LADYBUG ... MARCH WARTH DOESN'T MEAN SPRING IS HERE

March has long been know as the "fickle" month. The word itself means changeable or unstable, and that is a perfect description of the month of March. Temperatures can be that of spring one day and winter the next, just like our 12 inches of snow following a beautiful spring-like weekend with temperatures in the 60's.

Do not permit spells of unseasonably warm weather tempt the starting of outdoor flower or vegetable planting far in advance of the normal times of such plantings, because chances of early planting success is very slight.

This remains a critical month in the garden as many tasks need to be accomplished, but the gardener needs to take care, as this can also be the month when many plants can be severely damaged or even lost due to cold or late frost.

A thorough cleaup of all the debris that has accumulated over the past few months will mean fewer insects and less disease later in the gardening year. It is normal for some dead tree branches to fall during the winter months when the least amount of wind will bring them down. All broke branches and some shrub dead wood should be removed. Leaves, twigs and other dead plant material should be removed.

A trip to Memphis a few weeks ago still showed the visual evidence of their tremendous ice storm. There must not have been a residence in the entire city that did not have a tree, or trees, and numerous limbs from the storm, down in the yard. Many were still not removed and all of the parkways were filled to a height of up to ten feet.

An article in the Commercial Appeal gave hints to eliminate the food odors from the refrigerators and freezers from the spoiling because of the power being off for such a long time.

This is a good month for planting trees and shrubs. If moved now they will have ample time to make new roots before leaving out completely to draw on the plants' moisture supply.

Fruit trees properly located ni the yard, besides furnishing their fruits, are valuable additions to the landscape. They are most colorful when in bloom and furnish welcome shade during hot weather. When planting, make sure the soil is well prepared by digging the hole half again as large as needed incorporating organic matter and superphosphate into the soil prior to planting. Set plants at their original height.

Vegetable gardeners are "itching" to get at it. Some have taken advantage of the few pleasant days and planted peas, spinach, lettuce, cabbage, broccoli, mustard, radishes, beets and parsley. One gardener said he bought twice the amount of onion slips that he normally does, because they are difficult to find for autumn planting. In this manner he will plant half of them now and store the others in an old refrigerator until time to put them in the fall.

Check perennials for winter heaving and firm them back into the soil if necessary. Remove all dead material and supply a balanced fertilizer to the beds. Spray peony buds as early as possible with bordeau mixture to control bud blight. Repeat when growth is about four inches tall. Place support rings over peonies.

Consider dividing late summer perennials later in the month as their growth starts to become active.

Slugs are a constant problem during wet weather. Start control when first damage is observed. Stale beer placed in shallow dishes set out near plants late in the day will lure slugs and they will drown. Clean dishes out each morning, and replace the beer.

At the Men's Garden Club of Jackson Symposium, held recently at the Vocational School, G.H. Creglow gave us another interesting trick about attracting slugs. Simply invert half of a grapefruit rind in the garden and they will trap themselves under the fruit.

With the longer days of spring, house plants are now showing new growth. It is time to check for signs of insects such as scale, mealy bugs, and spider mites, and spray with Safer's Insecticide Soap.

Leggy plants should be trimmed back now to encourage more compact growth. Most house plants will benefit if washed in warm water under a fine spray.

Mr. Creglow also shared a recipe for Foliar Feeding for all plants.

Foliar Feeding

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon epsom salts

1 teaspoon salt peter (sodium nitrate)

1/2 teaspoon household ammonia

1 gallon water

He stated specifically not to use this more than once a month.

Remember with the return of spring-like weather it is important not to rush the season by planting tender plants until all danger of frost has passed.