Registration is open for more neighborhood tree plantings in March and April; families welcome
Volunteers are needed to plant trees at Dave Roberts Park in Rancho Cordova. Courtesy of Sacramento Tree Foundation
Winter rain makes for soft ground. That makes February and March a good time to plant trees in the greater Sacramento area. When digging holes big enough for tree root balls, the job is much easier if the site isn’t rock hard.
The task also goes faster when there’s more people to dig the holes.
Saturday morning, Feb. 24, volunteers will plant lots of new trees at Dave Roberts Park in Rancho Cordova. Organized by the Sacramento Tree Foundation, this tree planting is part of a series to bring more shade to the area’s parks and neighborhoods.
“Planting more trees in this park will help increase the amount of shaded walkways, create more spaces to picnic under, and will help clean the air and water for years to come!” say the organizers. “We provide all the necessary tools and supplies to care for trees.
“Participants will receive a short, hands-on training on site. After learning the tools and techniques, participants will split up into groups and begin planting trees throughout the site.”
SacTree particularly encourages people who live or work near Dave Roberts Park to attend. “This event is open to the general public; you do not need any prior experience to join us and on-site training will be provided,” the foundation says. “Families with children are welcome.”
Attendance is free, but participants need to register in advance to receive an email with details and logistics. Sign up here: https://sactree.org/event/dave-roberts-park-planting/
Registration starts at 8:45 a.m., followed by a tool demonstration. Wear closed-toe shoes and appropriate clothing. Expect to get a little dirty. The job should be done by noon.
SacTree also plans more tree plantings in March and April. That includes: March 16 at Karl Rosario Park in North Sacramento; March 23 at Folsom Lake College; and April 6 in Sacramento’s River District Neighborhood. Registration is now open for all of those tree planting events.
Find details and links here: https://sactree.org/events/
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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.