Various mature perennial plants in garden.

Have a gardening, composting, or recycling question?

Free access to unbiased research-based advice
WSU Extension > Thurston County > Gardening > Events and outreach > Clinic services
WSU Master Gardener volunteer looking at plant pathology book in a classroom, with notebook and pen on table.

For more than a half century, home gardeners have been bringing us their questions and issues. We have University and Thurston County-trained volunteers who can help you tackle those hard to deal with problems! Our certified volunteers will answer your questions using the most accurate, unbiased, scientifically proven, local information and resources.

More information – WSU Thurston County Master Gardener Program

More information – Thurston County Master Recycler Composter Program

We are trained to help you!

Two WSU Master Gardener volunteers smiling behind an information booth with gardening resources and decorative displays.

In-person Question & Answer Clinics

If instead of email, you want to chat with one of our WSU Master Gardener or Thurston County Master Recycler Composter volunteers, then come by one of the In-Person Question & Answer Clinics at an event near you.

Find us at an event in Thurston County

Frequently asked questions about our Clinic services:

A: Our email-based clinic is accepting your gardening questions all the time. Please refer to the section above for how to submit your question.

Our in-person clinics are “open” during the spring, summer, and fall. Check above for details on dates and times at specific locations.

Yes! Clinics are operated by WSU 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.

A: No, volunteers are not allowed to visit personal properties to do site visits or evaluations.

The following are topics our volunteers are NOT permitted to answer:

  • 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 a sense of being bitten by something, clients need to contact their personal medical advisers or to 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.

Want to do some research on your own?

Gardening

Sunscald on apple fruits on tree branch.

Hortsense

Hortsense contains more than one thousand fact sheets to guide the home gardener in the management of plant problems using Integrated Pest Management (IPM), including cultural controls and Washington State registered pesticides.

Hortsense
Brown marmorated stink bug on green leaf.

Pestsense

Pestsense contains home gardener fact sheets to assist in the management of common pest problems using Integrated Pest Management (IPM), including cultural controls and Washington State registered pesticides.

Pestsense

Waste Reduction

Screenshot of the Where Do I Take My directory webpage.

Where Do I Take My?

Find out how to donate, recycle, and dispose of hundreds of items.

WhereDoITakeMy?
Thurston County logo

Thurston County Garbage & Recycling

Garbage, recycling, and hazardous waste facilities in Thurston County, including hours of operation, rates and accepted materials.

Thurston County Garbage & Recycling
City of Olympia logo

City of Olympia Garbage & Recycling

For City of Olympia customers: Garbage and recycling information including rates and accepted materials for garbage and recycling

City of Olympia Garbage & Recycling

Common landscape weeds

Bittercress plant, also known as Shotweed, on wood mulch.

Bittercress (a.k.a.: Shotweed)

Little bittercress is a fall/winter-germinating annual species commonly found west of the Cascades in yards, gardens, roadsides, waste areas, and perennial plantings.
Shooting 'Shotweed'!
Berry cluster of Himalayan Blackberry.

Blackberry (Himalayan, Evergreen, Pacific)

Several species of blackberries may be considered weeds. Among these are evergreen or cutleaf blackberry (Rubus laciniatus), the native dewberry or Pacific blackberry (R. ursinus), and Himalayan blackberry (R. armeniacus, also known as R. discolor or R. procerus).
Blackberry
Dandelion going to seed

Dandelions

The common dandelion is a persistent taprooted plant reproducing by seeds and by short shoots from the crown. It also grows back from roots broken during hand removal. 
Dandelions
Branch of scotch broom in bloom.

Scotch broom

Scotch broom is an aggressive, woody shrub reaching up to ten feet in height. The slim, angular, green branches are typically upright. Many branches are leafless. It is reported to be toxic to livestock.
Scotch broom

Common landscape problems

Cedar flagging in cedar tree.

Cedar flagging

Brown foliage develops on the tree or shrub in mid- to late summer and is very obvious by early fall. The affected foliage consists of older growth formed in previous years. Foliage developed during the current year (at the branch tips) remains green.
These brown branchlets are called flags and are generally spread uniformly throughout the canopy.
Cedar flagging
Azalea stems with evidence of azalea lace bug damage.

Azalea lace bug (Stephanitis pyrioides)

Azalea lace bug (Stephanitis pyrioides) attacks both azaleas and rhododendrons and may cause significant damage on both. Both adults and nymphs feed on the underside of leaves. Symptoms of damage are stippling, bleaching, or a silvery or yellowish (chlorotic) appearance of the leaves. 
Azalea lace bug
Row of medium sized cedar trees with evidence of die back from phytophthora root rot.

Phytophthora root rot

Phytophthora root rot affects many plant species and is caused by a fungal infection of the roots resulting in root death and overall plant decline.
Phytophthora root rot
Rhododendron plant with evidence of winter injury on leaves.

Winter injury

Winter injury includes a myriad of plant damage and symptoms, including death of stems and buds, frozen roots, sunscald and windscald of leaves and bark, bark splitting, leaf droop and roll, and limb breakage. Damage occurs when warm weather in early winter suddenly turns very cold. 
Wintery injury

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.