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Classes, plant sales and a swap on Saturday's packed calendar

Free beekeeping intro in Elk Grove; seed exchange in Folsom

Many plants thrive in containers, which gives a gardener with limited space more options. Learn about container gardening Saturday in Lincoln.

Many plants thrive in containers, which gives a gardener with limited space more options. Learn about container gardening Saturday in Lincoln. Kathy Morrison

With so many gardening events going on this month, it's hard to keep track of them all. April's final weekend includes some excellent -- and free -- garden education opportunities that may have slipped under the radar. There are also two large plant sales and a seed-and-plant swap, too. All these events happen Saturday, April 27. Take a look:

-- Beekeeping 101, 10 a.m. to noon, at the Elk Grove Community Garden, 10025 Hampton Oak Drive, Elk Grove. Beekeeper John Phair will cover all things bees, including a hive inspection and starting a bee colony using a nucleus hive. RSVP at (916) 818-9108, but walk-ins also are welcome. Suggested donation: canned goods for the Elk Grove Food Bank. Information: www.facebook.com/ElkGroveCommunityGarden

-- Container gardening, 2 to 3 p.m., taught by the Placer County master gardeners at the Twelve Bridges Library, 485 Twelve Bridges Drive, Lincoln. A valuable class for anyone with limited outdoor space, or who wants to garden on a patio or balcony. "This workshop will cover choosing the right container, plant selection tips, transplanting and more," they say.  "Learn how to be successful growing ornamental plants, as well as fruit and vegetables." No registration required. Information: https://pcmg.ucanr.edu/?calitem=585134

-- Plant & Seed Exchange, 1 to 3 p.m., at the Folsom Library, 411 Stafford St., Folsom. "Please bring at least one pest-free plant, plant clippings or seed bundle to exchange with others," organizers say. "By bringing one item to swap, you will receive an entry to win a $25 Green Acres gift card." Information: https://www.folsom.ca.us/Home/Components/Calendar/Event/5373/ 

-- Ornamentals plant sale, 8 a.m. to noon, second of the El Dorado County master gardeners' spring plant sales. Some edibles not sold at the April 13 sale also will be available. Sherwood Demonstration Garden,  6699 Campus Drive, Placerville. Plants range from ground covers to trees, shrubs and succulents. Inventory accessible here: https://mgeldorado.ucanr.edu/

-- UC Davis Arboretum Plant Sale, members only 9 to 10 a.m., public 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. This is the third of the spring sales at the arboretum's Teaching Nursery, and the last regular one before the clearance sale May 11. Inventory can be accessed on this page: https://arboretum.ucdavis.edu/plant-sales. To join Friends of the Arboretum and get perks in addition to member-only events, go to this site or join at the gate on sale date. 1046 Garrod Drive, UC Davis campus. Bring a wagon or cart if possible. Follow the signs to parking.

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Garden Checklist for week of June 15

Make the most of this “average” weather; your garden is growing fast! (So are the weeds!)

* Warm weather brings rapid growth in the vegetable garden, with tomatoes and squash enjoying the heat. Deep-water, then feed with a balanced fertilizer. Bone meal can spur the bloom cycle and help set fruit.

* Generally, tomatoes need deep watering two to three times a week, but don’t let them dry out completely. That can encourage blossom-end rot.

* From seed, plant corn, melons, pumpkins, radishes, squash and sunflowers.

* Plant basil to go with your tomatoes.

* Transplant summer annuals such as petunias, marigolds and zinnias. It’s also a good time to transplant perennial flowers including astilbe, columbine, coneflowers, coreopsis, dahlias, rudbeckia, salvia and verbena.

* Pull weeds before they go to seed.

* Let the grass grow longer. Set the mower blades high to reduce stress on your lawn during summer heat. To cut down on evaporation, water your lawn deeply during the wee hours of the morning, between 2 and 8 a.m.

* Tie up vines and stake tall plants such as gladiolus and lilies. That gives their heavy flowers some support.

* Dig and divide crowded bulbs after the tops have died down.

* Feed summer flowers with a slow-release fertilizer.

* Mulch, mulch, mulch! This “blanket” keeps moisture in the soil longer and helps your plants cope during hot weather. It also helps smother weeds.

* Thin grapes on the vine for bigger, better clusters later this summer.

* Cut back fruit-bearing canes on berries.

* Feed camellias, azaleas and other acid-loving plants. Mulch to conserve moisture and reduce heat stress.

* Cut back Shasta daisies after flowering to encourage a second bloom in the fall.

* Trim off dead flowers from rose bushes to keep them blooming through the summer. Roses also benefit from deep watering and feeding now. A top dressing of aged compost will keep them happy. It feeds as well as keeps roots moist.

* Pinch back chrysanthemums for bushier plants with many more flowers in September.

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