More pleasant days are expected; time to get things done
Plant nasturtiums, poppies, sweet peas and other flower seeds now for blooms in early spring.
Kathy Morrison
Thinking about making some landscape renovations? Now may be the right time to pick up your shovel and get to work.
October is ideal for planting trees, shrubs and perennials in our area. Soil is still warm and helps roots grow strong before the chill (and stress) of winter sets in. And pleasant daytime temperatures entice gardeners to get outside – and get busy.
According to the National Weather Service, Sacramento can expect the last of the 90-degree-plus days on Monday, with high temperatures dropping slightly into the upper 80s for the rest of the week. Normal high for this second week of October is 82 degrees. Night-time lows continue in the mid 50s – in other words, perfect fall weather.
Just make sure whatever you transplant receives enough moisture. Give plants a deep soaking so they can settle in and get growing.
These warm days and nights will prompt summer vegetables such as tomatoes and peppers to keep producing a little while longer. Thanksgiving tomatoes are possible.
Warm nights also will keep leaves green. Fall foliage with its rich golds and oranges won’t show up until later this month when overnight temperatures dip into the low 40s. Judging by the 30-day forecast, that may not be until sometime around Halloween.
* Clean up the summer vegetable garden and compost disease-free foliage.
* Harvest pumpkins and winter squash as they mature.
* Dig up corms and tubers of gladioluses, dahlias and tuberous begonias after the foliage dies. Clean and store in a cool, dry place.
* Treat azaleas, gardenias and camellias with chelated iron if leaves are yellowing between the veins.
* Chill tulip and hyacinth bulbs in the refrigerator before planting. They need about six weeks of cold before going in the ground.
* Want early spring flowers? Plant seeds for cornflower, nasturtium, nigella, poppy, portulaca, sweet pea and stock.
* Plant seeds for radishes, bok choy, mustard, spinach and peas.
* Plant garlic and onions.
* Set out cool-weather bedding plants, including calendula, pansy, snapdragon, primrose and viola.
* Reseed and feed the lawn. Work on bare spots.
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Dig In: Garden Checklist
For week of March 19:
Spring will start a bit soggy, but there’s still plenty to do between showers:
* Fertilize roses, annual flowers and berries as spring growth begins to appear.
* Watch out for aphids. Wash off plants with strong blast from the hose.
* Pull weeds now! Don’t let them get started. Take a hoe and whack them as soon as they sprout.
* Prepare summer 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 fight blossom blight.
* Feed citrus trees as they start to blossom.
* 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 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.
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