Discover six private gardens with lots of personality
Get advice from local experts; see how they tackle spring tasks
NEW Strawberries shine, raspberries add color to versatile sauce
April showers will give way to plenty of sunshine
Perennial Plant Club shifts second day of event to Sunday; other Saturday events still planned
Saturday event designed for gardeners of all ages
Find member-grown perennials, natives and more; event also includes tours, food, tool sharpening, garden art
Popular tour led by Warren Roberts highlights spring flowers in the public gardens
Sacramento club's annual event includes beginner workshop, guest artist demonstrations
NEW Ham and baby potato casserole with glazed carrots
Grab your sun hat; heat is on its way
Events at famous feng shui oasis raise funds to help children at Shriners Hospital.
Burbank High, Elk Grove Garden Club events Saturday
SacValley CNPS Nursery & Gardens hosts sale, needs used containers for future sales
Event features succulents, natives and water-wise perennials; members get in early
Capital City African Violet Society hosts annual event
NEW Chocolate glaze especially appropriate for a holiday dessert
April starts with a sunny break before more showers
Master rosarian shares tips with Farmer Fred on spring rose care basics, propagation
Gardens' best finery on display in fundraisers and free events
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Garden Checklist for week of Nov. 17
Expect the coming storms to knock down an enormous amount of leaves. Grab a rake and get to work!
* 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.
* Use some of those nice fall leaves as mulch around shrubs and trees or in the vegetable garden.
* Save dry stalks and seedpods from poppies and coneflowers for fall bouquets and holiday decorating.
* For holiday blooms indoors, plant paperwhite narcissus bulbs now. Fill a shallow bowl or dish with 2 inches of rocks or pebbles. Place bulbs in the dish with the root end nestled in the rocks. Add water until it just touches the bottom of the bulbs. Place the dish in a sunny window. Add water as needed.
* Give your azaleas, gardenias and camellias a boost with chelated iron.
* 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.
* 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.