Master Gardeners of Latah County - University of Idaho

09/07/2026

"Leaves are habitat, not trash...
One of the most valuable things you can do to support pollinators and other invertebrates is to provide them with the shelter they need to survive the winter. Thankfully, that’s pretty easy; all you need to do is do less yard work."

One of the most valuable ways to support pollinators and other invertebrates is to provide them with the shelter they need to survive the winter. Thankfully, all you need to do is do less yard work.

09/07/2026

08/28/2026

We love a good checklist for organizing our garden efforts. Here's a September checklist from our friends Oregon State University Extension which has many of our same USDA Zones.

Enjoy the late evening sun before it disappears for the next 6 months🌞☀

Depending on where in Oregon you reside, you may need to protect your garden from the harsh end-of-summer heat or start preparing for frost and gusty winds in September. Learn more in this guide.

08/12/2026

WSU Master Gardener Program coming in hot with more resources! Take a break in the shade or air conditioning and fertilize your gardening mind 🌼🌹🏵 (Go Vandals!)

Who do you trust when it comes to gardening advice?

Friends, family, gardening books, social media, and YouTube all offer plenty of suggestions. Some are backed by years of research. Others are based on personal experience, tradition, or marketing.

In this episode of The Evergreen Thumb*, Dr. Bryce Battisti explains what "research-based" means in the WSU Extension Master Gardener Program and why it matters for home gardeners. Learn how research shapes gardening recommendations, why those recommendations sometimes change over time, and where to find information you can trust.

Where do you go when you have a gardening question? We'd love to hear about your favorite trusted resources.

🎧 Listen wherever you get your podcasts or on our website at buff.ly/clM0K3F.

08/12/2026

Hot weather? ☑
Dry winds? ☑
Water restrictions? ☑
Evidence-based research to answer all your questions? ☑☑☑
Thank you University of Idaho Extension, Ada County Master Gardeners

So Your Garden Thinks It's an Oven Now… 🍕🔥 Here’s how to keep your garden thriving through a heatwave:
​⏰ Water Early & Deep: Use drip lines or soaker hoses first thing in the morning to get water right to the roots. Check containers and young plants twice a day—they dry out fast!
​🪵 Mulch, Mulch, Mulch: Spread 2–3 inches of organic mulch (straw, bark, or compost) to insulate root zones and trap soil moisture.
​☂️ Throw Some Shade: Rig up a 30% shade cloth, a beach umbrella, or an old bedsheet during peak afternoon sun. Drag potted plants into full shade.
​💧 Mist in the Morning: A gentle early-morning mist boosts humidity and lowers foliage stress—just do it early enough so leaves dry before nightfall!
​🌱 Pull the Weeds: Keep beds weed-free so unwanted plants don't steal precious water and nutrients from your garden.
​💡 Quick Heatwave Rule: Skip fertilizing, heavy pruning, or transplanting until the weather cools down! Stressing plants further does more harm than good.

08/12/2026

Check out this presentation from our friends at Oregon State University! Making Your Garden More Climate Resilient

See more gardening videos at https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=...

08/05/2026

Tips for managing Field Bindweed or morning glory in our region. Scientific Name: Convolvulus arvensis from the Latin word convolvo ("to twine") and arvense ("of the field"). Or perhaps a better name would be 'Mala herba infinitum horribilis' (roughly translation 'Evil plant is infinitely horrible'). ;)

08/05/2026

As we head into the hot, dry, crispy part of summer, check out these garden tasks from UI Extension Educator Jared Gibbons!

With Summer fully upon us I thought instead of just talking about a single topic, I would highlight various tasks that need to be done this time of year.

07/29/2026

Are your trees showing signs of heat stress?

Heat Stress in Trees – Leaf Scorch
Leaf scorch is one indicator of heat stress due to adverse environmental conditions. Prolonged periods of excessive heat can cause many trees and shrubs to develop dry, brown leaf margins.
Scorch usually appears as brown, necrotic areas on the leaf margins. It moves from the leaf tip downward and from the margins inward. Scorch can cause leaves to turn dark brown to black and fall off prematurely.
Leaf scorch is irreversible; however, proper water management may help the plant recover. To prevent scorch, water deeply to ensure that the water is penetrating the soil. Mulching, around 3-4 inches, will also help conserve soil moisture and regulate temperature.
For more information:
https://www.montana.edu/extension/Full_HTML_Pubs/a-guide-to-pests-problems-and-identification-of-ornamental-shrubs-and-trees-in-montana/index.html
https://ag.purdue.edu/news/2022/06/keeping-plants-happy-through-heat-waves.html
Photo: Chance Noffsinger

07/29/2026

Excellent resource as fire season ramps up

🔥 Washington Wildfire Awareness

With multiple wildfires currently burning across Washington, now is a good time to think ahead about how you can help protect your home and landscape. While we can’t eliminate wildfire risk, we can make our properties more resilient through smart landscaping and regular maintenance.

🌿 Is your landscape Fire Wise?

WSU Extension Pierce County Master Gardeners have assembled a Fire Wise Tip Sheet with practical, research-based steps to help reduce wildfire risk around your home, including:
🔥 Creating defensible space
🌳 Choosing fire-resistant plants
🍂 Reducing flammable materials around your property
🏡 Maintaining your landscape to improve safety

Small changes today can make a big difference tomorrow.

📖 Read the Fire Wise Tip Sheet here:
https://extension.wsu.edu/pierce/mg-home/gardening-resources/fire-wise-tip-sheet/

Follow the Department of Natural Resources for updated information about wildfires due to location and size at:
https://dnr.wa.gov/wildfire-resources/current-wildfire-incident-information
or use the DNR's wildfire portal
https://dnr.wa.gov/wildfire-resources/current-wildfire-incident-information/wildfire-portal

Together, we can create safer, more resilient landscapes for our families, our communities, and our environment. 💚