How did this Sacramento family spend their summer? Inspiring others on local billboards
New! Shopska salad makes most of ripe tomatoes, crunchy cucumber
After unusual storm system, summer warmth returns
Green Acres hosts special event at its Auburn location
Arborist to conduct free lunchtime session on tree selection
Rare August rain could arrive Friday; be ready for a 25-degree swing in high temperatures.
Summer Strong Yard winner makes wildlife a priority
El Dorado County master gardeners offer free workshop on cool-season crops
New! Summery bread delicious for brunch or dinner
Below-average temperatures could prolong season for tomatoes, other summer vegetables
Nursery manager Taylor Lewis, who died Aug. 8, made a lasting impact on landscapes and people
This info-packed calendar is like having a master gardener in your back pocket
Elk Grove store hosts three workshops plus huge sale
Solano County experts also will host two propagation workshops
Home & garden event returns to Roseville's Roebbelen Center
New! Fresh fig-almond jam with no added pectin
Settle in for some normal August warmth after temperature drop
Tickets on sale now for 2024 Village Feast, supporting food and farm education
Rio Linda Grange presents Zucchini Festival on Saturday
'Summer Strong Yard’ winner featured on local billboards in new awareness campaign
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Garden Checklist for week of Nov. 24
In between rainy episodes this week:
* Keep your gutters and storm drains cleared. Watch out for leaning trees or weakened branches; if you spot trouble, call an arborist.
* Remember to turn off the sprinklers or other irrigation. Be careful walking on or working with wet soil; it can compact easily.
* On rainy days, do some indoor gardening. Tend to houseplants. Sort seed packets. Start seed indoors for cool-season veggies and flowers.
* For holiday blooms indoors, plant paperwhite narcissus bulbs now. Fill a shallow bowl or dish with 2 inches of rocks or pebbles. Place bulbs in the dish with the root end nestled in the rocks. Add water until it just touches the bottom of the bulbs. Place the dish in a sunny window. Add water as needed.
* Rake and compost leaves, but leave at least some healthy leaves in planting beds for nesting insects and foraging birds. But dispose of any diseased plant material. For eample, if peach and nectarine trees showed signs of leaf curl this year, clean up under trees and dispose of those leaves instead of composting.
* If you decide to use a living Christmas tree this year, keep it outside in a sunny location until Christmas week. This reduces stress on the young tree.
* Give your azaleas, gardenias and camellias a boost with chelated iron.
* After they bloom, chrysanthemums should be trimmed to 6 to 8 inches above the ground. If in pots, keep the mums in their containers until next spring. Then they can be planted in the ground, if desired, or repotted.
* Prune non-flowering trees and shrubs while dormant.
* Keep planting bulbs to spread out your spring bloom. Some possible suggestions: daffodils, crocuses, hyacinths, tulips, anemones and scillas.
* This is also a good time to seed wildflowers such as California poppies and plant spring bloomers such as as sweet peas, sweet alyssum and bachelor buttons.
* Now is the best time to plant most trees and shrubs. This gives them plenty of time for root development before spring growth. They also benefit from fall and winter rains.
* Set out cool-weather annuals such as pansies and snapdragons.
* Lettuce, cabbage and broccoli also can be planted now.
* Plant garlic and onions.