Those in Bartow County and surrounding areas will experience the first burst of spring temperatures. That may prompt them to get out and start their gardens. Experts say to resist the temptation.
Another cold snap with more frost is highly likely and that will kill all your emerging plants.
The “false spring” can fool many people but the standard is to wait until the frost is gone before planting. You can plant some hardier plants the first week of March but wait until mid-April after there is no more chance of a frost to do the serious work.
However, you can get started with some potted plants or get sprouts going in containers now. Tomatoes do better in a garden if they are a few inches tall so start them in individual containers early. Other vegetables that do well this way are peppers, eggplants, and beans. Just be sure to keep them in a controlled environment away from frost until your garden is ready.
Would-be gardeners who want to do something but aren’t ready to take on a full garden can grow a variety of things in pots. Peas and lettuce do very well, as do herbs. Things that don’t do well in pots are things like squash, pumpkins, corn, and carrots. The basic rule is root vegetables aren’t meant for pots.
Watch the size and number of plants you put in each pot as all will need some space for roots and you don’t want them competing for water. The tallest plant should be more than two times the container’s height. Be sure to layer the bottom of the container with fertilizer and water them accordingly.
Now is a good time to pay attention to your yard. You can prune trees and shrubs that don’t bloom in the spring and cut down trees and plants that sprung up last fall. It’s easier to do since they remain bare of leaves and you can see what you are cutting.
Your grass is probably hungry so putting out weed and feed now is a good idea. Aeration is also something that can be done now. You may have lost a lot of mulch in the flower beds over the winter so that will need replacing. Bugs start early in Georgia, especially after a mild winter, so staying on top of bug problems is a top priority now before they fully come out of hibernation. That means killing ants and treating your yard for fleas.