The second week of March was filled with sunshine and temperatures nearing 20 degrees Celsius, only for the following week to bring a dramatic drop in temperature and a shift from dry to wet conditions. The area was suddenly covered in wet snow, and temperatures fell below zero. Nature reminds us of its power and unpredictability, and every garden must adapt to these whims. What consequences will these tricks of Mother Nature have for my garden? And what have I been doing over the past two weeks?
Waterlogged Soil from Melting Snow – Mud Everywhere!
A few warm days were enough to dry the ground slightly and tempt me into starting some garden work. I thought I could finally begin tidying up the strawberry patch and planting onion sets, but unfortunately, the soil quickly turned back into a swamp. Since my soil is mostly clay, it will take a few more days of good weather to dry out properly. I didn’t expect the latest Genoa lows to bring so much snow. Now, I’ll have to put my tools aside and wait until at least the last week of March to step into the strawberries and vegetable garden. Once again, I’m convinced that there’s no point in rushing spring garden work—weather always finds a way to prove that impatience does more harm than good.
Crushed Crocuses and Tulips – An Unavoidable Surprise
I was just starting to enjoy the first crocuses and sprouting tulips when suddenly, snow arrived. The tiny crocuses were buried under a heavy, wet layer and looked completely battered. I assumed that with spring approaching, nothing serious would disrupt their growth and blooming. How wrong I was! Thankfully, crocuses are tougher than they seem—once the snow started melting, they didn’t look nearly as bad as my overactive imagination had suggested. Still, I can’t help but blame the warm spells in January and February for waking them up too early, leaving them vulnerable to this sudden return of winter. As a passionate fan of crocuses and tulips, it’s hard to accept, even though I know these plants are fighters and will endure many more unpredictable conditions.
Rainwater Wasted – How I Collected Water Too Soon for Nothing
The warm start to March and long-term weather forecasts convinced me to reconnect my gutters to the rainwater tanks, believing that major frosts were behind us and that I could safely start storing rainwater. However, after this weekend’s snowfall—and previous heavy rain—it looks like I’ll have to drain the water to prevent it from freezing at -6 or -9 degrees and damaging the critical parts of my tanks, like valves and faucets. As I write this, 1000 liters of collected rainwater are flowing out of my tanks through the open taps. All my earlier effort to gather this water has gone to waste. While I don’t need the water just yet, I would have felt more secure knowing my reserves were steadily increasing. But it is what it is. Lesson learned: there’s no point in rushing to collect rainwater in March—weather can still ruin everything.
Hardening Plants – But Not Too Radically!
Recently, I transplanted my Japanese fountain grasses into larger pots and moved them outside. I did the same with my cotoneaster cuttings. I thought I could slowly start acclimating them to cooler nights, but the weather quickly reminded me who’s in charge. The upcoming temperature drops might be a bit too much for plants that spent the entire winter in the basement and haven’t yet had a chance to gradually adjust to fluctuating outdoor conditions. Frost fleece, including protective covers, will be back in use for the next two or three nights. After that, I’ll keep it on standby, right next to the spot where I’m keeping the cuttings.
Repeating Sprays – Extra Work That Couldn’t Be Avoided
I waited for the first warm yet cloudy days to apply protective copper sprays. It’s worth noting that these conditions are ideal for such treatments—the temperature should be a few degrees above freezing to allow the product to be absorbed properly. At the same time, direct sunlight should be avoided to prevent the solution from evaporating too quickly. These ideal conditions finally appeared in my region last Monday. However, by Wednesday and Thursday, rain arrived, followed by wet snow on Saturday, effectively washing away the protective treatments from the shrubs and trees. As a result, once the weather stabilizes, I’ll need to reapply the copper spray, along with the first oil-based treatment.
Conclusion – March Is an Unpredictable Month of Seasonal Shifts
March’s unpredictable weather teaches me one thing: there’s no room for routine in the garden. Every day brings a new surprise, and every decision can turn out to be premature. This year, once again, I’m convinced that there’s no need to rush—really, with anything. All spring garden work should, as the name suggests, be done when spring actually arrives. Doing things too early only leads to frustration, wasted time, and the need to redo tasks. As you can see, I managed to avoid some mistakes, but not others. And some things are simply a gamble, with no way to predict the outcome. What surprises still await me? I guess I’ll find out in just a few days…