Brooke Edmunds

she/her/hers

Community Horticulture , Master Gardeners

Contact me about the Master Gardener Program or gardening questions from Marion or Polk counties

Expertise: Community science , Bees and pollinators , Berries and fruit , Flowers, shrubs and trees , Garden soil and compost , Garden vegetables and herbs , Gardening techniques , Lawn and turfgrass , Urban forestry , Insects , Pesticide safety and education , Plant diseases , Weeds

Programs: Marion County Master Gardeners , Polk County Master Gardeners

Locations: Marion County , Polk County

About
Content
Publications
Awards

Biography

Brooke Edmunds is the OSU Extension Community Horticulturist in Marion and Polk Counties and associate professor (practice) in the OSU Department of Horticulture. She has a Ph.D in Plant Pathology from North Carolina State University and has previously worked for the Oregon Department of Agriculture and Colorado State University Extension. Her focus is on meeting the community horticulture needs in Marion and Polk counties.

In her Extension role, she oversees the Master Gardener programs in each county. She also coordinates research-based educational programs in community food systems and IPM. Outside of work, Brooke enjoys spending time with her family, hiking, gardening, and exploring beautiful Oregon.

Content by Brooke Edmunds

Pressure-treated wood for raised bed construction in the Willamette Valley

Pressure-treated wood is an economical option for improving the life of raised garden beds. However, some gardeners have concerns about the potential for the chemicals used to preserve the wood to contaminate the soil and plants....

Brooke Edmunds, Gerald Presley, Matt Konkler | Feb 2024 | Article Peer reviewed (Gray level)

Is vinegar effective for killing weeds?

Q: What do you recommend for keeping weeds at bay in planting beds? We'd like to stop using Round-Up. Our beds are too big and the weeds are too numerous to be able to keep up mechanically. Would a vinegar solution be harmful to the soil?

A: View answer | View all featured questions

Grow Your Own Peppers

Peppers come in a great variety of sizes, shapes, colors and tastes. They produce a large yield in a small amount of space. Learn the secrets to growing great peppers in Oregon.

Brooke Edmunds, James Myers, Ed Peachey | May 2023 | Extension Catalog publication Peer reviewed (Orange level)

Growing annual morning glory

Annual morning glory (Ipomoea spp.) is a quick-growing flowering vine that thrives in warm sunny spots. But just mentioning the name ‘morning glory ‘can cause concern among some. If you’ve lived in warmer areas of the ...

Brooke Edmunds | Apr 2023 | Article Peer reviewed (Gray level)

PNW Insect Management Handbook - Mealybugs of Grapes

The PNW Insect Management Handbook provides Oregon-specific information on mealybugs and their management including labeled insecticides.

Patricia A. Skinkis, Vaughn Walton, Brooke Edmunds | Dec 2022 | Online resource

Pacific Poison-oak and Western Poison-ivy: Identification and Management

Discusses how to identify and control Pacific poison-oak and western poison-ivy, and how to prevent exposure to the plants' oily substance, urushiol, which can cause an allergic contact dermatitis.

Brooke Edmunds, Lauren Grand, Alicia Christiansen, Andy Hulting | Nov 2022 | Extension Catalog publication Peer reviewed (Orange level)

Through thoughtful practices, lawns can be climate-friendly

Love your grass lawn but want to make your landscape more climate-friendly? There are thoughtful ways to keep a lawn as part of your landscape while balancing climate change concerns.

Alec Kowalewski, Brooke Edmunds, Ruying (Wrennie) Wang | Sep 2022 | Article Peer reviewed (Gray level)

Winter Vegetable Production on Small Farms and Gardens West of the Cascades

The mild climate west of the Cascades allows farmers and gardeners to grow many winter-hardy crops in the field for winter and spring harvest. A wide range of alliums, leafy greens, brassicas and root crops do...

Nick Andrews, Heather Stoven, Heidi Noordijk, Lane Selman, Kelly Streit, Brooke Edmunds, Neil Bell, Victoria Binning | Jun 2022 | Extension Catalog publication Peer reviewed (Orange level)

Microgreens Grow Along

Welcome to the Microgreens Grow Along workshop hosted by Oregon State University Extension and Food Hero. This is a bilingual (English & Spanish) online workshop for beginners. Follow the daily lessons and in two weeks you'll be enjoying tasty microgreens.

Brooke Edmunds, Joyce Senior Angulo | Project Peer reviewed (Gray level)

Top tips for gardeners to help fight climate change

As Oregon gardeners have noticed, our climate is changing — it's hotter, drier and more severe. Learn how to adapt your home garden to climate change, from consuming less to planting with the environment in mind.

Brooke Edmunds | Sep 2021 | Article Peer reviewed (Gray level)

How to protect yourself from ticks

Ticks are a common nuisance for hikers, gardeners and those who enjoy the outdoors. They feed on the blood of humans and animals, and can spread disease. Learn how to identify ticks and how to protect yourself.

Brooke Edmunds | Jun 2021 | Article Peer reviewed (Gray level)

How do I test my garden soil?

Learn why you should test your garden soil and the different kinds of tests to ask for. Resources include instructions for how to collect a soil sample for testing and a short video demonstration.

Brooke Edmunds | Apr 2021 | Article Peer reviewed (Gray level)

How do wildfires affect bees?

How do wildfires affect Oregon bees? Flames and heat can destroy their nests and smoke can disrupt their navigation abilities. But research shows they rebound strongly along with other flora and fauna after a fire.

Andony Melathopoulos, Brooke Edmunds, Jim Rivers | Sep 2020 | Article Peer reviewed (Gray level)

What should I do about the wildfire ash covering my yard and garden?

Q: My shrubs are covered in ash. When this is over should I take a hose and spray them off?

A: View answer | View all featured questions

Is it safe to eat my garden produce affected by wildfires?

Q: We have a lot of smoke in our area, is it safe to eat produce that has been affected by wildfires?

A: View answer | View all featured questions

Managing Crane Fly in Lawns

Crane flies are large, gangly insects that do little damage as adults. But crane fly larvae are known for chewing through patches of lawn, damaging roots as grass starts growing in spring. Learn how to prevent damage to your grass with simple maintenance and irrigation practices.

Alec Kowalewski, Brooke Edmunds, Brian McDonald, Emily Braithwaite | Sep 2020 | Extension Catalog publication Peer reviewed (Orange level)

Raised Bed Gardening

Gives step-by-step instructions for building a raised bed. Discusses special considerations for growing plants in raised beds as well as long-term maintenance of beds.

Brooke Edmunds | Sep 2020 | Extension Catalog publication Peer reviewed (Orange level)

Solve Pest and Weed Problems: A New Resource for Master Gardeners and the Public

This webinar is part of the 2020 series of Advanced Training Webinars for Master Gardeners sponsored by Oregon State University Extension.

Weston Miller, Brooke Edmunds | Jul 2020 | Video

Start your own vegetables from seeds

Learn about starting vegetables from seeds. Start inside small pots in the early spring and then move them to larger pots as they grow. Use the right soil, pots, and lights to produce healthy plants! Growing Your Own: https://catalog.extension.oregonstate.edu/em9027

Brooke Edmunds | Jun 2020 | Video

Get Slugs out of your Garden!

Learn about different methods to keep slugs out of your garden. Make your own traps from items around your house.

Brooke Edmunds | Jun 2020 | Video

Oh Rats! Dealing with Non-native Rodents in the Garden

Join Dr. Dana Sanchez (Oregon State University Extension Wildlife Specialist) for a special session on managing rats in yards, gardens, and compost piles.

Dana Sanchez, Brooke Edmunds | May 2020 | Video

Webinar-Winter Squash Research at OSU

This webinar is part of the 2020 series of Advanced Training Webinars for Master Gardeners sponsored by Oregon State University Extension. Join Dr. Alex Stone and Lane Selman (both of the OSU Department of Horticulture) for a ...

Alexandra Stone, Lane Selman, Brooke Edmunds | May 2020 | Video

Dueling with Diggers: Gophers, Moles, Voles, and Ground Squirrels

This presentation will increase your understanding of the biology of common digging pests including gophers, moles, voles, and ground squirrels.

Dana Sanchez, Brooke Edmunds | Apr 2020 | Video

Gardening with Native Plants and the OregonFlora Project

Join Dr. Linda Hardison of OregonFlora at Oregon State University for a special webinar on native plants in the garden.

Brooke Edmunds, Linda Hardison | Apr 2020 | Video

Updates from the OSU Garden Ecology Lab (2020 edition!)

In this webinar you will be updated on the very latest research coming out of the OSU Garden Ecology Lab.

Gail Langellotto, Brooke Edmunds | Mar 2020 | Video

Managing Diseases and Insects in Home Orchards

This pest management guide is for the home gardener. It recommends management practices for controlling diseases and insects in home orchards. It doesn't meet the exacting requirements of the commercial fruit grower.

Jay W. Pscheidt, Heather Stoven, Ashley Thompson, Brooke Edmunds, Nik Wiman, Richard Hilton | Mar 2020 | Extension Catalog publication Peer reviewed (Orange level)

Managing Moss in Lawns

Fed up with moss taking over your lawn? Oregon State University Extension Service turf specialist helps you learn about the conditions that encourage moss growth and the steps you can take to promote a healthy, moss-free lawn.

Alec Kowalewski, Brooke Edmunds | Dec 2017 | Video

Managing Moss in Lawns in Western Oregon

This video demonstrates how to identify and eliminate moss from your lawn. It is a companion to OSU Extension publication EM 9175.

Brooke Edmunds, Alec Kowalewski | Dec 2017 | Extension Catalog publication Peer reviewed (Orange level)

How to over winter and prune berries?

Q: How do I prepare my berry plants for the winter? Once I heard to bury the blueberries, is that true?

A: View answer | View all featured questions

How to deter cats from my garden?

Q: My daughter's cat digs in my flower bed and leaves holes and scatters dirt everywhere, uproots bulbs, etc. What can I use that is a natural remedy, something safe for the environment.

A: View answer | View all featured questions

Nurturing Mason Bees in Your Backyard in Western Oregon

An overview of mason bee basic biology and life cycle, and detailed descriptions of what is needed to start keeping mason bees, including desirable plants, nesting sites and types of nests, and caring for the ...

Brooke Edmunds, Richard Little, Ramesh Sagili | Feb 2016 | Extension Catalog publication Peer reviewed (Orange level)

Blackberry removal tips?

Q: I have chopped down blackberry canes into fairly small pieces in my backyard. Can I leave them on the ground, or can these pieces of cane resprout? I'm not interested in using any kind of chemicals. If I dig up the ...

A: View answer | View all featured questions

Landscape Maintenance to Conserve Water

This 1-page infographic explains how to conserve water while maintaining your landscape.

Brooke Edmunds, Ann Marie VanDerZanden, Jan McNeilan | Dec 2015 | Extension Catalog publication Peer reviewed (Orange level)

Keys to Water-efficient Landscapes

This 1-page infographic explains how to efficiently water different parts of your home landscape.

Brooke Edmunds, Ann Marie VanDerZanden, Jan McNeilan | Dec 2015 | Extension Catalog publication Peer reviewed (Orange level)

It Pays to Water Wisely

This 1-page infographic outlines how to conserve water in your garden by irrigating appropriately.

Brooke Edmunds, Ann Marie VanDerZanden, Jan McNeilan | Dec 2015 | Extension Catalog publication Peer reviewed (Orange level)

Conserving Water in Your Yard and Garden

Save water by improving your soil, selecting appropriate plants and watering wisely.

Ann Marie VanDerZanden, Brooke Edmunds, J. McNeilan | Nov 2015 | Extension Catalog publication Peer reviewed (Orange level)

Ideal tree varieties for planting near powerlines?

Q: I have a utility pole in my yard that I would like to disguise with an ornamental tree. I can't have a tree that grows too tall and was thinking about a dogwood. What would you recommend?

A: View answer | View all featured questions

Can I add sand from the beach to my soil?

Q: I'd like to mix more sand into my soil to help break up the clay. If I collect sand from an ocean beach, should I be worried about too much salt in the sand and it impacting my soil? If I were to use the beach...

A: View answer | View all featured questions

Rose pruning, better late or never?

Q: For the last 8-10 yrs I've been good about pruning my climbing rosebush and its has thrived. This year I didn't get to it in February, as I usually do, now it's April and not looking great. Will it harm the bush if I do my usual pruning in April?

A: View answer | View all featured questions

Methods to control blackberry thickets

With good timing and dedication, property owners can reduce a sprawling blackberry thicket to a few manageable stragglers

Kym Pokorny | Mar 14, 2023 | News story

No room for vegetables? Pot up your plants

There are some dwarf and miniature varieties of vegetables, such as Thumbelina carrots or other baby vegetables that work particularly well in small confines.

Kym Pokorny | Mar 26, 2021 | News story

Don’t let lack of room discourage you from gardening

Save space and reap a harvest by growing vegetables in containers.

Kym Pokorny | May 11, 2020 | News story

Go miniature with a glass terrarium

Give your terrarium your own spin with accessories from sea shells and drift wood to miniature garden and animal pieces.

Kym Pokorny | Mar 8, 2019 | News story

How to keep frustrating felines out of the garden

When you're fed up with cats in the garden, there are some measures you can take that will help keep them out.

Kym Pokorny | Apr 13, 2018 | News story

Dodge the raindrops and finish fall garden tasks

Gardeners tend to think of fall as the time to put bulbs in the ground, but the warm soil and increasing moisture make it a great time to plant most anything.

Kym Pokorny | Nov 5, 2021 | News story