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‘Weeds: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly’

Sacramento Digs Gardening
BY Debbie Arrington PUBLISHED JUL 5, 2021

It’s pretty but it’s a thug: Bindweed. (Photo: Kathy Morrison)

Nevada County master gardeners offer free virtual workshop

Can you tell a good plant from an invasive weed? How do you stop garden thugs from taking over your landscape?

Learn about the world of weeds and how they affect our gardens – and lives – during a free virtual workshop, presented by the UC Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners of Nevada County.

Set for 9 am. Saturday, July 10, “Weeds: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly” will explore the world of invasive plants with an eye for the weeds most likely to pop up in Northern California gardens.

“Weeds follow human habitation,” explain the master gardeners. “Sometimes unsightly, sometimes daunting, weeds crowd out desirable plants and cause considerable frustration for gardeners and farmers.”

What can a gardener do?

“While they can be difficult to eradicate, there are safe ways to control your weeds,” say the master gardeners. “Despite the bad and the ugly, weeds may also fit into our landscapes as beneficial additions to gardeners, wildlife and soil health.”

Yes, there are good weeds!

The two-hour workshop is free and no advance registration is necessary. Find the link at: http://ncmg.ucanr.org/ . Zoom meeting ID is 870 4333 4646.

The weeds workshop is the first of three July virtual presentations offered by the Nevada County master gardeners, all on Saturdays. Also included in the series are: “Garden Makeover: Lawn to Landscape,” 9 a.m. July 24; and “Softwood Propagation,” 9 a.m. July 31.

Details: http://ncmg.ucanr.org/ .

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Garden Checklist for week of May 19

Temperatures will be a bit higher than normal in the afternoons this week. Take care of chores early in the day – then enjoy the afternoon. It’s time to smell the roses.

* Plant, plant, plant! It’s prime planting season in the Sacramento area. If you haven’t already, it’s time to set out those tomato transplants along with peppers and eggplants. Pinch off any flowers on new transplants to make them concentrate on establishing roots instead of setting premature fruit.

* Direct-seed melons, cucumbers, summer squash, corn, radishes, pumpkins and annual herbs such as basil.

* Harvest cabbage, lettuce, peas and green onions.

* In the flower garden, direct-seed sunflowers, cosmos, salvia, zinnias, marigolds, celosia and asters.

* Plant dahlia tubers. Other perennials to set out include verbena, coreopsis, coneflower and astilbe.

* Transplant petunias, marigolds and perennial flowers such as astilbe, columbine, coneflowers, coreopsis, dahlias, rudbeckia and verbena.

* Keep an eye out for slugs, snails, earwigs and aphids that want to dine on tender new growth.

* Feed summer bloomers with a balanced fertilizer.

* For continued bloom, cut off spent flowers on roses as well as other flowering plants.

* Don’t forget to water. Seedlings need moisture. Deep watering will help build strong roots and healthy plants.

* Add mulch to the garden to help keep that precious water from evaporating. Mulch also cuts down on weeds. But don’t let it mound around the stems or trunks of trees or shrubs. Leave about a 6-inch to 1-foot circle to avoid crown rot or other problems.

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