The Secret Garden celebrates with two weekends of family fun
Green Acres hosts veggie talks plus a houseplant pot-up event
Delta society hosts annual show and sale of African violets, gesneriads and rare bloomers
New! Very Berry Syrup mixes strawberries, blueberries, blackberries -- or whatever you have
This week could be the perfect time to plant for fall, winter
Triple-digit heat again challenges tomatoes, squash
Yolo County master gardeners' monthly talk looks to fall
More than 1,000 plants in rare and unusual species will be offered
How one Sacramento family turned their front lawn into much more
Get growing with more pleasure and fun
New! Lemon verbena shortbread, lavender lemonade from the Herb Team
After ‘cool’ Labor Day, triple-digit heat returns to Sacramento
Master gardener uses rebates to create her dream outdoor space
Training program starts in winter; deadline to apply is Oct. 10
El Dorado County master gardeners present free workshop
Elk Grove nursery offers big discounts on succulents, cacti, pottery and fountains
How did this Sacramento family spend their summer? Inspiring others on local billboards
New! Shopska salad makes most of ripe tomatoes, crunchy cucumber
After unusual storm system, summer warmth returns
Green Acres hosts special event at its Auburn location
Sacramento Digs Gardening to your inbox.
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Garden Checklist for week of Dec. 15
Get outside early this week to check on your garden and take care of issues before the rain starts up again:
* Between showers this week, take advantage of soft soil; it’s not too late to plant cool-season annuals. But be careful of soggy ground; it can compact easily. Soggy soil also will rot newly planted bulbs. Wait until the soil is moist but not dripping wet.
* Rake leaves away from storm drains and gutters. Recycle those leaves as mulch or add to compost.
* Brighten the holidays with winter bloomers such as poinsettias, amaryllis, calendulas, Iceland poppies, pansies and primroses.
* Keep poinsettias in a sunny, warm location; bring them inside at night or if there’s rain. (They don’t like cold, wet weather.)
* Prune non-flowering trees and shrubs while they’re dormant.
* Clean and sharpen garden tools before storing for the winter.
* Rake and remove dead leaves and stems from dormant perennials.
* Seed wildflowers and plant such spring bloomers as sweet pea, sweet alyssum and bachelor buttons.
* Trees and shrubs can be planted now, especially bare-root varieties such as fruit trees or rose bushes. This gives them plenty of time for root development before spring growth. They also benefit from winter rains.
* Plant bare-root berries, kiwifruit, grapes, artichokes, horseradish and rhubarb.
* Set out cool-weather annuals such as pansies and snapdragons.
* Lettuce, cabbage and broccoli also can be planted now.
* Plant garlic and onions.