Northern California winter forecast is for rain but not too cold
Don't cut the plant back while weather is still cold
Damp weather has kicked some fungal diseases into high gear
Pears contrast with tart cranberries
Pre-Christmas week looks chilly but dry
Learn rose care while helping at this landmark site
These are practical and useful all year
Tips for selecting healthy holiday plants
Rainfall has been good in December, but it's over for now
Crown rot revealed by wind gust during storm
Fruity winter salad with maple-mustard vinaigrette
Be prepared for lots of rain, wind and frost
Learn how to buy and care for the tropical flowers
Healthy soil is crucial for our plants and our environment
Get to work on trimming bushes and coaxing dormancy
A striking coleus and a mini kabocha among the award winners
Come meet (and take home) shelter pups at Roseville site
A Sunday recipe for a cold winter day
December gets off to a welcome soggy start
Street pile pick-up through Jan. 23 in Sacramento
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Garden Checklist for week of Oct. 20
* October is the best month to plant trees, shrubs and perennials. Add a little well-aged compost and bone meal to the planting hole, but hold off on other fertilizers until spring. Keep the transplants well-watered (but not wet) for the first month as they become settled.
* Dig up corms and tubers of gladioli, dahlias and tuberous begonias after the foliage dies. Clean and store in a cool, dry place.
* Treat azaleas, gardenias and camellias with chelated iron if leaves are yellowing between the veins.
* Clean up the summer vegetable garden and compost disease-free foliage.
* Harvest apples and pears. Pick up fallen fruit.
* Harvest pumpkins and winter squash.
* Now is the time to plant seeds for many flowers directly into the garden, including cornflower, nasturtium, nigella, poppy, portulaca, sweet pea and stock.
* Plant seeds for radishes, bok choy, mustard, spinach and peas.
* Plant garlic and onions.
* Set out cool-weather bedding plants, including calendula, pansy, snapdragon, primrose and viola.
* Reseed and feed the lawn. Work on bare spots.