Horticulture
UI Extension, Bonner County works with nursery and Christmas tree growers, landscapers, garden centers and groundskeepers to improve their businesses through workshops, research and publications.
Topics
North Idaho Turf Tree and Landscape Conference
The North Idaho Turf, Tree and Landscape Conference is held each February.
The conference is made possible through a partnership between UI Extension and the Idaho Nursery and Landscape Association.
For more information, please contact Jennifer Jensen at jenjensen@uidaho.edu.
The UI Extension's Idaho Master Gardener Program consists of dedicated volunteers who provide gardening and horticulture information to Bonner County residents through classes, field days, demonstration gardens and other activities.
Through the Idaho Master Gardener training sessions, you will gain knowledge in a wide variety of horticultural subjects. This knowledge increases your skills and enables you to assist fellow gardeners with horticultural questions.
Contact the UI Extension, Bonner County office for details on the next class.
Contact the UI Extension, Bonner County office at 208-263-8511 to get involved. Visit the UI Extension's Idaho Master Gardener Program website for more information.
- Wednesdays
- 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Our plant clinic distributes growing information and solves problems concerning cultivated plants, including vegetables, fruits, herbs and ornamentals.
Volunteers are available in the office during plant clinic hours. Samples and the Plant Clinic Form (PDF) can be dropped off during office hours.
In order for us to assure accuracy and speed, please follow these guidelines closely:
- Submit several specimens, if possible.
Identification Process
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Insect I.D. requests will first be examined by our Idaho Master Gardener volunteers.
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They will determine if it is a damaging or poisonous insect.
- If it is not and the client still wants the insect identified, it will be sent to the UI insect identification laboratory, which takes about 2 weeks.
For better accuracy and speed, please follow these guidelines closely:
- Samples should include flowers or fruit, leaves and stems.
- Wrap plants in a dry paper towel and place in a gallon Ziploc bag.
- For woody trees and shrubs, submit a 1-2 foot section of a branch.
- For non-woody (herbaceous) plants, submit an entire plant, if possible.
Native Plant Identification (Specialty Area)
Please contact this agency with specific questions.
Kinnikinnick Native Plant Society
PO Box 1092
Sandpoint, ID 83864
In order for us to assure accuracy and speed, please follow these guidelines closely:
- Submit several plant parts with varying degrees of severity.
- Include one healthy sample, if possible.
- If a branch is partially affected, bring in a section where it changes from healthy to unhealthy.
- Wrap all plants in a dry paper towel and place in a gallon Ziploc bag.
Please contact these agencies with specific questions.
University of Idaho Panhandle Area Forestry Program
Sandpoint Ranger District
1602 Ontario St
Sandpoint, ID, 83864-9509
Phone: 208-263-5111
Fax: 208-265-6670
Idaho Department of Lands
Pend Orielle Supervisory Area
2550 Hwy 2 West
Sandpoint ID 83864
Phone: 208-263-5104
Please do not bring in samples. Idaho Master Gardeners can identify the problem through a description of the mounds made by a rodent.
Information on garden rodent control can be found at the Idaho Landscapes and Gardens website.
Please contact these centers with specific questions.
All-Seasons Garden Center
31831 Highway 200 E
Sandpoint, ID 83864
Phone: 208-265-2944
Ponderay Garden Center
477703 Highway 95
Ponderay, ID 83852
Phone: 208-255-4200
Moose Valley Garden Center
Highway 95 Milepost 495.5
138 Latigo Lane
Naples, ID 83847
Phone: 208-267-5108
Websites
- U of I Nursery for Professionals. This is a virtual program designed to support Idaho’s ornamental nursery and landscape industries through a network of research and Extension faculty across the state.
- Pacific Northwest Christmas Tree Association. A professional organization for individuals and firms active in the Christmas tree industry.
- Inland Empire Christmas Tree Association. A collaboration of tree growers from Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington who share information and stay up-to-date on leading trends and technology.
- Idaho Nursery and Landscape Association. Industry association that supports members through education, research and marketing.
Publications
- North Carolina State University: Best Management Practices for Field Production of Nursery Stock (PDF). Information on general field production of shade trees.
- ATTRA: Sustainable Small-Scale Nursery Production. This publication focuses on the sustainable production of woody and herbaceous nursery plants, both in containers and in the field.
- Pest Management Strategic Plan for Christmas Trees (PDF). This document includes an overview of Christmas tree production, an analysis of pest pressures during production and key control measures.
Gardening
For general information on how to grow cultivated plants in Idaho, we recommend these resources:
- Tree Fruit Varieties (PDF)
- Strawberry Varieties (PDF)
- Specialty Farming — Selecting a Site (EXT 744)
- Raspberry Varieties (PDF)
- North Idaho Weather Records (PDF)
- Huckleberries and Bilberries (PDF)
- Herbs (PDF)
- Haskaps and Honeyberries (PDF)
- Grape Varieties (PDF)
- Currant Varieties (PDF)
- Gooseberry Varieties (PDF)
- Blueberry Varieties (PDF)
- Blackberry Varieties (PDF)