Get answers to garden questions while watching experts at work
The pineapple sage in the Herb Garden at the Horticulture Center is looking a little shaggy these days. Learn about pruning herbs and many other topics during Open Garden this Saturday.
At the master gardeners’ Open Garden, of course!
On Saturday, Jan. 20, the UCCE Master Gardeners of Sacramento County kick off 2024 with their first Open Garden of the year at the Fair Oaks Horticulture Center in Fair Oaks Park – rain or shine.
From 9 a.m. to noon, the public is invited to join dozens of masters gardeners as they work in the Hort Center’s various specialty areas. Admission and parking are free. (No pets, please.)
“Open gardens are informal free events where you roam the gardens, watch what we are doing, see what we are growing and ask questions,” explain the 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.”
In addition, catch up with what’s happening in our cool-season gardens.
“Winter’s delights originate outdoors with seeds, ornamental berries and citrus fruit,” say the master gardeners. “Listen to mini-talks and talk with master gardeners among the various demonstration garden areas.”
Current topics include:
Orchard: Learn about keeping pests away, why wait to prune, and information about planting new trees.
Berries: Ask about the tastiest varieties to plant.
Compost: Keep it out of your green waste can and learn how to make your own compost.
Herbs: See how and why herbs need to be trimmed before spring growth.
WEL: Water-efficient landscape is a perfect choice to replace a lawn or add to your landscape.
Vegetables: Learn why to cover cool-weather crops with protective cloth.
Vineyard: Look for signs of bud growth on grape stems. Ask about pruning methods.
It’s also not too late to pick up a copy of the master gardeners’ excellent 2024 Garden Guide and Calendar; it will be on sale during the event. The garden guide is only $12 including tax, cash or check.
“It is a wonderful reminder of tasks to keep your garden healthy and thriving all year,” say the master gardeners. “A how-to guide on creating a habitat garden is featured this year advising you on plants to attract pollinators, birds and beneficial insects. Proceeds from sales help support the Master Gardeners of Sacramento County community projects.”
Fair Oaks Horticulture Center is located at 11549 Fair Oaks Blvd., Fair Oaks.
More details and directions: 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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