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Dig In: Garden checklist for week of June 20

Record heat can fry tender plants; watch out for heat stress

Straw mulch under pepper plants
Pepper plants and dill are hanging in there during the heat with the help of a thick layer of straw mulch and some light shade protection. Short tomato cages are good for supporting shade cloth or plant flats.(Photo: Kathy Morrison)


Our extreme heat continues just a little longer. After back-to-back record 110-degree days, the last weekend of spring stays unseasonably hot with afternoon highs about 20 degrees above normal.

According to the National Weather Service, this heat can be deadly to people and pets. Add plants to that list, too. Avoid strenuous outdoor activity, drink plenty of water and pay attention to signs of heat stress or fatigue.

In case you were wondering, Sacramento’s all-time hottest June day was 115 degrees. Average for this week: 87.

In the garden, watch out for sunburned foliage, wilt and other signs of heat stress. Afternoon wilting is normal for large-leafed shrubs such as hydrangeas or big-leafed veggies such as melon or squash. But if they’re wilted in the morning, they need immediate hydration. For plants that are getting burned, erect some temporary shade. (Peppers and eggplants are especially susceptible.)

Don’t fertilize this week; wait until temperatures are cooler. Also, put off planting seeds or transplanting.

Plants in containers need special attention. They dry out quickly and pots heat up just as fast. Until temperatures subside, container plantings may need daily irrigation.

We should get a break in the heat soon – but only briefly. The weather service is predicting a return to the low 80s, with a high of 83 on Tuesday. But our relief is short-lived; we’ll likely be back to triple digits by Friday – and the first official weekend of summer.

* Let the grass grow longer. When it’s over 90 degrees, it barely grows at all. When you do mow, set the mower blades high to reduce stress on your lawn during summer heat. The longer grass shades the lawn’s roots and keeps them cooler. To cut down on evaporation, water your lawn deeply during the wee hours of the morning, between 2 and 8 a.m.

* Tie up vines and stake tall plants such as gladiolus and lilies. That gives their heavy flowers some support.

* Mulch, mulch, mulch! This “blanket” keeps moisture in the soil longer and helps your plants cope during hot weather.

* Avoid pot “hot feet.” Place a 1-inch-thick board under container plants sitting on pavement. This little cushion helps insulate them from radiated heat.

* Thin grapes on the vine for bigger, better clusters later this summer.

* Warm weather brings rapid growth in the vegetable garden, with tomatoes and squash enjoying the heat. Deep-water plants in early morning. When the weather cools, feed with bone meal to help fruit set.

* Generally, tomatoes need deep watering two to three times a week, but don't let them dry out completely. That can encourage blossom-end rot.

* Cut back Shasta daisies after flowering to encourage a second bloom in the fall.

* Trim off dead flowers from rose bushes to keep them blooming through the summer. Roses also benefit from deep watering.

* Pinch back chrysanthemums for bushier plants with many more flowers in September.

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Dig In: Garden Checklist

For week of March 24:

In between cloud bursts, try to catch up with early spring chores. 

* Attack weeds now! Get them before they flower and go to seed. Take a hoe and whack them as soon as they sprout. Aim for 1 inch below the soil line.

* Start preparing vegetable beds. Spade in compost and other amendments.

* Prune and fertilize spring-flowering shrubs after bloom.

* Feed camellias at the end of their bloom cycle. Pick up browned and fallen flowers to help corral blossom blight.

* Feed citrus trees, which are now in bloom and setting fruit. To prevent sunburn and borer problems on young trees, paint the exposed portion of the trunk with diluted white latex (water-based) interior paint. Dilute the paint with an equal amount of cold water before application.

* Feed roses with a balanced fertilizer (such as 10-10-10, the ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium available in that product).

* Prune and fertilize spring-flowering shrubs and trees after they bloom. Try using well-composted manure, spread 1-inch thick under the tree. This serves as both fertilizer and mulch, retaining moisture while cutting down on weeds.

* Cut back and fertilize perennial herbs to encourage new growth.

* Seed and renovate the lawn (if you still have one). Feed cool-season grasses such as bent, blue, rye and fescue with a slow-release fertilizer. Check the irrigation system and perform maintenance. Make sure sprinkler heads are turned toward the lawn, not the sidewalk.

* In the vegetable garden, transplant lettuce and cole family plants, such as cabbage, broccoli, collards and kale.

* Seed chard and beets directly into the ground.

* Plant summer bulbs, including gladiolus, tuberous begonias and callas. Also plant dahlia tubers.

* Shop for perennials. Many varieties are available in local nurseries and at plant events. They can be transplanted now while the weather remains relatively cool.

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