Pest damage on rhododendron, cedar flagging, cartoon of gift typing on computer, bucket of compost, plastic bottles, and slug on fern leaf.

Gardening/Composting/
Recycling Question and Answer Clinic

WSU Extension > Thurston County > Gardening > Gardening/Composting/Recycling Question and Answer Clinic

Do you have a plant eaten-up by bugs or diseases? Maybe you have a plant or weed you cannot identify? Wondering how to turn your yard waste into compost? Not sure if something can be recycled?

That’s where the WSU Master Gardener and Master Recycler Composter volunteers of Thurston County can help. Our certified volunteers can answer your questions using the most accurate, unbiased, scientifically proven, local information and resources.

This service is free to all Thurston County residents.

Email your question to: master@co.thurston.wa.us

The Question & Answer Clinic is volunteer-run. WSU Master Gardener and Master Recycler Composter volunteers meet weekly to review questions and discuss solutions. Please know that it may take up to a week to respond during the busy gardening season. Review the submission tips and helpful information below so you include the information we need to answer your question.

More information

Submission Tips:

Send photos with your question.
- Showing the plant in the surrounding landscape.
- Up close to the plant, showing the area of concern.
- By providing photos in your initial email will help us expedite a response.
In the body of the email at right, tell us:
- When you first noticed the issue.
- Watering schedule: by hand or irrigation… drip irrigation? daily or once a week? Duration?
- Plant location: Full sun to full shade. Close to house?
- Any recent changes: Recent herbicide spraying? Trees felled nearby?
- Attach your picture(s)

Other helpful information:

Volunteers can only provide information to home gardeners. Commercial farms and businesses need to contact WSU Thurston County Extension office for help, (360) 867-2189.

Volunteers are not allowed to visit personal properties to do site visits or evaluations.

Volunteers are not allowed to answer questions about the following topics:

Questions concerning commercial crop and nursery production, municipal parks and trees, homeowner/condo association landscape issues, pesticide regulations, wetlands or waterways, livestock and pasture, pet or human health, and food safety/preservation topics must be referred to the appropriate WSU Extension educator and can’t be answered by WSU Master Gardener volunteers.
For health issues, including questions about being bitten by something, clients need to contact their personal medical advisers or their County Health District.
Provide legal advice.
Edibility of mushrooms and other foraged plants.
Growing marijuana.
Endorsements of specific businesses and services. i.e. local lawn/garden service companies, landscape architects, best nurseries etc.

The in-person Question/Answer Clinic at the Thurston County Extension office is closed until further notice. Instead we are taking our clinics to select in-person events around Thurston County. Check our outreach events here.

In-person Outreach Events

The Gardens and Clinics are operated by Washington State University and Thurston County-trained and certified volunteers. All services provided by Thurston County WSU Master Gardener and Master Recycler Composter volunteers are free to Thurston County residents.

More gardening information.

More composting and recycling information.

WSU Extension programs and employment are available to all without discrimination. Evidence of noncompliance may be reported through your local Extension office. Reasonable accommodations will be made for persons with disabilities and special needs who contact Cori Carlton at cori.carlton@co.thurston.wa.us at least two (2) weeks prior to the event or application deadline.