Huge sale and educational event set for Memorial Day weekend in Elk Grove
Also on tap: Guided tour of Capitol Park trees
Too much of a good thing can break tree branches in summer
NEW Ricotta and lemon zest give brunch dish some tang
Warm weather brings rapid snow melt – and cold water
Get advice from experts in Sacramento and El Dorado counties
Event near Davis is free but requires registration
Event features hundreds of vendors, exhibits and cute animals
Ikebana club and Friends of East Sacramento present event full of 'useful and interesting stuff'
Carmichael Cactus and Succulent Society hosts 45th annual sale
NEW Almond flavor three ways enhances the fruit-filled muffins
Heat arrives and so does vegetable planting time
Find huge discounts on water-wise selections, perfect for our climate
Six Loomis and Granite Bay sites to welcome visitors
Find hundreds of rare plants at Sacramento chrysanthemum cutting sale
Sacramento Rose Society hosts auction; heritage rose expert holds yard sale
Popular Sacramento tradition returns, benefits David Lubin School
NEW Roast these little root veggies with garlic
After chilly, wet start to May, expect a rapid warm-up
The event's After Party will be buzzing at The Hive
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
Local News
Thanks to Our Sponsor!
Sites We Like
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.
Powered by California Local
