UCCE 
MASTER GARDENER PROGRAM
OF 
RIVERSIDE COUNTY

APRIL 2024


 EVENTS & INFORMATION eBLAST

We Offer Workshops, Events, and Research-based Information!

California Citrus State Historic Park
30th Anniversary Celebration
FUN FOR EVERYONE!
April 5 & 6




 

FREE WORKSHOP!
Build a Better Garden!

CERTIFIED FARMERS MARKETS
FEATURING
UCCE MASTER GARDENERS

These fun events combine shopping for fresh fruits and vegetables, gourmet foods, flowers, crafts, and many other interesting items with an "Ask the Master Gardener" information table. Master Gardeners are available to answer your gardening questions, hand out a wide range of materials on gardening topics, and present "how to do it" gardening demonstrations. This is where you can find us at farmers markets in April!
 

OTHER PUBLIC VENUES FEATURING
UC MASTER GARDENERS AT INFORMATION TABLES
AKA "Ask the Master Gardener"
 

These are locations where UCCE Master Gardeners have been invited to hand out  research-based information to the public and answer questions.  Enjoy these events AND get gardening help!


RIVERSIDE COMMUNITY FLOWER SHOW & HOME GARDEN TOUR
Saturday, April 27 & Sunday, April 28



 

CLICK ON THE PICTURES FOR MORE INFORMATION

Spring is here!  Explore some new ideas for your outdoor space!

Help Kids Garden for Wildlife




Why Grow California Native Plants?



Easy Hints for a Garden Journal



List of Some Poisonous Plants

 

April 13 Workshop:
DRYLAND STRATEGIES

APRIL GARDENING TIPS
for Sunset Zones 18-23
Know Your Sunset Zone for Gardening Success

A plant's performance is governed by the total climate: length of growing season, timing and amount of rainfall, winter lows, summer highs, wind, and humidity.

Sunset's climate zone maps take all these factors into account, unlike the familiar hardiness zone maps devised by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which divides most of North America into zones based strictly on winter lows. (From Sunset Magazine)

FIND YOUR SUNSET ZONE HERE

WHAT TO PLANT IN APRIL:

Plant Seed

• Beets, carrots, Chinese cabbage, lettuce, radish, turnips
• Below 2000 ft: corn, lima beans, melons, potatoes, pumpkins, snap beans, summer squash, winter squash (marginal – only if weather has warmed). marigold, zinnia, sunflower (if weather is warm), alyssum.

Plant Seed - Greenhouse or Cold Frame 

• Above 2000 ft: melons, peppers, pumpkins, summer squash, tomatoes. 

Set out Plants

• Gladiolus
• Below 2000 ft.: parsley, peppers, strawberries, melons, squash tomatoes, citrus, dahlias.
• Above 2000 ft.: cabbage family, parsley, strawberries.

Flowers

• Last chance to plant pansies, violas and primroses.
• Make a last planting of summer bulbs.
• Set out perennials.
• Many annuals may be seeds at elevations up to 1500 ft.

Vegetables

• Transplant tomatoes, eggplant and peppers as temperatures warm.
• At cooler elevations, transplant lettuce, cabbage family, collards, and kale.
• After danger of frost, plant cilantro and two week intervals for a steady supply.

Lawns

• Seed and renovate lawns

Trees and Shrubs

• Last chance for planting citrus trees.
• Weather permitting, frost-tender plants can go outside now.

 

Prune apples, pears, any shoot tips with powdery mildew or fireblight; azaleas, rhododendrons, flowering fruit trees after bloom if needed, spring flowering shrubs, frost-damaged growth.

FERTILIZE:
Deciduous fruit trees and young shade trees at first leaves if not done in March.
Azaleas, rhododendrons after flowering.
Apply chelated iron to azaleas, gardenias and camellias if leaves are yellowing between the veins.
Cool season turf grass.
Cane berries, strawberries 
Citrus are heavy nitrogen feeders. Mature trees need 1 ½ lbs. N per year. Divide this amount by 4 and apply each quarter one month apart for 4 months, beginning in March.
Fertilize shrubs and trees once during spring with slow-release fertilizer.
Fertilize bulbs after bloom.
 

SPRAY:

PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION ON FRUIT TREE SPRAYS
Pears, except Comice – weak copper spray when in bloom, one to three applications for fireblight.
Stone fruit (below 2000 ft) – Benlate, Capton, Rubigan or Rally if rainy. Wet weathers favors brown rot.
Stone fruit (above 2000ft.) - fixed copper when buds are swollen and starting to show first color to control brown rot, peach leaf curl, pseudomonas, blossom and canker infections.
Grapes – treat with sulfur or other fungicide when shoots are 2” to 6” long. Continue every 7-10 days until fruit start to color.
Apples (above 2000 ft) - for apple scab use Capton, Benlate, Rubigan or Rally when apple buds first show signs of green and repeat spray every 10 days until bloom where scab is a problem. In many cases this treatment may be combined with February insect controls. (note: Rubigan and Rally are expensive).
Check roses for black spot, mildew and rust and spray if needed
Check roses for aphids; control with a strong spray of water or insecticidal soap.