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‘Weeds: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly’

Sacramento Digs Gardening
BY Debbie Arrington PUBLISHED JUL 5, 2021

It’s pretty but it’s a thug: Bindweed. (Photo: Kathy Morrison)

Nevada County master gardeners offer free virtual workshop

Can you tell a good plant from an invasive weed? How do you stop garden thugs from taking over your landscape?

Learn about the world of weeds and how they affect our gardens – and lives – during a free virtual workshop, presented by the UC Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners of Nevada County.

Set for 9 am. Saturday, July 10, “Weeds: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly” will explore the world of invasive plants with an eye for the weeds most likely to pop up in Northern California gardens.

“Weeds follow human habitation,” explain the master gardeners. “Sometimes unsightly, sometimes daunting, weeds crowd out desirable plants and cause considerable frustration for gardeners and farmers.”

What can a gardener do?

“While they can be difficult to eradicate, there are safe ways to control your weeds,” say the master gardeners. “Despite the bad and the ugly, weeds may also fit into our landscapes as beneficial additions to gardeners, wildlife and soil health.”

Yes, there are good weeds!

The two-hour workshop is free and no advance registration is necessary. Find the link at: http://ncmg.ucanr.org/ . Zoom meeting ID is 870 4333 4646.

The weeds workshop is the first of three July virtual presentations offered by the Nevada County master gardeners, all on Saturdays. Also included in the series are: “Garden Makeover: Lawn to Landscape,” 9 a.m. July 24; and “Softwood Propagation,” 9 a.m. July 31.

Details: http://ncmg.ucanr.org/ .

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Garden Checklist for week of May 5

Survey your garden after the May 4 rainstorm. Heavy rain and gusty winds can break the neck of large flowers such as roses. Also:

* Keep an eye on new transplants or seedlings; they could take a pounding from the rain.

* Watch out for powdery mildew. Warmth following moist conditions can cause this fungal disease to “bloom,” too. If you see a leaf that looks like it’s dusted with powdered sugar, snip it off.

* After the storm, start setting out tomato transplants, but wait on the peppers and eggplants (they want warmer nights). Pinch off any flowers on new transplants to make them concentrate on establishing roots instead of setting premature fruit.

* 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, pumpkins, 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.

* Don’t wait; plant summer bulbs, such as gladiolus and tuberous begonias.

* Harvest cabbage, lettuce, peas and green onions.

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