Placer County master gardeners show how they turned unused turf into their new demonstration garden at Loomis Library
New! Lemon, garlic and herbs flavor this no-cook side dish
After a record hot July, expect more triple digits (and hot August nights)
From grape pruning to worm composting, hands-on 'mini-talks' provide wealth of information -- all free!
Sacramento Digs Gardening's booth returns this year
Family-friendly exhibit extended at Sonoma Botanical Garden
Sacramento-area vendors offer their unique creations, plants at Saturday event
Sacramento County master gardeners host area’s biggest free garden event of its kind
New! Spoon cake combines blackberries, blueberries
Make the most of cooler weather before another heat wave
Relief from triple-digit temperatures coming this weekend, but smoky skies may linger
Patricia Carpenter welcomes visitors to her garden Sunday, Aug. 4
Discolored berries are another example of crops affected by intense summer heat
Triple-digit temperatures and smoky conditions can create high pollutant levels
El Dorado County master gardeners offer free workshop at Sherwood Demonstration Garden
Summer stone fruit flavors a quick-cooking sauce
Try to stay cool; relief is on its way
Surviving triple-digit temperatures comes down to moisture, mulch
Master gardeners field queries from State Fair visitors
Don’t let bindweed overwhelm your garden; tips on how to cope with this invasive plant
Sacramento Digs Gardening to your inbox.
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Garden Checklist for week of Nov. 10
Make the most of gaps between raindrops this week and get stuff done:
* 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.
* Give your azaleas, gardenias and camellias a boost with chelated iron.
* For larger blooms, pinch off some camellia buds.
* 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.
* Pull faded annuals and vegetables.
* Prune dead or broken branches from trees.
* 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.