March will be a month of change: changing our clocks an hour ahead and changing our conversation from lamenting about winter to talking about our Spring chores. Warm weather and sunshine will spark interest in outside activities, including gardening.

Weeds will start to grow in our gardens, and it is important to get a jump on weed control now. Due to warmer soil around our houses, that is the first place that weeds grow, as well as around cement or asphalt drives or parking lots. We need to apply a weed preventative to the soil as soon as the snow melts. Early to mid-March is a good time to apply TREFLAN to the flower beds and turf areas where early weeds grow. It will only inhibit germination of the weeds, not the growth of established plants from roots or bulbs. It should be applied every 4 to 6 weeks until June.

"Going Green" gardeners product of choice for weed prevention is corn gluten which also stops the germination of weed seeds without harming our established plants. But either of these two products is most effective when used early and often, and must be reapplied every 4 weeks for best results. Read and follow all label directions.

Don't forget our Annual Spring Open House on Saturday, April 26, but drop in before that to zap those winter weeds before they begin to grow. Check out our new "Go Green" section for eco-friendly alternatives; we adding more every day.