Resources to view during those too-hot-to-garden times
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Pollinators are the subject of an upcoming webinar from the Placer County master gardeners. (Photo:
Kathy Morrison)
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Around here, mornings in spring are made for gardening. But if — when! — the weather heats up, ome inside and spend some time online with the many resources available from the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources, including the UC Cooperative Extension.
Check out these online events and webinars:
-- Principles of Propagation Zoom Workshop, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Saturday, May 8, presented by the Placer County master gardeners. As they note: "Propagation is the term for the multiplication of plants, either by natural means or by the actions of the nurseryman or gardener. This introductory workshop will show you some of the many ways you can propagate plants." Click here for the Zoom link and password .
-- Heat Illness Prevention and Environmental Hazards in Your Garden, 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, May 12. This timely virtual presentation is from the El Dorado County master gardeners. "Prevention is key to avoiding heat related illnesses and potential injuries and illnesses associated with environmental hazards, such as rattlesnakes, poisonous plants, skin cancer, insect bites, etc. Join Master Gardener Cathie Mankins to learn tips on preventing illnesses and injuries in your garden." Registration is free but required .
-- Springtime Household Pests, 1 p.m. Thursday, May 20. This 1-hour webinar is part of a new monthly series from the UC Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program. "This webinar will cover identification and management of pests encountered in the home during springtime including carpet beetles, fleas, and fungus gnats associated with houseplants." The present is Dr. Andrew Sutherland, Area Urban IPM Advisor, San Francisco Bay Area. Free, but registration required here . The June 17 webinar will be "IM for Rodents." For more on the IPM series, visit this page .
-- Plant It and They Will Come: Planning for Pollinators Zoom Workshop, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Saturday, May 22, also by the Placer County master gardeners. "Learn how to attract and support bees, butterflies and other pollinators by choosing a palette of plants that provide a living landscape which offers nourishment and nesting places for these creatures that enliven our gardens, as well as provide pollination services. It’s a win-win for humans and pollinators!" Go here for the Zoom link and password .
Several view-anytime videos are linked from the Sacramento County master gardeners video library . Here are a few that are relevant right now:
"Better Pollination In The Home Vegetable Garden," from the Honey Bee Haven at UC Davis.
"Thinning Fruit on Your Fruit Trees," by the Sacramento County master gardeners.
"Aphid-eating Insects in Action!" The focus is on beneficial insects that devour (and I mean devour, wow!) bad bugs, from UC IPM.
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Flowers in My Back Yard Series
March 10: Keep camellias happy for years to come
March 3: Fruit tree blossoms are a fleeting joy
Feb. 27: Are your roses looking rusty?
Feb. 24: Treasure spring daffodils now and for years to come
Feb. 17: How and why to grow wildflowers
Feb. 10: Let's talk Valentine's Day roses
Feb. 3: Why grow flowers?
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Garden checklist for week of March 15
Enjoy these sunny days and show your garden some TLC. Don’t forget to water.
* Weed, weed, weed! Get them before they flower. Take a hoe and whack them at the base.
* Prepare vegetable beds for summer favorites. Spade in compost and other amendments.
* In the vegetable garden, transplant lettuce. Last chance this spring to transplant cole family plants such as broccoli, collards and kale.
* Seed chard and beets directly into the ground. Soak beet seeds before planting to aid germination.
* Harvest fall-planted lettuce and cabbage before it “bolts” – sending out flower shoots.
* Fertilize roses, annual flowers and berries as spring growth begins to appear.
* 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 or 4-4-4, 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.
* 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.
* Seed and renovate the lawn, if you 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.
Contact Us
Send us a gardening question, a post suggestion or information about an upcoming event. sacdigsgardening@gmail.com
Food in My Back Yard (FIMBY) Series
Lessons learned during a year of edible gardening
WINTER
Is edible gardening possible indoors?
Hints for choosing tomato seeds
Why winter is the perfect time to plant fruit trees
When to plant? Consider staggering your transplants
How to squeeze more food into less space
Plant a fruit tree now -- for later
Win the weed war by tackling them in winter
Tips for planting bare-root trees, shrubs and vegetables
Time to give vegetable seedlings some more space
Ways to win the fight against weeds
FALL
Dec. 16: Add asparagus to your edible garden
Dec. 9: Soggy soil and what to do about it
Dec. 2: Plant artichokes now; enjoy for years to come
Nov. 25: It's late November, and your peach tree needs spraying
Nov. 18: What to do with all those fallen leaves?
Nov. 11: Prepare now for colder weather in the edible garden
Nov. 4: Plant a pea patch for you and your garden
Oct. 27: As citrus season begins, advice for backyard growers
Oct. 20: Change is in the autumn air
Oct. 13: We don't talk (enough) about beets
Oct. 6: Fava beans do double duty
Sept. 30: Seeds or transplants for cool-season veggies?
Sept. 23: How to prolong the fall tomato harvest
SUMMER
Sept. 16: Time to shut it down?
Sept. 9: How to get the most out of your pumpkin patch
Sept. 2: Summer-to-fall transition time for evaluation, planning
Aug. 26: To pick or not to pick those tomatoes?
Aug. 19: Put worms to work for you
Aug. 12: Grow food while saving water
Aug. 5: Enhance your food with edible flowers
July 29: Why won't my tomatoes turn red?
July 22: A squash plant has mosaic virus, and it's not pretty
July 15: Does this plant need water?
July 8: Tear out that sad plant or baby it? Midsummer decisions
July 1: How to grow summer salad greens
June 24: Weird stuff that's perfectly normal
SPRING
June 17: Help pollinators help your garden
June 10: Battling early-season tomato pests
June 3: Make your own compost
May 27: Where are the bees when you need them?
May 20: How to help tomatoes thrive on hot days
May 13: Your plants can tell you more than any calendar can
May 6: Maintain soil moisture with mulch for garden success
April 29: What's (already) wrong with my tomato plants?
April 22: Should you stock up on fertilizer? (Yes!)
April 15: Grow culinary herbs in containers
April 8: When to plant summer vegetables
April 1: Don't be fooled by these garden myths
March 25: Fertilizer tips: How to 'feed' your vegetables for healthy growth
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