Update: We are committed to the health and safety of our visitors, volunteers, and staff, especially in light of concerns surrounding the novel coronavirus, COVID-19. The wonder of the UT Gardens, Knoxville is that there will always be something in bloom any time you visit after the orders are lifted. At this time the Gardens are open to visitors, provided that proper social distancing is maintained.
 
Our SPRING SPECTACULAR PLANT SALE is coming soon! The online sale will open March 26-28 for UT Gardens members only. The public may join the sale starting on March 29. The sale will last through midnight on April 5, and a zero-contact plant pickup is available by appointment only April 9-10. Check out our inventory here. Become a Garden member at tiny.utk.edu/UTGMem and save when shopping begins. We cannot save or reserve plants before or during sale. Thanks for your support! 
 

 


Recognized in 2013 as the official botanical gardens of the state of Tennessee, the University of Tennessee Gardens located in Knoxville, Jackson and Crossville are part of the UT Institute of Agriculture. Some 4,000 annuals, perennials, herbs, tropical plants, trees, shrubs, vegetables and ornamental grasses are evaluated each year. Both the Knoxville and Jackson gardens are TN Certified Arboreta. The gardens are open during all seasons and are free to the public.

 

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You can view the current and recent Plant of the Month articles here.

Older, archived articles going back to 2014 can be found here.

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  • March #1
    Evaluate your vegetable garden plans. Often a smaller garden with fewer weeds and insects will give you more produce.
  • March #2
    Broccoli, cabbage, Brussel sprouts, lettuce, chard, onions and potatoes should be planted this month.
  • March #3
    When night temps get above 40 degrees, feed your pansies with a water-soluble fertilizer such as 20-20-20.
  • March #4
    Now is a great time to remove weeds from your garden beds. Doing so now will make the plant beds look better and prevent them from going to seed; therefore, making fewer weeds next year. 
  • March #5
    Apply a pre-emergent herbicide to your lawn, if you had crabgrass and other summer weeds in the past. The timing of application is important, and a good indicator is to do it just as forsythia begins to show some color.
  • March #6
    Sow nasturtiums this month. Soak seed overnight in water. Cover with three-quarter inches of soil.
  • March #7
    March is a good time to shop for and add lungwort (Pulmonaria) and Lenten rose (Helleborus) to your garden. Lungwort is an early flowering shade perennial that often struggles in the heat and humidity of our Tennessee climate, so be aware that Pulmonaria longifolia cultivars and hybrids are much more durable. Good selections are 'Roy Davidson,' 'E.B. Anderson,' 'Trevi Fountain' and for its vigor and heat tolerance, 'Diana Claire.'

 View gardening tips for the entire year.

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