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Dig In: Garden checklist for week of Aug. 5

Sacramento Digs Gardening
BY Debbie Arrington PUBLISHED AUG 4, 2018

Apple trees may need thinning to allow fruit to fully develop.
(Photo: Debbie Arrington)

Smoky skies temper heat in peak of summer

After a super-hot July, this first week of August may feel downright balmy. High temperatures are expected to hover just above normal; August averages 91 degrees in Sacramento.

Part of that weather picture is due to the smoke cover from nearby wildfires. Acting like clouds, all that haze can bring down afternoon heat.

Recent triple-digit days may have taken a toll on fruit trees. Concentrate this week on making them more comfortable -- and bountiful:

* Deep-water trees. Make sure moisture reaches at least 6 inches down at the tree’s dripline, the outer edge of its leaf canopy.

* Replenish mulch if necessary. Ideally, trees like 3 to 4 inches deep of organic material (such as shredded leaves or bark). Don’t let it mound around trunks; that can promote crown rot.

A last round of fertilizer will help citrus trees.
(Photo: Kathy Morrison)

* Feed citrus trees their last round of fertilizer for the year. This will give a boost to the fruit that’s now forming. Always deep-water before applying fertilizer.

* Recent heat prompted trees to drop fruit, too. Pick it up. This cuts down on insects and prevents the spread of brown rot.

* Thin apples and pears to allow fruit to fully develop. Watch out for codling moths.

* Wash harvested fruit, tomatoes and vegetables carefully to remove any soot or grit from wildfires.

* Feed stone-fruit trees (peaches, plums, apricots, cherries, etc.) with slow-release fertilizer for better production for next year. (Remember: Water first.)

What to plant?

* Outdoors, direct seed bush beans, beets, carrots, leaf lettuce and turnips. Keep soil evenly moist until they sprout. Plant potatoes.

* Indoors, start seedlings for fall vegetable planting, including bunching onion, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, kale, radicchio and lettuce.

* Pick tomatoes, squash, peppers, beans, corn, tomatillos and more. This is your garden’s peak summer production.

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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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