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Become a brighter bulb with this class


Grape hyacinths are layered under tulips in
Debbie Arrington's garden. (Photo: Debbie Arrington)
Master gardeners' seminar will help you 'Fall into Spring'

What's your bulb IQ? Do you know your daffodils from hyacinths? Dutch iris from Siberian squill?

More important, do you know how to make the most of bulbs in your spring garden? Or how to force them indoors?

Learn all that and more at "Fall into Spring: Fall Planting for Spring Color," a special seminar hosted by the UC Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners of Sacramento County.

Sign up early for this bulb class; pre-registration is required and space is limited.

Bulbs are enjoying a new wave of popularity in California gardens. Most spring-blooming bulbs are drought tolerant and easy care. They're also deer- and rodent-resistant. A small investment can pay off with colorful dividends for years to come.

Guest speaker for this information-packed session will be Bill the Bulb Baron, aka Northern California bulb grower and hybridizer William Welch. He'll share his tips for success in Sacramento's climate and soils.

Other presentations include how to layer bulbs for dramatic impact (and more weeks of flowers) as well as how to force bulbs in containers for winter blooms.

In addition, bulbs and forcing kits will be offered for sale at the seminar.

Questions? For more information: UC Cooperative Extension, (916) 875-6913 or sacmg.ucanr.edu .

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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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