Sacramento Digs Gardening: Does winter solstice affect plants?

All these trees -- crape myrtle, ornamental cherry and valley oak -- will grow leaves again this spring, determining the sunlight and shade that any plants underneath receive.

Observation is key when planting in winter

Happy winter solstice!

Saturday, Dec. 21, is the first day of winter as well as the shortest day of the year. That also means Friday and Saturday are the longest nights with the most hours of darkness.

We people can cope with the extra darkness by turning on lights.

But how does the winter solstice affect plants?

Most of the plants we grow cope with winter darkness and short days just fine. The change of season (as well as temperature) prompts deciduous species to drop their leaves and go dormant until spring.

In some plants, winter’s shorter days and longer nights trigger blooming. That includes poinsettias, chrysanthemums, camellias and Christmas cactus. (That’s also why those plants are such popular holiday gifts.)

From Sunday on, the days get longer and nights shorter. But a sunny day in winter is not the same as one in summer due to the angle of the sun.

During winter months in Sacramento, the sun stays lower on the horizon and doesn’t generate the same warmth if shining directly overhead. That angle casts longer shadows, too, shading some plants that usually receive more sun.

On the other hand, plants that are usually shaded under deciduous trees get more sun in winter because those trees have dropped their leaves.

When planting (or planning to plant) in winter, take into consideration the differences in sun and shade in your garden. Blooming spring bulbs, for example, do just fine under dormant leafless trees, but can’t cope with the constant shade of evergreens. Likewise, that sunny spot under a naked maple won’t be sunny in summer.

Due to the changing sun angle, azaleas and other shrubs that appreciate afternoon shade may get it in winter but not in summer when they need it most.

Let this solstice be a reminder: Observation of sun and shade can be a key to garden success.

GENERAL GARDENING

An article about gardening.

Keywords:

sunlight gardening Sacramento solstice winter weather trees azaleas winter gardening evergreens leaves

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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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