Missoula County Plant Clinic: Diagnostics, Teaching, and Horticultural Supports

Published: 2022
By Sandy Perrin

The Missoula County MSU Extension Plant Clinic provided leadership and educational opportunities to the public on the identification and integrated pest management practices (IPM) of plant diseases, pests and related plant health problems through emails, phone calls, walk-ins and site visits. Weekly scouting and trapping for insects in fruit orchards help define effective control and time management options to reduce unwarranted pesticide use. Presentations were given throughout the season: Dormant Pest Control was presented to a group of 20 during a fruit tree pruning workshop; 'Common pests and control measures in your yard' was presented at a local nursery to 12 people; 'Good gardening practices' was presented to 8 people at a local church, 10 participants learned about edible weeds in a “Eat Your Weeds” class at the public library; a garden pests tour was held at a local community garden for 10 people; and 'Common insect and diseases in your landscape' was presented to 20 Master Gardeners in Helena. Clinic staff worked with City Parks and Grow Safe Missoula to develop an Organic Lawn Care guide that was produced and distributed throughout the City of Missoula.