Dig In: Garden checklist for week of Nov. 3

Did you get wet? The last day in October and first of November both had measurable rain in Sacramento. This fast-moving one-two punch dropped a total of 0.60 inches in downtown. And according to the National Weather Service, that will be it – at least for this week.

The forecast through next weekend is fair and mild with sunny days in the high 60s, flirting with the low 70s. Soil remains warm (and is now a little moist). In other words, it’s a perfect time for fall planting. With no more rain in the forecast, deep-water new transplants.

Remember: After a red-hot October, we’re now officially in a “cool season.” November afternoon highs average 64 degrees in Sacramento. Nights are colder, too; our November lows average 43 degrees. With clear skies, Thursday and Friday night are both expected to dip down to 42. (Brrrr!)

With colder nights, get ready for a major leaf drop. (There’s a reason they call it “fall.”)

Speaking of fall, we fall back tonight; daylight saving time ends at 2 a.m. Change your clocks and irrigation timers.

* If you haven't already, it's time to clean up the remains of summer. Pull faded annuals and vegetables. Prune dead or broken branches from trees.

* 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.

* 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.

* 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.

* 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.

* For larger blooms, pinch off some camellia buds.

* Prune non-flowering trees and shrubs while dormant.

* To help prevent leaf curl, apply a copper fungicide spray to peach and nectarine trees after they lose their leaves this month. Leaf curl, which shows up in the spring, is caused by a fungus that winters as spores on the limbs and around the tree in fallen leaves. Sprays are most effective now.

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Calendar note: The "Asexual Propagation" class from the El Dorado County master gardeners, scheduled for today (Nov. 2), has been postponed, with a new date and location to be announced soon.