Mid-Atlantic Weather Watch: Dry, then snow and ice north, rain east, followed by blustery conditions (1, 2, 3, 4, 5); dry, then a wintry mix followed by much milder conditions (6, 7, 8, 9, 10); sprinkles followed by gusty winds and turning much colder (11, 12, 13, 14, 15); warm, then rain, snow west, followed by breezy conditions (16, 17, 18, 19, 20); rain, then breezy, mild (21, 22, 23, 24, 25); 26-31 dry, then rain, staying mild (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31).
Severe Weather Watch: The Hagerstown Town and Country Almanac sees a wintery mix (3, 4, 5); high winds (12, 13, 14); heavy snow (19, 20); heavy rain (28, 29, 30).
Full Moon: March’s full moon will occur on the 7. It has been called Worm Moon by many Native Americans because of the abundance of earthworms that begin when the earth starts to soften due to the warming temperatures. It has also been called Sap Moon because sap would begin to rise and run during this time of year.
Special notes: Daylight Saving Time (DST) begins on Sunday, March 13. Don’t forget to ‘spring’ ahead an hour at 2 a.m. EST. DST will end on November 5, at 2 a.m. EST, unless the Sunshine Protection Act is signed into law. Passed by the Senate in March, 2022, the act is awaiting the President’s signature after a final review by the House. The Vernal Equinox will occur Monday, March 20 which is considered the first day of Spring.
Holiday: St. Patrick is on Friday, March 17.
The Garden: March is prime time for feeding shrubs and perennials that bloom in the Summer months. Start clearing away old grass and debris from the lawn (that is, if the temperatures have warmed up and the snow has all gone!). Apply a pre-emergent fertilizer to the lawn during the month for healthier grass and there will be fewer weeds to contend with later on in the Summer. Don’t feed azaleas or rhododendrons until after they bloom. Then, give them a fertilizer that is specially formulated for plants that prefer acid soil. And don’t forget to throw old coffee grounds around the base of these blooming beauties. As soon as your compost pile thaws, begin to turn it with a fork as best you can. Start slow-growing and cool season seeds such as onions, leeks, parsley, celery, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, eggplant and peppers. Remember to plant peas around St. Patrick’s Day (March 17). Transplant and fertilize sprouting seedlings after a light rain when the ground is much easier to till. For plants that need protection from heat and wind, plan your planting on a cloudy day or late in the afternoon.
The Farm: Best days for planting root crops (9, 10); weeding and stirring the soil (26, 27, 31); planting above-ground crops (1, 2, 3, 28, 29, 30); harvesting all crops (13, 14, 15); setting hens and incubators (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 29, 30, 31); slaughtering/butchering meat (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27); transplanting (21, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27); harvesting and storing grain (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20); the weaning of small animals and livestock (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21).
