Gardeners need to prepare for spring

March's warm weather gives gardeners a chance to prepare their yards and begin planting for the upcoming growing season, say experts at Agromin, a Camarillo-based manufacturer of soil products.

•Plant vegetables and herbs from seed: After the last chance for frost around midmonth and the soil warms, cultivate vegetable garden soil down about one foot. Add organic soil planting amendments. Warm-season vegetable seeds including tomatoes, peppers, green beans, cucumbers, squash, eggplant, onion, potatoes, spinach, turnips and corn can be planted, as well as herbs from seed such as basil, mint, oregano, parsley and rosemary.

•Plant summer flowers: Garden centers have a variety of flower seed packs, such as marigolds, petunias, alyssum, lobelia, dianthus, flox, verbenia and impatiens.

•Mow lawn to the right height: Cool season grass blades such as bluegrass, ryegrasses and fescues should be kept at about two inches high. Mow regularly to keep weeds at bay and to promote thicker lawns. When the weather warms in the summer, increase grass blade height to three inches. Warm-season grass such as Bermuda, St. Augustine and zoysia should be cut at a steady two-inch level throughout spring and summer.

•Fertilize citrus and avocado trees: Feed avocado, citrus and fruit trees and roses with a well-balanced fertilizer. For fruit

rees and roses, wait until the first sign of new leaves before fertil

zing.

•Mulch generously: Mulch at least two to three inches deep around trees, shrubs, flowers and plants. This will keep moisture in and weeds down. Also the mulch will give plants and trees the nutrients they need for continued growth.

For more planting and gardening tips, visit www.agromin.com.