Sacramento Digs Gardening logo
Sacramento Digs Gardening Article
Your resource for Sacramento-area gardening news, tips and events

Articles Recipe Index Keyword Index Calendar Twitter Facebook Instagram About Us Contact Us

Dig In: Garden checklist for week of April 3

First 90-degree days of 2022 expected soon

Baby peaches on branch
Fruit trees are setting fruit and would appreciate a good soak before temperatures
pop into the 90s later this week. (Photo: Kathy Morrison)

Early April will feel more like late May as near-record heat is on the way. Sacramento could see 90 degrees by next weekend.

According to the National Weather Service, “We are going to see an extended period of quiet weather with a big warmup in store for the mid to end of next week. Some locations could see their first 90 degree-plus (high) of the year.”

Sacramento starts out warm. After expected 80-degree highs this weekend, cloud cover will cool temperatures slightly; 77 degrees is the Monday-Tuesday forecast. But then the heat really spikes, with 92 degrees forecast for Thursday and Friday. Both highs would be records for those dates – and 20 degrees above normal. Sacramento averages 71 degrees in April; our all-time hottest April day was 96 degrees.

Meanwhile, our overnight lows will stay relatively normal, in the mid to high 40s. Sacramento’s average low for April is 46 degrees.

After a bone-dry January and February, this warm spring weather has affected the Sierra snow pack – bad news for us Valley water users. Released Friday, the totals were bleak.

“Unfortunately, the new snow pack numbers are not an April fools joke,” tweeted the NWS Sacramento office. “@CA_DWR (California Department of Water Resources) measured only 4% of average for the Phillips Station today with the statewide percent of average at 38%.”

That means water restrictions will almost certainly go into effect at some point this year, likely sooner than later. Keep that in mind while planting your summer garden.

Is it warm enough to plant tomatoes? It might be too hot this week with those 90s in the forecast. On the other hand, that heat might finally warm up the soil enough to transplant summer vegetables. Raised beds and container gardens warm more rapidly than flat ground.

Just make sure to keep seedlings and new transplants hydrated. Before those 90-degree days arrive, deep-water trees and shrubs.

Other tasks for your garden to-do list:

* April is the last chance to plant citrus trees such as dwarf orange, lemon and kumquat. These trees also look good in landscaping and provide fresh fruit in winter.

* Feed shrubs and trees with a slow-release fertilizer. Or mulch with a 1-inch layer of aged compost.

* Azaleas and camellias looking a little yellow? If leaves are turning yellow between the veins, give them a boost with chelated iron.

* Trim dead flowers but not leaves from spring-flowering bulbs such as daffodils and tulips. Those leaves gather energy to create next year's flowers. Also, give the bulbs a fertilizer boost after bloom.

* Pinch chrysanthemums back to 12 inches for fall flowers. Cut old stems to the ground.

* Feed citrus with a low dose of balanced fertilizer during this month’s bloom and fruit set.

* Mulch around plants to conserve moisture and control weeds.

* From seed, plant beans, beets, carrots, celery, chard, fennel, radishes, seed potatoes, spinach and squash.

* Plant onion sets.

* In the flower garden, plant seeds for asters, cosmos, celosia, marigolds, salvia, sunflowers and zinnias.

* Transplant petunias, zinnias, geraniums and other summer bloomers.

* Plant perennials and dahlia tubers for summer bloom.

* Plant summer bulbs, such as gladiolus and tuberous begonias.


Comments

0 comments have been posted.

Newsletter Subscription

Sacramento Digs Gardening to your inbox.

Taste Spring! E-cookbook

Strawberries

Find our spring recipes here!

Local News

Ad for California Local

Thanks to our sponsor!

Summer Strong ad for BeWaterSmart.info

Garden Checklist for week of April 21

This week there’s plenty to keep gardeners busy. With no rain in the immediate forecast, remember to irrigate any new transplants.

* Weed, weed, weed! Get them before they flower and go to seed.

* April is the last chance to plant citrus trees such as dwarf orange, lemon and kumquat. These trees also look good in landscaping and provide fresh fruit in winter.

* Smell orange blossoms? Feed citrus trees with a low dose of balanced fertilizer (such as 10-10-10) during bloom to help set fruit. Keep an eye out for ants.

* Apply slow-release fertilizer to the lawn.

* Thoroughly clean debris from the bottom of outdoor ponds or fountains.

* Spring brings a flush of rapid growth, and that means your garden is really hungry. Feed shrubs and trees with a slow-release fertilizer. Or mulch with a 1-inch layer of compost.

* Azaleas and camellias looking a little yellow? If leaves are turning yellow between the veins, give them a boost with chelated iron.

* Trim dead flowers but not leaves from spring-flowering bulbs such as daffodils and tulips. Those leaves gather energy to create next year's flowers. Also, give the bulbs a fertilizer boost after bloom.

* Pinch chrysanthemums back to 12 inches for fall flowers. Cut old stems to the ground.

* Mulch around plants to conserve moisture and control weeds.

* From seed, plant beans, beets, cantaloupes, carrots, corn, cucumbers, melons, radishes and squash.

* Plant onion sets.

* In the flower garden, plant seeds for asters, cosmos, celosia, marigolds, salvia, sunflowers and zinnias.

* Transplant petunias, zinnias, geraniums and other summer bloomers.

* Plant perennials and dahlia tubers for summer bloom.

* Mid to late April is about the last chance to plant summer bulbs, such as gladiolus and tuberous begonias.

* Transplant lettuce seedlings. Choose varieties that mature quickly such as loose leaf.

Taste Summer! E-cookbook

square-tomatoes-plate.jpg

Find our summer recipes here!

Taste Fall! E-cookbook

Muffins and pumpkin

Find our fall recipes here!

Taste Winter! E-cookbook

Lemon coconut pancakes

Find our winter recipes here!