Cold storms remind us: It’s still winter (but we have camellias)
These exquisite camellia blossoms are entries in the 100th Sacramento Camellia Show. The show is open to the public 3 to 6 p.m. today (Saturday) and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday at the Scottish Rite Temple in East Sacramento. Debbie Arrington
Following a record warm weekend to end February, March’s first weekend feels downright chilly – and wet.
Get used to it; it’s still winter in Sacramento, for at least a little longer.
On Feb. 24, Sacramento reached 70 degrees; this weekend is expected to be about 20 degrees colder – and more than 10 below average. In addition, a chance of rain is in the forecast for every day through Friday.
According to the National Weather Service, Sacramento can expect several days in the 50s or low 60s with overnight lows hovering around 40 degrees. Average temperatures for this week: High of 65 and low of 44.
Making those temperatures feel colder will be plenty of wind. The weather service issued a high wind advisory for Sacramento and the Valley for Saturday (March 2) with gusts up to 45 mph.
Coupled with soft, wet ground, those wind gusts could topple trees or bring down branches. Keep an eye out for leaning trunks or ground disturbances around a tree’s base, a sign of shifting roots.
What to do on this rainy March weekend? Celebrate Sacramento’s favorite flower at the 100th Sacramento Camellia Show. With hundreds of camellias on display, the show is open free to the public 3 to 6 p.m. Saturday, March 2, and 10 a.m to 5 p.m. Sunday, March 3, at a new location – the Scottish Rite Center, 6151 H St., Sacramento.
* Between showers, pick up fallen camellia blooms; that helps cut down on the spread of blossom blight that prematurely browns petals.
* Feed camellias after they bloom with fertilizer formulated for acid-loving plants.
* Camellias need little pruning. Remove dead wood and shape, if necessary.
* Tread lightly or not at all on wet ground; it compacts soil.
* Avoid digging in wet soil, too; wait until it clumps in your hand but doesn’t feel squishy.
* Note spots in your garden that stay wet after storms; improve drainage with the addition of organic matter such as compost.
* Fertilize roses, annual flowers and berries as spring growth begins to appear.
* If aphids are attracted to new growth, knock them off with a strong spray of water or insecticidal soap. To make your own “bug soap,” use 2 tablespoons liquid soap – not detergent – to 1 quart water in a spray bottle. Shake it up before use. Among the liquid soaps that seem most effective are Dr. Bronner’s Pure-Castile Soaps; try the peppermint scent.
* Pull weeds now! Don’t let them get started. Take a hoe and whack them as soon as they sprout.
* Prune and fertilize spring-flowering shrubs after bloom.
* Cut back and fertilize perennial herbs to encourage new growth.
* Make plans for your summer garden. Once the soil is ready, start adding amendments such as compost.
* Indoors, start seeds for summer favorites such as tomatoes, peppers and squash as well as summer flowers.
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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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