Sacramento Digs Gardening logo

Sacramento Digs Gardening Articles

Your resource for Sacramento-area gardening news, tips and events

Articles Recipe Index Keyword Index Calendar Twitter Facebook Instagram About Us Contact Us

All Articles

Image caption: This rain-drenched rose shows an example of a blind shoot -- no bud happening here. To remedy, prune the shoot to just above a healthy leaf with five leaflets.

Featured: Dig In: Garden checklist for week of May 5

Chilly storm throws another curve into spring weather

Fri, May 03, 2024

Sacramento Bonsai Club hosts 78th annual show

Nation's oldest club of its kind continues tradition

Thu, May 02, 2024

Be inspired by variety of gardening styles in Colonial Heights tour

Sunday event also features plant and seed swap, vendors and kid-oriented activities

Wed, May 01, 2024

See Davis gardens, artists at work during Pence tour

Gallery combines art and garden appreciation in popular event

Tue, Apr 30, 2024

Bring a shovel; Mulch Mayhem offers free mulch

Five locations open Saturday with wood chips for local gardens

Mon, Apr 29, 2024

Find succulents, cactuses galore at three-day show, sale

Sacramento Cactus and Succulent Society hosts big event featuring demonstration garden

Sun, Apr 28, 2024

Rhub-berry cake does a flip for spring

NEW Upside-down cake features stripes of rhubarb, dots of blueberries

Sat, Apr 27, 2024

Dig In: Garden checklist for week of April 28

Sunshine follows April showers for a warm end to month

Fri, Apr 26, 2024

Folsom opens its gardens during annual tour

'Gardens of Folsom' spotlights seven private landscapes plus two bonus gardens

Thu, Apr 25, 2024

Classes, plant sales and a swap on Saturday's packed calendar

Free beekeeping intro in Elk Grove; seed exchange in Folsom

Wed, Apr 24, 2024

Gardens Gone Native tour features 30 local gardens -- and it's free

Sacramento Valley CNPS event spotlights wildlife-friendly landscapes

Tue, Apr 23, 2024

Celebrate roses at 76th annual Sacramento Rose Show

See and smell spring beauties – and take some home, too

Mon, Apr 22, 2024

Happy Earth Day! Garden with the planet in mind

Ways to cut down on plastics in your own landscape

Sun, Apr 21, 2024

These scones won’t curb your enthusiasm

NEW Strawberries and cream scones with orange zest

Sat, Apr 20, 2024

Dig In: Garden checklist for week of April 21

Enjoy the sunshine and get ready for summer crops

Fri, Apr 19, 2024

Arrington talks spring recipes on Green Acres podcast

Look for new SDG signs with recipe links at all seven nurseries

Thu, Apr 18, 2024

How to get more native plants into your life

More native plants means more resources for native insects, pollinators and birds

Wed, Apr 17, 2024

Make your water-wise garden a Sacramento star

'Summer Strong' contest seeks beautiful landscapes that can take the heat

Tue, Apr 16, 2024

River Park Garden Club hosts annual tour

Discover six private gardens with lots of personality

Mon, Apr 15, 2024

Sacramento County master gardeners host midweek Open Garden

Get advice from local experts; see how they tackle spring tasks

Sun, Apr 14, 2024

Bright fruit compote perfect for spring

NEW Strawberries shine, raspberries add color to versatile sauce

Newsletter Subscription

Sacramento Digs Gardening to your inbox.

Taste Spring! E-cookbook

Strawberries

Find our spring recipes here!

Local News

Ad for California Local

Thanks to our sponsor!

Summer Strong ad for BeWaterSmart.info

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.

Taste Summer! E-cookbook

square-tomatoes-plate.jpg

Find our summer recipes here!

Taste Fall! E-cookbook

Muffins and pumpkin

Find our fall recipes here!

Taste Winter! E-cookbook

Lemon coconut pancakes

Find our winter recipes here!