March Garden To-Do List (Chicagoland Edition)
It’s fiiiiiiiiiiine.
Did mid-March just smack all of us gardeners upside the face with an onslaught of time-sensitive garden tasks?
Maybe.
Do we have about 482 other things to do, too?
Sure.
Will we still make time for this hobby that grounds us, makes us happy, and gives us purpose?
Most definitely.
We just need to get our shit together. As soon as we write everything down, it won’t feel so overwhelming… right?
Therapists!? RIGHT?!
Today is March 12. In garden lingo, that’s about eight weeks before the probable last frost date (that’s Chicagoland, y’all — check your own growing zone).
So let’s prioritize.
Enjoy What’s Blooming Right Now
Yes, this is priority number one.
Before diving into the overwhelm of early spring garden tasks, remember our why.
I’m seeing winter aconite and snowdrops popping up in my garden and the neighborhood.
Pause and appreciate.
Start Seeds Indoors
Those seed packets marked “sow indoors 6–8 weeks before last frost”?
It’s time to rip those open.
Starting seeds indoors can happen:
On a south-facing windowsill (ideal)
On a west-facing window (still good)
In a greenhouse or cold frame
Under grow lights indoors
Basically: wherever you can give them decent light and a little warmth.
Check Your Stratified Seeds
Did you cold-stratify seeds in the fridge back in January?
Time to pull them out and sow them in seed trays.
If you forget them much longer, they might decide to sprout in the bag, which is exciting but also alarming. Those pups will need some light.
Prune Dormant Shrubs and Small Trees
Early spring is still a good time to prune shrubs and small trees while they’re dormant.
Focus on:
dead wood
crossing branches
shaping
Just remember the classic rule: if it blooms early in spring, it probably formed its buds last year. So prune carefully if you want flowers.
Order Dahlias
If you haven’t ordered dahlia tubers, now is the moment.
I’ll be taking mine out of winter storage and potting them up temporarily in the greenhouse to wake them up.
But not quite yet.
There’s an overnight low of 11°F lurking in next week’s forecast, so I’m going to wait a bit before tempting fate.
Gather Plant Supports
Take a walk around your yard and collect sticks for plant supports.
sturdy sticks = great stakes
bendy or twiggy sticks = perfect for weaving between the sturdy ones
Free plant supports are the best plant supports.
Now… Take a Breath
Before we start frantically doing all the things, let’s take a collective belly breath.
Because the following spring garden tasks can absolutely wait until April.
Don’t Clean the Garden Beds Yet
Repeat after me:
Do not clean the beds.
Do not cut back the perennials you left standing.
Do not tidy.
Do not pick up the leaves.
Just let it be.
There is still plenty of time for a cold snap (or five). And when that happens, fireflies, butterflies, solitary bees, and beneficial insects need protection.
All those stems and leaves we left up over winter are their shelter.
These tiny garden heroes support the backyard ecosystem and act as our natural pest control. The least we can do is leave their winter housing intact a little longer.
Hold Off on Mulching
I’m waiting until mid-April to mulch.
That way I can mulch around spring bulbs that are still emerging instead of accidentally delaying their grand entrance.
And the Other 482 Things…
Remember those 482 other tasks you still have to do?
Yes, they’re all still there.
But at least you did a little gardening today.
And somehow, those other tasks feel just a bit lighter now.