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Rain? What rain? We're still in dry year


Yes, we've had some rain this month, but less than normal. (Photo: Kathy Morrison)

Could we be inching towards another drought?



No March miracle for Sacramento this year; we’re still dry.

Although March had some rain, it didn’t add up to that much: 1.68 inches total for the month. “Normal” for March is 3.02 inches, according to the National Weather Service.

That sub-par March followed a bone-dry February, the first Sacramento February in recorded weather history with no precipitation at all.

So, where does that put us on the rain scale? We could be inching towards another drought.

According to the NWS, Sacramento’s rain total since Oct. 1 – the start of our rain year – is only 7.71 inches. That’s less than half of our average to date – 16.08 inches. Last year (which was a wet one), we had received 20.31 inches by the end of March.

That soggy 2019 will help get us through this dry 2020. Our reservoirs are in good shape, which likely will stave off irrigation restrictions and other drought precautions.

But your garden may need some deep watering – especially large trees and shrubs.

Keep an eye on soil moisture. Check your landscape for dry spots. If you can’t plunge a long screwdriver or similar tool at least 6 inches into the ground, give those nearby plants a long, slow drink.

Will spring showers make up for that rain shortfall? It’s unlikely. Historically, Sacramento’s April, May and June average 2 inches of rain combined.

Get water-saving tips and more:
https://bewatersmart.info .

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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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