Bring questions for master gardeners during morning event
Find inspiration (and shade) at the Water Efficient Landscape of the Fair Oaks Horticulture Center. This area is open during regular park hours; the rest of the FOHC will be open as well especially for Open Garden on Saturday. Kathy Morrison
Sure, you've got gardening questions -- what gardener doesn't this time of year?
Why are the tomatoes dropping flowers? How to protect the grapes or the blueberries from critters? When's the best time to harvest lavender? How to know when compost is done? What kind of plant thrives in full, hot sun? Why didn't the peach tree produce any fruit this year?
Find answers to these and other questions when the Sacramento County master gardeners present their final Open Garden Day of spring this Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon. The informal event at the Fair Oaks Horticulture Center is free and open to the public. All areas of the FOHC will be open and staffed by master gardeners, who enjoy helping gardeners with tips and solutions to gardening dilemmas. The Horticulture Center is at 11549 Fair Oaks Blvd., south of the Fair Oaks Library.
The next event at the Horticulture Center will be Harvest Day, the master gardeners' big celebration of summer, with speakers, vendors and special presentations. Mark the calendar -- it'll be on Saturday, Aug. 5. Open Garden events will resume in September and October.
The master gardeners also will be back at the State Fair in July, daily staffing their booth in The Farm and fielding all sorts of summer gardening questions.
And a personal shoutout here to the new master gardener Class of 2023, which will celebrate its graduation this Saturday as well. The 24 newly minted MGs are a welcome addition to the busy Sacramento County group. Congrats all!
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Garden Checklist for week of Sept. 29
Make the most of cool mornings and remember to keep new transplants hydrated. Their roots appreciate the warm soil, even though they may wilt in this heat.
* October is the best month to plant trees, shrubs and perennials.
* Before planting, add a little well-aged compost and bone meal to the soil, but hold off on other fertilizers until spring. Keep the transplants well-watered (but not wet) for the first month as they become settled.
* Dig up corms and tubers of gladioli, dahlias and tuberous begonias after the foliage dies. Clean and store in a cool, dry place.
* Treat azaleas, gardenias and camellias with chelated iron if leaves are yellowing between the veins.
* Clean up the summer vegetable garden and compost disease-free foliage.
* Harvest pumpkins and winter squash.
* Now is the time to plant seeds for many flowers directly into the garden, including cornflower, nasturtium, nigella, poppy, portulaca, sweet pea and stock.
* Plant seeds for radishes, bok choy, mustard, spinach and peas.
* Plant garlic and onions.
* Set out cool-weather bedding plants, including calendula, pansy, snapdragon, primrose and viola.
* Reseed and feed the lawn. Work on bare spots.