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The Claw is (almost) back!

Sacramento's Leaf Season begins Sunday

Sacramento Digs Gardening
BY Debbie Arrington PUBLISHED OCT 27, 2020 11:42 A.M.

The Claw will be back in action in Sacramento starting Sunday.

(Photo courtesy City of Sacramento)

Scraaaaaaaaaaape! That scary sound of metal against concrete will be music to many Sacramento gardeners’ ears.

It’s that time of year again: The return of The Claw!

The day after Halloween, Sacramento officially starts “Leaf Season” and nearly three months of in-street leaf pick-up.

According to Sacramento’s Recycling and Solid Waste Department, The Claw operates Sunday, Nov. 1 through Jan. 24. (And yes, Claw crews work on weekends.)

When will The Claw be on your street? Check SacLeafSmart.org for updated estimates of Claw pick-up schedules. The City also offers a free and handy SacRecycle app for your phone so you can get the latest Claw news anywhere any time.

Some reminders:

Leaf piles can be no bigger than 4 by 4 by 9 feet (and just one per household). Make sure there is space between the pile and the curb so water can flow down the gutter. Also, place the pile at least 6 feet away from cars, boats, basketball hoops or other obstructions. The Claw needs room to maneuver.

Don’t put plastic bags in street piles (including bags full of leaves). And don’t contaminate the leaf pile with trash or dog poop (a common problem).

During leaf season, the City of Sacramento continues to pick up green waste containers. Fill those first before piling leaves in the street, advises the recycling and solid waste department. The containers will get picked up 13 times during Leaf Season while residents can expect seven visits from The Claw.

For more information: SacLeafSmart.org .

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deciduous trees yard waste gardening Sacramento The Claw green waste trees leaf season street piles fall gardening leaves

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Dig In: Garden Checklist

For week of March 19:

Spring will start a bit soggy, but there’s still plenty to do between showers:

* Fertilize roses, annual flowers and berries as spring growth begins to appear.

* Watch out for aphids. Wash off plants with strong blast from the hose.

* 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 fight blossom blight.

* Feed citrus trees as they start to blossom.

* 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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