Throughout the year, we’ll be bringing you monthly guides outlining the best planting practices and recommendations for various plant categories. If you haven’t already, be sure to check out our overview article for What to Plant in Michigan by Month for a complete introduction to our monthly planting series. This month, we’re focusing on what to plant in March in Michigan.
March brings on its own challenges with planting. Weather in Michigan during this time can be very unpredictable. We may see days below freezing with snow accumulating and the next day may be sunny and 70. March is generally when plants wake up, taking up water and nutrients to begin their journey for another year. This can be an enjoyable time to start thinking about what to plant in the spring.
Even though some trees and plants are beginning to wake up, it may not be the best time to start planting. The biggest drawback to planting in March is the frozen ground. The ground may still have frost in it making it difficult to use a shovel.
However, if spring fever hits hard and a shovel can slice through the ground, March can be a suitable time to plant deciduous trees. This is because deciduous trees can be planted while still mostly dormant! Once the tree is moved and properly planted, it will start to, or continue to, wake up like nothing even happened. Because there are no leaves on the tree to dry out and plenty of water to keep the tree hydrated the tree will very quickly acclimate to the new area.
In Michigan, not many other things should be planted in March. Instead, March is a great month to do a lot of planning and preparation for the spring.
We hope this guide has given you a clearer picture of what you can do in your garden for the month of March. Join us next month as we delve into April’s planting possibilities and continue our journey through the Michigan growing season!