By Pat Shay, UC Master Gardener of Merced County
If you are thinking of making major changes to your landscape, now is the time. If you have perennials and trees that you want to move, now is the time. We want new plantings to go in now so that (HOPEFULLY) the rainy season will start as it should and these plants will get off to a good start. CAUTION: if the rains do NOT start immediately, plan to maintain regular watering of all the new things you have planted. YES, many are water-wise. That is why you selected them. However, they are water-wise once ESTABLISHED! New plants need extra care for about the first year if nature does not cooperate as we HOPE!
From now through October, replant any bulbs that you dug up and/or ordered for displays next spring. You might want to try bulbs you haven’t grown before, consider freesias, anemone, homeria, ixia, leucojum, lycoris, ranunculas, scilla, sparaxis, tritonia, watsonia. Tulip and hyacinth will need to be refrigerated for best results before planting. (No, I have not seen some of these, but a quick check in the Sunset Garden Book should give you an idea of whether they might add just the right touch to YOUR yard!) CAUTION: Gophers LOVE bulbs. If you know you have a resident gopher population make a basket of wire mesh. Put the bulbs in that basket and cover with soil as usual. Also, always best to give bulbs a boost by putting a helping (tablespoon size) of bone meal in the hole before the bulb.
Divide perennials…..and once again, consider sharing with gardening friends if you have more than your garden can accommodate.
Chrysanthemums are getting ready to bloom. For larger blooms, thin buds to two to three max per bunch. You will also want to think about staking the plants so that winds won’t topple them, particularly once blooming starts. Mums are generally pretty thirsty, so monitor and give a bit of additional water if they begin to wilt.
If you have a lawn, aerate and dethatch and apply a complete fertilizer.
Keep an eye on water. Be alert for any signs of stress or wilt, and act accordingly. Monitor watering times and adjust as temperatures warrant. MULCH, MULCH, MULCH!