March 2026
Your newsletter this month features what to do in the landscape, what's blooming now, upcoming workshops, and more!
Welcome to March in Your Central Florida Yard!
If you are not sure what to do in your central Florida yard at this time (or any time) of year, contact your local UF/IFAS Extension Plant Clinic and we can help!
Also, consider getting yourself educated at one of our workshops. Make sure to check our event page for any updates and new workshops added.
Have you been staying up-to-date with our monthly podcast, Your Central Florida Yard? Subscribe, rate, and review if you enjoy it!
Let us know how we can help by contacting our Plant Clinic with your questions or visit a with a Master Gardener Volunteer at a local farmer’s market booth—we are back at Winter Haven, Lake Wales, and Lakeland markets this month!
Happy Gardening!
Frost and Freeze Recovery
As the weather warms and you trim back plants, remember that some plants (like palms) will take months to recover. Others may have already started to come back (it’s nice to see new leaves sprouting on the brown stems of plants like the sweet almond—less to cut back!) and that helps you know where to prune. Remember to do the “scratch test” if you don’t see any growth happening. That is where you scratch the branch with your fingernail and cut back where you see green, not brown, below the bark.
What to Do After a Freeze: Practical Steps for Plant Care
Cold Recovery of Lantan Palms (how to tell if palms are survivors)
Your Central Florida Yard Monthly Checklist
Your Lawn in March
Make sure you change the time on your sprinkler time clock on March 8th when Daylight Savings begins.
It’s a good time to check your sprinkler system for broken heads, uniform coverage, and potential overspray. Repair your system now!
Remember, scouting is an important part of your pest management routine. Learn how to scout here.
Your Landscape in March
It is a good time to refresh your mulch—take advantage of all those FREE oak leaves! Remember to keep it 2-3 inches deep, use an organic by-product mulch, and pull it away from the base of plants.
It’s okay to prune back your frost and freeze damaged plants now. Look for new growth or prune back until your plant shows green when you scratch the bark.
What’s Blooming Now?
Check out the March blooms at the UF/IFAS Extension Polk County Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Demonstration Garden in Bartow.
Don’t forget that the gardens are open every day and we welcome you to visit!
Clockwise from top left: golden trumpet tree (Handroanthus chrysanthus), coral honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens), Walter’s viburnum ‘Withlacoochee’ (Viburnum obovatum), and coral bean (Erythrina herbacea).
Don’t forget to adjust your irrigation timer start time once daylight savings starts on Sunday, March 8, 2026. Remember that beginning February 8, 2026, watering is limited to one day per week. With that change watering times have also changed. You cannot water between 8:00AM to 6:00PM. Watering is only allowed from 12:01AM-8:00AM OR 6:00PM to 11:59PM. Properties less than one acre in size may only water during one of these windows.
Hand watering and microirrigation of plants (other than lawns) can be done on any day and at any time.
Always check with your city or county for allowable day and times.
For more information visit the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s website.
Gardening Workshops
Join UF/IFAS Extension Polk County Gardening and Landscaping experts at our monthly workshops! For full workshop descriptions and to register, go to: http://polkcountyextension.eventbrite.com
Growing Tropical Fruit in Your Central Florida Yard
Monday March 9, 10:00 am
Winter Haven Public Library
Register here
Smart Landscape Design for Florida-Friendly Living
Friday, March 13, 10:00 am
Lake Crago Recreational Center, Lakeland
Register here
Spring into Vegetable Gardening
Tuesday, March 31, 10:00 am
Lakeland Main Library
Register here
Growing Blueberries in Your Central Florida Yard
Monday, April 13, 10:00 am
Winter Haven Public Library
Register here
Come Chat Plants With Us!
Spring Obsession
March 14, 8:00 am-3:00 pm
Munn Park, Downtown Lakeland
Local Farmer’s Markets:
Winter Haven: Second Saturdays of the month—March 14
Lakeland: Third Saturdays of the month—March 21
Lake Wales: Fourth Saturdays of the month—March 28
Plant Local (formerly The Nectary Nursery): Fourth Saturdays of the month—March 28
Your Central Florida Yard Podcast
The podcast from UF/IFAS Extension Polk County, Your Central Florida Yard is here to help you successfully garden in this unique part of the state. New episodes are out the first week of every month.
For show notes, transcripts, and links, visit our website.
Find Us Here
UF/IFAS Extension Polk County website
UF/IFAS Extension Polk County blog
Twitter
Facebook
Pinterest
Instagram
YouTube
UF/IFAS Extension Polk County
1702 US Highway 17 South
Bartow, FL 33831
863-519-1041
https://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/polk
Gardening Questions?
Email the Plant Clinic: polkmg@ifas.ufl.edu
Anne Yasalonis
Residential Horticulture
Master Gardener Volunteer Program
Julie Schelb
Florida-Friendly Landscaping Program Coordinator