Perfect Halloween weather, but rain may finally be on its way
Got pumpkins? This is their weekend. Expect perfect weather this Halloween, but rain is on its way. Photo: Kathy Morrison Kathy Morrison
Happy Halloween weekend! Sacramento can expect near perfect fall weather through Monday, great for trick or treating – or gardening.
According to the National Weather Service, Sacramento can expect mostly sunny skies with afternoon highs in the mid 70s – just about average (75 degrees) for the last week of October. Overnight lows will dip into the mid 40s, making for chilly mornings.
But with a new month comes change, says the weather service. “Likely rain showers” are in the forecast for Tuesday morning, the first day of November. Totals will be small; less than one tenth of an inch, estimates the weather service. But cloudy conditions and the possibility of more wet stuff remain through at least next weekend.
Regardless if you need an umbrella, it’s definitely sweater weather. With those clouds come cooler afternoon highs (sticking in the low 60s). Midweek lows with feel relatively warm (above 50 degrees) before edging back into the low 40s by week’s end.
Make the most of this warm weekend and get to work.
* 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.
* Harvest pumpkins and winter squash.
* Save dry stalks and seedpods from poppies and coneflowers for fall bouquets and holiday decorating.
* Leaves are starting to fall in large quantities. 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.
* Make sure gutters are cleared. Don’t let leaves block drains.
* 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.
* This is also a good time to seed wildflowers and plant such spring bloomers as sweet pea, sweet alyssum and bachelor buttons.
* Set out cool-weather annuals such as pansies and snapdragons.
* Lettuce, cabbage and broccoli also can be planted now.
* Plant garlic and onions.
* Give your azaleas, gardenias and camellias a boost with chelated iron.
* Prune non-flowering trees and shrubs while dormant.
* Plant bulbs in batches every two weeks to spread out your spring bloom. Some possible suggestions: daffodils, crocuses, hyacinths, tulips, anemones and scillas.
Comments
0 comments have been posted.Sacramento Digs Gardening to your inbox.
Thanks to Our Sponsor!
Local News
Sites We Like
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.
Powered by California Local
