Tips and Tasks – A year-round gardening resource
Welcome to Sound Gardening, a web site supported by Snohomish County Master Gardener Foundation and SnoCo MG Education Outreach to help Snohomish County gardeners find educational opportunities and gardening resources in our area.
Tips and Tasks – By Month
Tips and Tasks – Spotlight Index
JANUARY SPOTLIGHTS
PEST MONITORING AND MANAGEMENT – Mice, vole, and rabbit damage.
GENERAL OVERALL MAINTENANCE – Soil protection, basic cleanup, water needs, mulch, tools.
EDIBLES – Fruit tree spraying and pruning, care of smaller fruits, garden planning, using seed catalogs.
FLOWERS AND FOLIAGE – Indoor plants, hardwood cuttings.
LAWNS – Compaction and drainage.
FEBRUARY SPOTLIGHTS
PEST MONITORING AND MANAGEMENT – Viburnum leaf beetle, slug eggs, mole mounds, references for
diagnostics.
GENERAL OVERALL MAINTENANCE – Remedies for poor drainage, runoff, and erosion such as French drains,
berms, swales.
EDIBLES – Winter cleanup, fruit tree care, starting vegetable seeds indoors, seed starting dates, cool season
crop planting with protection.
FLOWERS AND FOLIAGE – Trimming ornamental grasses and ferns, pruning, hardwood cuttings, bare root
planting, sowing sweet peas indoors.
LAWNS – Soggy lawns, observing problems and planning solutions.
MARCH SPOTLIGHTS
PEST MONITORING AND MANAGEMENT – Slugs, tent caterpillars, moles.
GENERAL OVERALL MAINTENANCE – Soil testing, texture, structure, winter damage, planning irrigation,
cleaning garden pots.
EDIBLES – Pruning, preparing beds, cool season crops, raised beds, starting seeds.
FLOWERS AND FOLIAGE – Managing vertebrate pests, choosing plants, timing of annuals, hardiness zones,
planting trees and shrubs.
LAWNS – Grasscycling, mowing, European craneflies and chafers.
APRIL SPOTLIGHTS
PEST MONITORING AND MANAGEMENT – Daylily gall midge, slug damage, tent caterpillars.
GENERAL OVERALL MAINTENANCE – Natural yard care: Soil assessment, climate zones, microclimates, plant
selection, compost.
EDIBLES, fertilizing blueberries and raspberries, planting cool season vegetables, starting warm season
vegetables.
FLOWERS AND FOLIAGE – Bulb clean-up, roses, purchasing plants, propagating perennials.
LAWNS – Eco-lawns, natural lawn care, European chaffer larvae, spring fertilizing.
January Tips and Tasks
PEST MONITORING AND MANAGEMENT
Watch for…
- Bark damage. You may see missing bark or tooth gouges, especially at the
base of trees and shrubs. If damage is found, the likely culprits are field mice,
voles, or rabbits.
What to do… - Eliminate likely hiding places for these critters. High weeds and grasses
growing close to plants may provide cover. - Set traps or baits as appropriate.
- Washington State University (WSU) publication; Pests: Vole Management in
Home Backyards and Gardens. - https://s3.wp.wsu.edu/uploads/sites/2071/2014/04/Vole-Mgmt-
Backyard-Gardens-FS094E.pdf - Shield trees and shrubs with chicken wire or trunk wrap.
- WSU publication; Rabbit and Hare Management in Washington State Home Yards and
Gardens. - https://pubs.extension.wsu.edu/rabbit–hare-management-in-washington-home-
yards–gardens-home-garden-series - Photo credit: Cottontail rabbit damage to apple tree; Dave Pehling, Emeritus Educator,
Snohomish County WSU Extension Staff.
Keep in mind…
•Accurately identify the pest or problem. For help, contact the Master Gardener hotline at
425-357-6010 or send an e-mail with a photo to: snocomg@gmail.com
•The WSU Snohomish County Master Gardener Office Clinic is open from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Monday through Thursday. Walk-ins are welcome! The clinic is located in the Administration
Building at Willis D. Tucker Park, 6705 Puget Park Drive, Snohomish, WA 98296.
•If you want to do the research on your own, here’s a helpful website:
•WSU website; Hortsense.
•http://hortsense.cahnrs.wsu.edu/Home/HortsenseHome.aspx
•Employ cultural changes as well as physical or biological controls whenever possible.
This would be the information on the WORD document
February Tips and Tasks
March Tips and Tasks
April Tips and Tasks
May Tips and Tasks
June Tips and Tasks
July Tips and Tasks
August Tips and Tasks
September Tips and Tasks
October Tips and Tasks
November Tips and Tasks
December Tips and Tasks
Garden Tips and Tasks Index
A-B
Annuals – Flowers/Foliage June
Aphids – Pests May, June
Apples
Apple codling moth – Edibles May, July
Apple maggot control methods – Edibles May, June
Harvesting – Edibles August
Thinning fruit – Edibles May, June
Bare root plants – Flowers/Foliage February
Bark damage (chewed) – Pests January
Beans
Dry beans, harvesting – Edibles September
Dry beans, protecting – Edibles September
Beds, vegetable
Conserving space – Edibles April, May
Mulch – Edibles November
Preparing beds – Edibles March, April
Raised beds – Edibles March, April
Beneficial Insects – Flowers/Foliage October, Pests August, September, Edibles May
Pollinators – Edibles May, Flowers/Foliage October
Spiders – Pests September
Wasps/yellow jackets – Pests August
Protecting – Edibles May, Pests August, September, Flowers/Foliage October
Birds – Flowers/Foliage October
Blackberry-invasive management – Pests October*
Blossom end rot – Edibles August
Blueberries
Fertilize – Edibles April, May, June
Pruning – Edibles January
Bolting – Edibles July
Borers
Black locust borer – Pests July
Bronze birch borer – Pests July
Crown borers (raspberry) – Edibles September
Branch die back
Black locust borer – Pests July
Bronze birch borer – Pests July
Cankers – Pests July
Eastern filbert blight – Pests July
Fall webworm – Pests August
Juniper twig blight – Pests September
Bulbs
Foliage clean-up – Flowers/Foliage April
Planting spring bloomers – Flowers/Foliage September, November
Winter storage – Flowers/Foliage October
Forcing – Flowers/Foliage December
C-D
Cabbage
Harvesting – Edibles September
Cankers – Pests July, December
Cherry fruit fly – Edibles July
Clean-up
Bulb foliage – Flowers/Foliage April, July
Dead/decaying material – Flowers/Foliage May
Deadhead – Flowers/Foliage June
Rhododendron deadhead – Flowers/Foliage July
Fall cleanup for pest/disease avoidance – Flowers/Foliage October, November, Pests October, Edibles September, October
Foliage – Flowers/Foliage July, November, Maintenance October
Pots – Maintenance March
Shrubs and trees – Maintenance January
Vegetable & fruit debris – Edibles October
Winter damage – Maintenance January, March
Cold hardiness (USDA zones) – Flowers/Foliage March
Compost
Benefits – Maintenance April
Cover for winter – Maintenance October
Lawns top dressing – Lawns November
Methods – Maintenance April
Water in dry periods – Maintenance July
Worm Bins – Maintenance April
Cool season crops
“Greens” to plant – Edibles February
Protection – Edibles February, March, October, November
When to plant – Edibles March, April
Conifer problems
Conifer flagging – Flowers/Foliage September
Sirococcus leaf blight – Pests June
Container plants – Flowers/Foliage May, June, July,
Cleaning pots – Maintenance January
Corn
When to harvest – Edibles September
Cover crops
Planting – Edibles October
Types – Edibles September, October
Crop rotation – Edibles January
Crown borers (raspberry) – Edibles September
Daylily gall midge – Pests April*
Dahlias – Flowers/Foliage May, August, October
Overwintering – Flowers/Foliage November
Deer and rabbit damage – Flowers/Foliage March
Deadheading – Flowers/Foliage June, July, August, September
Diseases
Apple anthracnose- Edibles August
Downy mildew – Pests May
Eastern filbert blight – Pests July
Fungus disease general management – Pests May, June, August
Juniper twig blight – Pests September*
Powdery mildew – Pests June, August, Edibles September
Rose diseases – Flowers/Foliage April
Rust fungus – Pests August
Sirrococcus blight – Pests June
Sooty mold – Pests May
Tomato blossom end rot – Edibles August
Tomato/potato late blight – Edibles August, October
Designing garden – Flowers/Foliage June, December
Dividing – Flowers/Foliage April, June, September, October
Iris – Flowers/Foliage July
Dahlias – Flowers/Foliage August, October
Drought/heat stress
Mitigation – Maintenance June, August, September
Potential damage – Maintenance June, September
Signs and symptoms – Maintenance August, September
E-G
Eco-lawns – Lawns April
Eggs of pests
Slugs* – Pests February
Viburnum leaf beetle* – Pests February
English ivy – Pests September*
Ergonomic tools – Maintenance November, December, Flowers/Foliage June
European chafer – Lawns March, April
Fall/winter vegetables
Harvesting – Edibles June, September
Planting – Edibles June, August, October
Protecting, winter – Edibles October, November
Types – Edibles July, Oct
Fall webworm – Pests August
Fertilize
After soil test – Flowers/Foliage May
Blueberries – Edibles April, May
Container plants – Flowers/Foliage June
Lawns – Edibles April, May, September, October, November, December
Raspberries – Edibles April, May, June
Rhododendrons, azaleas – Flowers/Foliage May
Roses – Flowers/Foliage July
Filbert problems – Pests July
Floating row covers – Edibles Feb, March, July
Frost dates – Flowers/Foliage May
Fruit, small fruits – Edibles October, December
Fruit trees
Barriers against pests – Edibles May, June
Deciding to grow – Edibles November, December
Dormant sprays – Edibles January
Pruning – Edibles January
Spraying for pests – Edibles January
Spray schedules – Edibles January, July
Thinning fruits – Edibles June
Fungus disease management
Clean-up – Pests October
Downy mildew – Pests May
Eastern filbert blight – Pests July
Juniper twig blight – Pests September*
Powdery mildew – Pests June, August
Rose disease control – Flowers/Foliage April
Rust – Pests August
Sirococcus leaf blight – Pests June
Sooty mold – Pests May
Galls – Pests June
Garden planning
Matching plants to microclimates (hydrozoning) – Maintenance April, June
Water-wise gardens – Maintenance June, September
Reassessing gardens – Maintenance September, Flowers/Foliage June, December
Xeriscaping – Maintenance September
Garlic
Choosing types – Edibles September, October
Planting – Edibles October, November
When to order – Edibles September
Gift ideas – Maintenance December
Growing season
Extending seasons – Edibles September
H-J
Hardening off transplants – Edibles April, May
Hardiness zones (USDA) – Flowers/Foliage March
Hardwood cuttings – Flowers/Foliage January, February, December
Heat loving vegetables
Methods to increase temperatures – Edibles May
Soil temperatures necessary – Edibles May
Types – Edibles May
Heat stress/Scorch – General Maintenance June, August, September, Flowers/Foliage July, August Hedges – Flowers/Foliage June, September
Houseplants
Culture and care – Flowers/Foliage January
House plant pests – Flowers/Foliage January
Repotting – Flowers/Foliage January
Holiday selections – Flowers/Foliage December
Hoophouses – Edibles February, June, September
In home insect pests – Pests October*
Insects
Aphids – Pests May, June
Apple codling moth – Edibles May, July
Apple maggot – Edibles May, June
Blackberries – Pests October*
Black locust borer – Pests July
Beneficial insects – Pests August, September, Flowers and Foliage October
Bronze birch borer – Pests July
Cherry fruit fly – Edibles July
Crown borers (raspberry) – Edibles September
Daylily gall midge – Pests April*
European chafer – Lawns March, April
European cranefly – Lawns March
Fall webworm – Pests August
In home – Pests October*
Lecanium scale – Pests November*
Mosquitoes – Pests July
Aquatic larvae – General August
Oystershell scale – Pests November*
Protection from – Edibles July
Red lily beetle – Pests May*, August*
References Master Gardeners use for pest control – Pests February
Root weevils – Pests June
Sawfly larvae – Pests June*
Scale – Pests May, November
Spotted wing drosophila fruit fly – Pests July*
Spruce aphids – Pests November
Stink bugs – Pests October
Tent caterpillars – Pests March*
Eggs location – Pests December*
Viburnum leaf beetle – Pests June, August*
Eggs – Pests February
Wasps – Pests August
Western boxelder bugs – Pests October
Western conifer seed bug – Pests October*
Yellow jackets – Pests August
Invasive plants – Flowers/Foliage June
Journal keeping – Edibles April
Juniper twig blight – Pests September*
L-M
Landscape lighting – Maintenance September
Late blight (tomatoes and potatoes) – Edibles August, October
Lawn alternatives – Lawns June
Lawn choices – Lawns January, August, October
Rehabilitating – Lawns September
Remove/reduce – Lawns January, August, October
Reseeding/starting new lawn – Lawns September
Restoration – Lawns May
Lawn compaction – Lawns January, February, November, December
Lawn dormancy – Lawns January
Summer dormancy – Lawns August
Lawn equipment maintenance – Maintenance November
Lawn herbicides – Lawns May
Lawn puddles – Lawns January
Lawn soil types and watering – Lawns July
Lawn tasks –
Aeration – Lawns September
Compost application – Lawns November
Dandelion and turf weed control – Lawns May
Dethatching – Lawns September
Fertilizing – Lawns April, May, September, October, November, December
Grasscycling/mulch mow – Lawns March, December
Lime for lawns– Lawns October, February, April, September
Mowing – Lawns March, April, July, August, November, December
Overseeding – Lawns May, September
Rake leaves – Lawns December
Watering – Lawns April, July
Weed management – Lawns March, July
Layering method of propagating – Flowers/Foliage April
Leaf damage
Discolored spots or patches
Downy mildew – Pests May
Powdery mildew – Pests June, August
Rust – Pests August
Notched
(Lilies) Red lily leaf beetle – Pests May*, August*
Root Weevil – Pests June
Sawfly larvae – Pests June
Shredded or tattered
Slugs – Pests February*, March, August*, September*
Skeletonized
Sawfly larvae – Pests June
Viburnum leaf beetles – Pests June, August*
Lecanium scale – Pests November*
Lettuce
Bolting – Edibles July
Harvesting loose leaf lettuce – Edibles July
Lily beetle – Pests May*, August*
Lime for lawns– Lawns October, February, April, September
Mice – Pests January (gnawing bark)
Microclimates – Maintenance April, Edibles January
Moles – Pests February, March*, Lawns March
Mosquitoes – Pests July
Aquatic larvae, mosquitoes – Pests July
Moss – Lawns October
Mowing – Lawns March, April, July, August, November, December
Mulch
Application – Maintenance January, May, Flowers/Foliage September, November
Benefits – Maintenance May, Edibles November
Materials – Maintenance May, October
Sheet mulching – Maintenance May
Sources – Maintenance May
Mulch mow – Lawns December
N-P
Natural lawn care – Lawns April
Notched leaves
Root weevils – Pests June
Sawflies – Pests June
Onions
When to harvest – Edibles August
Oystershell scale – Pests November*
Pears
Harvesting – Edibles August, September, October
How to tell if ripe – Edibles August*
Peas
Germination needs – Edibles February
Pests –References Master Gardeners use for pest control – Pests February
Planning
Planning vegetable garden – Edibles January, December
Journal Keeping – Edibles April
Planting
Annuals – Flowers/Foliage June
Bareroot trees and shrubs – Flowers/Foliage February
Choosing plants – Flowers/Foliage March, April, June
Early spring planting – Flowers/Foliage March
Soil readiness – Flowers/Foliage March
Trees and shrubs – Flowers/Foliage March, September
Ponds – Maintenance August
Potatoes
Late blight – Edibles October
When to harvest – Edibles August, September, October
Powdery mildew – Pests June, August, Edibles September
Propagating –
Divide perennials – Flowers/Foliage April, June, September
Divide tubers – Flowers/Foliage October
Hardwood cuttings – Flowers/Foliage January, February, December
Layering – Flowers/Foliage April
Seed saving – Flowers/Foliage August
Seed starting indoors (sweet peas) – Flowers/Foliage February
Semi-hardwood cuttings – Flowers/Foliage August, October
Softwood cuttings – Flowers/Foliage June
Pruning
Berry shrubs – Edibles January
Deadheading – Flowers/Foliage June, July, August
Foliage trimming, late winter- Flowers/Foliage February
Fruit trees – Edibles January, August
Hedges – Flowers/Foliage June
Perennials – Flowers/Foliage August, September
Spring-flowering plants – Flowers/Foliage March
Summer shrub pruning – Flowers/Foliage June, July
Trees and shrubs – Flowers/Foliage February, July, September, October, November, December
Pumpkins
When to harvest – Edibles September
R-S
Raised beds
Pros and cons – Maintenance February, Edibles March, April
Raspberries
Crown borers – Edibles September
Fertilize – Edibles April, May, June
How to grow – Edibles July
Pruning – Edibles January, July, November
Raspberry crown borer – Edibles September
Rabbits – Pests January, Edibles May, June, Flowers/Foliage March
Red lily (leaf) beetle – Pests May*, August*
References Master Gardeners use for pest control – Pests February
Rhubarb
How to cut – Edibles May
Root weevils – Pests June
Roses
Containers – Flowers/Foliage June
Deadheading – Flowers/Foliage September, October
Diseases – Flowers/Foliage April
Feeding – Flowers/Foliage July
Mulching – Flowers/Foliage November
Pruning – Flowers/Foliage April, November
Row covers
Cold protection – Edibles February, May
Preventing insect damage – Edibles June, July, September
Rust fungus – Pests August
Sawfly larvae – Pests June*
Scale – Pests May, November
Seeds
Direct sowing – Edibles May
Donate/exchange seeds – Edibles August
Microclimate considerations – Edibles January
Ordering – Edibles January, December
Seed catalogs – Edibles January, December
Seed saving – Edibles August, Flowers/Foliage August, October
Seed starting dates – Edibles January, February
Starting seeds indoors – Edibles March, April, December, Flowers/Foliage April
Preparing indoor equipment – Edibles February, December
Transplanting outdoors – Edibles May
Wildflower mix sowing – Flowers/Foliage October
Semi-hardwood cuttings – Flowers/Foliage August, October
Sheet mulching – Flowers/Foliage November
Sirococcus blight – Pests June
Slugs – Pests March*, August, September*, Edibles April
Slug eggs – Pests February*, March*, August*
Softwood cuttings – Flowers/Foliage June
Soils
Building healthy soil – Maintenance February, March, April
Compaction – Maintenance January, March, November
Permeability – Maintenance April
Soil Test – Lawns April, Maintenance March
Structure – Maintenance March
Testing Sources – Maintenance March
Texture – Maintenance March
Understanding test results – Maintenance April
Sooty mold – Pests May
Spiders – see beneficial insects Pests August
Spring Vegetables
Harvest – Edibles June
Spotted wing drosophila – Pests July*
Spruce aphids – Pests November
Stink bugs – Pests October
Strawberries – Edibles July
T-V
Tomatoes
Blossom end rot – Edibles August
Harvest green before frost – Edibles September, October
Late blight – Edibles August, October
Watering – Edibles July
When to pick – Edibles July, September
Tools
Care and maintenance – Maintenance November
Clean and sharpen – Maintenance January, November
Ergonomic – Maintenance May, December, Flowers/Foliage June
Lawn equipment maintenance – Lawns March
Tubers
Dividing – Flowers/Foliage October
Storing – Flowers/Foliage September, October
Viburnum leaf beetle – Pests February (eggs*), June, August*
Vegetable harvesting
Apples – Edibles August
Blackberries – Edibles July
Cold hardy vegetables – Edibles October
Corn – Edibles September
How to pick/cut – Edibles July
Lettuce – Edibles May, July
Onions – Edibles August
Potatoes – Edibles August
Pumpkins – Edibles September, October
Tomatoes – Edibles September, October
Winter squash – Edibles September, October
Vertical gardening – Edibles April, May
Voles – Pests January, July, Edibles May
W-Z
Wasps – see beneficial insects Pests August
Water
Drainage issues – Maintenance February
Heat stress watering – Edibles July, Flowers/Foliage August
Matching plants to moisture conditions – Maintenance February, April
Monitor plants in sheltered locations – Maintenance November, December
Smart watering – Maintenance April, July, October
Tomato extra watering – Edibles July
Vegetables in containers – Edibles July
Watering systems – Maintenance March, June
Waterwise gardening – Maintenance June
Webs in trees
Fall webworm – Pests August
Tent caterpillars – Pests March*
Weeds
Control – Maintenance July, October
Western boxelder bugs – Pests October
Western conifer seed bug – Pests October
Winter damage – Flowers/Foliage May, Maintenance March
Winter preparation
Container plants – Flowers/Foliage October
Dig/divide – Flowers/Foliage September, October
Forcing dormancy – Flowers/Foliage October
Frost dates – Flowers/Foliage October
Ground clean-up – Pests October, Edibles October
Perennials – Flowers/Foliage October
Protection – Flowers/Foliage January, October, December
Mulch – Edibles November, Flowers/Foliage September
Winterizing irrigation system – Maintenance November
Wine grapes – Edibles December
Winter squash
When to harvest – Edibles September, October
Winter vegetables-
See Fall/Winter vegetables
Yellow jackets (beneficial) – Pests August
Plant of the Month
Plant of the Month Index
Index to Plant of the Month
Botanical names are in italics.
Agastache ‘Black Adder’- September
Albiziajulbrissin – July
Asarum europaeum – August
Asplenium scolopendrium – November
Athyrium niponicum ‘Pictum’ – July
Avens – June
Beautyberry (‘Profusion’ beautyberry) – November
Black-eyed Susan – September
Buttercup winter hazel – February
Callicarpa bodinieri ‘Profusion’ – November
Catmint – August
Chitalpa tashkentensis ‘Pink Dawn’ – May
Corylopsis pauciflora – February
Cotoneaster – January
Cyclamen coum – January
Daphne – April
Dog-toothed violet – March
Dwarf witch alder – April
Erica carnea ‘Springwood Pink’ – December
Erythronium revolutum – March
European wild ginger – August
Fawn lily – March
Fern
Hart’s tongue fern – November
Japanese painted fern – July
Fothergilla gardenii – April
Geum – June
Gloriosa daisy – September
Hamamelis – February
Hardy cyclamen – March
Hart’s tongue fern – November
Heath (‘Springwood Pink’ winter heath) – December
Honeysuckle (Western trumpet honeysuckle) – May
Hyssop/Hummingbird mint – September
Japanese painted fern – July
Japanese skimmia – November
Kirengeshomapalmata – September
Lonicera ciliosa – May
Mahonia x media ‘Charity’– December
Mahonia x media ‘Winter Sun’ – December
Maiden grass ‘Morning Light’ – October
Mimosa tree/Silk tree – July
Miscanthus sinensis ‘Morning Light’ – October
NepetaX faassenii – August
Oregon grape – December
Persian violet – March
Pincushion flower – June
Rudbeckia hirta – September
Russian sage – October
Salvia yangii – October
Sarcococca hookeriana var. digyna ‘Purple Stem’ – January
Scabiosa columbaria ‘Butterfly Blue’ – June
Skimmia japonica – November
Silk tree/Mimosa tree – July
Sweet box – January
Toad lily – October
Tricyrtis – October
Western trumpet honeysuckle – May
Wild ginger (European wild ginger) – August
Winter hazel (Buttercup winter hazel) – February
Witch hazel – February
Yellow wax bells – September
January Plant of the Month
Sweet box ‘Purple Stem’
Sarcococca hookeriana var. digyna ‘Purple Stem’
(sahr-ka-KO-kah hook-er-ee-AH-nah variety di-JI-na)
This would be the information on the WORD document
February Plant of the Month
Witch hazel Hamamelis (ham-uh-MEL-lis or ham-uh-MAY-lis)