Sacramento Digs Gardening: Dig In: Garden checklist for week of June 7

Tomato plants are flowering, with harvests yet ahead. Tomatoes and other summer vegetables still can be planted now; look for fast-developing varieties. (Photos: Kathy Morrison)

Great planting weather as mild temperatures return

Just like gardening, all weather is local. The greater Sacramento area saw several examples during recent storm forecasts; some neighborhoods received cloudbursts, others hardly a drop.

Likewise, thunderstorms are expected to move through Northern California this weekend, primarily impacting the foothills and Sierra. In the Valley, we'll mostly feel the bluster of winds pushing that weather system east.

Meanwhile, high temperatures dropped 30 degrees from last week's triple-digit highs. According to the National Weather Service, Sacramento will enjoy two days in the mid 70s before the mercury heats up again midweek. Even then, afternoons should stay in the endurable low 90s -- not blazing 100s. By Friday, we slip back into the low 80s -- a very nice beginning to June.

Make the most of these mild weather conditions. If you want to add to (or start) your summer garden, do it now.

* From seed, plant beans, corn, melons, pumpkins, radishes, squash and sunflowers.
* Plant basil and other annual herbs.
* It's not too late to transplant tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, squash and other summer favorites. Look for fast- developing varieties.
* Transplant summer annuals such as petunias, marigolds and zinnias.
* Transplant perennial flowers including astilbe, columbine, coneflowers, coreopsis, dahlias, rudbeckia, salvia and verbena.
* Dig and divide crowded bulbs after the tops have died down.
* Cut back Shasta daisies after flowering to encourage a second bloom in the fall.
* Pinch back chrysanthemums for bushier plants with many more flowers in September.
* Feed summer flowers with a slow-release fertilizer.
* Feed camellias, azaleas and other acid-loving plants. Mulch to conserve moisture and reduce heat stress.
* Trim off dead flowers from rose bushes.

CHECKLIST FOR THE WEEK

Your weekly checklist of activities in the garden.

Keywords:

seeds gardening Sacramento vegetables warm-weather vegetables garden chores dividing bulbs garden checklist checklist perennials 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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