Storms take a break over Christmas weekend, but keep umbrella close
Berries from this parasitic plant (and popular holiday decoration) feed hungry songbirds in winter
The gardening year gets off to a fast start
Watch out for leaning trees and cracked soil
City of Sacramento plans several Saturday pruning sessions in January and February
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Recipe: Roasting squash increases the depth of flavor
Sacramento forecast calls for three days of steady rain
Temperature changes affect stone fruit and other crops
Easily found and budget-friendly items for gardeners
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Roseville offers two-month course designed for home gardeners; sign up now
Popular holiday plant comes in wide range of hues including several shades of pink
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Be prepared to chill: Frosty mornings return to Sacramento forecast
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Shop for unique gifts at this destination nursery (and much more)
American River Ranch hosts Saturday walks, workshop, produce stand and gift shop
The Secret Garden hosts hands-on mosaic classes in December and January
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Garden Checklist for week of Jan. 26
As a very dry January winds down, there is still time to get winter chores done:
* Prune, prune, prune. Now is the time to cut back most deciduous trees and shrubs. The exceptions are spring-flowering shrubs such as lilacs.
* Now is the time to prune fruit trees. Clean up leaves and debris around the trees to prevent the spread of disease. Exceptions: Cherry and apricot trees, which should wait until summer.
* Prune roses, even if they’re still trying to bloom. Strip off any remaining leaves, so the bush will be able to put out new growth in early spring.
* Clean up leaves and debris around your newly pruned roses and shrubs. Put down fresh mulch or bark to keep roots cozy.
* After possible rain this weekend, apply horticultural oil to fruit trees to control scale, mites and aphids. Oils need 24 hours of dry weather after application to be effective.
* This is also the time to spray a copper-based oil to peach and nectarine trees to fight leaf curl. Best done when no wet or windy weather occurs in the 24 hours before and after any spraying is done.
* When forced bulbs sprout, move them to a cool, bright window. Give them a quarter turn each day so the stems will grow straight.
* Divide daylilies, Shasta daisies and other perennials.
* Cut back and divide chrysanthemums.
* Plant bare-root roses, trees and shrubs.
* Transplant pansies, violas, calendulas, English daisies, snapdragons and fairy primroses.
* In the vegetable garden, plant fava beans, head lettuce, mustard, onion sets, radicchio and radishes.
* Plant bare-root asparagus and root divisions of rhubarb.
* In the bulb department, plant callas, anemones, ranunculus and gladiolus for bloom from late spring into summer.
* Plant blooming azaleas, camellias and rhododendrons. If you’re shopping for these beautiful landscape plants, you can now find them in full flower at local nurseries.
* Browse through seed catalogs and start making plans for spring and summer. Start pepper and tomato seeds, especially those that require 90 or more days to maturity.
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