After so much rain, our gardens gets a chance to dry out
Some roses may still be trying to bloom but they need pruning. However, hold off on breaking out the pruners until the weather's drier, Tuesday or later. Kathy Morrison
We’re wet and getting wetter. How often do you see “100% chance” of rain in the Sacramento forecast? But according to the National Weather Service, more thunderstorms and showers are “definite” Sunday night into Monday.
After a half inch or more on Saturday, Sacramento can expect another inch Sunday night and Monday morning. Lots of wind (again) is expected with that wave of rain, too. Watch out for falling branches!
On Tuesday, we’ll finally start to dry out, says the weather service. A few showers may blow through midweek, but overall no real rain – not like we’ve seen – is in the forecast for later this coming week.
How much rain have we had this very wet January? Through Friday midnight, Downtown Sacramento totaled 5.5 inches – more than three times normal for those 13 days. Historically, January averages 3.64 inches.
After so much winter weather, take advantage of dry days by getting outdoors and giving your garden some TLC.
No. 1 task right now is clean up. Those storms left tons of tree debris all over the place – including branches stuck in other trees and shrubs.
If you see cracks in soil around trees, that means their roots may be moving – call an arborist! That tree is at risk of toppling.
Avoid walking on and working in muddy soil; it can compact easily, squeezing out the air. When that compacted soil dries (especially clay soils), it becomes like bricks. So, put off planting until the soil has a chance to drain.
* All this water can prompt crown rot. Pull mulch and tree litter away from trunks to let them dry out and breathe.
* Prune, prune, prune. Now is the time to cut back most deciduous trees and shrubs while you can see their structure. The exceptions are spring-flowering shrubs such as lilacs.
* Now is the time to prune deciduous fruit trees. Clean up leaves and debris around the trees to prevent the spread of disease.
* Prune roses, even if they’re still trying to bloom. Strip off any remaining leaves, so the bush will be able to put out new growth in early spring.
* Clean up leaves and debris around your newly pruned roses and shrubs. Put down fresh mulch or bark to keep roots cozy.
* When forced bulbs sprout, move them to a cool, bright window. Give them a quarter turn each day so the stems will grow straight.
* Divide daylilies, Shasta daisies and other perennials.
* Cut back and divide chrysanthemums.
* Once the soil dries out a little, plant bare-root roses, trees and shrubs. If your ground seems saturated, consider planting your garden additions in large black plastic pots. The black plastic will warm up faster than the ground soil and give roots a healthy start. Then, transplant the new addition (rootball and all) into the ground in April as the weather warms.
* Browse through seed catalogs and start making plans for spring and summer.
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Garden Checklist for week of April 14
It's still not warm enough to transplant tomatoes directly in the ground, but we’re getting there.
* 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 needs nutrients. Fertilize 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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