Skagit County WSU Extension Master Gardener Priorities
WSU is an equal opportunity provider. If you need a reasonable accommodation or language access to participate in an event, please contact Alex duPont, Skagit County WSU Extension Master Gardener Program Coordinator, at alex.dupont@wsu.edu or (360) 395-2367 at least two weeks prior to the planned event. Language access services, such as interpretation or translation of vital information, will be provided free of charge to limited English proficient individuals upon request.
Take a look at the Master Gardener Program Priorities, and what we are doing in Skagit County. WSU Extension Master Gardeners are trained and certified volunteers who provide information to home gardeners. We are actively engaged teaching science-based gardening and environmental stewardship practices.
Priority
Skagit County Activities
We teach ways to help native bees and other pollinators thrive in home and community landscapes. Read more on Pollinator Health Impacts.
Visit the Discovery Garden Pollinator Garden to learn about plants that support pollinators and the pollinators that live in the garden.
Two garden areas are dedicated to support pollinating insects with plantings orchestrated to bloom from early spring until early winter. See the solitary mason and leafcutter bees and their homes.
Stop by our Plant Clinics for help making your garden pollinator friendly.
We promote sustainable techniques to growing local food to improve individual & community health and wellness. Read more on Local Food Impacts.
The Skagit County WSU Extension Master Gardeners have an extensive Gardening Publication Library.
Visit the Discovery Garden’s Vegetable, Small Fruits, and Doc’s Arbor demonstration gardens for ideas and examples of food producing plants that grow well in the Skagit County area. The Discovery in Gardening is Terrific (DIG-IT) program provides day-long field trips for Skagit County 2nd and 3rd graders and gives students hands-on gardening experience.
Bring your questions to our “Ask a Master Gardener” booths at the Anacortes, Concrete, Mount Vernon, and Sedro-Woolley Farmers Markets. We also have booths at home shows and the Skagit County fair.
We encourage building healthy soils to prevent depletion and ensure the long-term viability of local food security & natural resources.
Interested in composting? Check our the Discovery Garden Composting area and see our composting bins and find out how they can be managed. Learn about composting with worms.
If you need information on soil, bring your questions to one of our Plant Clinics or “Ask a Master Gardener” booths. We can explain how to have your soil tested and what grows best in your area.
We promote stewardship of diverse ecosystems through invasive species management, native species conservation and restoration in landscapes.
Extension Master Gardeners provide free online and in-person advice on plants, trees, landscaping, and pests to improve your garden habitat. In-person support is available at our Plant Clinics, Farmers Market “Ask a Master Gardener” booths, and our Know & Grow lecture series. Find out more.
Our Ask a Master Gardener Blog features a wide range of articles written by Skagit WSU Extension Master Gardeners on topics relevant to gardeners in the North Puget Sound area.
Finally, don’t miss our annual Plant Fair on the Saturday of Mother’s Day weekend. The Plant Fair offers many educational booths and 15 minute talks on popular gardening topics. Purchase a plant or two while you are there to support the Master Gardener programs in Skagit County.
We seek to increase access to plants, green spaces, and public landscapes to benefit the health & well-being of all members of our communities.
The Master Gardeners operate the Discovery Garden in Mount Vernon as a demonstration garden to inspire and educate the public. Meander along winding ADA compliant paths and experience dozens of themed garden rooms. Touring the garden is free, and the garden is open from dawn until dusk, seven days a week. Take a self-guided tour any time, or contact us two weeks in advance if your group would like a garden docent to conduct a personalized tour for your group. Numerous events are held in the garden throughout the year such as the June Discovery Garden Open House and July Toddlers Day in the Garden.
Stop by the Burlington Plant Clinic during posted hours and explore our Insect Collection or read about the fascinating Insects of Skagit County. Master Gardeners can also provide information on Community Gardens and Rain Gardens.
We promote integrated pest management to minimize polluted runoff.
We can advise on the proper use of pesticides in accordance with the WSU Integrated Pest Management Plan. Talk to us about pesticides and alternatives to using pesticides.
The Pond at the Discovery Garden has a pond which demonstrates sustaining clean water by understanding the nitrogen cycle.
We promote water-wise gardening 
and landscaping practices to conserve water.
We teach ways to create resilient landscapes that are adapted to our changing climate.
We teach landscaping principles to reduce the risk of loss due to wildfire.
Talk to Master Gardeners at our Plant Clinics and Ask a Master Gardener booths for help in choosing appropriate plants and landscaping techniques. Visit the Discovery Garden for ideas. Many of the garden rooms feature natives and water-wise plants that could be a solution for your garden space.
Want to save water? Install drip irrigation in your yard or garden. Attend our Know & Grow lecture series and find out how. We also do 15 minute talks at our annual Plant Fair.
Why not collect that rain water instead of letting it go down the drain? Check out our rain barrels at the Discovery Garden pavilion and plant house. Learn how to build your own with these great plans.