Sacramento Conditions

Old valley oaks grew up with dry summers and wet winters. Lawns, sprinklers and new beds can upset that balance. Here is how to garden under an oak while keeping it healthy.

Sticky in winter and rock hard in August, clay is a familiar story in many Sacramento yards. Here is how to recognize it and work with it instead of fighting it.

Sacramento summers are long, hot and dry. Plants that thrive in a mild coastal garden may struggle here by August. Choosing Sacramento summer plants that already handle local heat makes a yard easier to keep healthy, and siting and watering do the rest. Local...

Groundcovers are often chosen from a photo or a nursery tag. The plant then goes into a spot with different sun, soil or water than it needs. Checking groundcover site conditions first gives each plant a better chance and makes the whole bed easier to care for. A...

A neighbor removes a row of tall shrubs, and suddenly the back corner of the yard feels different. Leaves on young plants look ragged and the soil dries out faster. Sacramento yard wind does not need a storm to cause trouble, especially in a spot that just lost its...

New plants often look fine through June and then collapse in the first long hot spell. Leaves droop by midafternoon, edges turn brown and flowers drop. Sacramento plant heat stress tends to hit young plantings hardest, since their roots have not yet spread into...

Sacramento winters are mild compared with much of the country, yet they bring their own challenges. Tule fog can blanket the valley for days, while clear nights can drop below freezing. Sacramento winter yards need a plan for both cold snaps and long stretches of...

One corner of a yard may drain fast while another stays soggy for days. Natural soil differences, old fill and past building work all play a part, and a few simple checks reveal what is there.

A west facing yard takes the hottest sun of the day. Mapping where shade falls each afternoon helps you place plants, lawn and patios where they will do well.

Hot dry summers and occasional winter frost shape when plants do well in Sacramento. UC guidance on lawns, frost and new trees points to fall and spring as the main planting windows.