Placer County master gardeners mark anniversary with workshops, speakers
The Placer County master gardeners' Garden Faire on Saturday will be a celebration of gardening, and of Earth Day. Photo courtesy Placer County master gardeners
Earth Day (April 22) marks a double celebration for the UC Master Gardeners of Placer County. Not only are they observing ways to save the planet, the master gardeners are always commemorating their 40th anniversary – and the public is invited.
On Saturday, the master gardeners will host their annual Garden Faire at Maidu Community Center in Roseville. Admission is free.
Special workshops and activities will be offered from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Say the organizers, “Gardeners of all ages will be captivated by the variety of local vendors, workshops and expert speakers who will be there to provide information on all aspects of gardening. There will be a Kids Korner with Earth Day crafts and fun activities for the little ones, on-site master gardeners to help you with your gardening questions, door prizes, garden art and plants for sale, and much more.”
Featured hands-on workshops include “Beyond The Honey Bee” (ways to help pollinators and other beneficial insects) and “Save Water With DIY Drip Conversions.”
Keynote speakers will be: Tora Rocha of Pollinator Posse, discussing “Attracting and Keeping Pollinators” at 10 a.m.; and Jody Sheffield of Delta Bluegrass Company, presenting “You Don’t Have To Divorce Your Lawn” at 12:30 p.m.
Maidu Community Center is located at 1550 Maidu Drive, Roseville.
Details: https://pcmg.ucanr.org.
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Garden Checklist for week of April 21
This week there’s plenty to keep gardeners busy. With no rain in the immediate forecast, remember to irrigate any new transplants.
* Weed, weed, weed! Get them before they flower and go to seed.
* April is the last chance to plant citrus trees such as dwarf orange, lemon and kumquat. These trees also look good in landscaping and provide fresh fruit in winter.
* Smell orange blossoms? Feed citrus trees with a low dose of balanced fertilizer (such as 10-10-10) during bloom to help set fruit. Keep an eye out for ants.
* Apply slow-release fertilizer to the lawn.
* Thoroughly clean debris from the bottom of outdoor ponds or fountains.
* Spring brings a flush of rapid growth, and that means your garden is really hungry. Feed shrubs and trees with a slow-release fertilizer. Or mulch with a 1-inch layer of compost.
* Azaleas and camellias looking a little yellow? If leaves are turning yellow between the veins, give them a boost with chelated iron.
* Trim dead flowers but not leaves from spring-flowering bulbs such as daffodils and tulips. Those leaves gather energy to create next year's flowers. Also, give the bulbs a fertilizer boost after bloom.
* Pinch chrysanthemums back to 12 inches for fall flowers. Cut old stems to the ground.
* Mulch around plants to conserve moisture and control weeds.
* From seed, plant beans, beets, cantaloupes, carrots, corn, cucumbers, melons, radishes and squash.
* Plant onion sets.
* In the flower garden, plant seeds for asters, cosmos, celosia, marigolds, salvia, sunflowers and zinnias.
* Transplant petunias, zinnias, geraniums and other summer bloomers.
* Plant perennials and dahlia tubers for summer bloom.
* Mid to late April is about the last chance to plant summer bulbs, such as gladiolus and tuberous begonias.
* Transplant lettuce seedlings. Choose varieties that mature quickly such as loose leaf.