Find scores of varieties that love growing in Sacramento
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The California poppy may be the most recognizable
California native plant, but there are many others that
grow well in the Sacramento region. (Photo: Kathy
Morrison)
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Our California poppies are a reminder: March is for planting – especially California natives.
While our state flower is in bloom, other natives are just beginning to sprout new growth. Flowering shrubs and small trees such as western redbud look their best this month, too, inspiring gardeners to add them to their landscape.
Making the most of this planting window is the annual spring sale of the Sacramento Valley chapter of the California Native Plant Society. And with a pandemic-inspired twist, this spring sale is all online.
Patrons may order plants Wednesday through Sunday, March 9-13. The sale officially opens at noon Wednesday and closes at 5 p.m. Sunday.
Then, make a reservation (between 10 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.) for drive-through pick up on one of two Sundays, March 20 or March 27. The plants will be available at the chapter’s Elderberry Farms Nursery at Soil Born Farms’ American River Ranch at 2140 Chase Drive, Rancho Cordova.
Scores of varieties of water-wise California natives will be available from Achillea millefolium (yarrow) to Vitis californica (California wild grape). Shop early for best selection.
Planting California natives is a great way to support native wildlife such as bees, butterflies and birds. About 80 varieties of plants offered in this sale are considered butterfly magnets. Almost 50 attract birds while 25 specifically are hummingbird favorites.
Browse for yourself. Find details and a link to the updated sale online catalog here: https://sacvalleycnps.org//plant-sales/ .
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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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