Horticultural oils when used correctly can be an attractive alternative to traditional pesticides. But are they right for your garden?

Learn how to use horticultural oils with confidence to control disease and insects in your home vegetable garden and orchard from veteran Master Gardener Bob Cain, as he presents “Using Horticultural Oils” from noon-1 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 24, on Zoom.

Join by computer at wsu.zoom.us/j/92007991742?pwd=OWxtbmNBditKd3ordjA2WEFyME9PUT09. Or join by phone by calling 253-215-8782 (meeting ID 920 0799 1742, passcode 709395).

As part of the Green Thumbs Garden Tips education series, Cain will cover the basics of what a horticultural oil is and what factors to consider when purchasing oils, as well as the correct methods for spraying, and the use of safety and protective equipment.

In addition, he will highlight why and when to spray, and what diseases and insects can be effectively controlled by the use of horticultural oils in both organic and non-organic gardening.

Cain earned his undergraduate and master’s degrees in biology and chemistry and has a Ph.D. in chemistry. He has 40 years of experience growing vegetables in Scotland, Ireland, Colorado and Washington sats. Bob is a veteran of the Clallam County Master Gardeners since 2009.

He has written monthly articles on plant disease for the Clallam County Master Gardener Newsletter and is a frequent contributor to gardening columns in the local newspaper. He was celebrated as the 2009 Master Gardener Intern of the Year and 2011 Master Gardener of the Year. He served as the Garden Manager of the Woodcock Demonstration Garden in Sequim for seven years and is a past president and board member of the Master Gardener Foundation of Clallam County.

Sponsored by WSU Clallam County Master Gardeners, the Green Thumbs Garden Tips education series seeks to provide home gardeners with education on research-based sustainable garden practices in Clallam County.

The series is offered via streaming presentations from noon-1 p.m. the second and fourth Thursday each month through October (in November, December and January, one program is offered). Scheduled presentations are subject to change. Visit the WSU Extension Clallam County website calendar (extension.wsu.edu/clallam) for the latest information on upcoming presentations.

For more information, call 360-565-2679.