Southern California gardening guide

August 30, 2008

THE MONTHLY GARDENER

September: Santa Ana winds blow in, so brace trees, reduce fire threat and water, water, water

September can be too hot to think about fall planting -- or to do much of anything but water. Just remember that even if Santa Ana winds kick up the temperatures, the days are short and the sun is low, new plants can still thrive.

THE MONTHLY GARDENER

October: It's prime planting season, so get those annuals, vegetables and Mediterranean shrubs in the ground

Fall usually doesn't arrive for gardeners until the middle of October at the earliest. And most residents can remember plenty of toasty Halloweens, thanks to hot Santa Ana winds.

THE MONTHLY GARDENER

November: Take on those tricky California natives, hurry with the bulbs and vegetables

Days are getting short and nights cool, but keep on planting because it's still the best season for just about anything, including spring bulbs and California natives. Save a weekend or two for tidying up because it's almost time to tuck in the garden for our brief winter.

THE MONTHLY GARDENER

December: Compost leaves, tidy your tools, then enjoy the holiday

Fall is officially over in December, but the planting season continues right into January. Because soils have cooled and growth everywhere in the garden is at a near standstill, new plants will not become established as quickly as they would if planted in late October or early November. But it's still a better time than spring or summer to plant many things. Even in warm, dry autumns such as this one, the shorter days, low sun and cool nights make for a less stressful start on life. With any luck more rains will come and help out with the watering.

THE MONTHLY GARDENER

January: Bare-root roses, fruit trees, berry vines and California natives

January is historically a dry month in the garden, so most years it is a fine time to plant roses and deciduous fruit trees, such as apples and plums. They will be more plentiful at nurseries in the coming month than at any other time of the year. Don't wait too long to do garden jobs because February and March are usually our rainiest, months when soils will be too wet to dig in or walk on.

THE MONTHLY GARDENER

February: Plant roses, fruits trees and camellias, and don't forget to prune

Historically, February is often our rainiest month, so it is not a busy time for gardeners. Landscapes need deep soaking rains that reach tree roots and flush harmful salts (found in irrigation water) from the soil. If you must get into a saturated garden bed, keep plywood handy to toss onto the wet soil. It will help distribute your weight.

THE MONTHLY GARDENER

March: Try new perennials, shrubs and vines, and keep those pests at bay

Spring has arrived, though officially not until the 21st. Bulbs are already up and blooming, fruit trees perfume the air, and the days, thankfully, are getting longer. With the arrival of daylight saving time, gardeners get an extra hour outdoors for their favorite activity, and there is no shortage of things to do.

THE MONTHLY GARDENER

April: Get a jump on citrus and tomatoes, attend to bougainvillea

As the days lengthen and the sun gets higher and hotter, watering becomes more important. It's warm enough in April to plant tomatoes, peppers, marigolds and other plants that shine in summer.

THE MONTHLY GARDENDER

June: There's a bright side to the gloom. Plant those last blasts of summer color

June may be famous for its gloom, but gray skies let gardeners plant the last of the summer crops and flowers.

THE MONTHLY GARDENER

July: Keep sprinklers in good repair, irrigate deeply and don't let container plants go dry in the heat

Find a place in the shade, pour yourself a tall iced tea and take July off. There's not much for gardeners to do this month other than to water. Plants in containers need the most, but even those in the ground need frequent irrigation. That's unless, of course, you were clever enough to plant mostly native and other non-thirsty Mediterranean-climate plants, though even they may need a deep soaking at some point.

August 2, 2008

THE MONTHLY GARDENER

August: Map out a new design, sow seeds, try winter tomatoes

Even if the heat comes blasting into your corner of Southern California, there's plenty to do. The biggest task at hand is preparing for planting season: Map out your new trees and shrubs, bulbs (which begin arriving in stores in September), winter vegetables, perhaps some ground cover.