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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 May 5

Survey your garden after the May 4 rainstorm. Heavy rain and gusty winds can break the neck of large flowers such as roses. Also:

* Keep an eye on new transplants or seedlings; they could take a pounding from the rain.

* Watch out for powdery mildew. Warmth following moist conditions can cause this fungal disease to “bloom,” too. If you see a leaf that looks like it’s dusted with powdered sugar, snip it off.

* After the storm, start setting out tomato transplants, but wait on the peppers and eggplants (they want warmer nights). Pinch off any flowers on new transplants to make them concentrate on establishing roots instead of setting premature fruit.

* 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, pumpkins, 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.

* Don’t wait; plant summer bulbs, such as gladiolus and tuberous begonias.

* Harvest cabbage, lettuce, peas and green onions.

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