Warm days and early blooms belie true weather conditions
These narcissus seem to be ready for spring, but we still have several weeks of winter ahead of us. Kathy Morrison
This weekend will feel almost balmy in Sacramento. According to the National Weather Service, we could hit 70 degrees on Sunday and Monday – 16 degrees above average for the last week in January.
While other parts of the country are still digging out from snow, are we headed for an early spring?
Anecdotally, several signs of impending change (and warmth) fill my garden. Japonica camellias and daffodils are starting to open – weeks ahead of their usual appearance. Rose bushes are pushing out new growth. Those bushes still waiting to be pruned are already blooming again.
But all this spring-like growth and weather could be just an illusion. We’re still in winter – and will be for several more weeks.
Although we can enjoy these few warm winter days, our highs will be back in the low 50s by next weekend. That return to “normal” temperatures will be accompanied by another storm system that’s currently charging across the Pacific Ocean. When, where and how much rain it will deliver are still to be determined.
“A wet system will likely bring widespread precipitation around the end of the month,” noted the weather service on Friday. This system has “potential for gusty winds, heavy rain and heavy high elevation snow.”
We’ve already had a wet January. According to the weather service, downtown Sacramento has recorded 3.11 inches so far this month (through Thursday); that tracks .15 inches above average through that date.
Daytime temperatures also have been on the warm side, with highs averaging 56.4 degrees – almost a full degree above normal.
Saturday represents another kind of weather benchmark. After decades of recommending a “last frost” date of mid March, most experts now cut off our frost period at the end of January. According to the Sacramento County master gardeners, our average last frost date is Jan. 27.
But still keep those frost cloths handy, just in case. In 2022, Sacramento hit 32 degrees on Feb. 24 and dipped down to 35 degrees on March 6. Our latest-ever freeze on record (30 degrees) hit March 27, 1898.
And wait to set out those spring seedlings until temperatures stabilize in late March – when it really is spring.
For weather updates: https://www.weather.gov/sto/.
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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.
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