New! Spiced pumpkin pancakes make use of favorite fall flavors
November starts with typical fall weather – mild
Garden forecast: November starts with real rain, then more warm days
Visit CNPS Garden Ambassador's 1-acre site; registration required
Half Moon Bay champion wins by a margin of just 6 pounds
Master gardeners offer free workshop on 'Asexual Propagation'
Elk Grove destination garden shop to hold annual open house
New! Dijon, horseradish and more provide the kick
Last days of October may get a little damp
Organic nursery giant steps in to save another beloved NorCal seed and plant source.
Proceeds support Garden Community program at A. Warren McClaskey Adult School
Bring seeds, cuttings to share with others while learning about California native plants
UC Davis Arboretum Teaching Nursery hosts second fall fundraiser
This invasive plant is toxic to horses; find out ways to control it
Recipe: Apple almond coffee cake with streusel topping
Winds bring high fire danger, low humidity
El Dorado County master gardeners show how during special event
Find hundreds of plants at one-day event in East Sacramento
Huge event features handmade pottery, ceramics, glass and metalwork
Public invited to enter their own roses in 60th annual event
Sacramento Digs Gardening to your inbox.
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Garden Checklist for week of Nov. 17
Expect the coming storms to knock down an enormous amount of leaves. Grab a rake and get to work!
* Rake and compost leaves, but dispose of any diseased plant material. For example, if peach and nectarine trees showed signs of leaf curl this year, clean up under trees and dispose of those leaves instead of composting.
* Use some of those nice fall leaves as mulch around shrubs and trees or in the vegetable garden.
* Save dry stalks and seedpods from poppies and coneflowers for fall bouquets and holiday decorating.
* For holiday blooms indoors, plant paperwhite narcissus bulbs now. Fill a shallow bowl or dish with 2 inches of rocks or pebbles. Place bulbs in the dish with the root end nestled in the rocks. Add water until it just touches the bottom of the bulbs. Place the dish in a sunny window. Add water as needed.
* Give your azaleas, gardenias and camellias a boost with chelated iron.
* After they bloom, chrysanthemums should be trimmed to 6 to 8 inches above the ground. If in pots, keep the mums in their containers until next spring. Then, they can be planted in the ground, if desired, or repotted.
* Prune non-flowering trees and shrubs while dormant.
* Keep planting bulbs to spread out your spring bloom. Some possible suggestions: daffodils, crocuses, hyacinths, tulips, anemones and scillas.
* This is also a good time to seed wildflowers and plant such spring bloomers as sweet pea, sweet alyssum and bachelor buttons.
* Now is the best time to plant most trees and shrubs. This gives them plenty of time for root development before spring growth. They also benefit from fall and winter rains.
* Set out cool-weather annuals such as pansies and snapdragons.
* Lettuce, cabbage and broccoli also can be planted now.
* Plant garlic and onions.