Joy spreads the heart, and with a general song,
Spring issues out, and leads the jolly months along.
~ John Dryden, “The Flower and the Leaf,” Fables Ancient and Modern (1700)
March winds are blowing. Snow piles are melting. Up from the frozen earth, snowdrops and crocus
are braving the elements to assure us that once again spring will arrive. With that reassurance, it is
time to get outside and get ready for the gardening season.
It is still too early rake (beneficial bees and bugs are still sleeping in those dead leaves and dried
stems), too cold to plant (it will be at least another month), but it’s just the right time to prune and
tidy up. March is the perfect time here in northern New England to get out those pruners and take
out branches that are crossing, damaged, or dead and to pick up all those branches blown down over
the winter. Not only is pruning important to maintain the health and appearance of trees and shrubs,
it is a great way to shake off any winter sluggishness lingering in our bones and brains! Apple, peach,
plum, cherry, quince, crab apple and other such fruit trees should be tackled now. However,
flowering ornamental shrubs such as lilacs, azaleas, magnolias and rhododendrons are best pruned
right after they finish blooming. While at it, why not save a few branches to bring inside and place in
a container of water to force bloom? It is a great way to jump-start spring. Wondering what to do
with an excess of branches? A fun project is to make a trellis out of those discarded twigs. Look for
how-to instructions on YouTube or garden center websites – the University of Maine Extension has
a good how-to on its site. There are lots of shapes and sizes to choose from in order to design and
build a unique trellis that can add a long-lasting and beautiful feature to the garden.
Soon the daffodils and other cheerful signs of spring will be up, spreading joy and supplying much
needed food to awakening pollinators. It is important to have as many early-blooming nectar and
pollen sources for bees, moths and butterflies as possible. In addition to spring bulbs and early
blooming perennials, two great shrubs to include in the garden are willows and witch hazels. Pussy
Willow (Salix discolor) and Black Willow (Salix nigra) are shrubs native to Maine and bloom in early
spring. They have lovely branches filled with soft fuzzy flowers that can be clipped and made into
wreaths or brought inside to add a touch of whimsy to any bouquet. Witch Hazel (Hamamelis vernalis)
is hardy to Zone 4 and is another good food source for pollinators, as well as a source for delicate
color and vertical interest in the landscape. If looking for a bit more WOW in the early garden, there
are many perennials that blossom early spring to provide bright colors for visual impact, and as an
added bonus, also provide nourishment for pollinators. Spring blooming anemones, pulmonaria,
dicentra and viola are among the many to choose from and look lovely planted with willows and
witch hazels, as well as under early spring flowering trees and dotted among tulips and other bulbs.
For another early jolt of spring color, try planting an Eastern Redbud (canadensis) tree. These eye-
poppers are attractive to both humans and pollinators – a win-win! There are many varieties to
choose from that vary in height and width but all bloom in April with branches covered in bright
pink flowers from tip to trunk. Most varieties are only hardy to Zone 5, which is fine in most areas
of the seacoast. However, there is a new strain developed in Minnesota that is very resistant to cold
winter. And a newly discovered native to South Dakota, 'Pink Trim', is cold hardy to Zone 3, which
is a great choice for areas with harsher winter conditions.
Bright cheerful colors, emerging pollinators, and warmer days are just on the horizon – welcome the
coming of spring!
