Gardeners in the Central San Joaquin Valley are being encouraged to use the winter season to plan for spring and summer improvements. According to UC Master Gardener Terry Lewis, this is a good time to walk through gardens, make notes for future changes, and enjoy the quiet landscape.
Tasks recommended for this period include applying pre-emergent herbicide to lawns and beds later in the month and deep-watering trees and native plants if rainfall has been low. Pruning should focus on dormant, deciduous plants such as shrubs, vines, grapes, roses, fruit, and nut trees. Crepe myrtles and redbuds can also be pruned now, while perennials may be cut back and divided.
No fertilization is advised during December. When fertilizing at other times of year, gardeners are reminded to read labels carefully and consult experts at nurseries or with Master Gardeners if questions arise.
The bare-root planting season begins now. While it may be difficult to imagine what bare-root plants will look like once mature, most come with images to guide buyers. Recommended plantings include bulbs like canna and crocosmia; fruits and vegetables such as asparagus, cabbage, and bare-root berries; as well as trees and shrubs like azalea and camellia.
Gardeners can currently enjoy annuals such as snapdragon (Antirrhinum), calendula, Chrysanthemum Paludosum, holiday cactus (Schlumbergera), bulbs like crocus and cyclamen, along with produce including beets, bok choy, chives, and mandarin oranges.
This period is also considered suitable for reviewing seed catalogs in preparation for future planting. The guidance further notes that wood ashes should not be used in gardens because they increase soil alkalinity.
UC Master Gardener Terry Lewis prepared these recommendations using information from “A Gardener’s Companion for the Central San Joaquin Valley.” For those experiencing gardening issues or seeking advice, questions and photos can be submitted to the Fresno County Master Gardeners Helpline.
