March Flower Gardening Calendar: A Complete Guide to Flower Care and Management

This month the temperature turns warmer and there is more rain. Flowers and trees begin to sprout, making it the best season for propagating and transplanting flowers.

1. Sowing. Annual herbaceous flowers and most flowering trees and shrubs are usually sown in spring. Preparations before sowing should be made in advance, sowing should be done at the right time, and protective facilities such as plastic film should be used to maintain a certain temperature and humidity and encourage germination.

2. Grafting. This month is the best period for grafting propagation of most flowering trees and shrubs. Rootstocks and scions should be prepared in advance, grafting should be carried out carefully and meticulously, and post-grafting management should be done well to ensure the graft takes.

3. Cuttings. This month's high air humidity and moderate temperatures favor the formation of callus tissue at the cut and the differentiation of roots. In spring, young cuttings also have a longer growing period, so plants meeting a certain specification can be produced in the same year. Healthy branches should be selected as cuttings to ensure successful rooting.

4. Transplanting flowering trees and shrubs. Flowering trees and shrubs are just beginning to sprout, so transplanting causes little damage and the survival rate is high, making this the best time for transplanting. Root damage should be minimized during transplanting, and species that are difficult to establish should be transplanted with a soil ball.

5. Watering. As flowers revive and enter their growing period, the frequency and amount of watering should gradually increase. Especially for flowering trees and shrubs with buds about to open, watering should be increased to encourage the buds to bloom.

6. Fertilizing. Early-spring flowers do not need much nutrients, so fertilizing gradually begins once they start to sprout and grow. The fertilizer concentration should also go from dilute to concentrated, gradually increasing the amount applied.

7. Pruning. Some woody flowers that bloom in early spring, such as ornamental peach and crabapple, should be pruned after flowering to promote the sprouting of new branches. Generally only 2 to 3 buds at the base are kept, and the rest are cut off. When new shoots grow to 10 cm to 15 cm, pinch out the growing tips to form more flowering branches.

8. Repotting. Generally, small potted flowers should have their soil changed once a year, and large potted flowers should be repotted once every 2-3 years. When repotting, dead branches and yellow leaves should be cut off, and some aged or rotted roots should be trimmed away. At the same time, soil nutrients should be increased and soil permeability improved.

9. Pest and disease control. As temperatures rise, pests and diseases gradually increase. Observation should be strengthened and timely control carried out to reduce the harm pests and diseases cause to flowers and trees.