Throughout this site there are links to documents of various file types.
Please contact our Statewide Program Leader if you require this information in a different format.

Resources

Pests and Problems:

Hortsense and Pestsense are WSU Extension websites dedicated to helping you diagnose problems you are having in your landscape. Sorted both by plant type (e.g., Ornamentals, Fruits & Lawn) as well as by problem category (e.g., Weeds, Disease & Insect).

Navigate to Hortsense or Pestsense.

Navigating to your issue is easy:

  1. Select your category (vegetables the Cucumbers in this example):
    Image of main menu in Hortsense.
    Image of how to find plant in Hortsense.
  2. Once you have selected your plant, Hortsense gives you common diseases and pest problems associated with that plant.
    Example of menu in Hortsense.

Growing Guides & Garden Building Projects:

Gardening in Washington State is a website that helps you navigate the hundreds of free Publications that WSU Extension maintains on all things gardening.

Navigate to Gardening in Washington State.

Finding your area of interest is easy:

  1. You can use either the left navigation bar or scroll over the home page graphic.
    Image of Gardening in Washington State website page.
  2. Then select your specific crop of interest. Cucumbers in this example:
    Image of cucumber plant on gardening website.
  3. This takes you to the WSU publication warehouse. In virtually all cases, you will be selecting a free publication, when this is the case, you do not have to go through the check-out process, simply download your publication:
    Image of WSU publication about cucumbers.
Lady bug on leaf with green background.

Grow Smart Grow Safe

Sponsored by Thurston County, Grow Smart, Grow Safe (growsmartgrowsafe.org) provides home gardener information resources including pesticide product hazard ratings, Integrated Pest Management, pesticide alternatives. 

Man's foot on shovel turning soil.

Home Gardener’s Guide to Soils and Fertilizers

From novice to advanced, all home gardeners should get to know their soil: the nuts and bolts of soil, and how to make it better, included here. Download the Home Gardener’s Guide to Soils and Fertilizers (.pdf).

USDA Hardiness Zone map of Washington State.

USDA Hardiness Zone Map

The USDA Hardiness Zone Map is the standard by which gardeners can determine which plants are most likely to thrive at a location.

Woman pruning fruit tree.

Backyard Fruit Tree Spray Schedules

Home gardeners can help protect agriculture in Washington State by properly maintaining their backyard fruit trees.

The spray recommendations for home garden fruit trees list of PDFs shows the suggested spray schedules for each tree crop.

Image of snow mold on lawn.

Washington State University Plant Pest Diagnostic Clinic

The Washington State University Plant Pest Diagnostic Clinic is dedicated to serving the state of Washington and its citizens by providing the highest quality service by providing plant disease and disorder diagnosis, pest identification, and management strategies.

Image of a microscope.

WSU Puyallup Plant and Insect Diagnostic Lab

The Washington State University Puyallup Plant & Insect Diagnostic Laboratory is committed to helping the citizens of Washington State resolve their troubles with plants and insects through accurate problem diagnoses.

WSU Extension logo.

Pest Leaflet Series

Pest Leaflet Series | Plant Clinic Site | Washington State University The Pest Leaf Series (PLS) was initiated in the WSU Puyallup Plant & Insect Diagnostic Laboratory to produce brief “bulletins” on problems frequently received at the laboratory, for which no formal extension bulletins or other readily available information exists. The PLS covers insect problems, diseases, abiotic problems, and other miscellaneous situations on which we are regularly asked to provide information.

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Come learn with us!

The WSU Extension Master Gardener Advanced Education Conference (AEC) is open to all garden enthusiasts!

To further the training of volunteers and keep them abreast of cutting-edge horticultural science, the Master Gardener Foundation of Washington State partners with the WSU Extension Master Gardener Program to produce the AEC. This educational event is just one way we strive to ensure that when you reach out to your local Extension Master Gardeners, you are assured of getting innovative, unbiased, scientifically supported advice.

Online Training

View of Seattle with highway and trees in the foreground.

Urban & Community Tree Stewardship Training

This self-paced, five-module online WSU advanced training program for veteran MGs is approved for 20 hours of CE reportable only upon completion of all modules. The cost is $150, and registration is ongoing. Urban and Community Tree Stewardship Training – Master Gardener Program (wsu.edu)

Rain Garden Online Training for Non-Professionals

Rain gardens fit under the umbrella of practices called Low Impact Development (LID). LID practices use processes that occur naturally in the ecosystem to sustainably manage toxic urban stormwater. 

Veteran Master Gardeners will earn 8 CE hours upon completion of all modules.

Rain Garden Online Training | Master Gardener Program | Washington State University (wsu.edu)

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