The good and bad news about ants and plants

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• Tips on how to effectively derail an ant attack

  Tips on how to effectively derail an ant attack

  Q:What is the best way to deal with ants? -- Jim Goldsmith, San Luis Obispo

  A:The lowly ant, seemingly insignificant, can put fear into even the most stoic of hearts. It may start as one erratic loner or a shock of military-style lines moving across walls, floors or garden beds. Small, but capable of moving at an astounding clip, ants mean business when it comes to feeding the colony and proliferating the species. Humble as it may be, the ant should be taken seriously as one of the most common pests. There are about 200 species that reside in California, but only a handful are considered problematic.

  Ants are equally annoying whether in the garden or indoors. But no matter where they are congregating, one thing is true: they are looking for food or water. Additionally, ants may move indoors in search of warmth or protection from the elements. In the garden, ants can have a devastating effect on plants. Generally they invade plants that have already been taken over by honeydew-producing insects such as

• February is the perfect time to prepare for spring

  February is the perfect time to prepare for spring

  Q. What should I be doing in the garden in February? Is it time to cut back perennials and shrubs? — Sharon Connors, San Luis Obispo

  A. February is already spring in many areas of the county. If not done in January, dormant pruning of roses and fruit trees should be completed now, before they bud out. Shrubs can be shaped and cut back now, as can salvias and lavenders and verbenas, when they have a flush of new growth at the base. Ornamental grasses, too, can be trimmed and/or divided.

  This is a good time to prepare beds, digging in compost and planning new plantings. Be sensitive to the water needs of your garden. During times of frost, it’s important to make sure that soil is not completely dried out. As growth begins in spring some areas may need water after a dry winter — or if we’ve had late rains, test the soil before working it. If it sticks together when squeezed, wait until it dries somewhat.

• Pointers for permanently planting poinsettias

  Pointers for permanently planting poinsettias

  Q: My Christmas poinsettias usually look good well into the New Year. Will they bloom next year if I plant them in the garden? — Jan Hendrickson, Pismo Beach

  A: Old-fashioned California gardens often featured poinsettias, flowers that exemplified frost-free winters here. However, as people wanted more potted poinsettias for holidays, varieties were developed with large blooms and unusual colors. You may not have the perfect place to grow one outdoors, but they can bloom next year if left in their pots indoors, if you have the necessary time and space.

  During the holiday season place your plants in a bright light but out of direct sunlight and away from drafts. Do not subject them to extremes of temperature. They are happiest in daytime temperatures of around 70 degrees and nights not much lower than 60 degrees. Water them when the top of the soil feels dry to the touch and then water enough so excess water runs out the bottom of the pot.

• Vermiculture: Let the worms do the dirty work

  Vermiculture: Let the worms do the dirty work

  Q: I’ve heard it’s possible to get good compost from worm manure. Is this true? — Curtis Reinhardt, Shell Beach

  A: Yes, you can let worms eat your kitchen scraps and convert them into fertilizer. It’s called vermiculture, which is a fancy name for worm composting. You need only a few things to get started: a worm bin, newspaper bedding, kitchen scraps and, of course, your little red wigglers.

  The worm bin is an aerated container and will be lodging for your worm farm. It may be made from a covered plastic tub, Styrofoam, metal, wood, or you can purchase a commercial worm bin. Your bin will need holes in it for air circulation as well as holes along the bottom to drain excess moisture.

• Picking plants with water conservation in mind

  Picking plants with water conservation in mind

  Q:I have a large empty area in my yard that I would like to landscape but I don't want to use a lot of water. What kind of plants should I be looking for? — Bill Widner, Arroyo Grande

  A: The easy answer to your question is California native plants that are drought tolerant. The harder part will be choosing from among the beautiful myriad of drought tolerant natives available to us here on the Central Coast.

  Whether brilliant reds of California fuchsia, delicate hues of yarrows, or flamboyant blue clusters of Ceanothus, many of our native ornamentals have beneficial features suited to home landscaping. As natives, they have evolved over thousands of years to be naturally adapted to our Mediterranean climate of cool wet winters and hot dry summers. Their physiology and deeply spreading root systems permit them to flourish without summer watering. They tolerate occasional pest predation, and they are generally resistant to disease.