Don't Panic: An Expert Ridgefield Gardener Offers Tips For March Snow

RIDGEFIELD, CT — Gardeners across southwest Connecticut are poised to dig into the spring planting season, but one Ridgefield gardening expert said the late-season snow has uprooted her hopes.

The mild winter had Lisa Chuma, a member of The Ridgefield Garden Club, looking forward to a "gradual segue into spring." But now, after the half-foot of winter the town slogged through on Tuesday, and the promise of more on Friday, she said local gardeners can expect gardening anxiety from the familiar March playbook.

"It's snow, snow, snow and cold, and then all of a sudden it gets warm, and there's a million things to do," she said. "When everything is blooming, sprouting, all at once, it can get a little hectic."

For those who want to get a jump on the planting season but are put off by the forecast, Chuma recommended to start seeding indoors. Braver souls may want to plant cool season vegetables, such as spinach, cabbage and broccoli.

"As far as your flower garden, wait until the snow clears, and the mud has dried up," Chuma said, "as leaving behind footprints can create more problems than it's worth."

Trees and shrubs are the exception to March horticultural caution, Chuma said. Gardeners should dig their holes just slightly wider than the root ball of their planting, and set it into the soil at the same height it sat in its pot.

"It's an easier transition, because the temperatures are cool, there's more moisture in the ground," Chuma explained.

March is also the ideal time to take a hard look at your beds of perennials.

Divide anything that you currently have in your garden that's maybe gotten a little too big for its spot," Chuma said. "Divide it into several plants and move things around or start a new garden."

When it comes to division, not all perennials are created equally. Some, such as chrysanthemums, should be separated every few years. Peonies, on the other hand, can thrive for ten years without being divided.

Chuma recommended laying off any major maintenance this month, but suggests March is not too early to do a little cleaning in your perennial garden, before any new growth occurs.

"You can cut things back, clear away any debris, leaves or dead material that's kind of accumulated around the base of the perennial," she said.

When you have cleared that debris away, drop some mulch. It will reduce weeds and increase soil moisture and feed the soil.