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Learn how to outsmart (or at least manage) ants

Placer County master gardeners host free workshop, 'Ants — Nobody Likes Them!'

Sacramento Digs Gardening
BY Debbie Arrington PUBLISHED JUN 10, 2022

The Argentine ant is among the common species seen in California. (Photo courtesy of UC Statewide IPM Project)

Ants! Practically every garden has them, but few gardeners like them – especially if these industrious insects start invading the house.

But how do you deal with ants? Find out during a free workshop hosted by the UC Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners of Placer County.

Set for 10:30 a.m. June 25, “Ants – Nobody Likes Them!” will be presented both in person at Loomis Library and via Zoom online. No advance registration is necessary to attend in person, but sign up for the Zoom presentation in advance.

“These little insects can make us crazy!” say the master gardeners. “This workshop will cover four simple techniques for managing their impact on your life. Using integrated pest management strategies, we will cover identification of the species bugging you (and) mechanical, cultural, sanitation and chemical practices to reduce their presence in your home and garden.”

Not all ants are the same and they have different tastes depending on their species. Also learn about their link to aphids; solving the ant issue can help fight aphids, too.

Loomis Library is located at 6050 Library Drive, Loomis.

Learn more and sign up for the Zoom workshop here: https://pcmg.ucanr.org/

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gardening Master Gardeners Sacramento heat workshop ants Placer County IPM insects

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Garden Checklist for week of April 21

This week there’s plenty to keep gardeners busy. With no rain in the immediate forecast, remember to irrigate any new transplants.

* Weed, weed, weed! Get them before they flower and go to seed.

* April is the last chance to plant citrus trees such as dwarf orange, lemon and kumquat. These trees also look good in landscaping and provide fresh fruit in winter.

* Smell orange blossoms? Feed citrus trees with a low dose of balanced fertilizer (such as 10-10-10) during bloom to help set fruit. Keep an eye out for ants.

* Apply slow-release fertilizer to the lawn.

* Thoroughly clean debris from the bottom of outdoor ponds or fountains.

* Spring brings a flush of rapid growth, and that means your garden is really hungry. Feed shrubs and trees with a slow-release fertilizer. Or mulch with a 1-inch layer of compost.

* Azaleas and camellias looking a little yellow? If leaves are turning yellow between the veins, give them a boost with chelated iron.

* Trim dead flowers but not leaves from spring-flowering bulbs such as daffodils and tulips. Those leaves gather energy to create next year's flowers. Also, give the bulbs a fertilizer boost after bloom.

* Pinch chrysanthemums back to 12 inches for fall flowers. Cut old stems to the ground.

* Mulch around plants to conserve moisture and control weeds.

* From seed, plant beans, beets, cantaloupes, carrots, corn, cucumbers, melons, radishes and squash.

* Plant onion sets.

* In the flower garden, plant seeds for asters, cosmos, celosia, marigolds, salvia, sunflowers and zinnias.

* Transplant petunias, zinnias, geraniums and other summer bloomers.

* Plant perennials and dahlia tubers for summer bloom.

* Mid to late April is about the last chance to plant summer bulbs, such as gladiolus and tuberous begonias.

* Transplant lettuce seedlings. Choose varieties that mature quickly such as loose leaf.

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