Stink bugs and leaf-footed bugs like August weather and ripening fruit
Using basil, growing beets to be topics of Yolo master gardeners' workshop
Master gardeners offer two free workshops on fall and winter vegetables
The Secret Garden hosts hands-on 'Aromatic Escapes' workshop
Elk Grove store offers curated collection, advice
Recipe: Easy fig compote with orange and vanilla
Our yo-yo weather continues; watch out for signs of plant stress
Popular podcast host shares keynote speaker duties at Harvest Day
'Habitat Gardening' is the theme for the latest publication
Sunflowers can be planted in late summer for autumn blooms
Select local vendors, clubs and organizations bring wide range of specialties
Weather roller-coaster continues; triple-digit temperatures return this weekend
Recipe: Chunky or smooth, it's the fresh flavor of summer
Last days of July seem normal before 'cool' start to August
Possible varieties matched up with mislabeled jalapeños and purple bells; listen to podcast with Farmer Fred
Registration required for free event Aug. 6
Learn how to make your own 'garden gold'
Cycle and soak method is the best way to irrigate lawns in summer, especially in clay soil
Start seeds for fall, winter favorites for transplanting after Labor Day
Recipe: Cocktail features just-squeezed tomato juice
Sacramento Digs Gardening to your inbox.
Food in My Back Yard Series
March 4: Potatoes from the garden
Feb. 25: Plant a fruit tree now -- for later
Feb. 18: How to squeeze more food into less space
Feb. 11: When to plant? Consider staggering your transplants
Feb. 4: Starting in seed starting
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Garden Checklist for week of March 9
Make the most of the sunny days before the rain arrives mid-week; your garden needs some TLC.
* Pull weeds now! Don’t let them get started. Take a hoe and whack them as soon as they sprout.
* Start preparing vegetable beds. Spade in compost and other amendments.
* Prune and fertilize spring-flowering shrubs after bloom.
* Feed camellias at the end of their bloom cycle. Pick up browned and fallen flowers to help corral blossom blight.
* Feed citrus trees, which are starting to bloom. To prevent sunburn and borer problems on young trees, paint the exposed portion of the trunk with diluted white latex (water-based) interior paint. Dilute the paint with an equal amount of cold water before application.
* Feed roses with a balanced fertilizer (such as 10-10-10, the ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium available in that product; organic fertilizers tend to have lower numbers, such as 4-4-4).
* Prune and fertilize spring-flowering shrubs and trees after they bloom. Try using well-composted manure, spread 1-inch thick under the tree. This serves as both fertilizer and mulch, retaining moisture while cutting down on weeds.
* Cut back and fertilize perennial herbs to encourage new growth.
* In the vegetable garden, transplant lettuce and cole family plants, such as cauliflower, broccoli, collards and kale.
* Seed chard and beets directly into the ground.
* Before the mercury starts inching upward, this is your last chance to plant such annuals as pansies, violas and primroses.
* Plant summer bulbs, including gladiolus, tuberous begonias and callas. Also plant dahlia tubers.
* Shop for perennials. Many varieties are available in local nurseries and at plant events. They can be transplanted now while the weather remains relatively cool.
* Soil pH is important for blueberries to produce a crop. Now is the time to test the soil around the plants using a soil test or soil meter. The soil should be in the 4.5 to 5.5 range; most Sacramento soil is in the 7 range. The sulfur package will list the amount to apply, depending on what the test shows.
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