Ask a Master Gardener Archives - Skagit County Master Gardener Foundation

Bulbs, corms, rhizomes, and tubers

Geophytes which include bulbs, corms, rhizomes, and tubers are, depending on your area, perennial plants with underground storage containers. Northwest Washington is known for commercial and native varieties, with proper planting ensuring beautiful seasonal blooms.

Libraries: A Gardener’s Resource

Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or planting your first seeds, your local library is ready to support your journey.

Growing Potatoes

seed potatoes in bins for sale

Grow disease-free potatoes using these tips from WSU’s Northwestern Washington Research and Extension Center.

Noxious Weeds in Skagit County

road through yellow bushes of scotch broom

Help prevent the spread of noxious (aka invasive) weeds with proper identification and eradication.

Rain Barrels

drops of rain on large puddle

Rain barrels offer an affordable, practical way to collect and use rainwater for gardening. Proper installation, maintenance, and safety precautions are essential.

Garden Tours 2.0

large garden with people walking on paths

Whether you are planning a trip, or are an armchair traveler, go with fellow master gardeners as they visit various gardens located in the US and Canada.

Hellebores

dark purple flowers with snow on petals

Hellebores are hardy, deer-resistant perennials that bloom in winter, offering vibrant color in shades from white to nearly black. They thrive in shade, require little maintenance, and resist most pests.

Phenology

four white Trumpeter swans flying with a winter sky in background

Nature’s harbingers – understanding phenology can help gardeners take nature’s cues to assist with garden activities.

Tools for Gardeners

garden tools and accessories laying on green grass

The holidays are perfect for gifting gardeners tools and gadgets tailored to their interests, from seed starting supplies and pruning tools to maintenance aids, enhancing their gardening experience.

Greenhouses

metal framed glass house in garden

As winter approaches, gardeners dream of options to extend the growing season. Key decisions involve what to grow, usage, design, materials, and whether to start seeds or protect delicate plants year-round.

Artistic Composting

garden with flowers bloom beside a flower pot and an ornamental wire cage for composting leaves

Master Gardener Herta Kurp introduces a creative approach to building compost structures in the home garden. These structures are hard working solutions to the garden waste stream.

Conifers in the Homescape

garden fence with conifer bush on the left side

Whether used as hedges, focal points, or ground covers, conifers will provide lasting beauty and functionality to your outdoor space.

Winter Prep Checklist

birdbath with leaves floating on water in fall

Master Gardener Diana Wisen has prepared a fall garden prep list

Cut Flower Garden

colorful flowers in garden with sun setting on the water in background

Master Gardener Karen Bruce discusses the joys and considerations of starting a cut flower garden, highlighting the importance of planning, choosing annuals and perennials, and ensuring success from spring through fall.

Growing Garlic

garlic bulbs

Master Gardener Laura Kuhn shares valuable tips for planning and planting a successful garlic crop this fall.

Integrated Pest Management

Discover the essentials of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and learn how to create a thriving garden while reducing pesticide use. Transform your gardening approach with these sustainable practices today!

The Importance of Trees

weeping willow tree with colorful field in background

Trees provide numerous benefits, including reducing stress, purifying air, combating climate change, managing water runoff, supporting wildlife, and enhancing comfort through shade and noise control. They are essential for our well-being.

Attracting Pollinators

summer garden with colorful flowers and birdbath

Key to crop production and creating a diverse environment, pollinators are also entertaining to watch in the home garden.

Blueberries

Interested in growing blueberries? Soil acidity, location and plant selection are key to success in area.

Garden Open House

Three garden open house on Saturday, June 28 offers a great opportunity to learn A-Z about gardening in our area.

Become a Master Gardener

large group of smiling master gardeners

Considering becoming a master gardener, or have a friend thinking about it? Master Gardener Kari Ranten outlines her top ten reasons, and why she values the program.

Pet-Friendly Gardening

retriever in yard

Both pets and gardening require planning, patience, and a healthy dose of reality—learning methods to avoid pitfalls and lead to a happy coexistence between plants and pets.

Dealing with Wet Spots

grass in standing water

Discover how to transform soggy spots in your landscape into thriving, beautiful spaces. Learn the secrets of selecting plants for wet areas!

Plant Fair 2025

The 2025 Skagit County Master Gardener Plant Fair is scheduled for Saturday, May 10.

Preventing Food Waste

Reducing food waste is a step-by-step process. It can be fun learning about the delicious ways you can get more out of your food budget.

Pruning Hydrangeas

pink and blue hydrangeas blooming in garden with bird house

Master gardeners explain the types of hydrangeas and when to prune them.

Rhododendrons

Warmer Summers Impact Local Rhododendrons From sun scorch to lace bug, local gardeners protect their beloved rhododendrons with these conscientious tips. FacebookPinEmail Subscribe to the Blog > By Sonja Nelson, Skagit County WSU Extension Master Gardener Author Sonja Nelson Rhododendrons in our gardens, along with the native state flower Rhododendron macrophyllum, the Western or Pacific…

Bamboo: Is it for your garden?

Is Bamboo for Your Garden? If you love bamboo, be a good neighbor and understand how to select, grow, and maintain the plant. FacebookPinEmail Subscribe to the Blog > By Kay Torrance, Skagit County WSU Extension Master Gardener Bamboo is alternatingly loved and hated by home gardeners. Typically, gardeners are firmly planted in one camp…

Garden Tours

succulents on log

Creating and appreciating a garden is a dynamic, creative process that benefits from inspiration. Gardeners in the Pacific Northwest are fortunate to have access to many garden styles and a wide variety of plant combinations at gardens that are open to the public – all within range of a day trip from Skagit Valley.

Hummingbirds

hummingbird and purple flower

Our resident Anna’s and migrating Rufous hummingbirds are an important part of our ecosystem helping control insects are great pollinators.

Vegetable Seed Selection

Use this guide to make strategic selections when choosing vegetable seeds for planting your 2025 garden.

The Winter Garden

grasses catching sunlight in winter

This winter, look at your garden’s potential and where you can contribute to its winter beauty by adding a tree, shrub, or grasses.

Gift Ideas

Gardeners are fortunate to have an abundance of great titles on the market, including some new volumes, some old favorites, and many offerings specific to growing in the Pacific Northwest.

Tool Maintenance

person in boots digging a garden fork nto soil

The last job of the gardening season is tool clean-up. Master Gardener Kathy Wolfe covers the reasons why and how to make quick work of garden tool maintenance.

Holiday Floral Arrangements

Creating floral arrangements with foraged natural materials is a rewarding way to bring seasonal cheer into your home.

Growing Grapes

Concord grapes on arbor

Dream of having your own vineyard? Begin planning now. By choosing the right location and varietal, you can enjoy home-grown grapes in Western Washington.

Growing Figs

Enjoy the sweet, aromatic flavor of homegrown figs in the Pacific Northwest with these select varieties.

Drying Herbs

Capture the seasonal flavors by preserving fresh herbs. Get started drying, freezing, dehydrating and enhance your meals deep into the winter.

Trees Not to Plant

Before buying and planting a tree, Master Gardener Alison Hitchcock outlines species to avoid due to their vulnerability to current and looming threats.

Sale Plants

Plants purchased off the sale rack are only a bargain if you follow these basic rules for all plant purchases.

Fall Planting

July is the time to plant a fall/winter garden. A little work now will set you up for a fresh, delicious vegetables to brighten your autumn and winter meals.

Western Redcedars

The best action today’s gardeners and homeowners can take to prevent redcedar dieback is to keep the soil around their trees weed-free and mulched and to discourage heavy foot traffic.

Open House 2024

picture of Discovery Garden entrance apples, Salal Native Garden sign

Join us for this year’s Open House at the Discovery Garden, the Salal Native Plant Garden, and the NW Fruit Garden

Hypertufa Containers

small plants growing in rock container

Alpine gardening enthusiasts have found a solution to recreate the beauty they see in the alpine regions by using hypertufa containers

Memorial Gardens

The very act of envisioning, planning, and creating a memorial garden can help you focus on things beautiful and symbolic that capture the essence of your lost loved one.

Plant Clinics

person diagnosing disease on tree branch

Visit a Master Gardener Plant Clinic and get answers to your questions from WSU Extension-trained experts.

30th Annual Plant Fair

Plants, education, food, music. Kick off your gardening season at the 30th Annual Skagit Master Gardener Plant Fair – Saturday, May 11 – 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Potting Soil

Bags of potting soil on store pallets

Successful container gardening depends on the attributes of your potting soil. Take a deep dive into how it is made and how to make it better.

Tent Caterpillars

During this time of year, tent caterpillar egg casings on the branches of deciduous trees are easy to spot. Remove them now, or leave them as an important part of the ecosystem.

Gardening Fitness

woman carrying plants

As you plan for the gardening season ahead, tune-up with these at-home stretches and exercises so you’ll be up to the gardening chores ahead.