Plant Iceland poppy transplants now for stand-out spring flowers. (Photo: Pxhere)

Tasks

• Monitor rainfall and adjust automatic sprinklers accordingly.  If rainfall is adequate, warm-season grasses require no supplemental irrigation
• Spray stone-fruit, apple, pear, nut, and flowering trees, and roses with dormant oil spray
• Now that the soil is cool and damp, sow seeds of spring wildflowers such as California poppy, clarkia and cornflower

Pruning

• Remove leaves from roses to force them into dormancy in preparation for pruning next month
• Prune out fire blight infections.  Cut the infected shoot or branch at its point of origin

Fertilizing

• Fertilize cool-season annuals, perennials and vegetables with a light, high-nitrogen or organic fertilizer

Planting

• This is not a big planting month unless you have purchased plants or bulbs and have not yet planted them
• Fruits and vegetables: radishes, spinach, plant from seed
• Annuals: forget-me-not (Myosotis), Iceland poppy (Papaver nudicaule), fairy primrose (Primula malacoides)

Enjoy now

• Annuals and perennials: stock (Matthiola), Iceland poppy (Papaver nudicaule)
• Bulbs, corms, tubers: paperwhite (Narcissus)
• Trees, shrubs, vines: heavenly bamboo (Nandina) Maidenhair tree (Ginkgo biloba)
• Fruits and vegetables: persimmons, potatoes, Savoy cabbage, snow peas

Things to ponder

• Be alert for frost warnings and cover tender plants when freezing temperatures are expected. Apply a layer of mulch to protect roots of vulnerable plants
• Amaryllis bulbs will bloom indoors and may do well planted outside with some shade and rich, well-drained soil

Source: Adapted from A Gardener's Companion for the Central San Joaquin Valley, 3rd edition, currently available from Fresno County Master Gardeners for $30. These can be purchased at our demonstration garden - Garden of the Sun (1750 N. Winery (McKinley/Winery), open Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 9 am to noon, and via email at mgfresno@ucdavis.edu. Gardening questions answered as well at mgfresno@ucdavis.edu.