What to expect from our roller-coaster spring temperatures
Soil Born Farms hosts special workshop Saturday focusing on preserving flavors of homegrown herbs
Thursday event coincides with Fair Oaks' Summer Preview
'Mulch Mayhem' returns to Sacramento, Placer counties
Sacramento group hosts huge show and sale at Shepard Center
NEW Strawberry quick bread with walnuts
After several summer-like days, cooler weather returns
Find spring inspiration at these special weekend events
The free tour includes 26 gardens from Folsom to Woodland
Hundreds of water-wise selections available; see them in bloom
Spectacular tropical showcase set for Wyndham Hotel this weekend
See hundreds in bloom and learn more about roses
NEW! Roasting the fruit concentrates flavors
Spring warm-up means one thing: Time to plant tomatoes
Find hundreds of annuals, vegetables and more, including some big bargains
Test your knowledge with a quick quiz
After five-year hiatus, popular event features five historic homes
Placer County master gardeners mark anniversary with workshops, speakers
Enjoy unique private Sacramento gardens plus plant and garden art sales
NEW Orange-raisin sour cream scones with orange-vanilla glaze
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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