There’s plenty to do around the garden in February

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• January jobs in the garden: Plant, prune, prepare

  January jobs in the garden: Plant, prune, prepare

  Q. What tasks should I be doing in my garden in January? — Philomena Reid

  A: If you’re interested in working off that holiday fare, look no further than your garden. January is a quiet month, especially on the first, and meditation is never better than when working outdoors. But just because you have survived the holidays does not mean that it is now the time to sit back and watch the weeds grow.

  The Rose Parade may be inviting, but planting a rose bush of your own is infinitely more rewarding. January is just the month. Bare-root roses are available and ready to plant. Choose according to growth habit and your growing conditions. Along the coast, disease-resistant varieties thrive in cooler conditions.

• There’s plenty to do in your December garden

  There’s plenty to do in your December garden

  Q: Are there chores I should focus on in the garden during December? — Dennis Neil, Los Osos

  A: Wear an extra sweater and you’ll find that December is a beautiful time to work in the garden. You may need a breather from the holiday ruckus and keeping the garden tended will make for less work in the spring.

  Winter is a great time to assess what worked and what didn’t in your garden. Grab your hot coffee, tea or cider and take a stroll. The bones of your garden are more visible at this time of year. Now, you can set some goals for 2012.

• Size and thirst should figure into planting a redwood

  Size and thirst should figure into planting a redwood

  Q: Is the coastal redwood tree a good landscape choice locally? Does it take a lot of water? — Sheila Schraub, San Luis Obispo

  A: The coastal redwood, Sequoia sempervirens is a well-known native of California. Many old redwoods tower in various settings around the county.

  These fast-growing evergreens rise with straight, red-barked trunks into a lovely pyramidal shape. A freshsmelling group of redwoods exemplifies the cool beauty of a forest setting.

• Native plants can save water, attract wildlife

  Native plants can save water, attract wildlife

  Thinking of doing a little re-landscaping this fall? Wishing your landscaping could thrive with less work and water?

  The Master Gardener Advice to Grow By presentation this Saturday will give ideas for low-maintenance landscaping through use of native California plants.

  Fall is the time to plant California native perennials, shrubs and trees when the soil is still warm and winter rains are just around the corner. The winter is a prime time for the roots of newly planted shrubs and trees to become established, which will help them survive on little supplemental water during the first summer and if we are lucky, perhaps no additional water in the years that follow. Remember, most California native plants prefer our Mediterranean climate, with distinguishable hot dry summers followed by wet winters.

• Do Your Part: Don't waste those food scraps

  Do Your Part: Don't waste those food scraps

  I consider myself a pretty good gardener, a common sense "greenie", and a person who does her best to reduce, reuse, and recycle. But, there's something I must admit. For years now, I've resisted composting. It just seemed a bit too difficult and bit too time-consuming. That's all changed. And, if I can make it work, you can too. Let me help you Do Your Part to keep food scraps out of the garbage and turn them into something quite valuable.