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Spring arrives Sunday, and the gardening calendar is packed

Workshops, plant sales and open gardens offered all over the region

Irises in pots on table
Irises are among the types of plants that will
be for sale during the many April events. April 23-24
are the dates for the Sacramento Iris Society's
show and sale.(Photo: Kathy Morrison)

While we figure out what the weather is going to do the rest of the month, and where the tomatoes are going to go in this year, we can take a few minutes to note some big dates on our gardening calendars. The season, especially April, is going to be very, very busy, as the Sacramento region anticipates its first mostly normal spring in three years. Most but not all of these events involve weekends.

We'll have more on the April events as they get closer, but consider this your "save the date" notice.

Saturday, March 26

-- "Planning Your Vegetable Garden" workshop, in person at the Loomis Library but viewable via Zoom. 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Presented by the UCCE Placer County master gardeners. Registration required for Zoom viewing. Register here .

-- "Back to Basics" workshop,  9 a.m. to noon, El Dorado Hills Library, 7455 Silva Valley Pkwy, El Dorado Hills. Presented by the UCCE El Dorado County master gardeners. Recommended for novice gardeners. https://mgeldorado.ucanr.edu/

-- Sacramento Valley Cymbidium Society Show. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Shepard Garden and Arts Center in McKinley Park, East Sacramento.

Saturday, April 2

-- Spring Plant Sale, Yolo County master gardeners. 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Woodland Community College, 2300 E. Gibson Road. Tomatoes, herbs and perennials among the plants for sale. Details at https://yolomg.ucanr.edu/ , including a link to the plant list. Repeated same time and location on April 9.

-- Capital City African Violet Show,  10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Shepard Garden and Arts Center in McKinley Park, East Sacramento.

Saturday, April 9

-- Spring Garden Faire, Placer County master gardeners. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Maidu Community Center 1550 Maidu Drive, Roseville, rain or shine.  Talks, workshops, crafts, food trucks, plant vendors, door prizes and more are planned. Details here.

-- Member Appreciation Plant Sale, UC Davis Arboretum Teaching Nursery. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. In a departure from past sales, this in-person sale is only for members of the Friends of the UC Davis Arboretum, but it's easy to join. Repeated April 30. https://arboretum.ucdavis.edu/plant-sales

-- Spring Plant Sale, Yolo County master gardeners. 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Woodland Community College, 2300 E. Gibson Road. Same as April 2 sale; see above.

Saturday, April 9 and Sunday, April 10

-- American Bonsai Association Show, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days. Shepard Garden and Arts Center in McKinley Park, East Sacramento.

Wednesday, April 13

-- Open Garden Day, 9 a.m. to noon. The garden will be blooming and Sacramento County master gardeners will be on hand to answer questions. Fair Oaks Horticulture Center, Fair Oaks. https://sacmg.ucanr.edu/?calitem=521775&g=21788

Saturday, April 16

-- Plant Sale, El Dorado County master gardeners. 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. This first of two spring sales will cover "edibles." (Second sale is April 30.) Sherwood Demonstration Garden, Placerville. https://mgeldorado.ucanr.edu/

Saturday, April 23 and Sunday, April 24

-- Sacramento Iris Society Show and Sale. 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Shepard Garden and Arts Center in McKinley Park, East Sacramento.

Saturday, April 30

-- Sacramento Rose Society Show and Sale, noon to 5 p.m. Shepard Garden and Arts Center in McKinley Park, East Sacramento.

-- Member Appreciation Plant Sale, UC Davis Arboretum Teaching Nursery. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. In a departure from past sales, this in-person sale is only for members of the Friends of the UC Davis Arboretum, but it's easy to join. Last of two spring sales. https://arboretum.ucdavis.edu/plant-sales

-- Plant Sale, El Dorado County master gardeners. 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Second of two spring sales will feature trees, shrubs, succulents, native and perennial plants. Sherwood Demonstration Garden, Placerville. https://mgeldorado.ucanr.edu/






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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.

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