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.