brooke.edmunds [at] oregonstate.edu Office:
My focus is on meeting the community horticulture needs in Marion, Polk, Linn, and Benton counties. In this role, I oversee the Master Gardener volunteer programs in each county. I also coordinate research-based educational programs in community food systems and Integrated Pest Management.
At OSU
Biography
I was born in Roseburg, OR and grew up in Vancouver, WA and Chicago, IL. I earned a BS in Plant Health and Protection and an MS in Plant Pathology from Iowa State University and a PhD in plant pathology from North Carolina State University. I've worked as a Regional Extension Specialist for Colorado State University and a Plant Pathologist for the Oregon Department of Agriculture.
My Awards
My Publications
Outreach and Extension
Extension Service Site Publications (2024) Garden Future What's the future of gardening in Oregon? Changes in climate are impacting gardening. We're talking about it and gathering solutions to support gardeners now and into the future. Learn how Oregon gardeners are experiencing climate change and creating resilient gardens. Garden Future is a project of the OSU Extension Master Gardener program. (2024) 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. Learn more about a study at Oregon State University to answer two common questions: 1) Do raised beds constructed from pressure treated wood leach copper into the soil, and 2) if leaching does happen, do the vegetables and herbs grown in the raised bed absorb the copper? (2023) Is vinegar effective for killing weeds? (2023) 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 United States, you might know annual morning glory as a nuisance weed. And the hard-to-manage weeds called bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis) and hedge bindweed (Calystegia sepium) share the common name of ‘morning glory’, but are very different plants. Learn how to identify them, and how to grow annual morning glory. (2022) PNW Insect Management Handbook - Mealybugs of Grapes The PNW Insect Management Handbook provides Oregon-specific information on mealybugs and their management including labeled insecticides. (2015) Conserving Water in Your Yard and Garden Save water by improving your soil, selecting appropriate plants and watering wisely. (2022) 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. (2021) Taller de Cultivo de Microplantas Bienvenido al Taller de Cultivo de Microplantas organizado por el Servicio de Extensión de Oregon State University y Héroe de Alimentos. Este es un taller en línea bilingüe (inglés y español) para principiantes. Siga las lecciones diarias y en dos semanas disfrutará de sabrosas microplantas. (2020) 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. (2021) 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. (2021) 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. (2021) 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. (2021) 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. (2020) 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. (2020) What should I do about the wildfire ash covering my yard and garden? (2020) Is it safe to eat my garden produce affected by wildfires? (2017) 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. (2020) 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! (2020) 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. (2022) 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. (2017) Managing Moss in Lawns in Western Oregon The mild, wet winters in western Oregon encourage the growth of lawn mosses. This publication describes the factors that contribute to this growth and provides tips for reducing problems. It is a companion to OSU Extension video EM 9176. (2016) How to deter cats from my garden? (2016) Blackberry removal tips done naturally? (2015) Landscape maintenance to conserve water Learn simple steps to conserve water while you work in your landscape, through pruning, fertilizing and mowing. (2015) Keys to water-efficient landscapes Reduce your water use by up to 75% by planning your landscape and selecting the right plants. (2015) It pays to water wisely Discover smart water usage tips for your garden and landscape. Learn about efficient irrigation systems, best times to water, and prioritizing watering to conserve water and maintain healthy plants. (2016) 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 cocoons over fall and winter. There are many helpful color photos throughout. (2015) Ideal tree varieties for planting near powerlines? (2022) 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 well. For gardeners, these winter vegetables provide fresh, nutritious, homegrown produce from November to April. For farmers, winter vegetable production can provide cash flow outside the normal summer cropping season, more consistent work for employees and year-round relationships with direct-market customers. (2020) 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. (2020) 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. (2023) 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. (2014) Rose pruning, better late or never?
