Horticulture in Kootenai County

Gardening and horticulture  

UI Extension in Kootenai County offers research-based horticulture education along with affordable workshops and classes on gardening, horticulture, homesteading and permaculture. 

We also offer a Plant Clinic and Demonstration Garden. Contact the UI Extension, Kootenai County office at kootenaimg@uidaho.edu or 208-292-2525 for current class dates.

Master gardener program

Each year, hundreds of master gardeners share their gardening knowledge across the communities they serve. Master gardeners develop and share expertise in topics such as:

• Sustainable yards and gardens
• Gardening and food production
• Integrated pest management techniques
• Improving soil fertility
• Choosing the right trees
• Growing turf grass

Individuals interested in becoming an Idaho Master Gardener should:

• Have an interest in, some knowledge of, and experience with basic gardening and related horticultural topics
• Be able to communicate effectively with the public
• Be willing to research and consult with an unbiased approach toward horticulture topics
• Be willing to complete 40 to 50 hours of instruction from February to April and provide a minimum of 40 to 60 hours of volunteer service annually from April to October to certify each year

Interested in becoming a master gardener? Sign up online.

Certification of master gardeners occurs every few years. We thank the Kootenai County Board of County Commissioners for the ongoing support of the program.

Speaking engagement or booth

Throughout the year master gardeners are available to speak or setup an information booth at community events and garden clubs. We ask for four weeks notice to schedule. Select to request an Idaho Master Gardener.

Community horticulture classes

Master gardeners provide various community gardening and horticultural classes in late winter, spring and fall through the Growing in Northern Idaho Class series.

A complete list of current topics and class descriptions is available on our event page. Preregistration and prepayment are required.

Diagnostic plant clinic

Idaho Master Gardeners and the Plant Clinic are available to answer your gardening questions.  

• Walk-in services are available every Tuesday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. from April through September at the UI Extension, Kootenai County office. We offer numerous resources and a lab to address your questions.
• The Plant Clinic is open by appointment only during October through March. Please call 208-292-1377 or email kootenaimg@uidaho.edu to schedule.
• Master gardeners host a booth at the Kootenai County Farmer’s Market from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on most Saturdays during the market season.

Submission guidelines

To ensure accuracy and expediency, please follow these guidelines closely. If you have Plant Clinic questions beyond what our forms have to offer below, please email kootenaimg@uidaho.edu. During peak Plant Clinic months, expect a response in about two weeks.

• Place the insect specimen or plant sample on a background that highlights all features through contrast. For example, choose a light background for dark insects or a dark background for white flowers.
• Put a standard U.S. penny or dime next to the specimen or sample to show size.
• If the specimen or sample is tiny (smaller than a pinhead), you might need to use a hand magnifying lens to get a clear view.
• Take multiple photos to get the best shots from different angles. Make sure to include all parts, as outlined in the submission guidelines on this page.

Plants, trees/shrubs and turf problems

Fill out the online plant problem form to the best of your ability.  

• Plants: Show problem, stem, leaves, flower and fruit. Show roots if necessary.
• Trees/shrubs: Show the progression of the issue, including branches and leaves or needles. Ensure the photos are clear if the problem is on the trunk.
• Turf: Show at least a 12 square-inch section of the problem area that includes both healthy and unhealthy conditions.

Weed and plant identification

Please fill out our online weed and plant identification form to the best of your ability.

Insect identification

Please fill out our online insect problem form to the best of your ability. You can also visit the U of I Insect Identification website for help with insect identification.

Soil testing

The U of I Analytical Sciences Laboratory (ASL) provides comprehensive analytical services in the area of soil analyses, including fertility testing and environmental analyses. Contact asl@uidaho.edu for information on how to submit a sample.

If you are in need of a test that’s not listed, please contact ASL at asl@uidaho.edu or call Ryan Foster, manager, at 208-885-5647.

Noxious weed control department

The Kootenai County Noxious Weed Control Department assists the public and government agencies with identification and control methods for noxious weeds. For more information, please contact kcnoxiousweeds@kcgov.us or call 208-446-1290. 

Pollination project and demonstration garden

The Pollination Project and Demonstration Garden inspires and educates our region about pollinators and ecosystems present in healthy, innovative gardens and landscapes. We accomplish this mission through education and demonstration about who our pollinators are, what habitats they need and how to provide them with necessary resources of food, shelter and protection while creating healthy landscapes and gardens that are beautiful and practical.  

Our garden shows you how to combine regionally native, nearly-native and non-native plants and shrubs to support these pollinators. Our plants are from local nurseries, many are native to the western U.S., and some are locally native to North Idaho, the nearby region or from a line of nearly-native plants named Native Roots.

A guide to native and nearly-native plants

Our garden elements and plants are labeled and guide you through environmentally supportive, biodiverse and resilient plant selections. Through color palette displays and plant labels, the Pollination Project shows you how to integrate plants you find in local nurseries with native and nearly-native plants in beautiful and useful designs.

Reducing pesticides demonstration

A rotating display area shows you vegetable gardening techniques that reduce or eliminate the use of pesticides. We use many easy and affordable tools to fool pests. You can see them in action in our garden and use them to adapt your own practices to better support the larger ecosystem we call home. We also display our favorite vegetables bred here in Idaho. Our entire garden promotes best practices to continue environmental stewardship of our soils, waterways and the beautiful community we live in.

A haven for native bees

In our garden, you will see different types of nesting materials and houses for native bees. In the spring, we raise Osmia lignaria, native blue orchard mason bees, and in the summer, you will see native leafcutter bees nesting. We also participate in the Native Bee Network where volunteers place special houses and nesting materials throughout the community in order to attract cavity nesting pollinators. This allows us to observe and collect information about which native bees and beneficial wasps are in our area.

How you can help

The Pollination Project and Demonstration Garden are supported by volunteers and donations. Any donation made to this project is tax-deductible. Download our donation form (pdf) and return it to our office with a check or cash. You can also support pollinators in your landscape and garden with these tips:

• Choose regional native plants to support local insects and the food web, making your garden popular among pollinators.
• Choose nectar- and pollen-rich flowers with diverse shapes, sizes and colors. Different pollinators have unique methods of gathering food, with some using different tongue lengths or accessing various flower shapes and sizes.
• Avoid a monoculture of modern hybrids. Plant what you like but note that many hybrids are bred for showy flowers with limited pollen and nectar access.
• Have a variety of plants blooming from early spring to late fall, with overlapping bloom periods ensuring something is always in flower.
• Plant clusters of three or more similar flowers to boost visibility.
• Avoid landscape fabric and mulch in some areas, as dry soil benefits ground-nesting pollinators.
• Save garden cleanup for spring. Support all insect stages by keeping leaves in piles for butterflies, beetles and moths. Only prune seed heads to allow cavity-nesting bees to overwinter in hollow stems.

To learn more about the program contact kootenaimg@uidaho.edu or 208-292-2525.

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