Master Gardeners

WSU Master Gardener Plant Diagnostic Clinic in Kittitas County

Plant Diagnostic Clinic
WSU Extension Office
Tuesday 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., May through September

Do you have questions about gardening, plants, insects, or landscaping? Bring unidentified insects, diseased plants, and other yard and garden related questions to the WSU Master Gardener Plant Diagnostic Clinic, which is held at the WSU Extension Office every Tuesday from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., May through September. Samples may also be dropped off during office hours (8 a.m. to noon and 1 to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday) and will be held until the next clinic. Clients will be asked to fill out a form with background information on the plant or insect sample.

Insects that are brought in should be placed in a plastic or glass container with lid and put in the freezer for a few days. Frozen insects are easier to work with than live samples. Plant samples should display a range of disease symptoms. The ideal sample has healthy material and somewhat to very diseased material. Having a complete range of symptoms helps in making a diagnosis.

Kittitas County Gardening Information

• USDA Plant Zones- Cle Elum is in Zone 4 (-30 degrees F minimum temperature) and Ellensburg is in Zone 5 (-20 degrees F minimum temperature)
• Growing season averages: 120 days in lower county, 90-120 days in upper county
• Elevation: Ellensburg 1,520 feet, Cle Elum 1,930 feet
• Precipitation, annual average: Easton 53.5", Cle Elum 37.2", Ellensburg 9", Vantage 6.9"
• Frost, average last spring: Ellensburg May 1, Cle Elum May 24
• Frost, average first fall frost: Ellensburg September 25, Cle Elum September 11
• Winds: Out of the west and Northwest. The strongest winds come in late spring, decreasing in the summer months. Wind flow should be taken into consideration when planning your planting beds and garden.
• Lawn Seed: Mixes of bluegrass and fine-leaf fescues make superior quality lawns and are best suited for our area.
• Soil: Alkaline-soils tend to be on the higher side of the pH scale. A list of soil testing labs is available from our office.
• Noxious Weeds are a problem in our area. Property owners are responsible for their control. For a noxious weed list, contact the Kittitas County Noxious Weed Control Board at http://www.co.kittitas.wa.us/noxiousweeds/default.asp
• 100 Cold Hardy Trees shrubs and Perennial for Kittitas County 172k
• Protect Our Trees and Apples; Apple Maggot information 140k

Kittitas County Chapter of the Washington State Master Gardener Foundation

The Kittitas County Chapter of the Washington State Master Gardener Foundation is an organization consisting of local Master Gardeners whose purpose is to help augment and support Washington State University Master Gardener activities within our county. Our local chapter is directed to help enhance efforts to provide citizens of our county with up-to-date accurate information on home horticulture and gardening. The chapter also helps raise funds that pay for needed resources used in our plant diagnostic clinic and some of the training of our local Master Gardeners. In addition, the chapter also helps facilitate an exchange of ideas, information and expertise among individuals of this Chapter through periodic newsletters, seminars, meetings, and other activities.

Related Links

• Composting, Kittitas County Solid Waste Department
• Gardening in Eastern Washington, Spokane County Extension
• Firewise Landscaping
• Noxious weeds, Kittitas County Noxious Weed Control Board
• Washington State University Extension Master Gardener Program

For more information contact the Kittitas County Chapter of the Washington State Master Gardener Foundation in the Extension office at 507 North Nanum Street, Suite 2 or call 509-962-7507.

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