May & June Landscaping Chores

Aerate existing lawns to reduce compaction and increase water penetration.

Deep water lawn, allowing it to dry between waterings.

Early June is a good time to set out annuals, perennials, and warm season vegetables.  Thin apricot and plum blossoms 3 to 5 inches apart; thin pears, peaches, and apples 4 to 6 inches apart.  Pull weakest beets, carrots, lettuce, radishes, turnips, and other new vegetables to the recommended spacing.

Trim blooming shrubs immediately after flowers have faded.

Allow spring bulbs to completely dry out before removing their foliage.

Fertilize lawn with a slow-release fertilizer.  Do not use weed killer/fertilizer combinations around trees and shrubs - they can seriously damage your broad-leaf plants.  It is more effective and less expensive to spot treat broad-leaf weeds with 2,4-D and fertilize separately.

Powdery mildew may show up on your roses, pansies, lupines, or apple trees.  Thin inner branches of roses to improve air circulation, and apply a mildew-fighting fungicide to foliage.

After removing all weeds from shrub areas, mulch the plants.  Spread a layer of mulch at least 1 or 2 inches deep around plants to retain moisture and discourage weed growth.

Do I Really Need a Permit For My Rainbarrel?

Why is Ecology Engaged in Rainwater Collection Rulemaking? Like most of the western United States, Washington follows the Prior Appropriation Doctrine for water rights, the major tenet being "first in time, first in right." State law defines water resources as “all water above, upon, or beneath the surface of the ...


Combine Citizen Science with Native Plant Education

Project BudBurst has targeted 75 native trees, shrubs, wildflowers, and grasses for citizens to monitor throughout the year.  By recording the timing of the leafing and flowering of native species each year, scientists can learn about the  prevailing climatic characteristics in a region over time.  Everything you need to know ...


New On-Line Resources

FUTURE OF FARMING REPORT Washington State Department of Agriculture produced this state-wide strategic plan for Washington agriculture at the request of the 2007 Legislature.  Carried out during 2008, the project sought input on the present conditions and future challenges of agriculture from as many industry segments as possible.  The Future of ...


New Cost-Share Program

The Board of Supervisors for Eastern Klickitat Conservation District has a new cost-share program available for agricultural producers in the District, to assist with the implementation of  "precision agriculture" practices. The policy applies to the NEW use of technology (procedures not previously used) and is paid on a per-acre basis.  The ...


Welcome!

The Eastern Klickitat Conservation District is pleased to debut it's new website to the public. The District meets the second Tuesday of each month, at 6:00 pm (March-October) or 1:00 pm (November-February) at the Bickleton Fire Hall. The public is welcome to attend. The EKCD is a proud member of the ...