Dig In: Garden checklist for week of Jan. 26
Keep those frost cloths handy; we’re in for some more chilly nights. Our blooming plants may be signaling a false spring (thanks to some unseasonably warm days), but we still have almost two months of winter.
After possible rain this weekend, frost warnings return for the Sacramento area Monday and will continue every night through Friday.
According to the National Weather Service, Sacramento’s overnight temperatures will repeatedly dip down into the mid to low 30s in the wee hours, but may not get under 32 degrees. Sacramento has a 50-50 chance of reaching freezing temperatures before dawn on Tuesday and Wednesday, says the forecast.
Take preparations before sunset the night before those frosty hours hit. That includes keeping plants hydrated; that can raise their soil temperature by a few precious degrees. (The exception is succulents; they handle frost better on the dry side – tucked underneath a frost cloth.)
Remember to remove frost cloths in the morning as temperatures warm; plants can overheat during the day.
Expect to see plenty of winter sunshine this week with highs in the upper 50s; that’s normal for the last week in January in Sacramento. After a very dry January, we may see a tiny bit of rain tonight (Jan. 25), but less than 0.05 of an inch is forecast, says the weather service. There’s also a slight chance of rain Thursday night.
Otherwise, take advantage of opportunities to get garden chores done:
* Prune, prune, prune. Now is the time to cut back most deciduous trees and shrubs. The exceptions are spring-flowering shrubs such as lilacs.
* Now is the time to prune fruit trees. Clean up leaves and debris around the trees to prevent the spread of disease. Exceptions: Cherry and apricot trees, which should wait until summer.
* Prune roses, even if they’re still trying to bloom. Strip off any remaining leaves, so the bush will be able to put out new growth in early spring.
* Clean up leaves and debris around your newly pruned roses and shrubs. Put down fresh mulch or bark to keep roots cozy.
* After possible rain this weekend, apply horticultural oil to fruit trees to control scale, mites and aphids. Oils need 24 hours of dry weather after application to be effective.
* This is also the time to spray a copper-based oil to peach and nectarine trees to fight leaf curl. Best done when no wet or windy weather occurs in the 24 hours before and after any spraying is done.
* When forced bulbs sprout, move them to a cool, bright window. Give them a quarter turn each day so the stems will grow straight.
* Divide daylilies, Shasta daisies and other perennials.
* Cut back and divide chrysanthemums.
* Plant bare-root roses, trees and shrubs.
* Transplant pansies, violas, calendulas, English daisies, snapdragons and fairy primroses.
* In the vegetable garden, plant fava beans, head lettuce, mustard, onion sets, radicchio and radishes.
* Plant bare-root asparagus and root divisions of rhubarb.
* In the bulb department, plant callas, anemones, ranunculus and gladiolus for bloom from late spring into summer.
* Plant blooming azaleas, camellias and rhododendrons. If you’re shopping for these beautiful landscape plants, you can now find them in full flower at local nurseries.
* Browse through seed catalogs and start making plans for spring and summer. Start pepper and tomato seeds, especially those that require 90 or more days to maturity.
