- Prepared by: Terry Lewis
Published on: March 22, 2024
As spring unfolds, take time to enjoy the fruits of your labor.
“My garden is my most beautiful masterpiece” ~ Claude Monet
Tasks
- Compost weed-free grass clippings and other thorn and disease-free garden waste.
- Better yet, start a grasscycling program for an existing lawn.
Pruning
- Shape hedges.
- Do not apply any treatments to pruning cuts or other wounds because these materials are ineffective and often are detrimental. Chip yard waste and use as mulch or as an addition to the compost pile.
Fertilizing
- Do not overfertilize. Follow the instructions on the fertilizer container. Excessive fertilization leads to contamination of waterways and lush plant growth that requires more water.
Planting
- Plant annual summer herbs and vegetables at two-week intervals for successive crops.
- Annuals: Black-eyed susan vine (Thunbergia), sunflower (Helianthus), Verbena, Zinnia.
- Bulbs, corms, tubers: gladiolus.
- Fruits and vegetables: Last chance to plant a late crop of chard, spinach and lettuce.
- Trees, shrubs, vines: Shoestring acacia (Acacia stenophylla), Bottlebrush (Callistemon), Sedge (Carex), Smoke tree (Cotinus).
- Perennials: Yarrow (Achillea), Artemisia, Fortnight lily (Dietes), Gazania, Lilyturf (Liriope).
Enjoy now
- Annuals and perennials: alstroemeria, snapdragon (antirrhinum), columbine, fibrous begonia.
- Bulbs, corms, tubers: anemone, freesia.
- Trees, shrubs, vines: acacia, aesculus, camellia, catalpa, California wild lilac (Ceanothus).
- Fruits and vegetables: asparagus, broccoli, grapefruit, kumquat
Things to ponder
If oakworms, redhumped caterpillars, or cabbage loopers are present, spray with Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt). Repeat every 7 to 10 days for several weeks as a preventative measure.
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- Prepared by: Terry Lewis
Published on: March 14, 2024
Check out the nursery, online websites and garden books for new plant varieties that use less water.
In a drought year, consider native plants suitable for our area.
Tasks
- Remove thatch and aerate warm-season lawns (Bermuda, zoysia, St. Augustine) to allow better water penetration.
- Water citrus, being careful not to overwater.
- Hand pick snails and slugs daily or use bait. Avoid baits that contain metaldehyde, as they are toxic to all vertebrates.
Pruning
- Azaleas and camellias as they finish blooming.
- Finish pruning deciduous trees.
Fertilizing
- Acid-loving plants (such as azaleas and camellias) after bloom, also annuals.
- Cool season turf, if fall fertilization was missed.
Planting
- Plant annual summer herbs and vegetables at two-week intervals for successive crops.
- Annuals: Begonia (fibrous or wax), sunflower (Helianthus), marigold (Tagetes).
- Bulbs, corms, tubers: Sternbergia.
- Fruits and vegetables: onions (green), parsnips, potatoes (white).
- Trees, shrubs, vines: Toyon (Heteromeles), Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus), citrus, Euonymus.
- Perennials: alstroemeria, columbine (Aquilegia), false spiraea (Astilbe), deer fern (Blechnum spicant), dianthus.
Enjoy now
- Annuals and perennials: Armeria, snapdragon (antirrhinum), columbine (Aquilegia), fibrous begonia (Semperflorens).
- Bulbs, corms, tubers: anemone, freesia.
- Trees, shrubs, vines: acacia, aesculus, camellia, California wild lilac (Ceanothus).
- Fruits and vegetables: asparagus, grapefruit, kumquat, mushrooms.
Things to ponder
- Pull weeds as they begin to emerge to prevent having to spray later.
- When choosing plants in cell packs from the nursery, be sure roots are not protruding from the bottom of the container.
- Consider composting to cut down on green waste.
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- Prepared by: Terry Lewis
Published on: March 7, 2024
Wait until after the danger of frost has passed to set out frost-tender plants. Historic frost dates: In Zone 8 the last frost date is March 15, in Zone 9 it is Feb. 15, but watch the weather forecast for your area.
Tasks
- Clean up drying grasses within 30 feet of structures for fire prevention. This also encourages spring growth.
- Deeply water fruit and nut trees. Ideally, mature fruit trees should be irrigated to a depth of three feet.
- Blast aphids from plants with a spray of water or insecticidal soap.
Pruning
- Pinch back perennials and fast-growing annuals to encourage dense growth and more blooms.
- Thin vegetable seedlings by pinching or clipping, rather than pulling them out of the soil, which will damage neighboring plants.
- Prune deciduous magnolia, dogwood, forsythia, lilac, azalea, spiraea, camellia and flowering quince after bloom.
Fertilizing
- Roses, citrus, container plants and berries with slow-release fertilizer.
- Acid-loving plants such as camellias and azaleas after bloom.
Planting
- Plant annuals and perennials while it is still cool so they can establish a good root system before the weather becomes really hot.
- Annuals: Floss flower (Ageratum), bachelor's button (Centaurea), bee balm (Monarda).
- Bulbs, corms, tubers: gladiolus.
- Fruits and vegetables: transplant cucumbers and peppers.
- Trees, shrubs, vines: Cedar (cedrus), desert willow (Chilopsis), rose of Sharon (Hibiscus), trumpet vine (Clytostoma).
Enjoy now
- Annuals and perennials: calendula, Leucanthemum paludosum, larkspur (Consolida), delphinium.
- Bulbs, corms, tubers: iris.
- Trees, shrubs, vines: almond, redbud, dogwood (Cornus), hawthorn (Crataegus), heather (Erica), grevillea.
- Fruits and vegetables: artichoke, lemon, lime, mandarin orange, peas.
Things to ponder
- Mosquitos can breed in even very small quantities of standing water. Don't give them a home in your garden!
- Develop a drought plan for your garden in case water restrictions are implemented.
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- Prepared by: Terry Lewis
Published on: March 1, 2024
Herbs thrive in the San Joaquin Valley because of our climate. March is a great time for spring planting.
Tasks
- Check drip systems, sprinklers, and other irrigation systems for repair needs.
- Flush irrigation lines and inspect sprinkler valves for proper operation.
- Protect transplants from cutworms by putting a barrier, such as a paper collar, around the stem.
Pruning
- Deadhead winter annuals to prolong bloom.
- For bulbs, deadhead spent blooms only. Leave foliage and stalk to wither naturally to provide nutrients for next year's flowers.
Fertilizing
- Fertilize stone fruit, pear, apple, and nut trees and berries with one third of the needed annual amount of fertilizer.
- Fertilize citrus when trees begin to bloom.
Planting
- Plant Easter lilies in full sun in outdoor beds after blossoms fade. They will bloom next May or early June.
- Annuals: alstromeria, Kangaroo paw (antigozanthos), and petunia, plant from seed.
- Bulbs, corms, tubers: fairy lily (Zephyranthes).
- Fruits and vegetables: beets, chard, spinach, and turnips from seed.
- Perennials: coral bells(Heuchera), maiden grass (Miscanthus), fountain grass (Pennisetum), sage (Salvia), pincushion flower (Scabiosa).
- Trees, shrubs, vines: clematis, dogwood (Cornus), rockrose (Cistus), hop bush (Dodonaea viscosa), cotoneaster.
Enjoy now
- Annuals and perennials: candytuft, iris, lobelia, forget-me-not (Myosotis), poppy.
- Bulbs, corms, tubers: ranunculus, tulip.
- Trees, shrubs, vines: orange, rhaphiolepis, rhododendron, lilac (Syringa vulgaris).
- Fruits and vegetables: potatoes, radish, rutabaga, spinach, strawberry, turnip.
Things to ponder
- Give new plants ample water until root system is established.
- Bermudagrass will begin to green up as the soil temperature rises.
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- Prepared by: Terry Lewis
Published on: February 22, 2024
Take a drive along the Blossom Trail. March is the time to put winter's planning into action as spring comes to the garden.
Tasks
- Continue fruit tree spraying and spray fungicide on apple and cherry trees.
- Weed by hand-pulling, hoeing, or if there is no alternative, apply herbicide on a calm day so that spray will not drift.
Pruning
- After bloom, prune spring-flowering shrubs, trees, and vines to improve shape.
- Shear back ornamental grasses and ground covers such as lantana, verbena, Asian jasmine, and vinca.
- Shape hedges.
Fertilizing
- Apply one third of the needed amount of fertilizer to deciduous fruit and nut trees.
- Wait until after bloom to fertilize acid-loving plants and use a product formulated for them.
- Fertilize blooming ornamental deciduous trees 2 or 3 weeks after bloom.
- Sow seeds for summer vegetables. Although many vegetables can be planted this month, tomatoes, summer squash, and beans are better planted later in spring.
- Annuals: impatiens, alyssum (Lobularia), plant from seed.
- Bulbs, corms, tubers: tiger flower (Tigridia).
- Fruits and vegetables: daikon, eggplant, melon, carrots, plant from seed.
- Perennials: Lenten rose (Helleborus orientalis), coral bells (Heuchera), gayfeather (Liatris).
- Trees, shrubs, vines: California lilac (Ceanothus), deodar (Cedrus deodara), redbud (Cercis occidentalis), citrus.
Enjoy now
- Annuals and perennials: dianthus, Lenten rose (Helleborus orientalis).
- Bulbs, corms, tubers: grape hyacinth (Muscari), ‘Paper White' narcissus.
- Trees, shrubs, vines: saucer magnolia, star magnolia.
- Fruits and vegetables: lettuce, onions, parsley, parsnips, peas.
Things to ponder
- Protect tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant from a late frost by using hot caps or floating row covers.
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