March in the Desert Garden

March is prime planting time in the desert — warm days, cool nights, and soil that’s finally warm enough for tomatoes, peppers, and summer color to take off.

What To Do in March

Grass

• Transition time: as Bermuda greens up, mow the ryegrass shorter to help the Bermuda take over, or let the rye fade as temperatures climb.
• Apply a pre-emergent to head off summer weeds.
• Start stepping irrigation back up as the days warm.

Trees & Shrubs

• Great month to plant almost anything — trees, shrubs, cacti, and succulents all establish well before summer.
• Fertilize established trees and shrubs as they push spring growth.
• Finish any remaining frost-damage cleanup; new growth will hide the cuts quickly.

Flowers

• Plant warm-season annuals: marigolds, zinnias, vinca, celosia, and salvia.
• Feed roses every four to six weeks through the growing season.
• Deadhead spring bulbs after they finish, but leave the foliage to recharge the bulb.

Vegetables

• Plant warm-season crops now: tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, beans, squash, cucumbers, melons, and corn.
• Sow basil and other warm-season herbs.
• Harvest the last of the cool-season greens before they bolt in the heat.

Don’t Make These Garden Mistakes in March

1. Don’t wait too long to plant summer vegetables — anything in the ground by late March beats the June heat; later plantings struggle.
2. Don’t skip pre-emergent; summer weeds are far easier to prevent than to pull.
3. Don’t let new transplants dry out — spring wind pulls moisture fast.
4. Don’t over-fertilize young plants; light and regular beats heavy and occasional.
5. Don’t forget to check and adjust your irrigation timer as the days lengthen.