Ask a Master Gardener Blog

Earn a Washington Gardener Certificate

Learn research-based techniques to create a thriving garden that also benefits our environment. From water conservation to supporting local ecosystems, discover how your gardening choices make a difference.

WA Green School | Washington State University

Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a step-by-step approach to managing garden pests in a way that protects plants, people, and the environment. Think of IPM as a pyramid of decision-making.

IPM | Master Gardener Program | Washington State University

Hortsense

Hortsense | Washington State University is a WSU website containing home gardener fact sheets for managing plant problems with Integrated Pest Management (IPM), including cultural controls and Washington-registered pesticides.

Join us as we invite expert horticulturists, seasoned Master Gardeners, and passionate plant enthusiasts to share their wisdom, practical tips, and hands-on experiences. Learn more about The Evergreen Thumb Podcast.

Free gardening publications from Washington State University.

Gardening | WSU Extension Publications | Washington State University

Published by Oregon State University, Growing Your Own provides basic advice on a wide range of topics related to vegetable gardening.

Growing Your Own (English version)
Su Propio Cultivo (Spanish version of Growing Your Own)
Growing Your Own print version available to purchase

Pestsense is intended to provide information on how to manage common indoor pest problems using integrated pest management or IPM.

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. 

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).

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

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.

Online training:

This is a free online self-paced introductory course to rain garden planning, construction, plant selection, and maintenance for non-professionals. The course is intended for homeowners and rain garden enthusiasts interested in managing excess stormwater on their property.

Rain Gardens | Washington State University (wsu.edu)

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.

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.

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.
Pest Leaflet Series | Plant Clinic Site | Washington State University

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