Wait until April before putting tender summer transplants in the ground
Patricia Carpenter opens her property for the Early Spring Ramble
Find three days of inspiration, vendors and deals
Preparing for spring and summer, Sacramento County master gardeners host free event
Clubs to offer their expertise, plants and wares; volunteers needed for McKinley Park beautification event
Recipe: Mom’s chili and beans with grated cheese and onions
Spring is almost here (but first, some more rain)
Find unusual plants, garden wares while supporting local vendors and clubs
Master gardeners offer spring workshops in vermiculture
Members-only event features huge selection of water-wise plants; join at the gate
Sacramento Perennial Plant Club event features dozens of vendors at Shepard Center
People brave stormy weather to celebrate milestone and see lots of flowers
Recipe: Poppy seeds add texture to vegan snack cake
Cold storms remind us: It’s still winter (but we have camellias)
High temperatures take a 20-degree dip from last weekend's warmth
Yolo County master gardeners offer morning Zoom class
Placer County master gardeners offer free workshop on straw-bale gardening
American Rose Society offers free webinar on flower photography
Milestone event to be at new location: Scottish Rite Center
Recipe: Easy asparagus-mushroom bake with eggs and cheese.
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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