The Digging Fork
A Davis Garden Newsletter
May – June 2007
May
Planting Warm season vegetables:
eggplant, sweet and chile
see
peppers, tomatillo, sweet
Plant notes
potato slips, tomato, basil
Warm season annuals:
coleus, petunia, moss rose
and more
Perennials: all, but
especially frost tender
plants
Warm season bulbs: many
Warm season vegetables:
Seeding These crops are best
see
Plant notes
direct seeded in garden-
beans (dry, snap, lima,
yard long), cucumber,
corn (all kinds), melon,
okra, pumpkin, soybeans,
summer/winter squash,
watermelon
Warm season annuals
sunflowers, Mexican
sunflower, scarlet runner
bean, cosmos and more
Citrus, lawns and roses as
Fertilize needed
Young fruit trees
Pest & Snails, slugs and earwigs
damage –use baits or traps.
Disease Emerging seedlings and
transplants are the most
Control vulnerable!
Aphids. Can spray off with
water and watch for
ladybugs
Tasks Some frost damaged plants
are still recovering and
see
will be ready to prune –
Plant notes
watch for new growth
Prune deciduous shrubs and
vines after they flower.
They will start setting
buds for next spring soon.
Spring garden cleanup
begins. Cut back spring
blooming perennials, pull
out cool season annuals,
cut bulb foliage when
yellowing. Good time to
dig and mulch.
Thin stone fruits, cover
cherry trees -- bird control
Weed control continues
Place tomato cages
Lift ranunculus-leave dirt
on them and store in cool
place in open container
Water Water deeply and
infrequently to encourage
deep roots!!
Calendar layout thanks to Lyle Wilen
June
Warm season annuals:
many
Perennials: many
Can still plant, but need to
keep plants well watered
until established.
Warm season vegetables
beans (dry, snap),
corn (sweet and baby),
okra, melons, pumpkin,
summer/winter squash
Warm season annuals:
see May
Lawns as needed
Young fruit trees
Look for nutrient
deficiencies – especially
iron and nitrogen.
Snails, slugs and earwigs
damage –use baits or traps.
Aphids. Can spray off with
water and watch for
ladybugs
Spring garden cleanup
continues (see May)
Stake dahlias and other tall
plants that need support
Weed control continues
Tall, fall bloomers like
mums, asters, perennial
sunflowers, etc. can be
cut to 12” in late June to
encourage branching and
reduce plant height. This
may delay the bloom
time.
This is the month of the
highest water needs due to
rapid plant growth and
warmer temperatures.
Water as needed.
Deep water trees and
shrubs.
Anise-scented sage Rose leaf sage
Salvias
May and June are ideal times to plant salvias, the
chance of frost is over and interesting varieties can be
found in nurseries. Usually perennials can be planted
in the fall as well as in the spring, but many varieties of
salvia are frost sensitive and if planted in fall they will
not be established enough to overcome a hard frost.
We are lucky in Davis because most salvias can be
enjoyed in the garden.
There are hundreds of salvias available to be tried
in all size ranges, flower and foliage color, sun and
maintenance requirements. It is important to know the
type or growth habits of the plant for planting,
maintenance and pruning purposes.
Frost sensitive salvias, from tropical climates, need
to be planted in spring and pruned in spring after
danger of frost is past. Often these salvias are labeled
‘tender’. If an early frost occurs, the blooms may not
happen. When pruning, watch for new growth coming
from the ground or existing woody stalks. Examples
of such salvias are pineapple sage, roseleaf sage,
Buchanan’s sage and forsythia sage.
Herbaceous salvias die down completely in the
dormant season and new growth emerges from the
ground in spring. Pruning of old growth and planting
is best done in fall or winter (except frost sensitive
species). Examples are anise-scented sage and bog
sage that both bloom in spring.
Woody salvias can either be evergreen or deciduous
types. Maintenance consists largely of pruning to
shape and size by cutting to new growth. Autumn sage
is a popular example.
Basal-leaf types of salvia have rosettes of leaves
close to the ground, that require only cleaning up the
dead leaves and cutting down dead flower stalks.
Salvia nemerosa are drought tolerant and easy to grow
in any garden.
Annual salvias, such as annual clary is a cool
season plant in our climate and seeds are sown in fall
or very early spring.
The list of salvias to be tried in the garden is numerous. For
more information, Betsy Clebsch’s book The New Book of Salvias
is highly recommended. Morningsun Herb Farm in Vacaville
www.morningsunherbfarm.com has a great selection of salvias.
 Weeds, Water and Mulch Marlene & Patricia’s Garden Workshops
Spring is here and most of us have a bed in our Workshops are held in Patricia’s one acre country garden in
garden where the weeds have gotten out of hand. Ugh! Davis. There is time to explore and ask lots of questions.
If a weed goes to seed and is dispersed, you can count Cost of workshop $25. If you bring a friend or spouse the
on an average of 7 years to get many weed species cost is $20 per person. Class size is limited.
under control. So the take home message is to get Spring Garden Cleanup and Planting
annual weeds when they are small and before they set Saturday, May 19 9:00 am – 12:30 pm (note time change)
seed and perennial weeds before they set down a large Problems, problems, problems!! (weeds, pests, fertilizer,
root system. This isn’t always easy as many annual plant spacing, timing of planting, healthy soil, watering, etc.)
weeds flower when very small. Sunday, June 24 5:00 – 8:30 pm
Methods of weed control include, pulling or digging Vegetables for Cool Season
them out, spraying with various herbicides, burning Fall -- date TBA
and mulching. See www.ipm.ucdavis.edu for help. Fall Garden Cleanup and Planting
Weeds germinate with spring rains and summer Fall -- date TBA
watering that is absolutely necessary in Davis. To register for workshops:
However, plants require less water than most people Call Marlene (530) 400-7010 or Patricia (530) 753-0607
give them. If plants are watered infrequently and or email TheDiggingFork@gmail.com
deeply, starting when they are young (or even starting
in the spring), then the roots will go deeper looking for
water. It is very possible to water the garden every
week to 10 days, even during August. Watering
deeply means a good inch of water is applied. Tuna
or cat food cans can be used to determine how much
water you are applying each week. If 1/8 inch is
applied with a short sprinkling each day, the roots will
remain on the surface of the soil as they have no reason
to go deep. All it takes is a hot spell, missed watering,
broken irrigation pipe/ timer or clogged drip emitter
and the plant becomes stressed or dead without the
steady water supply.
Lastly, a good layer of organic mulch will help
with both weeds and watering. A 2-4 inch layer of Forsythia sage Pineapple sage
mulch applied on top of the soil will hinder weed
germination. Those weeds that do germinate in the More local classes and workshops
mulch will be very easy to pull. The mulch also helps Master Gardener Workshops:
insulate roots from temperature changes, conserves Celebration of Roses
water, helps prevent crusting of the clay soil, helps Tours, propagation, rose care, arranging and more
slow compaction from overhead watering, improves May 5, 1- 5 pm at Woodland College gardens
soils structure as it decomposes and mixes with the soil Low Maintenance Gardening
and also makes the whole garden look good. Wow— May 19, 1- 3 pm at Norton Hall
why wouldn’t you mulch? Backyard orchard – Summer Pruning and Irrigation
Examples of organic mulches include May 19 9 - 11am at Woodland College gardens
compost/humus (purchased or homemade), wood chips Compost and Worm Composting
May 26 9 - 11 am at Woodland College gardens
from tree services, dry grass clippings and Information (530) 666-8143
shavings/manure from horse barns. These are all
available in our area. UCD Project Compost Workshops:
Workshops held during Whole Earth Festival on the
Deep, infrequent watering together with a good
UCD quad.
layer of mulch, will lower water needs and help with Backyard Composting Saturday May 12, 11 am
weed control. Worm Composting Sunday May 13, 11 am
Sources for mulch products: For information: (530) 754-8227
CL Smith Trucking Woodland 662-2633 Compost projectcompost@ucdavis.edu
Davis Ace Lumber 758-8000 Humus/compost (not 50-50) Davis Central Park Gardens
Dumars Landscaping Woodland 666-5045 Compost The gardens are being renovated! See the web site
Horse stables are glad to have you come and pick up for plans, workshops and events.
discarded horse stall padding. Some will load pickup. http://www.centralparkgardens.org
Tree service companies Some sell wood chips and some
give away free.
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 Plant notes!
Here is more information about some plants mentioned in this newsletter.
Salvias
anise-scented sage Salvia guaranitica A native of S. America
with flowers ranging from light to dark blue. Varieties include ‘Black
and Blue’ and ‘Costa Rica Blue’. Sun to part sun, herbaceous. 4-5 ft.
Blooms late spring to frost.
annual clary Salvia viridis or S. hormium From the
Mediterranean region. Cool season annual with showy bracts of violet, Ranunculus in spring Short-lived Dianthus
pink or white. Full sun, 2 ft.
autumn sage Salvia greggii Woody salvia from SW Texas and
Mexico. Varieties include ‘Dark Dancer’, ‘Raspberry’, ‘Alba’. Full Spring Garden Clean-up and Composting
sun. Prune to shape. 2-3 ft. Sometime in May or June the garden needs a little
bog sage Salvia uliginosa Native to lowlands of S. America. Light cleaning --cutting back spring blooming perennials,
blue flowers summer throught frost. Spreads by underground runners.
Full sun and loves water, herbaceous. 3-6 ft. shrubs and vines and pulling out cool season annuals.
Buchanan’s sage Salvia buchananii Frost sensitive probably And it is finally time to get rid of all the bulb foliage
from Mexico that needs afternoon shade. Showy, fuzzy magenta that looks so awful. Hopefully, all this wonderful plant
flowers mainly in summer-fall. Mostly evergreen. 1-2 ft
forsythia sage Salvia madrensis Frost sensitive native of Mexico. material isn’t going to end up in a trashcan. Except
Wonderful leaves, yellow flowers late fall until frost, herbaceous 4-7’. for very big branches and weeds with seeds, it should
pineapple sage Salvia elegans Frost sensitive native of S. Mexico all end up in a compost bin. We need all the
and Guatemala. Foliage smells like pineapple, red flowers are edible.
Full sun, blooms late summer to frost. Mostly herbaceous. 2-5 ft.
compost/humus we can get to improve the structure of
roseleaf sage Salvia involucrata From E. Mexico, deep pink our Davis clay soil!
flowers bloom late summer to hard frost. Sun, herbaceous. 5 ft. There are many ways to make compost. The easiest
Salvia nemorosa Native of E. Europe to central Asia. Varieties is to pile up garden waste, water occasionally and let
include shades of purple ‘Ostfriesland’ (‘East Friesland’), ‘Caradonna’.
Full sun, blooms early summer to fall. 1-2 ft. the decomposition process happen. There are also
Perennials: many types of compost bins, barrels, etc. that work
flowering maple Abutilon hybrids Evergreen or semi-deciduous very well.
depending on the winter cold. Varieties ranging from 1 to 10 ft. in
many colors. This plant attracts hummingbirds and can grow in that
difficult spot with northern exposure that sometimes gets blasted with
hot, afternoon summer sun.
pinks Dianthus Many varieties, some short-lived A favorite is
D. caryophyllus ‘Cinnamon Red Hots’ that is 18” tall and long-lived.
milkweed Asclepias Many species. A. fascinularis, narrow leaf
milkweed, is the most attractive to monarch butterflies but is somewhat
invasive with runners and not a pretty plant (2 ft.). A. tuberosa,
butterfly weed, comes in orange and yellow flowers (3-4 ft).
A. physocarpa, swan plant, has tiny white flowers and 2”puffy green
seed pods (5-6 ft.). Sun.
Warm season annuals: A few of Patricia’s many compost bins and a
coleus Solenostemon scutellarioides or Coleus x hybridus Grown pile of horse barn shavings/manure
for amazing foliage colors. Needs afternoon shade. 2-3 ft.
cosmos Cosmos bipinnatus Easily seeded in garden. Flowers in A neat and relatively inexpensive bin is made by
various shades of pink to white. Varieties range from 2-8 ft. Presto. The black plastic rectangles with holes are
Mexican sunflower Tithonia rotundifolia Large orange flowers.
Blooms summer to frost. 6 ft. Perennial grown in Davis as annual. hooked together to make a 3 ft. diameter ring. Since
moss rose Portulaca grandiflora Succulent and low growing. Great these are floppy when set on the ground, it is helpful to
for hanging pots or cascading over walls. Takes a lot of sun. Flowers know a few tips for keeping them round and upright.
are showy and bright.
Petunia Heavily scented flowers. ‘Wave’ series blooms without When putting in the first bit of garden waste, push it
deadheading and weave among other flowers. 1ft. toward the outside of the bin, making the bin into a
scarlet runner bean Phaseolus coccineus Dark, green edible seed circle. As more material is added, make sure it is
pods form after showy scarlet flowers. Fast climbing vine for full sun.
Perennial grown as annual. Edible sweet flowers attract hummingbirds.
pushed to the outside so the circle doesn’t become an
sunflower Helianthus x hybridus Pollenless sunflower with varieties oval. Getting close to the top of the bin, it is important
that include yellow ‘Valentine’. Helianthus annuus include the that all plant material is within the ring of the bin and
edible types and multi-branching varieties. All are good cut flowers. no sticks poke through the holes –as this causes the
Cool season bulb: sides to bend inward as material decomposes. Adding
Ranunculus To avoid summer rotting, tubers are dug up each spring water as you add plant material is important to speed
after flowering and stored in an open container. Cut the stems to about
6 “ and leave dirt on tuber to help protect them. These tubers are soaked up decomposition. A few days after the bin is filled,
a few hours, divided and replanted with prongs down in Sept.-Oct. the materials will have sunk down, leaving more room
Warm season vegetables: for garden waste. This continues until one day it is
peanuts Arachis hypogaea Plant shelled, raw peanuts when you time to turn the compost pile --when you have time or
plant tomatoes. After flowering, a “peg” grows down into the ground
where the peanut forms. These are harvested in fall –pull whole plant
the material doesn’t seem to be settling as fast. This is
and hang 2-3 weeks to cure. Get peanuts to plant at the grocery store. easily achieved by pulling up on the bin to remove it,
3
setting it in a new spot and filling it from the top of the
pile, watering as needed. After a few turnings, you are
likely to find finished compost at the bottom and center
of the pile that goes into the garden. To have a healthy
compost pile, the decomposing microorganisms and
insects (worms, sow bugs, centipedes and beetles) need
air and moisture. This is why watering and turning the
compost piles speeds up decomposition.
The microorganisms use the brown materials
(containing carbon) for food and need the green
materials (with nitrogen) for growth and reproduction.
What to add to the compost pile: brown materials Peanuts grow underground on pegs. These were just harvested.
(dead plants, leaves, sticks, torn newspaper) and green
materials (plants, grass clippings, kitchen waste). More gardening tips!
What not to add: meat, dairy products, pet feces, Don’t mulch penstemon in late spring/summer because
weed seeds, and Bermuda grass. plants are often lost. If mulched in fall/winter, plants layer
to make more plants.
To receive a free compost bin from Davis Public
Works, all you need to do is read a short booklet and Food For Thought Yolo-Solano Master Gardener newsletter
http://ceyolo.ucdavis.edu/newsletter.htm
complete a take-home a quiz. For more information
757-5686. Summer planting. As summer approaches it becomes
Amazingly, there are no nurseries in Davis carrying more and more difficult to plant. Plants will need a week or
Presto Compost Bins. OSH – Orchard Supply two of monitoring and extra water since most irrigation
Hardware in Woodland is a reliable source (662-1162) systems are set up for established plants. Place irrigation
$17.99 and Peaceful Valley in Grass Valley flags by new plants as a reminder. Direct seeding is very
(www.groworganic.com) $13.99. successful at this time since roots go down adapting to
available water.

Some vegetables are best direct seeded (see calendar) since

they germinate easily. The risk of transplant damage and
water stress is lessened.

Tomato cages can be made out of

concrete (welded) wire with 6” x 6”
openings, allowing room to reach in and
pullout a tomato. Buy 5 foot wide wire
and have cut to 6 ft. lengths. If
purchased at Hibbert Lumber in Davis,
let them do the cuts as it is well worth
the $1 per cut charge. The 6 ft. length is
wired together to make about 22”
diameter cage that is 5 ft high. These
can be set on the ground or the bottom
Monarch chrysalis and larva on Abutilon ‘Moonshine’
horizontal pieces can be cut out to
narrow leaf milkweed. A butterfly
is about to emerge (upper right) produce spikes to push into the ground,
making a 4 ½ ft high cage. Cages
Plant sales and events should be staked for added insurance as
large tomato plants get top heavy and
UCD Arboretum Plant Sales sometime fall over. Trellis can also be
May 19 9 am – 1 pm Last sale of spring! used to grow beans, cucumbers and
For information www.arboretum.ucdavis.edu Peas in winter peas or sweet peas in winter.
Pence Garden Tour (College Park area)
May 6 12 noon to 5 pm. For information 758-3370 Newsletter created by:
Davis Library Book Sale Marlene Simon -- UCD graduate in Horticulture
Patricia Carpenter -- Garden Design and Education,
June 8, 12 noon continuing to June 10.
with 30 years of Davis gardening experience.
For information 757-5593
Build up your garden library with books from used book The bi-monthly newsletter is free if received by email. If mailed,
stores and the Friends of the Davis Library book sales. the cost is $6 per year. To be added to the subscription list or to
Many gardening books for $1-3. On Sunday, a large brown unsubscribe, contact us at: TheDiggingFork@gmail.com
shopping bag full of books cost $3. A great deal. Updated 6-1-07