TheDiggingFork Jul Aug 2008

8/14/2019 TheDiggingFork Jul Aug 2008

1/4

The Digging ForkA Davis Garden Newsletter

July - August 2008

July August

Planting Warm season annualsPerennials

Can still plant, but needto keep plants well

watered until established

Warm season annuals

Perennials

Cool season vegetables:Strawberries (if you can findthem), potatoes (early Aug.),leeks

Can still plant, but need

to keep plants wellwatered until established.

Seeding

directly

into the

garden

Warm season vegetables:These crops are best

direct seeded in gardenin early July-

snap beans, cucumbers,summer squash and corn

Warm season annualssunflowers, cosmos,

celosia, alyssum,marigold, zinnia

Cool season vegetables:Must shade seedlings!!

Brussels Sprouts,rutabaga

Cool season vegetables:Must shade seedlings!!

broccoli, cabbage, leeks,carrots, cauliflower andromanesco, Florencefennel, kale, lettuce, greenonions, parsnips, turnips,Swiss chard

Seedingin trays

outside or

greenhouse,

to trans-

plant in fall

Perennials and cool seasonannuals

Cool season vegetables:broccoli, cabbage, leeks,lettuce, cauliflower andromanesco

Perennials and cool seasonannuals

Fertilize Roses after bloom Citrus as needed.Look for nutrient

deficiencies especiallyiron and nitrogen.

Soil sulfur for citrus andacid loving plants(will lower the pH of soil makingiron more available to plants. Mixsoil sulfur with top 6 of soil andwater well)

Pest &

Disease

Control

Tomato hornworms - pick offSnails, slugs and earwigs

damage use baits or trapsAphids -can spray off with

water and watch forladybeetles.

Same as for July.

Tasks Summer pruning of fruittrees will devigorate plantand help control size.

Weed control continues

Stake dahlias and other tallplants that need support

Cut back berries and tienew canes to supports

Mums, asters, perennialsunflowers, etc. can becut to about 12 in earlyJuly to encourage

branching and reduce plant height. This maydelay the bloom time.

Summer pruningpruning apricot trees onlyin Aug. helps controlEutypa disease

Divide and replant beardediris.

Weed control continues

Order cool season bulbs andperennial plants for fallplanting (see article in

The Digging Fork,May 2007 issue)

Water Water deeply andinfrequently to encouragedeep roots!!

Deep water trees and shrubs

Same as July.

Water compost piles!

Early November succulent display

SucculentsAlthough many of us have been growing succulents

for years, they seem to be extremely popular right now.They are interesting plants even when not in flowerwith leaves that can be pinkish, grey, white, red,yellow, etc. Succulents are plants that are able to storewater in their swollen, fleshy roots, stems, flowers orleaves making them a good choice for low watergardens. The cactus family, with all plants originatingin the Americas, contains about a quarter of thesucculents. So, all cacti are succulents, but not allsucculents are cacti. It is not so easy to distinguish acactus just by looking at it. Most cacti have sharpspines, but many do not. Many non-cactus succulentsalso have spines, thorns or sharp toothed leaves whichmake them look like a cactus.

Succulents can be planted in pots or in the garden.They require well drained soil and little water. Somewill be very happy in the garden with regular watering,however more succulents die from over-watering thananything else. Some are fine in the sun but most likeafternoon shade in our climate. These plants also haveevolved to require less nutrients. Planting in pots can be challenging in Davis with our long, hot summers,but succulents are a great choice with their low waterand nutrient needs. Several types with differing forms,colors and sizes can be grouped in a pot for interest.They also lend themselves to some creative planting in

wreaths, wheel barrels, old logs, etc. Cactus and non-cactus succulents are best not grouped together as theirneeds differ. The only negative features of succulentsis that they do not tolerate being walked on andsometimes stems easily break off.

In the wild, propagation by seed is most common.However gardeners can take advantage of the easyvegetative propagation of succulents. Propagation iseasiest when the plants are actively growing. To prevent pathogens from entering, stem and leafcuttings need to heal for a couple days to several weeksbefore planting to form a hard calloused layer.


2/42

Offsets can often be separated from the mother plantand replanted.

Stem cutting roots grow at nodes Mother plant with offsets

Maintenance is easy. Pull off or cut spent flowersand remove withered leaves. Remove the cobwebswith a soft brush. If growing in pots, repotoccasionally, adding a thin layer of gravel on top of thesoil, if desired, to help with drainage. Some succulentsare frost sensitive and may die during a cold winter.Many will change colors as the weather cools withbeautiful shades of red, purple or orange.

Here are some of the easiest succulents to grow inDavis. Most Aloe have spines on the edges of leaves.

The juice in the leaves of the well known Aloe vera isused to treat minor burns. Aeonium, Sempervivumand Echeveria all have wonderful rosettes and can bevery showy. Sedum are very easy to grow and propagate. There are many sizes and colors and theyare also very frost hardy. Crassula can be frostsensitive and includes the Jade plants that arecommonly grown. Dudleya are succulents native toCalifornia.The local nurseries have a wonderful selection ofsucculents!!

~ Garden Intern Needed ~For a few years now, Patricia has tried to have a paid intern one day a week.The intern learns about plants, garden maintenance, irrigation, propagation,etc. and Patricia gets a bit of help in the garden. Days and hours areflexible. If this sounds interesting to you, send an email to Patricia.

Plant sales and eventsUCD Arboretum

Plant sale Saturday, October 4Lots of great guided tours and workshops coming up!!For information 752-4880 www.arboretum.ucdavis.edu

Fall Plant Sale and Garden WalkSunday, September 28, 10-3pmSale held in Patricias garden, 36951 Russell Blvd. Davis

Patricia Carpenter and Frances Andrews, propagatorsInformation 753-0607 [email protected]

Davis Garden ClubTour - Morningsun Herb Farm Sunday, July 27 10:30 amFor information 222-3052 www.davisgardenclub.org

Plant Sales at The Gifted GardenerSaturdays and Sundays: July 19th and 20th , September20th and 21st, October 4th and 5th 9:30 am to 3 pm.

18th and J Streets, Sacramento. Sales benefit local charitiesInformation [email protected] (916) 923-3745

Friends of the Davis Library Book SaleAugust 8 (noon-7 pm), 9 (10 am-5 pm), 10(10 am-3 pm)Often good finds on gardening books! Info. 758-4754

Local classes and workshopsMaster Gardener Educational Workshops

Fruit Tree Summer Pruning and IrrigationSaturday, July 12, 9-11 amWoodland Community College Greenhouse Orchard

Yolo County FairAug. 13-17, Floriculture building and courtyardBooth featuring container gardeningFlower pounding Saturday, early afternoon ,Composting Friday and Saturday, 10-11am

Tomato Festival and Seed SavingAug. 23 Woodland Farmers Market

Workshops are free 666-8143http://ceyolo.ucdavis.edu/Gardening_and_Master_Gardening/

Davis Central Park Garden WorkshopsTour of the Garden Saturday, July 26 9amFree, more information http://www.centralparkgardens.org

Gardening Skills Class Davis Adult SchoolMondays, September 22 to November 3, 6:30 8:30 pmPlus two Garden Visits to reinforce classroom learning:

Sunday, September 28, 3-5 pm andSunday, October 19, 12-4 pm (rain date is Oct. 26)

Taught by Patricia Carpenter and Marlene SimonInformation www.djusd.k12.ca.us/AdultSchool

Ceanothus California Field Botanists AssociationLearn to key plants.

Saturday, July 12, 9 am to 12 noonHeld at UC Davis Center for Plant Diversity

Information www.ceanothusfieldbotanist.blogspot.com

City of Davis Worm and Garden CompostingFree compost bin by taking Davis Compost

Correspondence ClassInformation www.davisrecycling.org (530) 757-5686

Collection of succulents in pot Sedum Autumn Joy

Planted in old boots Newly planted log


3/43

Plant notes!Here is more information about some plants mentioned in this newsletter.

Shade plants:Asian lace fern Microlepia strigosa Bright, dappled and deep shade.

2-3 ft. tall. Tolerates drier conditions than most ferns.

babys tears Soleirolia soleirolii Evergreen mat, perennial. Will dieback with sun or hard frost, but regrows. Bright to deep shade.

bergenia, pigsqueakBergenia Evergreen About 18 in. tall. Pinkflowers in winter. Bright, dappled and deep shade. Wonderful with ferns.

bloody dockRumex sanguineus Dappled to bright shade, some sun.1-2 ft. tall. Edible sorrel.

calla Zantedeschia aethiopica Perennial rhizome may go dormant insummer with lots of sun or lack of moisture. Flowers white, 2-4 ft.Bright to dappled shade, some sun.

cast-iron plant Aspidistra elatior Evergreen perennial, 2-3 ft. tall.Bright to deep shade. The reddish flowers are only 3 inches tall.

Chinese foxgloveRehmannia elata Dappled to bright shade. 2 ft. tall.

clivia Clivia miniata Perennial from tuberous rhizomes, mostly orangeflowers. 2 ft. tall. Dappled, bright and deep shade.

dead nettle Lamium maculatum Evergreen groundcover. Bright todappled shade, some sun. Many wonderful cultivars.

flowering maple Abutilon hybrids Woody shrub 3-10 ft. tall. Bright todappled shade, some sun. Semi-evergreen, almost always in flower.Properly stake newly planted shrubs. Scale can be a problem.

hellebore Helleborus Evergreen perennial, blooms late winter. Bright

to dappled shade. Unusual flowers last a long time on plant. Helleborusorientalis, Lenten rose does well here.

Japanese anemone Anemone x hybrida 2-5 ft. tall, fibrous root.Flowers pink or white, cut back after bloom. Takes awhile to establish

plants, then spreads. Bright and dappled shade, some sun.

Japanese aucuba Aucuba japonica Evergreen woody shrub 6-10 ft.Direct sun will burn leaves. Variegata usually called gold dust plant.

Myers asparagus Asparagus densiflorusMyers Evergreen, 2 ft. tall.Bright to deep shade. Upright green tufts can be trimmed to ground toreplenish.

rose campion Lychnis coronaria Perennial, white or magenta flowers,self-sows. 2-3 ft. tall. Gray foliage. Bright to dappled shade or sun.

southern sword fern Nephrolepis cordifolia Evergreen, toleratespoor soil, spreads by runners. Bright to dappled shade.

spider plant Chlorophytum comosum Common indoor plant can beused as a groundcover or specimen plant. White flowers and variegated

foliage lighten up a bright, dappled or deep shade area.

Succulents:Aeonium (ay-OH-nee-um) Mediterranean islands and western part of N.

Africa. Rosettes, prefer afternoon shade. Will tolerate regular gardenWatering, are somewhat frost sensitive. Propagate by stem cuttings

Aloe (AL-lo) From drier regions of Africa and Madagascar. Some willgrow 30 ft. tall. Well drained soil and low water, but tolerates regulargarden watering. Propagate by offsets. Some prefer full sun and others

part shade. Aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis) used for burns.

Crassula (KRASS-yuh-lah) From southeastern Africa. May die back ina cold winter. Propagate by stem cuttings. The Jade plant, C. ovata iscommon in Davis

Dudleya (DUD-lee-yuh) Native to California, Arizona and Oregon. Theyneed well drained soil.

Echeveria (etch-a-VER-ya) From Mexico to Venezuela. Propagate by

planting offsets or leaf cuttings. These benefit from more water, morefertilizer and a richer soil than most succulents.

Sempervivum (semm-pur-VEE-vuhm) From the mountains of Europe,Asia and Africa. Winter hardy. S. Tectorum is the common houseleek,often called hen and chicks. Propagate by cuttings and offsets. Flowersare green, white, yellow, pink and red. Prefers afternoon shade.

Sedum(SEE-duhm) Stonecrop is from northern temperate regions, partsof Africa and South America. Many colors and forms and among theeasiest succulents to grow, cold hardy. Propagate from cuttings. Manysedums benefit from cutting back to new growth after flowering.

Flowers white to red, yellow.

Cool season vegetables:Seeds can be sown directly in the garden in the summer for a fall crop.

Shade seedlings and keep them well watered until

established. Seeds can also be started in trays or pots and the

plants will be transplanted into the garden in Sept. and Oct.

Dead nettle Orchid Frost Rose campion

Shade - So Welcome in the SummerIn the heat of the summer, a shade garden sounds

like a wonderful idea. Getting plants to grow in shadehowever can be difficult. They grow slower than insun, if planted under trees they have roots to contendwith and water needs vary depending on the amount ofshade. There are many types of shade including deep

shade, shade with bright light and dappled shade.Knowing the type of shade in your garden will helpwith plant selection.

Shade refers to an area that receives less than 5-6hours of sun. Plants in shady areas may get a bit ofdirect sun in the morning or afternoon. Direct sun inthe morning is ideal, being that it is not as harsh. Justabout any shade plant will be happy in this location. Ifthe direct sun occurs in the late afternoon, this is amore difficult spot. This can be a western exposurewhere sun is blocked most of the day or a northernexposure with hot afternoon sun for a few hours just in

the summer when the sun sets further north. In thislocation, a sun plant will not thrive with so few hoursof sun but the intense afternoon heat may prove fatal tomore sensitive shade plants. Flowering maple,Japanese anemone, calla, dead nettle, and rose campionare examples of plants that do well in this tough spot.

Flowering maple Japanese anemone

Some areas of shade receive both sun and lightintermittently throughout the day. These filtered ordappled shade areas occur generally under the opencanopy of a tree. Most shade plants thrive with theseconditions.

Some areas get no sun at all. Bright shade,sometimes called light shade, most often occurs under


4/44

a patio overhang or a high tree canopy. Suns raysnever penetrate but there is enough light for a lot of plants to grow such as the Asian lace fern, southernsword fern, hellebore, Chinese foxglove, bloody dock,bergenia, and spider plant. Many have unique texturesand variegated foliage that we rely on to brighten theshady area, even when there are no flowers. Deepshade can be daunting to a gardener. Usually it is

found in an enclosed area such as a porch or under adense canopy. Very little light penetrates here, butthere are plants that will grow with these limited lightconditions. The cast-iron plant, Japanese aucuba, babys tears, clivia and the Myers asparagus fern areexamples.

Asian lace fern and spider plant Bloody dock

Another shade dilemma is areas of winter sun butsummer shade found under deciduous trees. Springblooming bulbs are ideal for these areas. They bloomin winter and spring requiring a good amount of sun.

Dont be afraid of shade. Create a cool, shady spot

to enjoy during the hot summer.

Chinese foxglove Japanese aucuba Variegata

More gardening tipsEarwigs eat flowersMany flowers are munched by earwigs which hide in petals.Dahlia, marigolds, zinnia, etc. benefit from an application ofSluggo Plus or try some rolled up wet newspaper aroundyour plants. In the morning, discard the roll with theearwigs. A shallow container filled with water andvegetable oil (fish oil is even better) will also attract them.

Stressed trees and shrubsTrees and shrubs need extra water during June when they arereally starting to grow and theweather is warming. Just whenwe were thinking of giving themthis extra deep watering we got avery hot spell in early June.Many plants got water stressedwith leaf edges browning. They

should now be showing new,healthy growth as they start torecover.

TomatoesLower yellow leaves on tomatoes are common once theplant has reached a good size and is producing fruit. Plantsmove nitrogen from the old leaves to the new ones. No needto worry or fertilize. Control tomato hornworms by hand picking at dawn or dusk. Locate dark excrements todetermine if hornworms (larvae of the large sphinx moth)are the culprit. If numbers are high, be sure to till up the soil before spring planting to kill any over-wintering pupae.Damage (eaten leaves and buds) can be severe even with

small numbers of the larvae.

Native beesHopefully you are seeing lots of bees in your garden. Thecommon honey bee is from Europe and is the bee that has been in the news lately with declining populations. Beesthat are native to California are very common in the gardenand visit many non-native plants as well. The carpenter beeand bumblebee are two that are easy to identify.

European honeybee Bumblebee with pollen Carpenter beeon hind leg (US Forest Service photo)

SpidersJuly is spider month in the garden. Watch for someincredible webs and interesting spiders. Sometimes they build the web across a path, attached to two tall plants.Patricia always walks carefully and carries a big stick toavoid a web and big spider in her face.

Cocoa mulch is toxic to dogsCocoa Mulch, available at many garden stores, contains an

ingredient called 'Theobromine' that is lethal to dogs andcats. It smells like chocolate and can be really tempting todogs. Not all dogs will eat it and for those that do, not allwill die.

Newsletter created by:Marlene Simon -- UCD graduate in HorticulturePatricia Carpenter -- Gardening Coach (Design and Education),

with 35 years of Davis gardening experience.

The bi-monthly newsletter is free if received by email. If mailed,the cost is $15 per year. To be added to the subscription list or tounsubscribe, contact us at: [email protected]

TheDiggingFork Jul Aug 2008

Documents