A quick go-to guide for what to do in your garden/yard this month

1. Prep your veggie beds
   
   The soil has thawed and temperatures are starting to rise. This is a great time to get out in your garden and prep your beds for spring/summer gardening. Deeply till in several inches of compost, such as our favorite, Master Nurseryman's Bumper Crop. Then, water to wet the soil as deeply as you dug (check with a trowel) and leave the bed to mellow until you are ready to plant. If you're like me, this will be in the next couple weeks.
   
   
2. Cut back ornamentals
   
   When spring bulbs start blooming, it's time to cut grass clumps back to within a few inches of the ground. An easy and quick way to do this is to take a rope or bungee cord and wrap it around the clump of grass. Then take your pruners and cut the clump just above the cord.
   
   
3. Sow seeds outdoors
   
   At about the 3rd or 4th week in March you can begin to sow your seeds directly into the ground; just make sure to follow packet instructions when planting. To aid in growing a more abundant crop make sure to add a fertilizer to your grow boxes or garden beds. One that we love is Dr. Earth #5 -Tomato, Vegetable, and Herb Fertilizer. Also, if you had grub problems like I did last summer, you can add Green Light Grub Control to make sure those pesky little guys stay at bay! One application a year is all you need. Note: If you started your seeds indoors, you'll need to make sure to acclimate the seedlings before directly planting into your raised beds or pots. (Acclimate means to adjust to outdoor temperatures.) For about 7-10 days you will want to take the seedling trays outside for a few hours during the day and bring back in at night.
   
   
4. Bulb detail
   
   To help bulbs come back the following year, you'll need to take good care of them while they are leafing and in bloom. You'll want to water, fertilize, and pull off any brown foliage. If you don't have any bulbs in your beds or containers, then now is the time to be planting them. We just got in our huge assortment of bulbs, ranging in variety from dahlias, callas, daylilies and more! Over 40 beautiful and unique varieties. Note: If you were hoping to see your bulbs from last year pop back up and they never did, well, here's some reasons as to why that may have happened: they rotted in too wet soil, they died of drought in overly dry winter soil, maybe they weren't cold hardy bulbs, or pests or rodents possibly got to them.
   
   
5. Lawn care
   
   Apply fertilizer to your lawn to encourage late-month greening. We recommend Easy Livin Pre-Emergent Weed Preventer and Lawn Food, or if you would like to go the organic route use Dr. Earth Super Natural Lawn Food
   
   
6. Time to plant bare-root
   
   Some garden centers, like Sun River, sell plants and trees not just in containers, but also in bare-root form. Plants sold bare root are dormant and should be planted ASAP. The roots should be kept moist at all times while exposed. When planting, you will want to soak the roots in water for several hours, and plant in well amended soil so that the top of the roots sits at ground level. If you're not familiar with the term "bare-root," here's what it means: it's a plant that is sold with the roots exposed, rather than in soil. Oftentimes, you'l find that some perennials, roses, berries, fruit trees, and shrubs come in bare-root form.
   
   So why choose bare-root? Bare-root is often times less expensive, since they take up less space and are easier to ship from growers. Finally, bare-root plants often establish themselves more quickly than container-grown plants -- their roots are often sturdier and not pot-bound, and the plants aren't "spoiled" by overly rich potting soil.
   
   
7. Give life back to your containers
   
   Toss out tired and dry looking plants and fill your pots with spring bloomers, such as poppies, ranunculus, pansies, violas, snapdragons, or vinca vine.

QUICK NOTE ~ If you would like to know more about what to do in your garden for this month, please feel free to contact me at the email address listed below with any questions you may have. ~

A brief list of the edibles that just shipped in form Oregon and Washington

1. Berries
   
   Raspberries ~ 7 varieties, including a new black raspberry
   Rhubarb
   Strawberries ~ 6 varieties
   Grapes
   Blueberries ~ 4 varieties
   Currents
   Gooseberries
   Blackberries ~ 3 varieties
   
   
2. Onions/Shallots
   
   Walla Walla, Yellow Sweet Spanish, Red Bull Onion, and mixed onion cases
   
   
3. Asparagus
   
   Purple Passion and Jersey Giant
   
   
4. Potatoes
   
   Fingerlings and mixed baby potatoes
   
   
5. Garlic
   
   Elephant and Softneck mixed cases

I'm sure some of you are probably asking yourselves, "why is Sun River posting an article on succulents when all I want to think about is spring?" Or, "succulents are so boring, I want a plant that's going to have a pretty flower to go with it." Well, that's all fine with us as well, BUT we are here to tell you that succulents are back, and in a big way! You might not have taken notice yet, but look around, they are popping up everywhere these days, from your favorite home and garden magazines to the trendiest boutiques and restaurants.

Quick list of reasons WHY:

Succulents are easy to cultivate and require minimal maintenance.

Their leaves and stems come in all colors, so succulents are intriguing year-round, not only when in bloom. And most produce vivid-hued flowers as well.

Succulents range in size from tiny-leaved ground covers to tall trees. Many have dramatic geometric shapes that add interest to gardens large and small.

Because they are full of water, succulents are fire-resistant and fire-retardant. They are an excellent landscape choice where wildfires are a concern.

Water shortages and rationing are impacting many regions. Succulents are low-water plants---a lush alternative to thirsty lawns and flowerbeds.

So...whether on a sunny windowsill, or on a back deck, container-grown succulents can offer all the pleasures of in-ground gardening, but at a much more relaxed pace. And because succulents look so good in almost anything, there seems to be no limit when it comes to finding the right container to showcase your succulents! Once, we even heard a customer refer to succulents as "plants that allow you to be lazy!"

Sun River's Succulent Care Tips:

1. Keep the plant in full sun.
2. When planting in a container, make sure to use a cactus planting mix, such as the one pictured below.
3. Water infrequently -- once every 10 days to two weeks.
4. Fertilize sparingly; we suggest using an all-organic like Dr. Earth Starter Fertilizer which contains very beneficial soil microbes and mycorrhizae.
5. Succulents can handle temperature fluctuations, but don't allow them to freeze.

Common/easy care varieties:

Agaves
Aloes
Aeoniums
Crassulas
Euphorbias
Echeverias
Kalanchoes
Sedums
Sempervivums

Our summer flowering bulbs have finally arrived, and with over 40 different varieties, we're pretty sure you won't have a hard time finding the right "splash of color" to add to your landscape. It's time to them plant now!

Hello, my name is Tanya and more than just about anything else I love gardening!

I really hope you enjoy reading our newsletters. Please feel free to contact me with any of your gardening questions or comments you may have! Enjoy...and keep digging!

Email Tanya: tanya@sunrivergardens.com