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Garden Data (thru Sept. 4,, 2008) Avg. evapotranspiration rate this past week : 1.7" valley; 1.8" foothills. Soil Temperature: 71 (F) valley, 74 (F) foothills. Click Here for more Information about soil temperature and evapotranspiration rates Chilling hours (hours at 45 degrees or less, for deciduous fruit tree production, Nov. 1, 2007 - Mar. 1, 2008: Final Report 950-1100: Valley; 1100-1600: foothills ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Looking for lists and pictures of plants that don't require much water? Check out the website... This is a project undertaken in conjunction with the municipalities and water districts in three counties: Sacramento, El Dorado and Placer as well as local horticulturists. The website has a wealth of local residential photography and plant information to help the homeowner improve their garden in a water efficient way. =========================================================================== Sat. & Sun. September 6 and 7, 2008 Begonia Show: Red Carpet Begonias The Joan Coulat - Sacramento Branch, American Begonia Society will have their 60th annual show and sale on September 6 and 7 at The Shepherd Garden and Arts Center, 3330 McKinley Blvd., in East Sacramento's McKinley Park. This year's theme is Red Carpet Begonias. The hours of the show will be from 10am to 5pm on Saturday and 10am to 4pm on Sunday. There will be educational talks about begonias and shade plants both days. Each year, members display over 100 different types of begonias and other shade plants. There will also be a Plant Table where over 1,000 begonias and other shade plants will be for sale. On Sunday at 1 pm the Branch will hold its annual Tea and Cookies where visitors to the show may sample sweet treats along with tea and punch. It is the Branch's way of saying thank you to the public. For further information call Paul Tsamtsis at 524-3013. =========================================== Saturday, September 6 Guided Tour: Planting Under Redwoods 10 a.m., Buehler Alumni & Visitors Center, Old Davis Road, UC Davis campus Learn about gardening under redwood trees and which plants grow best in a moist, shady microclimate during a free guided tour at the UC Davis Arboretum on Saturday, September 6. The Arboretum's Redwood Grove is one of the largest groves of coast redwoods outside their natural habitat. Meet at 10:00 a.m. at the Buehler Alumni and Visitors Center, located on Old Davis Road at Mrak Hall Drive, across from the Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts on the UC Davis campus. There is no charge for the tour and free parking is available in Visitor Lot 1 and the parking garage south of the Mondavi Center. For more information, please call (530) 752-4880 or visit their website, arboretum.ucdavis.edu. =================================== Wednesday, September 10 Guided Tour: Walk With Warren Noon, Arboretum Headquarters, LaRue Road, UC Davis campus Join Arboretum Superintendent Warren Roberts for a stroll in the UC Davis Arboretum on Wednesday, September 10. Enjoy the late summer flowers, learn about the Arboretum's collections, and get a little exercise. Meet at noon at the Arboretum Headquarters, located in Valley Oak Cottage on LaRue Road on the UC Davis campus. There is no charge for the tour. Parking is available for $6.00 in Visitor Lot 47. For more information, please call (530) 752-4880 or visit their website, arboretum.ucdavis.edu. ======================================== Sunday, September 14 Guided Tour: Heat-Tolerant Plants for Central Valley Summers 10 a.m., Gazebo, Garrod Drive, UC Davis campus Gardening in the Central Valley can be a challenge, especially in summer. The UC Davis Arboretum features hundreds of tough, attractive plants that thrive in the summer heat. Learn more about heat-tolerant plants, irrigation techniques, and other gardening practices suited to our Valley conditions during a free public tour on Sunday, September 14. The tour will leave at 10:00 a.m. from the Gazebo, on Garrod Drive on the UC Davis campus. There is no charge for the tour and free parking is available along Garrod Drive and in Visitor Lot 55. For more information, please call (530) 752-4880 or visit their website, arboretum.ucdavis.edu. ============================================ Saturday, September 20 Guided Tour: Mediterranean Climate Gardening 10 a.m., Gazebo, Garrod Drive, UC Davis campus California's Central Valley has a Mediterranean-type climate, with hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters. Traditional gardens in Mediterranean-climate areas use time-honored techniques to reduce water use and create a cool retreat. Learn about Mediterranean-style gardening on a free public tour of the UC Davis Arboretum on Saturday, September 20. The tour will meet at 10:00 a.m. at the Gazebo, on Garrod Drive on the UC Davis campus. There is no charge for the tour and free parking is available along Garrod Drive and in Visitor Lot 55. For more information, please call (530) 752-4880 or visit their website, arboretum.ucdavis.edu. =============================================== Saturday, September 27 Workshop: Great Plants for Central Valley Gardens 9:30 a.m.&endash;12:30 p.m. Fee: $45 general/ $35 members Need help with selecting plants that suit your needs? Are you looking for examples and ideas for great plant combinations? On Saturday September 27, Ellen Zagory, UC Davis Arboretum Director of Horticulture, and Missy Borel of the California Center for Urban Horticulture will present a first-time special workshop to inspire beginning and experienced gardeners. The workshop will focus on the best plants for our garden climate, including the Arboretum All-Stars, plants selected by the Arboretum's horticultural staff for their beauty, reliability, heat and drought tolerance, and value in attracting butterflies, hummingbirds and other pollinators. After an introductory presentation on these plants, the class will tour the beautiful Ruth Storer Garden for more ideas and discussion of the best plant combinations, and to learn about how to grow a successful perennial garden in the Central Valley. The garden tour will be followed by a special sneak preview of the new Arboretum Teaching Nursery, this fall's crop of Arboretum All-Stars and other great plants that will be available at the Arboretum Plant Faire on October 4. There will be time for questions and answers about participants' own gardens and any special problems they might have. The fee for the workshop will be $45 ($35 for members). Space is limited and advance registration is required. To register, contact the UC Davis Arboretum at 530-752-4880 or arboretum@ucdavis.edu. ==========================================================
Improper watering is the number one cause of plant failure. Knowing how wet the soil is where the plant roots are hard at work can help you determine your plants' health. To determine the amount of water at the root level: A day or two after watering, dig down eight inches with a trowel or small shovel, near the dripline (outer canopy) of the plant. Doing this in two or three spots would be more helpful. At that depth, grab a handful of the soil. Squeeze that handful. If it is muddy and watery, reduce your watering for plants that require regular (but not frequent) irrigation. If it is so dry you cannot form a clod in your hand (it turns to dust instead), increase your watering (for those plants that require moderate amounts of water). If you can form a dirt clod in your hand, yet break it apart with a little effort, that is probably the correct soil moisture for your plant. Extended, infrequent, slowly applied irrigation is the most efficient watering method. Soaker hoses or drip irrigation systems work best. Here in the Central Valley, foothills, and Bay Area, run them for 6-8 hours at a time, once a week, in the summer.This is only a guideline to get you started. Adjust that timing to your particular soil type and plants. And, don't forget: add more drip emitters and drip lines as the plant grows, especially for trees and shrubs. Make sure to get water to the outer canopy of the plant (and beyond) where the roots travel. FOR LAWNS: During the hottest months (June through September), you may need to add an inch and a half to two inches of water to your lawn each week, divided into two applications. To determine how much water your sprinklers are putting out: place six to 10 flat-bottomed, same sized containers (such as small glasses. tuna fish or cat food cans) around your lawn. Put some in the greenest areas; put some in the areas that are struggling. Turn on your sprinklers for 15 minutes. Then, measure the amount of water in each container. There should not be more than a quarter-inch difference among all the containers. If there is, readjust or add to your sprinklers to hit those areas that aren't getting as much water. If, on average, you are getting a half-inch of water per container, then you need to water your lawn thirty minutes, twice a week, to put two inches of water on your lawn. You may need to adjust this timing if you see water streaming off the lawn. In that case, reduce the amount of time the sprinklers are on at any one time. Then, add a second cycle a few hours later. It is best to water with rising temperatures, which in the summer, is from about 4 a.m. to noon. Earlier is better. |
photo by Stephen Barnett
Date Last Modified: 9/4/08
© 2008 Fred Hoffman