March is Go Time

March in Central Texas: What You Should Be Doing in Your Landscape Right Now

March is go-time in Central Texas landscapes.

Our soil is warming up, daylight is stretching longer, and plants are waking up fast. What you do this month sets the foundation for everything that happens in April, May, and through the summer heat.

Here’s your complete March checklist to keep your property looking its best.

 Planting Season Is On

 Annual Color

Now is the time to add warm-season color to beds and containers:

* Zinnias

* Cosmos

* Marigolds

* Angelonia

* Vincas (late March)

Early in the month, you can still enjoy pansies and snapdragons before the heat takes over.

Perennials That Thrive Here

Plant now so roots establish before summer:

* Salvia (greggii and farinacea)

* Blackfoot daisy

* Gaura

* Turk’s cap

* Esperanza

* Autumn sage

* Coneflower

Native and adapted plants planted in March will reward you all year.

 Trees & Shrubs: Last Call Before Summer

March is your final ideal window to plant trees before summer stress arrives.

Great choices for Central Texas:

* Live oak

* Monterrey oak

* Mexican plum

* Desert willow

* Anacacho orchid tree

Shrubs like Texas sage, rosemary, and dwarf yaupon can also go in now.

 Lawn Care in March (Even better get rid of the lawn)

* Do not fertilize until your lawn is fully green.

* Bermuda lawns can be lightly scalped early in the month before full green-up.

* Apply pre-emergent if you missed February.

* Check your irrigation system for leaks and adjust for spring.

Deep, infrequent watering trains roots to handle summer heat.

 Pruning & Maintenance

Finish Up:

* Roses (prune and fertilize early March)

* Ornamental grasses (cut back before new growth surges)

Hold Off On:

* Live oak pruning (oak wilt risk)

* Spring bloomers like redbud and Mexican plum until after flowering

 Vegetable Gardens

 Transplants (Mid–Late March)

* Tomatoes

* Peppers

* Squash

* Cucumbers

* Beans

* Melons

 Direct Sow

* Carrots

* Radishes

* Beets

* Swiss chard

Add compost generously — our native soils need organic matter.

 Mulch & Soil Health

March is prime time to:

* Refresh mulch (2–3 inches)

* Top-dress with compost

* Edge beds for a clean, sharp look

* Prepare vegetable beds properly

Mulch now means cooler roots in July.

 Support Pollinators

Plant early bloomers like:

* Mealy blue sage

* Texas lantana

* Coreopsis

* Blackfoot daisy

Leave a little leaf litter for beneficial insects.

 Pest Watch

Start monitoring for:

* Aphids

* Caterpillars

* Spider mites

* Lace bugs

Catching problems early prevents big outbreaks later.

 Final Thought

March is one of the most important months in Central Texas landscaping.

A little work now creates a massive payoff in April and May — before summer heat takes over.

If you stay ahead in March, your landscape stays ahead all year.