Eco-Gardening Symposium taking signups

A half-day vegetable gardening workshop is being held in Moses Lake on Saturday, April 22 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The workshop will take place at the Columbia Basin Technical Skills Center, 900 E. Yonezawa Blvd.

Grant-Adams Master Gardeners and Grant County Conservation District are the event organizers. Speakers, door prizes, a vendor marketplace and refreshments are provided free of charge.

Space is limited, so applicants should pre-register early through Grant County Conservation District by calling 765-9618. Applicants can also register by stopping by the Conservation District office at 1107 S. Juniper Dr., Moses Lake. Registering is also possible online at www.columbiabasincds.org.

The Grant- Adams Master Gardener program is a non-profit group that benefits the communities in which it works. Events like the symposium provide the opportunity to learn about gardening principles and practices. Our focus is on educating and providing information to home gardeners.

Anyone may check out the MG demo gardens, plant clinics, attend workshops or read our quarterly newsletter. To help sustain efforts like these, the MGs have an annual plant sale and garden glove fundraiser. This year’s plant sale coincides with the first Moses Lake Farmers Market of the season, May 6, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., at McCosh Park. Besides offering annual and perennial plants for sale, MGs will provide expert planting advice or will be available to answer gardening questions. Available plants that will be at the sale will be listed on our website extension.wsu.edu/grant-adams.

For gardening questions, you can contact the Master Gardeners at the WSU Grant-Adams Extension office at 754-2011, ext. 4313. Email your gardening questions to ga.mgvolunteers@ad.wsu.edu. Visit our web page at grant-adams.wsu.edu.

Bull Thistle continued:

By weed board staff

The key to successful management of bull thistle is to prevent seed production. Combining control methods into an integrated management system will result in the best long-term population decreases. These methods are: chemical, cultural, biological, and mechanical. Desirable plant competition to deter establishment of bull thistle seedlings is a critical part of any biennial thistle management strategy.

Contact the weed board for control and chemical recommendations at (509) 754-2011, Ext. 4710, or visit our website at www.grantcountyweedboard.org.