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Dig In: Garden checklist for week of Dec. 1

Sacramento Digs Gardening
BY Debbie Arrington PUBLISHED NOV 30, 2019 10:46 A.M.

Whether or not the sun is out, cyclamen add bright holiday color to the garden. They are excellent indoor plants, too. They go dormant in summer months. (Photo: Kathy Morrison)

Soggy start to a new month; get used to it

A new month opens with a soggy weekend -- just what we needed.

Sacramento's rain year, which started Oct. 1, had gotten off to a very dry start. Recent rains have been our first since mid-September. December averages 3.25 inches of precipitation, so this week's storms are just the beginning of what should be a moist month.

Temperature wise, the high temperature during our December days averages 54 degrees with overnight lows of 38 degrees. Get out the sweaters and keep frost cloths handy.

We can have warm days as well as chilly nights. Our December high and low records are 72 and 18 degrees, respectfully.

Meanwhile, here's what to do in your early December garden:

* Bare-root season has begun. Plant bare-root berries, kiwifruit, grapes, artichokes, horseradish and rhubarb. Beware of soggy soil. It can rot bare-root plants.
* Prune non-flowering trees and shrubs while they're dormant.
* Clean and sharpen garden tools before storing for the winter.
* Brighten the holidays with winter bloomers such as poinsettias, amaryllis, calendulas, Iceland poppies, cyclamen, pansies and primroses.
* Keep poinsettias in a sunny, warm location. Water thoroughly. After the holidays, feed your plants monthly so they'll bloom again next December.
* Rake and remove dead leaves and stems from dormant perennials.
* Just because it rained doesn't mean every plant got watered. Give a drink to plants that the rain didn't reach, such as under eaves or under evergreen trees. Also, well-watered plants hold up better to frost than thirsty plants.

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CHECKLIST FOR THE WEEK

Your weekly checklist of activities in the garden.

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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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