Get your garden ready for atmospheric rivers

According to the National Weather Service, Sacramento will get a one-two punch this weekend from a pair of major storm systems. The first arrives Friday evening and will soak Saturday events. The second – and the heaviest – starts Sunday night with rain expected to continue through Wednesday.

These twin atmospheric rivers are expected to drop about 2.3 inches of rain in the next three days in downtown Sacramento – and more in the foothills. So, plan accordingly.

* If you haven’t already, turn off sprinklers and other irrigation. Everything should get a deep soaking from these storms.

* It may be too much water for some plants – especially succulents. If possible, move succulents growing in containers to someplace under cover so their pots (and roots) don’t become waterlogged.

* Make sure gutters and storm drains are clear of leaves and other debris.

* Be careful walking on wet soil; it can compact easily – squeezing out any air. Microbes (and roots) need those underground air pockets to survive.

* January is the time to apply horticultural oils on fruit trees (especially copper spray on peaches), but put off that chore for at least a week. It’s too wet for those anti-fungal sprays to be effective.

* Don’t dig in the garden this next week – it’s too wet and risks soil compaction. Any planting can wait until these storms pass. Right now, all that water could rot their roots.

* Got bare-root roses or other plants waiting to go in the ground? Pot them up in large black plastic pots with potting soil. Then, transplant them – soil and all – into the garden in March. They’ll benefit from this head start.

* Watch out for leaning trees. All this moisture can destabilize their roots. If you see trouble, call an arborist – before the tree falls.