As perennials in the South begin growing during March keep a close check on them for diseases. When peonies start out they make rapid growth, so keep a close check for botrytis blight and aphids, both of which can cause the buds to blight and fall off.

March on pests! Now is the time to save many long hours of trouble later on with roses. Check for any kind of dead tissue and remove it; remove old leaves and litter all are harboring places for insects or disease spores. As soon as new growth is a few inches long start spraying and dusting to control black spot.

If the protective mounds of soil around the base of the canes have not been removed they should be now. Prune back any winter killed canes. In case of a late freeze (which is entirely possible in much of our area) , do not remove the blackened canes too soon. After a few days nature will form a ring around the cane to a point where the tissues have been killed”prune to this point and new growth will then be stimulated. Paint the wounds made by this pruning to prevent bleeding. When you are certain that the danger of freezing is past put on a mulch of well-rotted cow manure to improve the quality and increase the quantity of the first crop of blooms. Keep the manure from touching the canes.