Make the most of dry, clear (and chilly) weather
Succulents, holiday poinsettias among most sensitive plants
A grateful pause on Thanksgiving
El Dorado County growers ready to welcome tree hunters
After atmospheric river, we'll have some chilly nights
Family fun, ornament painting and more at Elk Grove destination nursery/ garden store
New! Premade crust, herbed soft cheese can speed up the prep work
Thanksgiving week is a time to dry out and count blessings
Mandarin festival booth skipped; award-winning gardening guide now available online
Sacramento Perennial Plant Club supports school, nonprofit and community programs
Relles Florist in Sacramento offers popular DIY class
'Atmospheric river' could drop as much as 4 inches of rain in five days
Featuring tons of local citrus, popular event opens Friday in Roseville
New! Persimmon-raisin scones with fresh Fuyu persimmon
Get ready to chill as cold fronts bring potential frost
Famous feng shui expert opens her private Huei's Garden to the public Saturday
Each month offers tips on keeping the garden and the gardeners healthy
Thoughtful landscaping can channel more deep irrigation to trees, shrubs
Spectacular chrysanthemums on display plus potted plants for sale
One-acre nursery offers thousands of water-wise plants at bargain prices
Sacramento Digs Gardening to your inbox.
Food in My Back Yard Series
March 4: Potatoes from the garden
Feb. 25: Plant a fruit tree now -- for later
Feb. 18: How to squeeze more food into less space
Feb. 11: When to plant? Consider staggering your transplants
Feb. 4: Starting in seed starting
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Garden Checklist for week of March 9
Make the most of the sunny days before the rain arrives mid-week; your garden needs some TLC.
* Pull weeds now! Don’t let them get started. Take a hoe and whack them as soon as they sprout.
* 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 starting to bloom. 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; organic fertilizers tend to have lower numbers, such as 4-4-4).
* 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.
* In the vegetable garden, transplant lettuce and cole family plants, such as cauliflower, broccoli, collards and kale.
* Seed chard and beets directly into the ground.
* Before the mercury starts inching upward, this is your last chance to plant such annuals as pansies, violas and primroses.
* 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.
* Soil pH is important for blueberries to produce a crop. Now is the time to test the soil around the plants using a soil test or soil meter. The soil should be in the 4.5 to 5.5 range; most Sacramento soil is in the 7 range. The sulfur package will list the amount to apply, depending on what the test shows.
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