Recent rains great news for gardeners

The rain that has saturated the region over the winter and into early spring is great news for gardeners. "The weather is a bonus," California certified nursery professional Greg Gayton said. "Once the warm weather starts, everything will be thriving. You'll be seeing beautiful dazzling colors and everything waking up." Gayton, spokesman at Green Acres Nursery and Supply, says now is the time to start preparing the soil by adding amendments. His advice: stick to organic fertilizers for best results. "They add beneficial microbes to the soil," Gayton explained. "You can't add enough organic matter, especially in areas where there's high clay soil. It helps the root system develop. The stronger your roots, the more they are going to tolerate high heat. Try to stay away from synthetics. They push growth too quickly and don't stimulate the root system. You want healthy living soil so plants grow strong roots and can tolerate heat better." Organic potting mix, mulch and earthworm castings help build the nutrient-rich environment that plants and flowers need. Don't be discouraged by the continued downpours and chilly temperatures. Early crops such as carrots, radishes and some flowers can go into the ground as long as the soil is sufficiently dry. "The challenge is you don't want to plant when the soil is too wet," Gayton said. "Between rains is fine as long as the soil is not muddy." If you planted cover crops over the winter, now is the time to incorporate them into the soil and make your green manure, Gayton said. Start creating that flowering kaleidoscope of color, too. "It's the perfect time to plant azaleas and camellias," Gayton said. "Bachelor buttons and California poppies are also good choices. The lavenders and wild flowers are starting to come into the store. Flowering deciduous plants like quince, lilac and forsythia are coming into play and it's also time for planting flowering trees like cherries and plums." In fact, spring's big bloom is well on its way."My neighbor planted lilacs and they are popping out all over and they are fragrant," Gayton said. "I've seen lilacs and quince and forsythia just loving this and the tulips are more vibrant this year." Garlic and onions planted in the fall will be coming up now. "Once the ground is warm enough, put in tomatoes and your peppers, tomatoes and squash," he said. "I think all of a sudden, the sun will come up and we'll be fine." The continuous heavy rains have had some negative impacts, too. Issues you might see in the garden are powdery mildew and rust. "But that usually goes away when the weather gets warmer," Gayton said. "Hopefully, the rain will be stopping soon so the bees will be there to pollinate everything." Gayton has worked in the garden industry for more than four decades. "I've seen winters like this and they've been more of a blessing than anything else," Gayton said. "The soil is fine. Mother Nature is tending to us finally. We're going to have amazing gardens this year."