Sacramento and Placer experts available to answer questions
Whatever the weather, the gate will be open 9 a.m. to noon this Saturday at the Fair Oaks Horticulture Center for the public to stroll the gardens, view demonstrations and ask gardening questions. Kathy Morrison
All gardening is local and, while many things remain consistent, there can be major differences from one county to the next.
On Saturday, Feb. 8, get the best local advice possible while also benefiting from the most recent UC research at two Open Gardens hosted by master gardeners, rain or shine. At both events, admission is free and the public – regardless of where they live or garden – is invited.
From 9 a.m. to noon, the Sacramento County master gardeners will host their Open Garden at the Fair Oaks Horticulture Center, 11549 Fair Oaks Blvd., Fair Oaks.
“Open gardens are informal FREE events where you roam the gardens, watch what we are doing, see what we are growing and ask questions,” say the Sacramento master gardeners. “Bring samples of your problem plants, mystery pests and questions to the ‘Ask the Master Gardeners’ information table. Get one-on-one advice based on the most recent research-based sustainable practices.
“February is a great opportunity to observe and learn winter maintenance in the garden.” they add. “Join our demo on planting potatoes and Jerusalem artichokes/sunchokes from tubers. Learn how to prune blueberries, and watch a demonstration on how to prune ornamental grasses. Gather ideas for your spring planting projects.”
Also at the event, the Sacramento County Master Gardeners’ 2025 Gardening Guide and Calendar will be available for purchase; it’s $12 including sales tax.
Details and directions: https://sacmg.ucanr.edu/
Also on Saturday morning, the Placer County master gardeners will host their monthly Open Garden at their new Loomis Demonstration Garden at the Loomis Library, 6050 Library Drive, Loomis. The master gardeners will be on hand from 10 a.m. to noon.
The Loomis Demonstration Garden is a living classroom for the Placer County community that emphasizes sustainable gardening, integrated pest management and backyard food production.
A free 1-hour workshop on fruit tree selection and dormant planting starts at 10:30 a.m. inside the library.
Details and directions: https://pcmg.ucanr.edu/
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Food in My Back Yard Series
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Garden Checklist for week of May 4
Enjoy this spring weather – and get gardening!
* Plant, plant, plant! It’s prime planting season in the Sacramento area. Time to set out those tomato transplants along with peppers and eggplants. Pinch off any flowers on new transplants to make them concentrate on establishing roots instead of setting premature fruit.
* Direct-seed melons, cucumbers, summer squash, corn, radishes, pumpkins and annual herbs such as basil.
* Harvest cabbage, lettuce, peas and green onions.
* In the flower garden, direct-seed sunflowers, cosmos, salvia, zinnias, marigolds, celosia and asters. (You also can transplant seedlings for many of the same flowers.)
* Plant dahlia tubers. Other perennials to set out include verbena, coreopsis, coneflower and astilbe.
* Transplant petunias, marigolds and perennial flowers such as astilbe, columbine, coneflowers, coreopsis, dahlias, rudbeckia and verbena.
* Keep an eye out for slugs, snails, earwigs and aphids that want to dine on tender new growth.
* Feed summer bloomers with a balanced fertilizer.
* For continued bloom, cut off spent flowers on roses as well as other flowering plants.
* Add mulch to the garden to maintain moisture. Mulch also cuts down on weeds. But don’t let it mound around the stems or trunks of trees or shrubs. Leave about a 6-inch to 1-foot circle to avoid crown rot or other problems.
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