Garden Keeping Journal - March Edition
Tips, Inspiration & Checklists for Zone-7 (and neighboring) gardeners
Not gardening in Zone-7?
No worries - you can easily adjust your email preferences anytime to skip the monthly Garden Keeping Journal and still receive all the other stories, reflections, and design inspiration from The Whiskey Porch.
Winter will still be visiting here and there for the next couple of months. Nights are still at or below freezing often, and our last frost date is usually around Mothers Day in May.
We will have those warm t-shirt days and front porch happy hour evenings. But don’t jump the gun and start putting out tender plants until May - if you can stand it!
But March is here and we've got some serious checklists to start tackling!
I realize that this is getting to be a long one, but some of what I've got listed is just a reminder from last month (to wrap it up). And everything you do now will pay off as the season progresses.
I’ve just wrapped up my autumn garden clean-up - last weekend actually. And that’s how I like to tackle it. I set aside time in February to pick away at it, and it’s a workout that benefits not only my health, but also the prep for spring in the garden before things get too crazy.
The other reason I wait, is because I like to leave the garden as it is for the bulk of the winter to offer food and shelter to birds and other critters, as well as the added cover for the roots of herbaceous plants in case of deep freezes or strong winter winds.
I’m currently waiting for my first deliveries of spring seed packets as well as a few hard-to find plants. I’m excited!
About These Checklists
While we don’t offer garden maintenance services here at The Whiskey Porch, these monthly Garden Keeping Checklists are designed to help you stay on track and feel supported through the seasons.
Whether you’re handling everything yourself or working with a maintenance crew, you’ll find the tips practical and flexible - especially if you’re gardening in or around Prescott, Arizona, or in other Zone-7 and neighboring climates.
Each checklist reflects the rhythm I experience here in Prescott’s downtown microclimate, so your own garden may vary slightly depending on your elevation, location, and what you’re growing. Generally speaking, these notes align with USDA Zone 7b.
Of course, no two years are exactly alike, even in the same zone. Some seasons bring an early hard freeze in late October, while others hold off until December. Keep that in mind as you plan your tasks.
These guides are geared toward landscape gardens that include mostly perennials, with a sprinkling of annuals, veggies and herbs.
​Let’s get started, shall we?
