Cowlitz County Master Gardeners

08/31/2026

🌿 Elevate your gardening knowledge with the Washington Gardener Certificate course! Learn science-backed techniques to support biodiversity, soil health, and climate resilience while earning the Washington Gardener Certificate to stand out in the industry! 🌱📚
• WGS Registration is now open.
• WGS Last Day to Register is September 30, 2026
• Classes start on October 5.

Learn more about earning your Washington Gardener Certificate or becoming a WSU Extension Master Gardener at: https://greenschool.extension.wsu.edu

08/30/2026

🌿 Cultivate Community While Sharing Your Passion for Gardening
Whether you're a seasoned grower or just love digging in the dirt, the Master Gardener Program is your chance to give back.

🗓️ Apply by September 16th to be part of something meaningful. Applications for the 2026-2027 EMG Program in Cowlitz County received after September 16th may be considered if time and space allow.

Apply for EMG Program here: https://wsu.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6M4Ia3PWxgya5ds

08/29/2026

Tip of the week:

Douglas Spirea

I look forward to the dependable pink blossoms July through September. It’s pest free and the deer ignore it. It’s naturally found in moist sites but does well with no summer water at Mount Saint Helen's. The bright green leaves emerge in early spring and after it’s long flowering season, the plant is an attractive, orangy-yellow in the fall. We don’t cut it back till early spring. Butterflies, bees, and other insects frequent the flowers. It would be an excellent plant for erosion control on a moist bank or in a rain garden.

Websites:
https://landscapeplants.oregonstate.edu/plants/spiraea-douglasii

https://sparrowhawknativeplants.com/products/douglas-spirea?variant=49020465250521

https://oregonflora.org/taxa/garden.php?taxon=6837

08/27/2026

Great Opportunity!

Open until filled: Garden Coordinator Position
To see full listing including link to application in English and Spanish, click here: https://mailchi.mp/lcschoolgardens/hiring-fall-2026-17286076

Lower Columbia School Gardens (LCSG) is seeking to hire a Full Time School Garden Coordinator to begin as soon as possible.

LCSG is a non-profit organization in Cowlitz County that helps schools sustain dynamic, thriving garden programs. LCSG has helped create 20 school gardens in Southwest Washington, and engages thousands of students each year in hands-on, garden based learning activities. Find out more on our website or page.

Reporting to the Program Director, the Garden Coordinator position is a full-time, 38-40 hour per week position with occasional evening and weekend hours.

Lower Columbia School Gardens is committed to the promotion of race, gender, ability and class equity through our hiring process. To this end we are an equal opportunity employer. Candidates from historically and presently underrepresented communities are highly encouraged to apply.

Compensation: starts at $22.75, depending on experience

Position is open until filled.

To apply: Please fill out the online application and submit a resume and optional cover letter to [email protected] . If you need a paper application, we are happy to provide one. Any questions about the position or the application process can be directed to [email protected] OR 360-200-8918. Thank you!

08/24/2026

This flexible, fully online course gives you science-backed skills to succeed in gardening—anywhere. 📢 Only offered once per year—don’t miss your chance!

• WGS Registration is now open.
• WGS Last Day to Register is September 30, 2026
• Classes start on October 5.

Learn more about earning your Washington Gardener Certificate or becoming a WSU Extension Master Gardener at: https://greenschool.extension.wsu.edu

08/23/2026

💡 Discover New Skills While Making a Positive Impact
From plant diagnostics to public outreach, Master Gardeners do it all. Ready to grow your knowledge and serve your community?

🗓️ Apply by September 16th to be part of something meaningful. Applications for the 2026-2027 EMG Program in Cowlitz County received after September 16th may be considered if time and space allow.

Apply for EMG Program here: https://wsu.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6M4Ia3PWxgya5ds

08/17/2026

🌿 The Washington Gardener Certificate course registration opens today, August 17! Gardening in Washington comes with its challenges—weather, soil conditions, pests, and diseases—but we've got you covered! Learn science-based best practices to confidently manage landscapes, no matter where you work, live, or garden in our state. 🌱

• WGS Registration opens today, August 17, 2026.
• WGS Last Day to Register is September 30, 2026
• Classes start on October 5.

Learn more about earning your Washington Gardener Certificate or becoming a WSU Extension Master Gardener at: https://greenschool.extension.wsu.edu

🌱 🌿 💧 🐝 📚 🏡 🔬

08/16/2026

🌟 Join Us! Empower Communities to Bloom and Thrive
As a Master Gardener, you’ll gain new skills, connect with others, and make a lasting impact.

🗓️ Apply by September 16th to be part of something meaningful. Applications for the 2026-2027 EMG Program in Cowlitz County received after September 16th may be considered if time and space allow.

Apply for EMG Program here: https://wsu.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6M4Ia3PWxgya5ds

08/16/2026

Tip of the Week:

Time to top your Tomato plants!

Topping tomato plants means cutting off the growing tip near the top of the plant so it stops putting energy into new leaves and flowers and instead focuses on ripening the fruit it already has.

Why top tomatoes now

In mid-to-late summer, topping can help because:
More energy goes to existing fruit instead of new growth.
Green tomatoes ripen faster before cooler weather arrives.
Airflow improves, which can reduce disease pressure.
Tall plants become easier to manage and are less likely to flop or break.
Late flowers are removed, since they usually won’t have enough time to become ripe tomatoes before the season ends.
This is most useful for indeterminate tomatoes—the vining types that keep growing until frost. Determinate/bush tomatoes usually should not be topped unless the plant is damaged or out of control, because they set most of their crop at once.

How to top tomato plants

Find the highest fruit cluster you want to keep.
Go 1–2 leaf sets above that cluster.
Use clean pruners to cut off the main growing tip above those leaves.
Remove any new flower clusters that are unlikely to ripen in time.
You can also pinch out very small suckers near the top if the plant is still pushing lots of new growth.
Water consistently afterward, and avoid heavy fertilizing with nitrogen.

When to do it

A good rule is to top indeterminate tomatoes about 4–6 weeks before your expected first frost. In your area, doing it around now can make sense if nights are starting to cool or your plants are still producing lots of flowers and new vine growth.

Quick caution

Don’t remove too many leaves around the fruit—tomatoes still need foliage to feed the plant and protect fruit from sunscald. Keep healthy leaves, especially those shading exposed tomatoes.

Enjoy your harvest!

08/10/2026

🌱 Unlock the secrets of gardening in Washington state! Our flexible, expert-led online Washington Gardener Certificate course offers research-based insights from horticulture professionals. Don’t miss out—this course is only available once a year! 🌿
• WGS Registration opens August 17, 2026.
• WGS Last Day to Register is September 30, 2026
• Classes start on October 5.

Learn more about earning your Washington Gardener Certificate or becoming a WSU Extension Master Gardener at: https://greenschool.extension.wsu.edu

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