Sacramento Digs Gardening logo

Sacramento Digs Gardening Articles

Your resource for Sacramento-area gardening news, tips and events

Articles Recipe Index Keyword Index Calendar Twitter Facebook Instagram About Us Contact Us

All Articles

Fri, Mar 29, 2024

Best time to take rose cuttings? How to make a new bush

Master rosarian shares tips with Farmer Fred on spring rose care basics, propagation

Thu, Mar 28, 2024

Spring offers a packed calendar of area garden tours

Gardens' best finery on display in fundraisers and free events

Wed, Mar 27, 2024

Private 3-acre English-style garden open May 4 for tour, tea

Stories on Stage Davis hosts special event with literary, gardening flair

Tue, Mar 26, 2024

Learn how to start vegetables, flowers from seed

El Dorado County master gardeners offer free workshop

Mon, Mar 25, 2024

New Placer demonstration garden opening soon

Master gardeners to unveil water-wise showcase at Loomis Library

Sun, Mar 24, 2024

This easy chicken dish puts zesty zing in spring

NEW Baked lemon-Dijon chicken thighs with herbs

Sat, Mar 23, 2024

Dig In: Garden checklist for week of March 24

Spring gets off to rainy start, keeps temperatures cool

Fri, Mar 22, 2024

Happy World Water Day! Every drop counts

Global initiative leads to local landscapes and ways to save

Thu, Mar 21, 2024

Weekend gardening workshops make up for rainy conditions

Elk Grove, Orangevale each host information events

Wed, Mar 20, 2024

Free workshop shows how to grow, use culinary herbs

El Dorado County master gardeners spotlight these flavorful plants from garden to gourmet

Tue, Mar 19, 2024

First day of spring is cause for celebration

Plenty of sunshine and flowers welcome start of new season

Mon, Mar 18, 2024

These hardy orchids thrive outdoors in Sacramento

Sacramento Valley Cymbidium Society hosts annual show and sale

Sun, Mar 17, 2024

Crispy potatoes deserve Green Goddess dressing

NEW Celebrate St. Patrick's Day with this delicious side dish

Sat, Mar 16, 2024

Dig In: Garden checklist for week of March 17

Make the most of warm weather; tackle weeds and other spring chores.

Fri, Mar 15, 2024

Is it too early to plant tomatoes?

Wait until April before putting tender summer transplants in the ground

Thu, Mar 14, 2024

Celebrate green Sunday in a native plant garden

Patricia Carpenter opens her property for the Early Spring Ramble

Wed, Mar 13, 2024

Sacramento Home & Garden Show returns to Cal Expo

Find three days of inspiration, vendors and deals

Tue, Mar 12, 2024

Get growing with expert advice at Saturday's Open Garden

Preparing for spring and summer, Sacramento County master gardeners host free event

Mon, Mar 11, 2024

Shepard Center hosts big Spring Sale, plus tree planting

Clubs to offer their expertise, plants and wares; volunteers needed for McKinley Park beautification event

Sun, Mar 10, 2024

Old-fashioned chili – warm taste of summer on a chilly night

Recipe: Mom’s chili and beans with grated cheese and onions

Newsletter Subscription

Sacramento Digs Gardening to your inbox.

Taste Summer! E-cookbook

square-tomatoes-plate.jpg

Find our summer recipes here!

Local News

Ad for California Local

Taste Spring! E-cookbook

Strawberries

Find our spring recipes here!

Thanks to our sponsor!

Summer Strong ad for BeWaterSmart.info

Garden Checklist for week of July 7

Take care of garden chores early in the morning, concentrating on watering. We’re still in survival mode until this heat wave breaks.

* Keep your vegetable garden watered, mulched and weeded. Water before 8 a.m. to conserve moisture.

* Prevent sunburn; provide temporary shade for tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, melons, squash and other crops with “sensitive” skin.

* Hold off on feeding plants until temperatures cool back down to “normal” range. That means daytime highs in the low to mid 90s.

* Don’t let tomatoes wilt or dry out completely. Give tomatoes a deep watering two to three times a week. Harvest vegetables promptly to encourage plants to produce more.

* Squash especially tends to grow rapidly in hot weather. Keep an eye on zucchini.

* Some weeds thrive in hot weather. Whack them before they go to seed.

* Pinch back chrysanthemums for bushy plants and more flowers in September.

* Harvest tomatoes, squash, peppers and eggplant. Prompt picking will help keep plants producing.

* Remove spent flowers from roses, daylilies and other bloomers as they finish flowering.

* Pinch off blooms from basil so the plant will grow more leaves.

* Cut back lavender after flowering to promote a second bloom.

* One good thing about hot days: Most lawns stop growing when temperatures top 95 degrees. Keep mower blades set on high.

* Once the weather cools down a little, it’s not too late to add a splash of color. Plant petunias, snapdragons, zinnias and marigolds.

* After the heat wave, plant corn, pumpkins, radishes, winter squash and sunflowers. Make sure the seeds stay hydrated.

Taste Fall! E-cookbook

Muffins and pumpkin

Find our fall recipes here!

Taste Winter! E-cookbook

Lemon coconut pancakes

Find our winter recipes here!