Smith's Nursery, Inc.
443 Sanders Rd.  Benson, NC 27504 T 919-934-1700 F 919-934-2055

March is the perfect month to begin "Spring Cleaning" in the garden.  Use the first weeks of the month to prune roses and flowering trees.  Be sure to prune summer flowering trees and shrubs early, before they have set buds.  A good rule to remember when pruning Crepe Myrtles and other woody trees and shrubs is "Pencil Pruning."  Only trim longer branches back to stems the size of a No. 2 pencil.  This will provide a nice, uniform shape as well as great summer flowers.  If you have a Crepe Myrtle or other shrub that has "outgrown" it's space, consider replacing it with a smaller, dwarf variety.  This is a better solution than giving the plant a serious "haircut" and risk having it grow to look like a terrifying space creature.  If you completed all your pruning in February, then use March as a time to sweep back winter mulch, turn your compost pile, and clean out birdhouses.

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