Hungry deer need not be a blight on your garden

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• Some popular plants can be poisonous to pets

  Some popular plants can be poisonous to pets

  Q. My dogs like to hang out with me when I’m gardening. Occasionally I’ll see them munching on a plant. Is this a problem? — Patricia K., Santa Margarita

  A. Today’s gardeners are smart, conscientious people. We know the importance of using products and practices that minimize any harmful effects on our environment. We naturally avoid chemicals that could harm our precious pets.

  It does not come as naturally, however, to see our plants as potential hazards. But there are several common garden plants that can cause illness and even death to our pets if ingested.

• Of birds, bees, bats, butterflies and blooms

  Of birds, bees, bats, butterflies and blooms

  This month’s Advice to Grow By workshop will star birds, blooms and butterflies. The workshop, put on by the University of California Master Gardeners, will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in the Garden of the Seven Sisters, 2156 Sierra Way, San Luis Obispo. Bring a notepad and be prepared to discover the connection between wildlife and success in the garden.

  As population soars and growth sneaks into unfettered areas, wildlife habitat continues to decline. Come and uncover the history, problems and causes related to loss of wildlife habitat.

  Wildlife adds animation to the garden but also confers many benefits, such as insect control and ecological balance. Learn how your skills as a gardener can help create a beautiful, sustainable garden that encourages a diverse and healthy ecosystem.

• April gardening — where’s a good place to start?

  April gardening — where’s a good place to start?

  Q: My garden is beginning to come alive. Other than the usual clean-up and watering, what needs to be done this time of year? — Jeanette Wolff, Cambria

  A: If you’re planning on adding new plants to what you have — and what gardener isn’t — now’s the time to visit a nursery to pick colors that will accentuate established plantings.

  Choose a new clivia for a shady corner, a clematis for arbors and fences. New and exciting varieties of perennials such as agapanthus, chrysanthemums, coreopsis, gaillardia, gazania, verbena and yarrow are best planted now and will give you color for many months of the year.

• March garden chores: Prune and thin, weed and feed

  March garden chores: Prune and thin, weed and feed

  Q. Now that spring is here, I’m ready to get back to the garden. What jobs need doing now? — Jeannie Miranda, Arroyo Grande

  A. Spring is upon us. Trees are in blossom; shoots and bulbs peek through the soil; birds and butterflies flit about.

  With these idyllic thoughts, we gird ourselves with tools and go forth to our chores of inspecting and repairing, cleaning and clearing, pruning, thinning and feeding; weeding, planting, and mulching.

• 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.