By Kerri Williams

We endured the snow and the frigid temperatures. And finally, we are experiencing warmer days and March melting. It’s enough to make any gardener itch to get outside and get to work.

But not so fast, says Nathalie Fonteyne, president of the Westport Garden Club. The most important word to remember this month when it comes to gardening is “restraint.”

People should hold off on the major work of cleaning leaves and debris from gardens until temperatures are in the fifties consistently at night. The reason for that is that the insects and pollinators need that habitat to thrive.

“Your garden is not your kitchen,” Nathalie reminds us, meaning you don’t need to keep it spotless. “There are lots of insects still hibernating.”

Cathy Gilbertie Knipper, who heads communications for Gilbertie’s Garden Center, has the same advice, cautioning that the warmer temperatures in March are a “tease.”

“We all get spring fever,” Cathy said. “But the cold weather is not gone for this year. We don’t want to disturb the pollinators.”

In addition, working outside when the ground is very wet from melting  snow will compact the soil, taking out the air. Nathalie recommends waiting until the ground is less wet before doing even minor tasks, such as picking up sticks.

“Doing some minor cleanup in a few days would be okay,” Nathalie said. “But be sure the ground is not very wet.”

Even when doing the simplest of spring chores, Nathalie reminds us to be thinking about the insects and animals in our environment. Creating a place on your property to pile sticks can be beneficial to those creatures, she said.

Having said that, Nathalie said that there are a few gardening chores that should take place soon in early spring. Those include doing some pruning and dividing of plants. 

In both instances, Nathalie said that the rule of thumb is to prune now what will be blooming in the fall. For the most part, you should avoid pruning spring blooming shrubs, such as lilacs or rhododendrons, because the buds are already set for this spring.

As for planting tender annuals, growers should hold off until after the final frost date, which is usually in May. “I usually wait until Mother’s Day,” Nathalie says. “Because I have a crew on hand willing to work in the garden.”

Another task that is enjoyable to start in March happens inside. Starting seeds can be a fun way to get a jump on the gardening season. Gilbertie’s has all the equipment on hand for seed starting, and they held a workshop for beginners last week.

Judy Smith, of the Greens Farms Garden Club, was at that workshop and has since started her own seeds for cherry tomatoes and onions, calling it a great way to get going early with gardening.

While starting seeds is less expensive than purchasing plants, it does require some specialized equipment, including grow lights, trays and special soil. But it’s also very rewarding to watch those seeds sprout and can be a great activity to try with kids.

For more information on seed starting, Joe Lamp’l, who spoke last summer in Westport about sustainable gardening, has detailed information on seed starting here.

But for everyone, one of the simplest joys of spring in the garden is getting outside and putting all your senses on high alert. Even the smell of the soil is something that Cathy looks forward to each year. She added that the garden center in Westport is now open seven days a week for those looking for inspiration.

I love inspecting the garden and lawn for spring bulbs coming up and blooming. Spotting the first of the snowdrops or a lavender crocus can be the highlight of my day. Sometimes they even poke through the ground with frost or snow all around.

For Nathalie, it’s all about observing nature waking up. She likens her plants to “old friends” that she has not seen for a few months. 

“For me, the garden is my friend,” she said. “It’s like having three or four months of missed dates and then finally seeing your best friend.”

Kerri Williams

^{_{Kerri Williams is an award-winning writer and journalist. She has worked as a reporter at the Norwalk Hour, as Living editor at the Darien News-Review, and managing editor for the Norwalk Citizen-News. For Westport Journal, she is a reporter as well as a gardening columnist, writing “Cultivating with Kerri.” She recently published her first children’s book – “Mabel’s Big Move,” based on her daughter with special needs.}}