March garden tips

Spring is around the corner and that means it's time to get gardening. It is time to plant herbs and vegetables, shade-loving vines like Boston Ivy, spring perennials, elephant ear and caladium bulbs, according to my Home Depot Garden Club flyer.

Before you start digging, spend a little time creating a plan for what will go where. Pencil and paper always helps you remember what you decided. Also leave time to clean up last year's garden - raking leaves, pulling weeds, and prepping the soil. May be a good idea to check your watering system for leaks or adjust for the new plants and tune up mowers and power tools. Start now and by March 20 - the first day of spring - you will already have a few plants in the ground!

I like Green Thumb in Canoga Park (21828 Sherman Way) for gardening advice and the wide range of plants they stock. OSH and Home Depot have cheaper plants but you have to watch more closely for quality. And it's almost impossible to find someone if you have a question. If you do track someone down, forget about them actually knowing anything about plants. OSH has a direct link from its home page to various coupons, many for garden items.