Make the most of dry, clear (and chilly) weather
Succulents, holiday poinsettias among most sensitive plants
A grateful pause on Thanksgiving
El Dorado County growers ready to welcome tree hunters
After atmospheric river, we'll have some chilly nights
Family fun, ornament painting and more at Elk Grove destination nursery/ garden store
New! Premade crust, herbed soft cheese can speed up the prep work
Thanksgiving week is a time to dry out and count blessings
Mandarin festival booth skipped; award-winning gardening guide now available online
Sacramento Perennial Plant Club supports school, nonprofit and community programs
Relles Florist in Sacramento offers popular DIY class
'Atmospheric river' could drop as much as 4 inches of rain in five days
Featuring tons of local citrus, popular event opens Friday in Roseville
New! Persimmon-raisin scones with fresh Fuyu persimmon
Get ready to chill as cold fronts bring potential frost
Famous feng shui expert opens her private Huei's Garden to the public Saturday
Each month offers tips on keeping the garden and the gardeners healthy
Thoughtful landscaping can channel more deep irrigation to trees, shrubs
Spectacular chrysanthemums on display plus potted plants for sale
One-acre nursery offers thousands of water-wise plants at bargain prices
Sacramento Digs Gardening to your inbox.
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Garden Checklist for week of Feb. 16
Take advantage of this nice weather. There’s plenty to do as your garden starts to switch into high gear for spring growth.
* This is the last chance to spray fruit trees before their buds open. Treat peach and nectarine trees with copper-based fungicide. Spray apricot trees at bud swell to prevent brown rot. Apply horticultural oil to control scale, mites and aphids on fruit trees.
* Check soil moisture before resuming irrigation. Most likely, your soil is still pretty damp.
* Feed spring-blooming shrubs and fall-planted perennials with slow-release fertilizer. Feed mature trees and shrubs after spring growth starts.
* Transplant or direct-seed several flowers, including snapdragon, candytuft, lilies, astilbe, larkspur, Shasta and painted daisies, stocks, bleeding heart and coral bells.
* In the vegetable garden, plant Jerusalem artichoke tubers, and strawberry and rhubarb roots.
* Transplant cabbage and its close cousins – broccoli, kale and cauliflower – as well as lettuce (both loose leaf and head).
* Indoors, start peppers, tomatoes and eggplant from seed.
* Plant artichokes, asparagus and horseradish from root divisions.
* Plant potatoes from tubers and onions from sets (small bulbs). The onions will sprout quickly and can be used as green onions in March.
* From seed, plant beets, chard, lettuce, mustard, peas, radishes and turnips.
* Annuals are showing up in nurseries, but wait until the weather warms up a bit before planting. Instead, set out flowering perennials such as columbine and delphinium.
* Plant summer-flowering bulbs including cannas, calla lilies and gladiolus.