Dig In: Garden Checklist for week of June 11

Make your garden comfortable: What to do in Sacramento-area gardens in very late spring, early summer

By Debbie Arrington

Straddling two seasons, June offers opportunities and rewards in the Sacramento garden. The last spring flowers hold on for a few more bouquets while summer bloomers start arriving in abundance.

Weird spring weather added a few unexpected notes to my own garden. One hellebore -- a pale green Lenten rose that usually flowers in December -- is blooming right next to the Incrediball hydrangeas, which are covered with puffy white snowballs. (See photos.) It’s an unexpected combination that’s never happened before in that shady corner.

Speaking of flowers, this is a good day to pick roses, daisies and other blooms before more triple-digit heat arrives. Bring some inside to enjoy. Take a bouquet to work or share with friends. (And picking flowers now will encourage plants to produce more.)
With temperatures expected to flirt with 100 degrees the next two days, wait until later in the week and the weekend to tackle major chores and perhaps plant some pumpkins. With the return of the Delta breeze, the temperatures are expected to drift back down to the comfortable mid-80s on Friday, according to the National Weather Service.
Concentrate this week on keeping your garden comfortable:

* Warm weather brings rapid growth in the vegetable garden, with tomatoes and squash enjoying the heat. Deep-water, then feed with a balanced fertilizer. Bone meal can spur the bloom cycle and help set fruit.
* Deep-water trees and shrubs. Check soil with a screwdriver or probe to make sure moisture is reaching 6 inches deep.
* Mulch, mulch, mulch! A blanket of cooling organic material (wood chips, ground bark, shredded leaves) keeps moisture in the soil longer and helps your plants cope during hot weather.
* Avoid pot “hot feet.” Place a 1-inch-thick board under container plants sitting on concrete or other pavement. This little cushion helps insulate plant roots from radiated heat. Or place pots on shelves or rollers to allow air flow underneath.
* From seed, plant corn, pumpkins, radishes, squash and sunflowers. Make sure to keep the soil moist until the seeds sprout.

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