Non-Profit Internet Source for News, Events, History, & Culture of Northern Frederick & Carroll County Md./Southern Adams County Pa.

 

March 2018

"Daffodils, that come before the swallow dares,
and take the winds of March with beauty"
William Shakespeare (1564-1616)

Mid-Atlantic Weather Watch: Cloudy, cold (1) with light snow in northern part of the region, rain in the south (2, 3). Fair and cold (4, 5, 6) with chance of Nor’easter bringing heavy snow (7, 8, 9). Fair and cold once again (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16) with more snow in the north, rain in the south (17, 18, 19). Light snow to continue in the north (20, 21, 22, 23, 24) turning fair and cool (25, 26, 27, 28, 29) with the month ending with showers (30, 31).

Full Moon: March’s Full Moon will occur on March 1st. It came to be known as Sap Moon to many Native Americans because it was during this time of year, sap begins to rise and run. It has also been referred to as WORM MOON because, due to the warmer temperatures softening the frozen soil, earthworms begin to appear in abundance.

Special Notes: Daylight Savings begins on Sunday, March 11th at 2 a.m.. Don’t forget to ‘spring’ ahead and set all of your clocks and watches ahead one hour. The Vernal Equinox will occur on Tuesday, March 20th and signals the arrival of Spring (at long last!). Take advantage of the high winds during March and "go fly a kite" with a child. Nothing is as exhilarating except maybe flying itself!

Holidays: Be sure to wear something green in honor of St. Patrick on Saturday, March 17th. Palm Sunday is on the 25th of March, followed by Good Friday on March 30th.

The Garden: Get started early if the weather allows. If you did not do so in February, apply a pre-emergent herbicide (that prevents crabgrass) to established lawns before March 15th. If you plan to seed fescue lawns, do not apply a pre-emergent. It will prevent the grass seed from germinating.

As soon as your compost pile thaws, start to turn it with a fork as best you can. March is prime time for feeding shrubs and perennials that bloom in the Summer months. Also, begin pruning early-flowering shrubs, roses, fruit trees, grapes, and raspberries. Start an all-purpose spray regimen. Be sure to feed well and use supplementary nitrogen in early Spring, in addition to yearly feeding.

Spray fruit trees with a dormant oil when temperatures exceed 40 degrees and before they leaf out. Try and plant your peas on St. Patrick’s Day. For best selection, buy summer bulbs like gladiola, cannas, irises, dahlias and lilies. Wait until mid to late April to plant. House plants will react to longer days and brighter light at this time by putting out new growth. The end of this month is a good time to pinch them back to generate new growth and to thicken them.

J. Gruber’s Thought For Today’s Living

"It’s a wise many who knows his limitations but who makes the most of his abilities".

Index of Past Month's Entries