Plant Clinic & Native Plants Sale this Saturday

Published 9:17 am Tuesday, August 18, 2015

ILWACO — WSU Master Gardeners of Pacific County are sponsoring a summer plant diagnostic clinic at the Columbia Pacific Heritage Museum in Ilwaco on Saturday, Aug. 22, from 10 a.m. through 1 p.m. The Discovery Garden is located behind the Museum’s parking lot at 115 SW Lake Street.

If you have a plant questions or problem, stop by and ask one of the Master Gardeners.

Additionally they be selling native plants in 1-gallon and 2-gallon pots, and will have ocean spray and serviceberry plants in limited quantities. Credit cards accepted.

At their last plant clinic, the Master Gardeners were challenged with some unique questions about their plants and gardening concerns. Here’s a sampling:

• Problem: My rhododendron is suffering from root weevil, both adult and larvae.

Suggestion: Use beneficial nematodes; use chemical control as a last resort.

• Problem: My green pepper plants in my greenhouse are sickly. What’s my problem?

Suggestion: The problem is aphids. Sometimes, a strong blast of water from the hose will knock aphids off of the plant and solve the problem. Spraying with insecticide soap will also eliminate these problem pests.

• Problem: The leaves of my rose bushes have a red / orange powdery substance on them. Should I move them into the open?

Suggestions: Your plant has rust, which is a fungal disease. Pick and destroy infected leaves to prevent spread of disease. Prune to increase air circulation.

WSU Extension also supports two websites that can help diagnose plant problems.

• Hortsense (hortsense.cahnrs.wsu.edu/Home/HortsenseHome.aspx) – Contains fact sheets for the home gardener to manage plant problems using Integrated Pest Management (IPM).

• Pestsense (pestsense.cahnrs.wsu.edu/Home/PestsenseHome.aspx) – Contains fact sheets for managing common indoor pest problems with Integrated Pest Management (IPM).

For more information, contact Bev Arnoldy at bevarnoldy@gmail.com.