2026 March Musings Part II: In-Between-Blog Notes and Observations
March 24, 2026
Before March rolls around, I’d like to share a few ways I’m beginning to tackle my outdoor to-do list. As I’ve pointed out previously, it’s been a long winter cooped up inside recovering from surgery and due to so much snow. I am more than itchy to get out there now that we’re clear.
I’ve been slowly raking perennial beds and actually weeding. It is at this time that the root system of obnoxious grasses and perennial broadleaf weeds are at a weak point. I highly recommend weeding these out before they get a stronghold.
I have already fertilized all the bulbs that have emerged with Espoma Flower-Tone. I will come back and fertilize all the rest of the perennials when they show growth. By the way, so far it seems that this is an amazing year for daffodils. They are strong and have multiplied. Don’t want to jinx it!
I prefer to have all my pruning finished by the end of February, but I’m not done yet. It is okay to prune through the end of March. At least the most difficult tree work is done. In the next few days or so I’ll be cutting back my few roses, as well as hydrangeas and lilacs. Remember that it is ok to cut out diseased or dead wood any time of the year.
If you have been troubled by rabbits, deer, or other pesky creatures, do continue to apply repellents. I use Liquid Fence and Repels-All, but please know that most repellents are not systemic. This means that as the plants grow, that growth is not protected. I apply every two weeks at this time of the year. Keep observing.
The garlic in the garden has emerged, so I have lifted and put aside some of the straw mulch and left some so the plants can adjust to sun and cold.
The peas I started indoors on March 13th are already too big for their britches. They are off the heat mats and are down in the cool cellar windows. I’ll be hardening them off outside for a few hours a day, weather permitting. Hopefully, they’ll really slow down before going out to the garden.
The fight for the bluebird house in the garden is ongoing between the bluebirds and house sparrows. As you know, I quite dislike house sparrows. When they start to win, I open the door, empty any nest material (well before any eggs are laid), and leave it open for a day or two, and then close it up again. Bluebirds will win; I have spoken.
It has been a pleasure to see a yellow-shafted flicker on the suet feeder just a foot off the kitchen window. I’ve never seen him that close before. Lots of other species frequent this feeder, too. In fact, all birds are going a bit nuts around here. I love it!
So now I’ll be raking the lawn, enjoying the peace and quiet between snow-out and the screaming leaf blowers. Jeez, I hope I’ll have enough to say in the April blog. I thought this would be much shorter!
Lastly, a certain VIP at Nashua Farmers’ has recently coined Gene and me as the “plucky farmers”. This suits us just fine, and you most likely will see this fine title crop up in the future.
That’s it for now.
Judy (aka the plucky farmer”)