Dig In: Garden checklist for week of March 17

It’s time to exchange that umbrella for a hat! Sunny days are forecast for most of the week ahead as the final days of winter will be warmer than usual.

According to the National Weather Service, Sacramento recorded a record high 73 degrees on Friday, March 15, with more records possible. A string of days in the mid 70s is forecast through Wednesday.

By then, winter will be officially over. Spring starts Tuesday.

Although afternoons will feel warm, overnight lows in the 40s will keep mornings cool. When working outdoors, dress in layers.

After this warm break, we’re expected to slip back into the 60s with the possibility of rain on Friday. If those showers materialize, don’t expect much – only 0.15 inch in Sacramento, predicts the weather service. Normal for mid-March in Sacramento: High of 65 and low of 44.

Make the most of this sunny, dry break and get to work. Your garden isn’t waiting around; it’s growing fast! (Especially the weeds.)

* Pull weeds now! Get them before they flower and go to seed. Take a hoe and whack them as soon as they sprout. Aim for 1 inch below the soil line.

* Start preparing 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.

* Feed roses with a balanced fertilizer (such as 10-10-10, 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.

* 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 cole family plants, such as cabbage, broccoli, collards 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.