Sacramento Digs Gardening: Dig In: Garden checklist for week of Nov. 24

Camellias are forming buds and likely could used a dose of chelated iron. (Photos: Kathy Morrison)

Weather about to change for the wetter

Some rain may finally be on the way.

According to the National Weather Service, Sacramento can expect at least some showers late Tuesday and Wednesday, with perhaps a soggy Thanksgiving, too.

That moisture is something to be thankful for; it will mark Sacramento’s first measurable precipitation of this current rain season. Our normal rain total for November averages about 2 inches.

Sacramento has received only .12 inches since May; all of that came during two days in September. Such dry conditions hinted at possible drought conditions to come. (We’ll worry about that later.)

Use these dry days to get ready for rain. Rake leaves away from storm drains. Make sure gutters are clear.

Then, tackle these other November gardening suggestions:

* It’s not too late to plant shrubs, trees and several perennials. Deep-water these transplants before the rain comes.

* Save dry stalks and seedpods from poppies and coneflowers for fall bouquets and holiday decorating.

* Give your azaleas, gardenias and camellias a boost with chelated iron.

Trim chrysanthemums after they're done blooming.

* After they bloom, chrysanthemums should be trimmed to 6 to 8 inches above the ground. If in pots, keep the mums in their containers until next spring. Then, they can be planted in the ground, if desired, or repotted.

* Prune non-flowering trees and shrubs while dormant.

* Plant daffodils, crocuses, hyacinths, tulips, anemones and scillas and other spring bulbs. Don’t forget the ones chilling in the refrigerator.

* This is also a good time to seed wildflowers and plant such spring bloomers as sweet pea, sweet alyssum and bachelor buttons.

* Plant lettuce, cabbage, broccoli, peas, garlic, onions and other winter favorites.

CHECKLIST FOR THE WEEK

Your weekly checklist of activities in the garden.

Keywords:

seeds Sacramento garden chores wildflowers chrysanthemums leaves weather November fall planting gardening pruning chelated iron rainfall bulbs

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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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