Sacramento County master gardeners invite public to watch and learn at free event
The Fair Oaks Horticulture Center will present its final spring Open Garden Day this Saturday, June 15, from 9 a.m. to noon. The next event will be Harvest Day on Aug. 3. Kathy Morrison
June may rank as gardeners’ busiest month. It’s also when we have the most questions (such as, Why aren’t my tomatoes growing?)
Here’s an opportunity to get the answers you need while being inspired to garden more: Open Garden at Fair Oaks Horticulture Center.
On Saturday morning, June 15, the Sacramento County master gardeners open their beautiful demonstration garden to share what they know while fielding the public’s questions. From 9 a.m. to noon, watch the master gardeners in action while also getting up-to-date information and priceless advice.
Admission and parking are free. No pets please.
“Early June in Sacramento is perfect gardening weather,” say the master gardeners. “So much is in bloom that the specific mix changes daily. Come see what the local UC Master Gardeners are up to in the demonstration garden.
“All garden sections from vegetables to berries to fruit trees grapple with the same pest problems, watering issues and new variety opportunities that you do,” they add. “Master Gardeners in each section (of the hort center) can discuss current activities, challenges and discoveries.”
In different sections of the hort center, the master gardeners will offer timely demonstrations:
* In the vegetable area, see a solarization demonstration to combat nematodes. Also, check out the display of numerous All-American selections.
* In the Water Efficient Landscape, learn about “Deadheading: Refreshing Plants for Endless Bloom.”
* In the vineyard, get advice on timely treatment for powdery mildew, thinning canopies for dappled shade and thinning clusters for bigger grapes.
* The herb garden has shifted from spring to summer herbs, complete with new rosemary and basil plants and a storied heirloom apothecary rose.
* Orchard volunteers will be thinning fruit and pruning trees for better harvest and ease of care.
“Have a specific garden question that is vexing you?” add the master gardeners. “Feel free to bring bagged samples of plants or pests to the Ask a Master Gardener table.”
Fair Oaks Horticulture Center is located at 11549 Fair Oaks Blvd., Fair Oaks, in Fair Oaks Park.
More information: https://sacmg.ucanr.edu/.
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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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