MARCH CHORES

*Now is the time to apply the preventative systemic insecticide Imidacloprid sold as Bayer Advanced Tree and Shrub Insecticide to your azaleas. This will provide season long protection for azalea lacebugs, scale and whiteflies. Read the label carefully and apply as directed. Remember, this is a preventative insecticide application and needs to be done before signs of insects or damage is noticed. This is a good strategy for those shrubs that you have yearly bug problems with, but not necessarily the best for all shrubs in your landscape.

*Fertilize bulbs now with a complete fertilizer such as 13-13-13 or 20-20-20 as you see the blades start to emerge from the ground.

*You can still apply pre-emergent herbicides for annual weeds (those that grow from seed each year, bloom, set more seed and die each season). Pre-emergent herbicides prevent the weed seeds from germinating, but will also prevent grass seed from germinating, so use only on established lawns. Pre-emergent herbicides will not take care of perennial weeds (those that come back year after year from the root system) so you will have to adopt another strategy for control of those weeds. These will require a post-emergent herbicide for control.