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© Eric Day, VA Polytech Institute, Bugwood

To Plant or Not to Plant: Trees to Avoid Planting in Your Yard

These endangered trees are likely to decline or die from the impacts of non-native insects and pathogens.

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By: Alison Hitchcock, Skagit County WSU Extension Master Gardener

Master gardeners are often asked for recommendations of trees to plant. These requests come in two flavors: what is the best tree for the clients’ preferences and landscape conditions, or what trees are inappropriate and best avoided? Many reputable websites provide numbered lists of the “best backyard trees” or, conversely, a catalog of “trees that you should, never, ever plant.”

The compilations of “trees that you should never, ever plant” tend to concentrate on undesirable characteristics such as messy or foul-smelling fruits, brittle stems, or heavy pollen production. Few include warnings concerning those species likely to decline or die from the impacts of non-native insects and pathogens.

The purpose here is to highlight tree species especially vulnerable to current and looming threats and suggest they should be added to your own “avoid planting” list. Property owners are encouraged to take early action by identifying unhealthy trees on their property during National Tree Check Month. 

Most of the public has some awareness of invasive pests; gypsy moth, chestnut blight, and Dutch elm disease are well-known examples. Data from our plant clinics shows that many other pests, more recent or less widespread, are well established in our area and have the potential for severe impacts of which the local community is generally unaware. The local community is generally unaware of many of these.

Trees Vulnerable Agent Comment

True firs: Noble, Fraser, Pacific silver

Balsam woolly adelgid (Adelges piceae) Most commonly seen in MG plant clinics on Noble and Pacific silver trees. Grand fir was heavily affected in Oregon but not as severely here.
Native white pines (5 needles)

White pine blister rust (Cronartium ribicola)

2 and 3 needle pines were not affected. Non-native 5-needle pines have much lower rates of infection than native pines.

Birch (selected species)

Bronze birch borer (Agrilus anxious)

Native pests affecting non-native birches
Ash

Emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis)

Not yet a problem, but it is coming soon
Beech

Beech bark scale (Cryptococcus fagisuga) Beech leaf disease (unknown cause)

Not yet a problem, but it is likely to be soon

 

Noble fir with balsam woolly adelgid near Burlington Library © Photographer: Alison Hitchcock
Noble fir with balsam woolly adelgid near Burlington Library © Photographer: Alison Hitchcock
Healthy noble fir © Photographer: Jeff Bisbee, USFS
Healthy noble fir © Photographer: Jeff Bisbee, USFS

Chronic infections of balsam woolly adelgid result in gouting of the bark.
© Photographer: W. M. Ciesla, Forest Health Man. Intl, Bugwood

Balsam Woolly Adelgid
The balsam woolly adelgid (BWA) (Adelges pinceae) is a widely established non-native insect that has become a pest of significant importance to all true firs around the county. The adelgid originated in Europe and first appeared in the Northwest during the 1920s. BWA shows up at the clinic every year, primarily on noble fir trees.

Adelgids are small, aphid-like insects that are always associated with conifers. A white and dense woolly wax covers adult adelgids. As it sucks sap from branches and boles (main stem below the branches) of a host tree, the balsam woolly adelgid injects a salivary substance that induces changes to the sapwood. The tree responds with knoblike, “gouty” swellings, which reduces the tree’s ability to translocate food and water.

Trees with crown infestations of BWA may take many years to die, while those with severe stem infestations die within five years, which is particularly important to Christmas tree growers. Control is difficult without a strict regimen of insecticide applications. Noble fir trees with chronic infections are scattered throughout Skagit County. (This author has yet to see a mature tree free of the disease). Look for tall trees with thinning crowns, dead branches, and an unaesthetic appearance.

White pine blister rust on a twig. © Photographer: USFS Region 2 Bugwood

White Pine Blister Rust
White pine blister rust is a fungal pathogen introduced from Asia. The fungus only attacks pines with clusters of 5 needles (white pines and not those with 2 or 3 needles.) This disease has virtually eliminated western white pine in western forests, causing a severe decline in native whitebark and bristlecone pines, both important ecological species. While all North American white pines are highly susceptible, non-native 5-needle pines have much lower infection rates.

The disease entered the US through infected nursery stock from Europe during the 1900s. Because tree nurseries in the United States were not yet well established, seedlings were grown (using native eastern white pine seed) in Europe and shipped to this country to meet reforestation needs. Because the first signs of infection are very subtle, the rust-infected seedlings were unknowingly imported.

White pine blister rust affects trees of all ages and sizes but spreads more quickly in areas with extended, cool, moist conditions during late summer and early fall. Pines are infected through needle stomata on wet needles. Following infection, the fungus grows down the needle and into the bark, where a perennial canker forms, eventually girdling and killing the branch. Branch infections are not too serious unless very abundant; stem infections are generally fatal.

White pine blister rust on the trunk. © Photographer: J. Schwandt, USFS, Bugwood
White pine blister rust on the trunk. © Photographer: J. Schwandt, USFS, Bugwood
Infected western white pine removed from Salal Native Plant Garden. © Photographer: Alison Hitchcock
Infected western white pine removed from Salal Native Plant Garden. © Photographer: Alison Hitchcock

Most infections occur near the ground, where needles remain wet from dew and poor air circulation. Infections are apt to be lethal in young trees because branches are near ground level, and cankers develop closer to the main stem. Early pruning of diseased branches can be effective in reducing infection movement into the main stem and also help to increase air exchange. Prune juvenile trees as early as possible without removing excessive crown area, and gradually remove lower branches as the trees mature.

Those familiar with the Salal Native Plant Garden located south of the Discovery Garden (on Memorial Highway) may remember a western white pine that once existed immediately behind the Discovery Garden greenhouse. Despite heroic pruning efforts to keep the infection from spreading, the tree slowly succumbed to the disease and died. A small shrub in the Discovery Garden’s Fall and Winter garden room recently suffered a similar fate once the disease entered the main bole.

The current strategy for reintroducing western white pine to state and national forests is to increase the frequency of rust-resistant individuals across the landscape. The USDA Forest Service’s Pacific Northwest Region has had a screening and breeding program to develop resistance to the disease since the late 1950’s. Each year, resistant stock is grown at government nurseries to be out-planted in Oregon and Washington forests; unfortunately, infection rates continue to be high.

Bronze birch borer. © Photographer: Steve Katovich, Bugwood
Bronze birch borer. © Photographer: Steve Katovich, Bugwood
Dead branches of infected birch trees in the Fred Meyer (Burlington) parking lot have been cut off.  Dead trees have been removed. © Alison Hitchcock
Dead branches of infected birch trees in the Fred Meyer (Burlington) parking lot have been cut off. Dead trees have been removed. © Alison Hitchcock

Bronze birch borer chart. © Oregon Department of Forestry

Bronze Birch Borer
The bronze birch borer is a native insect that is a serious pest of ornamental birch trees, especially some white-barked species. While all species of birch can be attacked, non-native species are the most susceptible to injury. Borers primarily attack weakened, older, or drought-stressed trees. Problems regarding declining and dying birches have become an increasingly common issue seen at plant clinics during the last five years due to recurring droughts.

An early warning sign of borer damage is yellowing and thinning of foliage in the upper tree crown. The foliage will turn brown and drop from the branches by late summer. Infestations usually begin in ¾” to 1″ diameter branches, with symptoms progressing down the tree to the main trunk over successive years. Borers mine flat, irregular, winding galleries just beneath the bark, feeding in the phloem and severely injuring the vascular system. Attacked trees that survive will form callous tissue in the mines, which will become raised areas visible through the bark. Adult emergence holes are ‘D’ shaped and commonly accompanied by mottled, brown staining on the bole.

Borers do not survive in healthy trees, so keeping trees vigorous and adequately watered and planting resistant varieties is advised. A good look at the effects of borer damage can be seen on the non-native birches planted throughout the Fred Meyer parking lot in Burlington.

Emerald Ash Borer
The emerald ash borer (EAB) is a bright, green, buprestid beetle that lays eggs in the bark of ash trees. The larvae bore into the tree and feed on phloem tissue, effectively gridling the tree and resulting in tree mortality in as little as two years.

 Research has shown that EAB infested ash trees in Michigan 10 to 12 years before its initial discovery in 2002. The EAB probably entered the United States on solid wood packing material carried in cargo ships or planes originating in its native Asia. Since its arrival, the EAB has spread rapidly across North America and wiped out ash tree populations in the northeast. Green, white, black, blue, and pumpkin ash are on the listed “critically endangered” list. The insect has been found in 35 states and at least 5 Canadian provinces; it was discovered in Forest Grove, Oregon, in June 2023. Read more about the emerald ash borer in the WSU Publication Emerald Ash Borer and Its Implications for Washington State:https://pubs.extension.wsu.edu/Product/ProductDetails?productId=4755

Emerald ash borer © Photographer: Eric Day, VA Polytech Institute, Bugwood
Emerald ash borer © Photographer: Eric Day, VA Polytech Institute, Bugwood
Emerald ash borer infestation map © USDA Aphis
Emerald ash borer infestation map © USDA Aphis

Research trials have shown that Oregon ash (Fraxinus latifolia), our lone native ash, is highly susceptible to EAB. Ashes have not been widely planted in our residential landscapes but are common in nearby shopping centers and other public areas. Ashes can be found in Burlington’s Best Buy, Costco, and Cascade Mall parking lots.

Beech tree with spreading canker and white patches of beech scale insects.
© Photographer: J. O'Brien USFS Bugwood
Beech tree with spreading canker and white patches of beech scale insects.
© Photographer: J. O’Brien USFS Bugwood
Fruiting bodies of neonectria fungus on beech © Photographer: Ansel Oommen, Bugwood
Fruiting bodies of neonectria fungus on beech © Photographer: Ansel Oommen, Bugwood
Beech Bark and Beech Leaf Diseases
Beech bark disease (BBD) is a disease of American beech, resulting from the infestation and feeding by the beech bark scale followed by infection with several native fungal species. The fungi cause bark lesions that grow and eventually girdle the tree. Beech scale was introduced into Nova Scotia from Europe in the 1890s and has been slowly progressing through the range of American beech as far south as Tennessee and west to Wisconsin. Over 50% of infected beech trees die within ten years of infestation.

Beech leaf disease (BLD) has been discovered recently, and much about it, including the full cause and how it spreads, is still unknown. It appears to be associated with a nematode, Litylenchus crenatae mccannii. First spotted in the northeast, the disease causes parts of leaves to turn leathery and branches to wither. The blight can kill a mature tree within six to ten years. It has now been documented in Canada and eight other US states.

Beech leaf disease.
© Photographer: J. O'Brien USFS Bugwood
Beech leaf disease.
© Photographer: J. O’Brien USFS Bugwood
Lesions from beech bark disease. © Photographer: L. Haugen USFS Bugwood
Lesions from beech bark disease. © Photographer: L. Haugen USFS Bugwood

Timely Detection Increases the Chance of Successful Pest Management Efforts

We have yet to see either disease in Skagit County WSU Extension Master Gardener Plant Clinics since beech trees are not native to the Northwest, nor are they widely planted in our area. As a precaution, we do not recommend planting beech.

Every August, the Washington Invasive Species Council asks residents to check the trees on their property for signs of harmful insects or unhealthy trees as part of the National Tree Check Month. As summer progresses, many of the visible impacts from invasive species are most visible. Residents who suspect they have spotted an invasive species or tree disease should submit a report with detailed photographs to the Invasive Species Council’s mobile app or web portal https://invasivespecies.wa.gov/report-a-sighting/.

Pest infestations can be managed or even eradicated if caught early enough. Timely detection increases the chances of success and minimizes the cost of pest management efforts. A few minutes of inspecting your trees this August will help spot invasive insects, plant pathogens, and other types of damage before they have a chance to take hold.

Alison Hitchcock

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Alison Hitchcock has been a Skagit County WSU Extension Master Gardener since 2001. Prior to retirement, Alison worked for the Department of Natural Resources as the Northwest Regional Silviculturist.

Join us this coming Tuesday for a free Know and Grow Lecture-

Know & Grow Lecture Series
Season Extenders
Presented by Hallie Kintner
Tuesday, August 20, 2024 ~ 1 p.m.
Free Admission
NWREC Sakuma Auditorium
16650 State Route 536, Mount Vernon

 

 

REFERENCES AND RESOURCES:
Burns, K.S., Schoettle, A.W., Jacobi, W.R., Mahalovich, M.F. (2008) Options for the management of white pine blister rust in the Rocky Mountain Region. General Technical Report RMRS-GTR-206. Fort Collins, CO: US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 26 p.

Cale, J.A., Garrison-Johnston, M.T., Teale, S.A. and Castello, J.D. (2017) Beech bark disease in North America: Over a century of research revisited. Forest Ecology Management: Elsevier Science: Amsterdam, Netherlands pp 394:86-103.

Davis, C. and Meyer, T. (2004) Field Guide to Tree Diseases of Ontario. Northern Ontario Development Agreement’s Northern Forestry Program Report TR-46: Sault St. Marie, Ontario, Canada.

Flower, C.E., Knight, K.S., and Gonzalez-Meler, M.A. (2013) Impacts of the emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire) induced ash (Fraxinus spp.) mortality on forest carbon cycling and successional dynamics in the eastern United States. Biological Invasions. 15(4): 931-944.

Lovett, G., et al. (2016) Nonnative forest insects and pathogens in the United States: Impacts and policy options Ecological Applications: Washington D.C. vol. 26 (5), pp 1437-1455.

Goheen, E.M., Willhite, E.A. (2006) Field Guide to the Common Diseases and Insect Pests of Oregon and Washington Conifers.USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Region. R6-NR-FID-PR-01-06. Portland, OR.

Johnson, W.T., Lyon, H.H. (1988) Insects that Feed on Trees and Shrubs. Cornell University Press: Ithaca, New York.

Scharpf, R.F. (1993) Diseases of Pacific Coast Conifers. USDA Agriculture Handbook 521: Albany, CA.

Shaw, D.C., Oester, P.T., Filip, G.M. (2009) Managing Insects and Diseases of Oregon Conifers. Oregon State University Extension Service EM 8980: Corvallis, OR.

Sinclair, W.A., Lyon, H.H., Johnson, W.T. (1987) Diseases of Trees and Shrubs. Cornell University Press: Ithaca, New York.


A Second Act for Your Square 1-Gallon Pots at the Discovery Garden!

Bring your leftover square 1-gallon pots to the Discovery Garden (16650 State Route 536, Mount Vernon). The bin for recycling the square 1-gal pots is located in the parking lot, just north (to the right) of the main entrance.
We only need square 1-gallon pots like the ones pictured below (bottom right). The recycling bin will be available now through fall. Simply put your pots into the bin, and we take care of the rest!


 

pot recycling




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person diagnosing disease on tree branch

Tap into Great Gardening Advice at a Master Gardener Plant Clinic

An amazing depth of knowledge and resources are available for home gardeners through Master Gardener Plant Clinics and Info Booths throughout Skagit County.

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By: Ginny Bode and Anne Hays, Skagit County WSU Extension Master Gardeners

Problem with your roses? Does your fruit tree have a virus or a fungus? Is something attacking your pepper starts? Need help identifying plants in your new-to-you garden? Perhaps you have been out and about admiring your garden and noticed that all is not well.

Rather than depending on your neighbor or an online group’s collective input (which may or may not be accurate), visit a plant clinic and get answers to your questions from WSU Extension-trained experts. Master gardeners are an arm of the Skagit County WSU Extension office. They are rigorously trained in scientific gardening methods based on research conducted by leading agricultural institutions.

You’ll find answers to your questions and thousands of other issues faced by home gardeners in Skagit County at a Master Gardener Plant Clinic. Drop in at one of the locations throughout the county, all free of charge, spring through fall.

plant clinic
Master gardeners are taught how to search the many publications that document plant issues faced by Pacific Northwest gardeners and the recommended solutions. © Skagit County WSU Extension Master Gardeners
plant related books on shelves
The plant clinic in Burlington has a large resource library with books on insects, flowers, trees, shrubs, weeds and diseases. © Skagit County WSU Extension Master Gardeners
What does science-based gardening information mean?
Master gardeners stand on the shoulders of agricultural research powerhouses such as Washington State University and Oregon State University. These land grant universities support the agricultural industry through research, which includes testing soils, finding solutions for diseases, and identifying the best cultivars for specific climates.

All master gardeners sign a commitment to only offer solutions proven in a university research setting. That means we won’t recommend a solution that isn’t proven reliable and safe. The extensive training includes integrated pest management or IPM. These solutions aim to “reduce human health risks, minimize adverse environmental impacts, and maximize economic returns and sustainability.” Clinic volunteers will help you find a solution that best meets your gardening goals. We’ll give you options if you don’t want to use pesticides. If you do want to use strong chemicals, master gardeners will outline the options and safety measures. Sometimes, the plant is in the wrong place, or a disease is in the soil, and the plant will never be successful. Then, clinic volunteers will recommend removing the plant and starting a new one with a disease-resistant cultivar rather than fighting an ongoing issue for years.

Plant disease diagnoses are a regular part of the plant clinic team's day. Here a Camellia shows signs of both cottony camellia scale (Pulvinaria floccifera) and sooty mold. © Skagit County WSU Extension Master Gardeners

Plant disease diagnoses are a regular part of the plant clinic team’s day. Here a Camellia shows signs of both cottony camellia scale (Pulvinaria floccifera) and sooty mold. © Skagit County WSU Extension Master Gardeners

plant clinic volunteers identifying weeds

When plant clinic volunteers aren’t busy working on client problems, they are refreshing their knowledge base by identifying insects, weeds, or diseases. © Skagit County WSU Extension Master Gardeners

Who are the plant clinic experts?
You will be astounded at the scientific backgrounds found among the master gardeners who work at the plant clinics. Trained through the Skagit County WSU Extension Master Gardener Program, many core volunteers are retired from bioscience, forestry, and geology careers. Through years of diagnostic study and training, others have become experts in fruit tree diseases or insects. At a plant clinic, master gardeners work as a team to identify the problems and regularly cross-check diagnoses. Any master gardener will tell you that clinic experts are rarely stumped. If they are, they won’t stop until they find the answer.

Master Gardener Allison Hitchcock remembers one of the more unique plant identification challenges: “A client came in and wanted us to identify one of many large pits found piled on her property (likely dumped). I was having lunch at the time and just finishing my mango and easily identified the discarded pits with the one in my hand.”

person pointing to identifying characteristics of ant
During a recent plant clinic session, master gardeners worked through the identification process for an ant. © Skagit County WSU Extension Master Gardeners
Proper identification is critical to recommending a solution with the least risk or harm to the environment and surrounding living beings. © Skagit County WSU Extension Master Gardeners
Proper identification is critical to recommending a solution with the least risk or harm to the environment and surrounding living beings. © Skagit County WSU Extension Master Gardeners

Master Gardener Gail Messett remembers an Anacortes clinic visitor who was a fellow master gardener from North Carolina: “She was so glad to see us. She was visiting her son stationed at Whidbey, who had recently purchased a house in Anacortes. She wanted to help him reclaim his mature garden and needed help identifying existing plants and what plants work in the Pacific Northwest. She went back to his house and returned with pictures of plants for us to identify. And, of course, we could suggest native and other plants that would work well in our climate.”

Common Plant Clinic Questions:

  • Plant disease diagnosis and treatment suggestions
  • Insect identification (and control options, if necessary)
  • Plant selection ideas
  • General gardening advice, such as pruning techniques, weed control, and pesticide/herbicide application tips
  • Gardening resources guidance: We can put you in touch with soil-test sources, native plant societies, mushroom identification sources, and much more

Two Locations in Skagit County
The clinics in Burlington and Anacortes have a library, print materials, access to online resources, and microscopes for plant identification and disease diagnosis. The Anacortes plant clinic is open during the Farmers Market and often attracts visiting tourists or those new to the area and interested in local plants.
Bring Your Suspicious-Looking Plant Materials
Plant clinic volunteers are eager to hear your questions and diagnose plant issues. The questions brought to the clinic also help identify trends throughout the county. Live samples are preferred, either in a baggie or jar, but the team can also work with suitable photos and, often, verbal descriptions. For plant ID, you should include a small branch and any flowers or fruits. Insect and disease samples should include both healthy and affected tissue/branches. Photos should consist of both close-up and landscape shots.

With the information you bring, the plant clinic team will ask questions, use microscopes, and research a comprehensive library of reference materials. Drawing on science-based training and years of experience diagnosing local garden issues, plant clinic master gardeners will track down the source of the problem and offer advice on the least invasive methods to set you on the right course for recovery.

The plant clinic in Burlington is home to Dr. Lloyd Eighme's (1927 - 2021) extensive insect collection which can be viewed during clinic hours. https://www.skagitmg.org/home/publications/insects/  © Skagit County WSU Extension Master Gardeners
The plant clinic in Burlington is home to Dr. Lloyd Eighme’s (1927 – 2021) extensive insect collection which can be viewed during clinic hours. https://www.skagitmg.org/home/publications/insects/ © Skagit County WSU Extension Master Gardeners
Dr. Eighme's insect collection is maintained and enhanced by Skagit County Master Gardeners and is used to educate the public and to build and share knowledge about insects in our region.  © Skagit County WSU Extension Master Gardeners
Dr. Eighme’s insect collection is maintained and enhanced by Skagit County Master Gardeners and is used to educate the public and to build and share knowledge about insects in our region. © Skagit County WSU Extension Master Gardeners
WSU Extension Master Gardener Plant Clinic Locations and Hours:
Burlington:
Wednesdays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. April through October
WSU Skagit County Extension Office, 11768 Westar Lane, Suite A (near Skagit Airport), Burlington
Anacortes:
Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.  (Open Saturday, May 18 through Saturday, October 12)
In the Depot Building at 7th St & R Ave., the Farmers Market, Anacortes
Farmers Market Info Booths:
Master gardeners are available at info booths at the Farmers Markets in Mount Vernon, Sedro-Woolley, and Concrete. Though these info-stations aren’t equipped with microscopes and an entire resource library, the master gardener volunteers at the Farmers Market info-stations can answer many of your gardening questions and connect you with the resources you need to be a successful home gardener. Check day and time with local directories.

Visit a Master Gardener Plant Clinic while attending one of these annual events:

Free Admission & Parking
May 11, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Skagit County Fairgrounds
Learn More >
Plant Clinic at the Discovery Garden / Display Garden Open House
Saturday, June 29, 2024 – 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Discovery Garden, 16650 State Route 536 (Memorial Hwy), Mount Vernon, WA  98273
Learn More >
Plant Clinic at the Skagit County Fair
Bring your plant questions to the master gardener booth at Skagit County Fair, August 8 – 11, 2024

If you can’t visit during plant clinic hours, you can submit your question:

Alternatively, you can drop samples off at the WSU Skagit County Extension Office between 8:30 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Information on preparing your samples for mailing or dropping off is online at https://extension.wsu.edu/skagit/mg/clinics/

Please provide:

  • your garden location
  • a detailed description of the problem, plant, or insect
  • send digital photos if possible
  • phone number and email if we have more questions

During the off-season, plant clinic staff meets every other week to answer emails and work on problems, so there may be a short delay in receiving your answer.

Remember, there are many reasons your plant may not be thriving. Perhaps it is a tender specimen homesick for warmer climates, or it might prefer a sunnier or shadier location in your yard. It might perk right up with some soil amendment and a different watering regimen. Stressed plants are more susceptible to insect attack and disease. A virus or a fungus might have settled in, or tiny insects might be emerging to feast. The solution could be as simple as picking off the damaged leaves, instituting good winter cleanup practices, or using a handheld sprinkler to wash insects off leaves. A visit to a Master Gardener Plant Clinic will help you solve your gardening challenges and decide what to plant next.

REFERENCES AND RESOURCES:
Sanchez, N. Key strategies for integrated pest management. Oregon State University.(Aug. 2019) Retrieved from: https://extension.oregonstate.edu/pests-weeds-diseases/ipm/key-strategies-integrated-pest-management

picture of authors
Ginny Bode and Anne Hays


ABOUT THE AUTHORS :
Ginny Bode and Anne Hays are Skagit County WSU Extension Master Gardeners, Class of 2022. They are co-editors of the Ask a Master Gardener blog and are always interested in hearing from readers about future topics of interest.

Questions about home gardening or becoming a Master Gardener may be directed to: Skagit County WSU Extension Office, 11768 Westar Lane, Suite A, Burlington, WA 98233; by phone: 360-428-4270; or via the website: www.skagit.wsu.edu/mg


A Second Act for Your Square 1-Gallon Pots at the Discovery Garden!

Bring your leftover square 1-gallon pots to the Discovery Garden (16650 State Route 536, Mount Vernon). The bin for recycling the square 1-gal pots is located in the parking lot, just north (to the right) of the main entrance.
We only need square 1-gallon pots like the ones pictured below (bottom right). The recycling bin will be available now through fall. Simply put your pots into the bin, and we take care of the rest!


 

pot recycling