Don’t think that you can’t garden now. There are many plants that can go in the ground now, particularly in the low desert.
You can not only put plants in the ground right now, it’s also time to do some other work in anticipation of spring.
Spring bulbs. If the ground is not yet frozen, put in daffodils, tulips and hyacynths. Plant them in drifts, not in lines, so they look as though they grew naturally.
Vegetables. If you live in the low desert, you can plant the seeds of the following, among others:
- Beets
- Cabbage
- Kale
- Lettuce
- Onions
- Radishes
- Spinach
Roses: In high desert, you should have stopped fertilizing in late August or early September. In the low desert, stop now. That’s because fertilization will encourage new growth. Tender new growth will almost certainly be damaged by frosts and freezing.
You can, however, plant container or bareroot roses in containers now. In colder areas, keep them inside until after last frost.
Trees and perennials
- Low desert: Plant winter-hardy trees and shrubs now.
- High desert: You can plant cold-hardy trees now, but you can also wait until colder weather. You might find that digging the hole before the ground does freeze will make things much easier.
For both: Drastically reduce watering until spring.
Low desert: Protect citrus plants.
