Could it snow in Sacramento? Be prepared for cold temperatures
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| Raindrops decorate the garden. Sacramento communities received varying levels of rain this week. Snow has even crept into the forecast for some areas. (Photo: Kathy Morrison) |
If you asked Santa for rain (or Sierra snow), you’re very happy this Christmas weekend. You may even see snow at very low elevations – such as the Sacramento suburbs.
After fretting through a dry November, Sacramento weather watchers got a very wet December. Not counting Saturday morning, Sacramento has received 7.46 inches in December – more than double this month’s average. In fact, that monthly total is more than we received all of the 2020-21 water year that ended Sept. 30.
This 2021-22 water year is proving to be “above normal.” Through Friday noon, Sacramento had received 14.92 inches – 214% of average for our water year to date, according to the National Weather Service.
This week’s storms delivered a lot more rain to some communities than others. Citrus Heights, for example, had received only 0.77 inches through Friday noon while rain in nearby Roseville measured 1.73 inches. Most of Sacramento got right around 2 inches of precipitation from these pre-Christmas showers.
Expect more rain through Tuesday, along with some frigid temperatures and “a slight chance of snow,” says the weather service. Sacramento’s predicted high for Tuesday is 40 degrees – 15 degrees below normal – with an overnight low of 31 degrees.
Temperatures will remain below normal for the rest of 2021 with days in the low 40s and overnight lows dipping below freezing, says the forecast. Plan accordingly.
With wet (and cold) ground, concentrate on above-ground activity:
* Protect tender plants from frost. Cover before sundown. Remove frost protection during day.
* Mulch also protects plants during threat of frost. Succulent plants are at particular risk if temperatures drop below freezing.
* Check for rot. Cold temperatures and soggy weather can rot succulents as well as tender bulbs and tubers. If drainage is poor, pull dahlia tubers and store in sand or sawdust.
* Don’t expect newly planted seed or transplants to do much during these conditions. Mulch beds to keep those seedlings warm. Consider placing hotcaps or row covers over tender transplants.
* Be careful walking on soggy ground. Soil compaction kills beneficial microbes and damages plant roots.
* Survey your trees for any damage from recent storms. If a tree is leaning, call an arborist.
* Prune non-flowering trees and shrubs while they’re dormant; it’s easier to see their structure.
* Start pruning roses even if they’re still blooming. Remove all remaining foliage.
* Rake and remove dead leaves and stems from dormant perennials.
* This is bare-root season. Shop for bare-root roses, berries, kiwifruit, grapes, artichokes, horseradish and rhubarb. Plant in moist, not soggy, soil; add compost to help drainage.
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Garden Checklist for week of Nov. 3
November still offers good weather for fall planting:
* If you haven't already, it's time to clean up the remains of summer. Pull faded annuals and vegetables. Prune dead or broken branches from trees.
* Now is the best time to plant most trees and shrubs. This gives them plenty of time for root development before spring growth. They also benefit from fall and winter rains.
* Set out cool-weather annuals such as pansies and snapdragons.
* Lettuce, cabbage and broccoli also can be planted now.
* Plant garlic and onions.
* Keep planting bulbs to spread out your spring bloom. Some possible suggestions: daffodils, crocuses, hyacinths, tulips, anemones and scillas.
* This is also a good time to seed wildflowers and plant such spring bloomers as sweet pea, sweet alyssum and bachelor buttons.
* Rake and compost leaves, but dispose of any diseased plant material. For example, if peach and nectarine trees showed signs of leaf curl this year, clean up under trees and dispose of those leaves instead of composting.
* Save dry stalks and seedpods from poppies and coneflowers for fall bouquets and holiday decorating.
* For holiday blooms indoors, plant paperwhite narcissus bulbs now. Fill a shallow bowl or dish with 2 inches of rocks or pebbles. Place bulbs in the dish with the root end nestled in the rocks. Add water until it just touches the bottom of the bulbs. Place the dish in a sunny window. Add water as needed.
* Give your azaleas, gardenias and camellias a boost with chelated iron.
* For larger blooms, pinch off some camellia buds.
* Prune non-flowering trees and shrubs while dormant.
* To help prevent leaf curl, apply a copper fungicide spray to peach and nectarine trees after they lose their leaves this month. Leaf curl, which shows up in the spring, is caused by a fungus that winters as spores on the limbs and around the tree in fallen leaves. Sprays are most effective now.
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