alyssum, daisies, dianthus, and geraniums (mid to late March).
• Plant spinach, radishes, lettuce, through mid-April. Also, plant snap beans, cucumbers, sweet corn, lima beans, mustard, tomatoes, and squash late March when soil temperatures are warm enough for each variety.
• Begin to plant warm season flowers as temperatures increase towards the end of the month and as they become available in nurseries.

Pruning

• Prune back overgrown ground cover such as English ivy and Asian jasmine to maintain the height you prefer. Do so before new growth begins.
• Cut back ornamental grasses before new growth appears.
• Remove winter-damage from shrubs and other ornamentals.
• Do not prune spring flowering shrubs and vines, until after blooming such as forsythia, quince, azaleas, spirea, etc.
• Allow foliage on spring bulbs such as daffodils to die back and dry before removing, to create food for next year’s plants.

Plant Care

• Based on a soil test, fertilize established shade trees, ornamental trees, and shrubs as spring growth begins.
• Based on a soil test, fertilize pecan and fruit trees before budbreak. (See plantanswers.com <http://plantanswers.com> for more details)
• Check new growth on ornamental plants weekly for aphids and scale insects and treat if necessary.
• Mow fescue/ryegrass lawns, now growing vigorously, at five-day intervals, or as needed.
• Fertilize fescue lawns in early March as per soil test results.
• Continue to feed pansies and other cool season annuals to extend their bloom season.
• Continue to protect tender plants from late freezes.