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WSU Master Gardeners support local orchard industry

(Photo and article submitted by WSU Chelan-Douglas Master Gardener Program)

The WSU Chelan-Douglas Master Gardener Program recently conducted a class for homeowners on pruning backyard fruit trees. The March 7 class at the WSU Tree Fruit Research & Extension Center (TFREC) drew 25 attendees, which is the cap organizers set for the class.

The growing pressure for WSU Extension’s commercial fruit tree production resources leaves a gap in education for backyard fruit growers in Chelan and Douglas counties. The local WSU Master Gardener Program, which is part of the WSU Chelan County Extension department, and its volunteer members fill that gap.

The three-hour class on March 7 first focused on the principles of tree fruit pruning in a classroom setting before moving to the nearby TFREC orchard, where those principles were reinforced using marked limbs on a variety of fruit trees.

The session is part of the local WSU Master Gardener Program’s efforts to provide education to homeowners with backyard fruit trees so they can avoid the various diseases and pests that can negatively impact their own personal fruit production and also impact nearby commercial fruit orchards.

“The WSU Master Gardeners are aware of the real potential that disease and pest issues originating in a backyard fruit tree could spread to nearby commercial orchards,” said Marco Martinez, coordinator of the WSU Chelan-Douglas Master Gardener Program. “We work with backyard fruit tree owners to make them aware of the legal obligation they have to maintain their trees to avoid that from happening.”

Questions about growing and properly maintaining backyard fruit trees can be emailed to askamastergardener@chelandouglasmg.org. You can also speak directly with WSU Master Gardeners during the program’s weekly in-person Plant & Insect Diagnosis Clinic from 1 to 4 p.m. every Monday in the Sagebrush Room at the Wenatchee Public Library, 310 Douglas St.

You can also follow the program’s Facebook page or visit the program’s website to learn about upcoming WSU Master Gardener classes.

Last Updated: 03/19/2026 04:10 PM

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