Be prepared for lots of rain, wind and frost
The strong winds and rain are knocking down lots of tree debris. Keep storm drains clear to prevent street flooding. Kathy Morrison
It’s not quite winter, but you can’t tell that from this week’s forecast. A series of storms will drench the greater Sacramento area accompanied by strong gusty winds.
Between rainy days, overnight lows will plunge into the low 30s, bringing frost danger as well as possible fog.
On Saturday morning, the National Weather Service issued a flood advisory for an area stretching from the Sierra foothills to Fairfield. “Periods of moderate to locally heavy rain may bring localized roadway flooding and rises to small streams,” tweeted the NWS Sacramento office.
More than an inch of rain is expected this weekend before clearing Monday. But that’s when nights get cold with lows of 32 degrees forecast for Monday and Tuesday.
Daytime highs will be on the cold side, too, with low 50s through next weekend.
Keep umbrellas handy; more showers are expected next Saturday, too.
In between storms, assess what needs to be done to help your garden cope:
* Prune broken limbs. Also tend to non-flowering trees and shrubs while they're dormant.
* Got a leaning tree? Wind and rain can push over evergreens and other trees, especially if their roots have been weakened by drought. Call an arborist and bring in expert help immediately before the tree falls completely.
* After so much rain, succulent plants are at particular risk if temperatures drop below freezing. Protect from cold when frost is in the forecast. Make sure to remove coverings during the day.
* Start pruning roses. Remove all foliage and rake up leaves under bushes.
* Brighten the holidays with winter bloomers such as calendulas, Iceland poppies, pansies and primroses. Plant in pots for instant color.
* Keep poinsettias in a sunny, warm location – most likely indoors. Don’t leave poinsettias outside in rain and cold.
* Rake and remove dead leaves and stems from dormant perennials.
* Pick up debris knocked down by wind and rain. Keep storm drains clear.
* Just because it rained doesn't mean every plant got watered. Give a drink to plants that the rain didn't reach, such as under eaves.
* Bare-root season has begun. Plant bare-root berries, kiwifruit, grapes, artichokes, horseradish and rhubarb. Beware of soggy soil. It can rot bare-root plants.
* It’s not too late to plant spring bulbs, especially in pots.
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Garden Checklist for week of April 21
This week there’s plenty to keep gardeners busy. With no rain in the immediate forecast, remember to irrigate any new transplants.
* Weed, weed, weed! Get them before they flower and go to seed.
* April is the last chance to plant citrus trees such as dwarf orange, lemon and kumquat. These trees also look good in landscaping and provide fresh fruit in winter.
* Smell orange blossoms? Feed citrus trees with a low dose of balanced fertilizer (such as 10-10-10) during bloom to help set fruit. Keep an eye out for ants.
* Apply slow-release fertilizer to the lawn.
* Thoroughly clean debris from the bottom of outdoor ponds or fountains.
* Spring brings a flush of rapid growth, and that means your garden is really hungry. Feed shrubs and trees with a slow-release fertilizer. Or mulch with a 1-inch layer of compost.
* Azaleas and camellias looking a little yellow? If leaves are turning yellow between the veins, give them a boost with chelated iron.
* Trim dead flowers but not leaves from spring-flowering bulbs such as daffodils and tulips. Those leaves gather energy to create next year's flowers. Also, give the bulbs a fertilizer boost after bloom.
* Pinch chrysanthemums back to 12 inches for fall flowers. Cut old stems to the ground.
* Mulch around plants to conserve moisture and control weeds.
* From seed, plant beans, beets, cantaloupes, carrots, corn, cucumbers, melons, radishes and squash.
* Plant onion sets.
* In the flower garden, plant seeds for asters, cosmos, celosia, marigolds, salvia, sunflowers and zinnias.
* Transplant petunias, zinnias, geraniums and other summer bloomers.
* Plant perennials and dahlia tubers for summer bloom.
* Mid to late April is about the last chance to plant summer bulbs, such as gladiolus and tuberous begonias.
* Transplant lettuce seedlings. Choose varieties that mature quickly such as loose leaf.
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