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Sacramento master gardeners host year’s final Open Garden Day

Applications close soon for MG training class of 2023

The Fair Oaks Horticulture Center will be open for browsing and inspiration this Wednesday.

The Fair Oaks Horticulture Center will be open for browsing and inspiration this Wednesday. Kathy Morrison

From the desert willow near the entrance to the grapevines at the top of the hill, the Fair Oaks Horticulture Center is bathed in golden autumn light these days. The UCCE Sacramento County master gardeners will welcome visitors to the entire garden one more time in 2022 during the free Open Garden Day this Wednesday, Oct. 12, from 9 a.m. to noon.

Visitors are encouraged to bring their garden questions, mystery pests or other problems to the “Ask a Master Gardener” table for potential answers or solutions. All areas of the Horticulture Center will be staffed for visitors to wander, ask questions and be inspired. 

The FOHC includes the Water Efficient Landscape, the herb garden, the orchard and vineyard, the berry area, the vegetable garden and the compost area. Open Garden Days are informal events, and master gardeners will be available to discuss the fall activities throughout the garden.

The 2023 Gardening Guide and Calendar will be on sale during the event. Just $10, it’s a valuable resource for the year and also makes a great gift.

Anyone who has wondered what being a master gardener is all about should also visit the FOHC this Wednesday. The application period for the next training class is open now, but only through Oct. 17. For more information on applying, visit the Sacramento MG website here.

The Fair Oaks Horticulture Center is at 11549 Fair Oaks Blvd., just south of the Fair Oaks Library at Madison Avenue and Fair Oaks Boulevard. For more information on the program or events: sacmg.ucanr.edu

– Kathy Morrison

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Dig In: Garden Checklist

For week of March 24:

In between cloud bursts, try to catch up with early spring chores. 

* Attack weeds now! Get them before they flower and go to seed. Take a hoe and whack them as soon as they sprout. Aim for 1 inch below the soil line.

* 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 now in bloom and setting fruit. 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).

* 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.

* 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 cole family plants, such as cabbage, broccoli, collards 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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