Dig In: Garden checklist for week of July 13
No surprise here: Sacramento’s hottest day of the year (so far) was Friday – opening day of the California State Fair.
Downtown Sacramento reached 102 degrees on July 11, only the fourth triple-digit day in 2025. This current heat spell is expected to stick around a little longer.
The National Weather Service issued a heat advisory for the Sacramento Valley north of Interstate 80 through 11 p.m. Monday, July 14. Highs are expected to range from 95 to 110 degrees with the most extreme heat north of Redding.
The weather service warns of “high risk of heat stress or illnesses to people or animals. Stay hydrated. Avoid being outdoors in the sun from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.”
Sacramento is expected to be towards the low end of those high temperatures; 99 degrees is forecast for Monday, the peak of this current heat wave. Overnight lows in the 60s mean mornings will feel warm, too.
Fortunately, this current heat spike won’t stick around much longer, says the weather service. Wednesday’s forecast high is only 87 degrees – actually below normal for mid July.
Put off big chores and planting until later in the week. In the meantime, remember to stay hydrated – advice for both you and your garden.
* Keep your vegetable garden watered, mulched and weeded. Water before 8 a.m. to reduce the chance of fungal infection and to conserve moisture.
* Water, then fertilize vegetables and blooming annuals, perennials and shrubs to give them a boost. Feeding flowering plants every other week will extend their bloom.
* Give vegetable plants bone meal or other fertilizers high in phosphate to stimulate more blooms and fruiting.
* Add some summer color. Plant petunias, snapdragons, zinnias and marigolds.
* From seed, plant corn, pumpkins, radishes, winter squash and sunflowers. Plant Halloween pumpkins now.
* Pinch back chrysanthemums for bushy plants and more flowers in September.
* Remove spent flowers from roses, daylilies and other bloomers as they finish flowering.
* Pinch off blooms from basil so the plant will grow more leaves.
* Cut back lavender after flowering to promote a second bloom.
