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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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Garden Checklist for week of May 19

Temperatures will be a bit higher than normal in the afternoons this week. Take care of chores early in the day – then enjoy the afternoon. It’s time to smell the roses.

* Plant, plant, plant! It’s prime planting season in the Sacramento area. If you haven’t already, it’s time to set out those tomato transplants along with peppers and eggplants. Pinch off any flowers on new transplants to make them concentrate on establishing roots instead of setting premature fruit.

* Direct-seed melons, cucumbers, summer squash, corn, radishes, pumpkins and annual herbs such as basil.

* Harvest cabbage, lettuce, peas and green onions.

* In the flower garden, direct-seed sunflowers, cosmos, salvia, zinnias, marigolds, celosia and asters.

* Plant dahlia tubers. Other perennials to set out include verbena, coreopsis, coneflower and astilbe.

* Transplant petunias, marigolds and perennial flowers such as astilbe, columbine, coneflowers, coreopsis, dahlias, rudbeckia and verbena.

* Keep an eye out for slugs, snails, earwigs and aphids that want to dine on tender new growth.

* Feed summer bloomers with a balanced fertilizer.

* For continued bloom, cut off spent flowers on roses as well as other flowering plants.

* Don’t forget to water. Seedlings need moisture. Deep watering will help build strong roots and healthy plants.

* Add mulch to the garden to help keep that precious water from evaporating. Mulch also cuts down on weeds. But don’t let it mound around the stems or trunks of trees or shrubs. Leave about a 6-inch to 1-foot circle to avoid crown rot or other problems.

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