Sacramento Digs Gardening: Dig In: Garden checklist for week of Sept. 6

Plants will appreciate a morning shower during this heat wave. Coneflowers especially will -- they have rough leaves that easily collect dust and, lately, ash from wildfires. (Photo: Kathy Morrison)

The heat is back on this Labor Day weekend with the possibility of more records. Sacramento could see its hottest September day ever; 110 is forecast for Sunday. That's 20 degrees above normal for early September. The previous record for the month: 109.

For the Sacramento region, the National Weather Service issued an excessive heat warning through Tuesday night. Then, the Delta breeze is expected to start back up, giving us some relief.

In the meantime, drink extra water and avoid outdoor activities from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., advises the weather service. Help kids and elderly family or friends stay cool. And pets, too.

That also goes for your garden. Irrigate early. Give plants in containers extra water. Shade maturing tomatoes, peppers, eggplant and squash.

What else should you be doing in your garden this week?

* In these smoky conditions, foliage could use some water, too. Give your plants a morning shower. Rinse off dust, ash and grime.
* Keep harvesting tomatoes, peppers, squash, melons and eggplant. In this high heat, pick before your crops get overripe.
* Compost annuals and vegetable crops that have finished blooming and producing.
* Divide and replant bulbs, rhizomes and perennials.
* Dig up and divide daylilies as they complete their bloom cycle.
* Divide and transplant peonies that have become overcrowded. Replant with "eyes" about an inch below the soil surface.
* Plant onions, lettuce, peas, radishes, turnips, beets, carrots, bok choy, spinach and potatoes directly into the vegetable beds. Make sure to keep them hydrated.
* After the heat wave ends, transplant cabbage, broccoli, kale, Brussels sprouts and cauliflower as well as lettuce seedlings.

CHECKLIST FOR THE WEEK

Your weekly checklist of activities in the garden.

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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.

Send us a gardening question, a post suggestion or information about an upcoming event. sacdigsgardening@gmail.com

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