Dig In: Garden checklist for week of April 6

We’re seriously in spring, heading fast towards summer.

Sacramento will see plenty of sunshine and afternoons in the 70s this week. According to the National Weather Service, a weak storm system will pass through Northern California late Sunday and early Monday, but Sacramento has only a 5% chance of catching any rain.

Instead, we’re plunging into a warming trend with forecast highs of 79 on Wednesday and Thursday. That’s well above our April average high of 71.

Just as importantly for gardeners, nights are getting warmer, too. We begin the week with overnight lows in the mid to high 40s, but will warm into the low 50s by Thursday.

Get ready to plant some tomatoes!

There’s plenty to do this week. Your garden needs you!

* Weed, weed, weed! Pull them before they form seed – or you’ll multiply your future work.

* Spring brings a flush of rapid growth, and that means your garden is really hungry. Feed shrubs and trees with a slow-release fertilizer. Or mulch with a 1-inch layer of compost.

* Trim dead flowers but not leaves from spring-flowering bulbs such as daffodils and tulips. Those leaves gather energy to create next year’s flowers. Also, give the bulbs a fertilizer boost after bloom.

* As nights warm up over 50 degrees, start setting out tomato, pepper and eggplant transplants.

* From seed, plant beans, beets, cantaloupes, carrots, corn, cucumbers, melons, pumpkins, radishes and squash.

* Plant onion sets.

* In the flower garden, plant seeds for asters, cosmos, celosia, marigolds, salvia, sunflowers and zinnias.

* Transplant petunias, zinnias, geraniums and other summer bloomers.

* Plant perennials and dahlia tubers for summer bloom.

* Transplant lettuce and cabbage seedlings.

* April is the last chance to plant citrus trees such as dwarf orange, lemon and kumquat. These trees also look good in landscaping and provide fresh fruit in winter.

* Smell orange blossoms? Feed citrus trees with a low dose of balanced fertilizer (such as 10-10-10) during bloom to help set fruit. Keep an eye out for ants.

* Apply slow-release fertilizer to the lawn.

* Pinch chrysanthemums back to 12 inches for fall flowers. Cut old stems to the ground.