This week in the garden:

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Ornamental and fruit‐bearing trees will begin to bloom this month in home gardens and along the Blossom Trail in eastern Fresno County.

Tasks

• · Check your sprinklers and turn them off when the amount of rain permits.
• · Make sure trees are getting enough water. Avoid overhead irrigation if frost is expected.

Pruning

• · Evergreens, shrubs such as pittosporum and podocarpus, and deciduous trees and fruit and nut trees - except apricot, oleander, and olive.

Fertilizing

• · Fertilize fall-planted annuals and perennials. Apply one-third of the needed annual amount of fertilizer to deciduous fruit and nut trees.

Planting

• · Consider the needs of your plants before planting and put shade-loving and sun-loving plants in appropriate locations.
• · Bare root planting season ends in early February.
• · Fruits and vegetables: asparagus, cabbage, chard.

Enjoy now

· Annuals and perennials: snapdragon (Antirrhinum), calendula, Lenten rose (helleborus orientalis).

· Bulbs, corms, tubers: crocus.

· Trees, shrubs, vines: camellias.

· Fruits and vegetables: bok choy, cabbage, chard, grapefruit.

Things to ponder

·· Be aware of the continuing threat of frost damage - almond blossoms, citrus, and avocados are at risk at 29 degrees or lower.