Expect more rain, but also some sunny gardening breaks
Freesias bloom in the sunshine. There's some rain in the next week's forecast, but the weather should be good for gardening most days. Kathy Morrison
Our rainy spring continues with more precipitation in the Sacramento forecast. According to the National Weather Service, March will wind up pretty much like it began – wet.
“Widespread moderate precipitation returns Monday PM – Wednesday,” tweeted the NWS Sacramento office on Saturday. “Heaviest precipitation is expected on Tuesday. Be prepared for slick roads, longer than normal commute, & possible ponding of water on roadways. Leave yourself extra time to travel!”
The weather service says Sacramento can expect another inch of rain from this latest storm. Leave the sprinklers off at least another week. So far this March, Sacramento has received 4.19 inches of rain, about 2 inches more than average.
Chilly temperatures will accompany those showers. The weather service issued a frost advisory for much of the Sacramento area for early Sunday morning; the anticipated low for Sacramento in the wee hours before dawn – 37 degrees. More frost danger is expected Monday with a low of 33 between 5 and 8 a.m.
Although not quite below freezing, those lows can still do damage to tender spring growth. And it’s awfully late to be this chilly; Sacramento’s historic frost date (the last day to expect frost danger) was Friday, March 24. Mother Nature isn’t listening; the weather service warns to expect “widespread frost before 8 a.m.” Sunday and Monday.
Sunny conditions return on Thursday, but temperatures will stay about 10 degrees (or more) below normal all week. Expected highs will hover around 60 degrees with lows dipping into the low 40s. Normal for Sacramento this week: highs of 71 and lows of 46.
So, tomato transplants will have to stay on hold a little longer. Meanwhile, concentrate on these tasks before or after this week’s rain:
* Fertilize roses, annual flowers and berries as spring growth begins to appear.
* Knock off aphids with a strong blast of water or some bug soap as soon as they appear.
* Pull weeds now! Don’t let them get started. Take a hoe and whack them as soon as they sprout.
* Prepare summer vegetable beds. Spade in compost and other amendments.
* Prune and fertilize spring-flowering shrubs after bloom.
* Feed camellias at the end of their bloom cycle. Pick up browned and fallen flowers to help corral blossom blight.
* Feed citrus trees, which are now in bloom and setting fruit.
To prevent sunburn and borer problems on young trees, paint the exposed portion of the trunk with diluted white latex (water-based) interior paint. Dilute the paint with an equal amount of cold water before application.
* Cut back and fertilize perennial herbs to encourage new growth.
* Seed and renovate the lawn (if you still have one). Feed cool-season grasses such as bent, blue, rye and fescue with a slow-release fertilizer. Check the irrigation system and perform maintenance. Make sure sprinkler heads are turned toward the lawn, not the sidewalk.
* In the vegetable garden, transplant lettuce and kale.
* Seed chard and beets directly into the ground.
* Plant summer bulbs, including gladiolus, tuberous begonias and callas. Also plant dahlia tubers.
* Shop for perennials. Many varieties are available in local nurseries and at plant events. They can be transplanted now while the weather remains relatively cool.
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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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