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Find spring garden inspiration at 'Ideas Fair'

Sacramento Digs Gardening
BY Debbie Arrington PUBLISHED MAR 6, 2019

Ring in spring with fresh ideas and new plants. This is Pink Pride,
one of many daffodils now available in bloom.
(Photo: Courtesy Green Acres Nursery & Supply)

Green Acres hosts free workshop-filled event in Elk Grove

Need a little inspiration to get started on spring gardening? Looking for new, fun ideas or just the right plants?

Find them Saturday during the Dig into Spring Ideas Fair at Green Acres Nursery & Supply in Elk Grove.

From 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. March 9, the garden center will be overflowing with activity during this free event. Demonstrations throughout the day will spotlight major areas of interest. Vendors will introduce new plants and garden products. Local clubs and community garden organizations will share their expertise.

Raffles and giveaways plus “hot buys” add more spice to this fair, which also will feature family fun and do-it-yourself stations.

Each 45 minutes to an hour, the free workshops include:

Green Acres' Elk Grove location will host the Ideas Fair.
(Photo: Courtesy Green Acres Nursery & Supply)

* “What’s New from the Sunset Western Garden Collection,” 10 a.m.: See the latest plants and learn 2019 trends from the famous Sunset Test Garden.

* “Growing Vegetables from the Ground Up,” 11 a.m.: Get great tips on growing vegetables from seed or starters in the ground, raised beds or containers.

* “Get Your Irrigation Questions Answered,” noon: Bring questions! An expert from Hunter Industries will lead a Q&A on specific irrigation questions including drip systems, sprinklers, timers and water-saving conversions.

* “Backyard Orchard Culture,” 1 p.m.: Find out how to grow more fruit in small (or large) spaces plus the best picks for the Sacramento area. Green Acres’ Greg Gayton will share his tips on pruning, maintenance and more.

* “Growing Citrus Every Season,” 2 p.m.: Dwarf citrus specialist Four Winds Growers shares its insights on choosing the best varieties for our area plus planting, pruning, fertilizing and common problems.

* “Garden Pest S.O.S.,” 3 p.m.: Good bug or bad bug? An expert from Our Water, Our World will show how to tell beneficial insects from pests as well as ways to grow a healthier garden using Integrated Pest Management.

Green Acres is located at 9220 E. Stockton Blvd., Elk Grove. Phone: 916-714-5600.

Details: www.idiggreenacres.com .

- Debbie Arrington

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GENERAL GARDENING

An article about gardening.

Keywords:

Hunter Industries Ideas Fair Four Wind Growers integrated pest management Greg Gayton Dig into Spring vegetable gardens Green Acres Green Acres Nursery and Supply irrigation Sunset

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Flowers in My Back Yard Series

May 26: Zinnias are the summer flowers every garden needs

May 19: Plant dahlias now for late-summer flower power

May 12: Know your coreopsis from your bidens

May 5: Mums the word on Mother's Day weekend

April 28: Majestic Matilija poppy is worth a look

April 21: Celebrate roses, America's favorite flower

April 14: Small flowers with outsized impact

April 7: Calendulas do double duty

April 3: Make Easter lilies last for years to come

March 31: In praise of a pollinator magnet (small-leaf salvias)

March 24: Azaleas brighten shady spots

March 17: The perfect flower for beginners? Try zonal geraniums

March 10: Keep camellias happy for years to come

March 3: Fruit tree blossoms are a fleeting joy

Feb. 27: Are your roses looking rusty?

Feb. 24: Treasure spring daffodils now and for years to come

Feb. 17: How and why to grow wildflowers

Feb. 10: Let's talk Valentine's Day roses

Feb. 3: Why grow flowers?

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Garden checklist for week of May 31

Remember to water early. No more rain is in the immediate forecast.

* It’s not too late to transplant tomatoes, peppers, eggplant or other summer favorites. Make sure they stay hydrated.

* From seed, plant corn, melons, pumpkins, radishes, squash and sunflowers.

* Plant basil to go with your tomatoes.

* Transplant summer annuals such as petunias, marigolds and zinnias.

* It’s also a good time to transplant perennial flowers including astilbe, columbine, coneflowers, coreopsis, dahlias, rudbeckia, salvia and verbena.

* Let the grass grow longer. Set the mower blades high to reduce stress on your lawn during summer heat. To cut down on evaporation, water your lawn deeply during the early hours of the morning, between 2 and 8 a.m.

* Tie up vines and stake tall plants such as gladiolus and lilies. That gives their heavy flowers some support.

* Dig and divide crowded bulbs after the tops have died down.

* Feed summer flowers with a slow-release fertilizer.

* Mulch, mulch, mulch! This “blanket” keeps moisture in the soil longer and helps your plants cope during hot weather.

* Cut back fruit-bearing canes on berries.

* Feed camellias, azaleas and other acid-loving plants. Mulch to conserve moisture and reduce heat stress.

* Cut back Shasta daisies after flowering to encourage a second bloom in the fall.

* Trim off dead flowers from rose bushes to keep them blooming through the summer. Roses also benefit from deep watering and feeding now. A top dressing of aged compost will keep them happy. It feeds as well as keeps roots moist.

* Pinch back chrysanthemums for bushier plants with many more flowers in September.

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

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