Wet weather expected to continue; make most of damp soil
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| All those beautiful leaves will be on the ground soon. (Photo: Kathy Morrison) |
Keep your umbrella handy! After showers this weekend, rain likely will be back soon.
According to the National Weather Service , Sacramento can expect a quarter inch of rain on Tuesday, followed by another quarter inch on Thursday, with possible showers and drizzle in between.
The cloud cover that goes with this storm system will keep temperatures cool, but not freezing. Highs this week are expected to reach only the low 60s, but overnight lows will hover around 50 degrees – still relatively warm for November.
The good news: This moisture will soften the ground – great for planting!
* Turn off the sprinklers during this rainy week.
* Check soil moisture to make sure that precipitation is actually soaking in. Provide extra irrigation as needed.
* Rake and compost leaves. Don't let leaves pile up in the gutter and block drainage.
* Save dry stalks and seedpods from poppies and coneflowers for fall bouquets and holiday decorating.
* Give your azaleas, gardenias and camellias a boost with chelated iron.
* Prune non-flowering trees and shrubs while dormant.
* Keep planting bulbs to spread out your spring bloom.
* This is also a good time to seed wildflowers and plant such spring bloomers as sweet pea, sweet alyssum and bachelor buttons.
* Now is the best time to plant most trees and shrubs. This gives them plenty of time for root development before spring growth. They also benefit from fall and winter rains.
* Set out cool-weather annuals such as pansies and snapdragons.
* Lettuce, cabbage, broccoli, chard, kale and other winter greens also can be planted now.
* Plant garlic and onions.
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| Chard and other cool-season favorites can be planted now. |
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Dig In: Garden Checklist
For week of March 26:
Sacramento can expect another inch of rain from this latest storm. Leave the sprinklers off at least another week. Temps will dip down into the low 30s early in the week, so avoid planting tender seedlings (such as tomatoes). Concentrate on these tasks before or after this week’s rain:
* Fertilize roses, annual flowers and berries as spring growth begins to appear.
* Knock off aphids with a strong blast of water or some bug soap as soon as they appear.
* Pull weeds now! Don’t let them get started. Take a hoe and whack them as soon as they sprout.
* Prepare summer 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.
* 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 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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