Spring officially starts March 20. For gardeners who love feathered friends, spring actually starts when the purple martin scouts arrive. In my recollection this date has been any time from March 3 to March 24. The actual date depends on many factors, but I think late winter temperatures are the most significant factor. Therefore, I think the scouts will arrive later this year than previous.

If you have never attracted purple martins to your landscape, you should consider purchasing an apartment complex to put up. Your enjoyment will be worth every penny and minute you put into becoming a purple martin landlord.

There are all kinds of purple martin residences on the market, so there are several things you need to keep in mind. First, you need a location in landscape that allows about 25 feet of open space in front of the openings on house or apartment complex. They need this kind of space to be able to swoop into the doors and to exit the doors when they leave the complex.

In addition to the space needed for takeoff and landing, keep clutter away from underneath the houses. Martins are often finicky. Sometimes they won't come to a complex if there is a lot of debris or a structure around the base of the pole.

Once you have determined that you have a good location for a purple martin housing complex, you need to decide on what kind of structure and pole you want to purchase. I recommend a house that has a lanyard or pulley pole system. These systems allow you to raise and lower the house easily without having to get on a step ladder or to force a heavy house straight up in the air using a telescoping pole. You often need to get into the house to pull out nests made by sparrows.

You will find houses made of plastic, metal and wood. Although I have seen many houses made of wood, I would probably stay away from these because of the potential for mites to winter in these structures.

I have heard differing opinions about metal versus plastic houses. Some say that martins don't care for plastic houses, while others do. I think a metal house will last longer, but they are usually more expensive than plastic ones.

Make sure your house is painted with light colors. Summer temperatures in Southeast Missouri can get pretty warm. The light colors will reflect the sun's rays and keep the houses cooler.

Purple martin houses are usually complexes that range from four to 24 apartments, although I have seen some that are 48 to 96 apartments. It is best to get apartments that have a front panel that swivels open for easy clean out.

Purchase a house that has subfloors in each apartment. These floors reduce the potential of bird mite infestations.

Traditionally martin houses are made of a series of apartments. Many of the newer complexes on the market are made of individual plastic "gourds." Martins like these individual gourds just as well as the apartment complexes. The advantage of the gourd is that it sways in the wind, motion that martins like but sparrows dislike.

Another feature you must take into consideration is the shape of the apartment opening. Most apartments have an opening that is round. By changing the shape of the opening to a half-moon, starlings are discouraged from taking up residence. The starlings have a bone structure that does not allow them to bend down and go into the half-moon opening.

If you currently have a purple martin house, it is time to clean it out and dust sulfur into each apartment. The sulfur dust will discourage infestations of bird mites, a problem that is quite lethal, especially for young martins.

If you don't have a martin house and want to get one, you need to get to your nearest birding store and purchase one, because it will take a little time to put the house and system together. You want to make sure it is up when the scouts start arriving.

Purple martins are a welcome addition to the landscape. Their social interactions will keep you entertained all summer long.

Send your gardening and landscape questions to Paul Schnare at P.O. Box 699, Cape Girardeau, MO 63702-0699 or by e-mail to news@semissourian.com.<I>