Wendy Hanson Mazet

Program Officer III

Office: (775) 784-4848
Email: hansonw@unr.edu
Address: 4955 Energy Way, Reno, Nevada 89502
Representing: Washoe County
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Programs

A workforce development program to train green industry professionals, who receive continuing education units for pesticide applicator, ISA-certified arborist and Qualified Water Efficient Landscaper

Grow Your Own, Nevada!

Learn the secrets of high desert gardening

Pink, yellow, and purple native flowers in landscape surrounded by rock terrace landscaping

Home Horticulture Certificate Programs

Extension's Home Horticulture Certificate Program provides basic horticulture education to homeowners, educators and anyone interested in learning more about the Nevada landscapes, plants and more.

Garden plant and pest sprayers image by Olga Seifutdinova from Getty Images

Integrated Pest Management

Integrated Pest Management program is a long-term management strategy that uses a combination of tactics to reduce pests to tolerable levels with potentially lower costs for the pest manager and minimal effect on the environment.

Master Gardener Native Plants Demonstration Garden

Members of the Master Gardeners of Washoe County's Native Plants Committee maintain a small demonstration garden on the west side of Extension, Washoe County Office.

Master Gardeners of Nevada

Program trains local gardeners to provide research-based horticulture information to Nevadans.

Qualified Water Efficient Landscaper (QWEL)

Training will provide participants with local water, soil and plant information, basic and advanced irrigation principles and hands-on water audit skills they can use in the field

Weed Warriors Invasive Weed Training

The Nevada Noxious Weed Education Program, Weed Warriors program tackles the growing problem of spreading noxious and nuisance weeds on public and private land.

News & Journal Articles, Fact Sheets, Reports...

Blog Posts
Should I Water my Trees in the Winter? Winter tree watering isn't complicated, but it is often something people forget about. Here we explain the why and how. Jensen, C. 2026, University of Nevada, Reno Extension
Fact Sheets
Guía para los Propietarios de Viviendas en el Norte de Nevada Identificación y Manejo de la Hormiga Carpintera Las hormigas carpinteras son unas de las hormigas más grandes que existen en los Estados Unidos. Una colonia de hormigas carpinteras se compone por una reina y varios miles de hormigas obreras. Andrews, M.; Hanson-Mazet, W.; Kratsch, H with translation by Peterson, M. 2025, Extension, University of Nevada, Reno, FS-24-10
Guía para los Propietarios de Viviendas en el Norte de Nevada Identificación y Manejo de la Hormiga Cosechadora Hay 22 especies diferentes de hormigas cosechadoras en los Estados Unidos. El color de las hormigas cosechadoras varía desde el color negro hasta el café y el rojo, miden un tamaño promedio de 1/5 a 1/2 pulgada de largo. Viendo de cerca el cuerpo de una hormiga cosechadora se pueden observar dos nódulos entre el abdome Andrews, M.; Hanson-Mazet, W.; Kratsch, H. with translation by Peterson, M. 2025, Extension, University of Nevada, Reno
Guía para los Propietarios de Viviendas en el Norte de Nevada Identificación y Manejo de la Polilla Esfinge de Rayas Blancas Las polillas Esfinge de Rayas Blancas se alimentan del néctar de las plantas y no causan ningún daño. Además, es importante señalar que las polillas adultas son buenas polinizadoras de muchas de nuestras plantas. Andrews, M.; Hanson-Mazet, W.; Kratsch, H. with translation by Peterson, M. 2025, Extension, University of Nevada, Reno
Guia para los Propietarios de Viviendas en el Norte de Nevada ldentificacion y Manejo de las Polillas del Tabaco y del Tomate Se pueden encontrar polillas del tabaco y polillas del tomate en áreas que abarcan desde el sur de Canadá hasta el Caribe. Estas especies se asemejan bastante y se comportan similarmente. Andrews, M.; Hanson-Mazet, W.; Kratsch, H. with translation by Peterson, M. 2025, Extension, University of Nevada, Reno
"A Northern Nevada Homeowner's Guide to Identifying and Managing: House Ants House ants are some of the most common ants found in our communities, learn about identification of the two different species as well as control tactics. Andrews, M., Hanson Mazet, W., and Kratsch, H. 2024, Extension, University of Nevada, Reno, FS-24-14
Alternativas para Reemplazar el Césped en el Norte de Nevada Le presentamos algunas alternativas para reemplazar el cesped que pueden funcionar bien en el norte de Nevada. Reemplace su césped con alguna de las siguientes opciones y obtenga muchos beneficios, como el ahorro de agua, tiempo y dinero. Jensen, C.; Kratsch, H.; and Hanson Mazet, W. with translation by Peterson, M. and Diles, J. 2024, Extension, University of Nevada, Reno, FS-24-09
A Northern Nevada Homeowner's Guide to Identifying and Managing: Carpenter Ants Carpenter ants are some of the largest ants found in the United States. They are capable of damaging compromised wood in buildings and are there for important to identify and monitor quickly. Andrews, M., Hanson Mazet, W., and Kratsch, H. 2023, Extension, University of Nevada, Reno, FS-23-30
A Northern Nevada Homeowner's Guide to Identifying and Managing: Harvester Ants Harvester ants have large ant hill that are capable of reaching 12 feet in diameter and 3 feet deep. Harvester ants only become aggressive when disturbed and are capable of stinking. They do no invade homes, but are pests of lawns and gardens. Andrews, M., Hanson Mazet, W., and Kratsch, H. 2023, Extension, University of Nevada, Reno, FS-23-32
A Northern Nevada Homeowner's Guide to Identifying and Managing: Tobacco and Tomato Hornworms Tobacco and tomato hornworms are one of the hungriest garden pest out there! Have you noticed your tomato plant rapidly losing leaves but don't see any culprits, most likely a tobacco or tomato hornworm are to blame. Andrews, M., Hanson Mazet, W., and Kratsch, H. 2023, Extension, University of Nevada, Reno, FS-23-33
A Northern Nevada Homeowner's Guide to Identifying and Managing: White-lined Sphinx Moth Have you noticed a moth that hovers around you plants, darting from one to another that looks similar to a hummingbird? Or maybe you've noticed some hungry caterpillars eating your roses, lilacs, or fuchsia. Most likely those hungry caterpillars are destine to become white-lined sphinx moths. Andrews, M., Hanson Mazet, W., and Kratsch, H. 2023, Extension, University of Nevada, Reno, FS-23-21
A Northern Nevada Homeowner's Guide to Identifying and Managing Cabbage Caterpillars This fact sheet describes the identifying features, life cycle, plant damage, and control methods for managing common caterpillar pests on various crops in the cabbage family. K. Burls, W. Hanson Mazet, H. Kratsch 2021, Extension, University of Nevada, Reno, FS-21-109
A Northern Nevada Homeowner's Guide to Identifying and Managing Shield Bugs This fact sheet describes the identifying features, life cycle, plant damage, and control methods for managing Shield Bugs in Nevada. K. Burls, W. Hanson Mazet, H. Kratsch 2021, Extension, University of Nevada, Reno, FS-21-110
A Northern Nevada Homeowner's Guide to Identifying and Managing Squash Bugs This fact sheet describes the identifying features, life cycle, plant damage, and control methods for managing Squash Bugs in Nevada. K. Burls, W. Hanson Mazet, H.i Kratsch 2021, Extension, University of Nevada, Reno, FS-21-111
A Northern Nevada Homeowner's Guide to Identifying and Managing Earwigs This fact sheet describes the identifying features, life cycle, plant damage, and control methods for managing earwigs in Nevada. K. Burls, W.Hanson Mazet, H. Kratsch 2021, Extension, University of Nevada, Reno, FS-21-108
Planting Trees in Northern Nevada Landscapes Adding a tree to your landscape is an investment in your property. A tree will add natural beauty to the landscape and provide needed shade for your home and family. Properly planting a tree will give it a good start toward a long life. Kratsch, H., Hanson Mazet, W. 2015, Extension \| University of Nevada, Reno, Fact Sheet FS-15-02
Getting Started with Backyard Fruit Trees in Northern Nevada Practical advice for getting started with backyard fruit trees, including selection tips, pruning tips, chill requirements and lists of fruit trees varieties that grow well in northern Nevada, including apple, pear, cherry, plum, peach and apricot varieties. Kratsch, H. and Hanson Mazet, W. 2014, Extension, University of Nevada, Reno, Fact Sheet 14-14
A Northern Nevada Homeowner’s Guide to Identifying and Managing Black Medic This fact sheet contains information on black medic to help homeowners identify and manage the plant. Learn more about the plant and the control methods to maintain the plant. Donaldson, S. and Hanson Mazet, W. 2013, Extension \| University of Nevada, Reno, FS-13-13
A Northern Nevada Homeowner’s Guide to Identifying and Managing Chicory Chicory grows up to 3 or more feet tall, with most of the leaves growing at the base of the plant. This gives a skeleton-like appearance to the upper part of the plant. The leaves have been used as salad greens, and the root as a coffee substitute. Learn more about Chicory in this fact sheet. Donaldson, S. and Hanson Mazet, W. 2013, Extension \| University of Nevada, Reno, FS-13-10
A Northern Nevada Homeowner’s Guide to Identifying and Managing Common Cocklebur This fact sheet contains information on ways to maintain and control cocklebur. Learn more about the plant by reading an in-depth guide on the features of the plant and control methods. Donaldson, S. and Hanson Mazet, W. 2013, Extension \| University of Nevada, Reno, FS-13-11
A Northern Nevada Homeowner’s Guide to Identifying and Managing Coyote Tobacco This fact sheet contains information on coyote tobacco to help homeowners identify and manage the plant. learn more about the plant and the different control methods involved with the plant. Donaldson, S. and Hanson Mazet, W. 2013, Extension \| University of Nevada, Reno, FS-13-14
A Northern Nevada Homeowner’s Guide to Identifying and Managing Poverty Sumpweed This fact sheet contains information on poverty sumpweed for homeowners to identify and manage the plant. Learn about the properties of the plant and the control methods to manage the plant. Donaldson, S. and Hanson Mazet, W. 2013, Extension \| University of Nevada, Reno, FS-13-15
A Northern Nevada Homeowner’s Guide to Identifying and Managing Cutleaf Nightshade This fact sheet contains information on cutleaf nightshade to help homeowners identify and manage the plant. Learn about each part of the plant and the controls methods to maintain the plant. Donaldson, S. and Hanson Mazet, W. 2012, Extension \| University of Nevada, Reno, FS-13-12
A Northern Nevada Homeowner’s Guide to Identifying and Managing Western Salsify This fact sheet contains information on ways to identify and manage western salsify. Learn more about different properties of the plant such as the life cycle, reproduction, control methods, etc. Donaldson, S. and Hanson Mazet, W. 2011, Extension \| University of Nevada, Reno, FS-11-62
A Northern Nevada Homeowner’s Guide to Identifying and Managing Annual Bursage This fact sheet contains information on identifying and managing annual bursage for a northern Nevada homeowner. Learn more about the properties of the plant such as the life cycle, reproduction, control methods, etc. Donaldson, S. and Hanson Mazet, W. 2011, Extension \| University of Nevada, Reno, FS-11-64
A Northern Nevada Homeowner’s Guide to Identifying and Managing Blue Mustard This fact sheet contains information on ways to identify and manage blue mustard. Learn interesting facts about the plant and the control methods to manage the plant. Donaldson, S. and Hanson Mazet, W. 2011, Extension \| University of Nevada, Reno, FS-11-61
A Northern Nevada Homeowner’s Guide to Identifying and Managing Common Lambsquarters This fact sheet contains information on ways to identify and manage common lamsquarters. Learn many things about the plant such as the life cycle, reproduction, control methods, etc. Donaldson, S. and Hanson Mazet, W. 2011, Extension \| University of Nevada, Reno, FS-11-63
A Northern Nevada Homeowner’s Guide to Identifying and Managing Curlycup Gumweed This fact sheet contains information on ways to identify and manage curlycup gumweed. Learn about the properties of the plant such as life cycle, reproduction, control methods, etc. Donaldson, S. and Hanson Mazet, W. 2011, Extension \| University of Nevada, Reno, FS-11-60
A Northern Nevada Homeowner's Guide to Identifying and Managing Prickly Lettuce This fact sheet provides identification and management methods for the nuisance weed prickly lettuce. Donaldson, S. and Hanson Mazet, W. 2010, Extension, University of Nevada, Reno, FS-10-28
A Northern Nevada Homeowner’s Guide to Identifying and Managing Broadleaf Plantain This fact sheet contains information on ways to identify and manage broadleaf plantain for homeowners. Learn more about the plant by reading about the properties such as the life cycle, reproduction, control methods, etc. Donaldson, S. and Hanson Mazet, W. 2010, Extension \| University of Nevada, Reno, FS-10-17
A Northern Nevada Homeowner’s Guide to Identifying and Managing Buckhorn Plantain This fact sheet contains information on ways to identify and manage buckhorn plantain for homeowners. Learn more about the plant properties such as the life cycle, reproduction, control methods, and many more. Donaldson, S. and Hanson Mazet, W. 2010, Extension \| University of Nevada, Reno, FS-10-18
A Northern Nevada Homeowner’s Guide to Identifying and Managing Bull Thistle This fact sheet contains information on ways to identify and manage null thistle for homeowners. Learn more about the different properties of the plant such as the life cycle reproduction, control methods, and many more. Donaldson, S. and Hanson Mazet, W. 2010, Extension \| University of Nevada, Reno, FS-10-19
A Northern Nevada Homeowner’s Guide to Identifying and Managing Bur Buttercup This fact sheet contains information on ways to identify and manage bur buttercup for homeowners. Learn more about the plant properties such as life cycle, reproduction, control methods, and more. Donaldson, S. and Hanson Mazet, W. 2010, Extension \| University of Nevada, Reno, FS-10-20
A Northern Nevada Homeowner’s Guide to Identifying and Managing Common Mallow This fact sheet contains information on ways to identify and manage Common Mallow for homeowners. Learn more about the plant properties such as where it grows, life cycle, reproduction, control methods, and more. Donaldson, S. and Hanson Mazet, W. 2010, Extension \| University of Nevada, Reno, FS-10-21
A Northern Nevada Homeowner’s Guide to Identifying and Managing Common Mullein This fact sheet contains information on ways to identify and manage common mullein for homeowners. Learn more about the plant properties such as where it grows, life cycle, reproduction, control methods, and more. Donaldson, S. and Hanson Mazet, W. 2010, Extension \| University of Nevada, Reno, FS-10-22
A Northern Nevada Homeowner’s Guide to Identifying and Managing Common Purslane This fact sheet contains information on ways to identify and manage common purslane for homeowners. Learn more about the plant properties such as where it grows, life cycle, reproduction, control methods, and more. Donaldson, S. and Hanson Mazet, W. 2010, Extension \| University of Nevada, Reno, FS-10-26
A Northern Nevada Homeowner’s Guide to Identifying and Managing Dandelions Guide to identifying and managing Dandelions. Common pests of turf, dandelions grow in a rosette (ground-hugging form) that develops into a bushy plant. Donaldson, S., Hanson Mazet, W. 2010, Extension \| University of Nevada, Reno FS-10-24
A Northern Nevada Homeowner’s Guide to Identifying and Managing Flixweed Guide to identifying and managing Flixweed, a bushy, much-branched plant that grows up to 2 or more feet tall, flixweed blooms early in the spring. Donaldson, S., Hanson Mazet, W. 2010, Extension \| University of Nevada, Reno FS-10-25
A Northern Nevada Homeowner’s Guide to Identifying and Managing Hare Barley Guide to identifying and managing Hare barley. Donaldson, S., Hanson Mazet, W. 2010, Extension \| University of Nevada, Reno FS-10-26
A Northern Nevada Homeowner’s Guide to Identifying and Managing Kochia Guide to identifying and managing Kochia that when mature, grows into a Christmas tree -shaped plant 1 to 6 feet tall. Donaldson, S., Hanson Mazet, W. 2010, Extension \| University of Nevada, Reno FS-10-27
A Northern Nevada Homeowner’s Guide to Identifying and Managing Prickly Lettuce Guide to identifying and managing prickly lettuce, a bushy, much-branched drought-tolerant plant that grows to five plus feet tall. Donaldson, S., Hanson Mazet, W. 2010, Extension \| University of Nevada, Reno FS-10-28
A Northern Nevada Homeowner’s Guide to Identifying and Managing Redroot Pigweed Guide to Identifying and Managing Redroot Pigweed, a common source of late-summer allergies. Donaldson, S., Hanson Mazet, W. 2010, Extension \| University of Nevada, Reno FS-10-29
A Northern Nevada Homeowner’s Guide to Identifying and Managing Russian Thistles Guide to identifying and managing Russian thistles which grows into a bushy, prickly plant that breaks off at ground level and rolls with the wind when mature. Donaldson, S., Hanson Mazet, W. 2010, Extension \| University of Nevada, Reno FS-10-31
A Northern Nevada Homeowner’s Guide to Identifying and Managing Tumble Mustard Guide to identifying and managing Tumble mustard, a bushy, much-branched plant that grows up to 5 feet tall. Donaldson, S., Hanson Mazet, W. 2010, Extension \| University of Nevada, Reno FS-10-32
A Northern Nevada Homeowner’s Guide to Identifying and Managing Broadleaf Plantain Guide to managing Broadleaf Plantain, a perennial that is a common pest of lawns and gardens. Donaldson, S., Hanson Mazet, W. 2010, Extension \| University of Nevada, Reno FS-10-17
A Northern Nevada Homeowner’s Guide to Identifying and Managing Buckhorn Plantain Guide to managing Buckhorn plantain, A perennial that has long stems with flowering spikes. Donaldson, S., Hanson Mazet, W. 2010, Extension \| University of Nevada, Reno FS-10-18
A Northern Nevada Homeowner’s Guide to Identifying and Managing Bull Thistle Guide to managing Bull Thistle, which grows as a rosette (ground-hugging form) in the first year, and then sends up stems and flowers in the second year, growing to 6 feet tall. Donaldson, S., Hanson Mazet, W. 2010, Extension \| University of Nevada, Reno FS-10-19
Getting Started with a Vegetable Garden Practical information on getting started with a vegetable garden, including easy to grow vegetables for beginners and planting dates for Nevada. Kratsch, H., Allen, L., Hanson Mazet, W. 2010, Extension, University of Nevada, Reno, Fact Sheet 10-15
Bacterial Wetwood and Alcohol Flux This factsheet describes bacterial wetwood and alcohol flux disease symptoms, identification and control measures. Hanson Mazet, W., and Donaldson, S. 2003, Extension, University of Nevada, Reno, FS-03-33
Informational Publications
Volunteer Handbook for Extension Master Gardeners This document is intended to be an operational guide and reference tool for Extension professionals and volunteers involved in the Extension Master Gardener program to help accomplish the mission and values of the program and Extension through the outreach within our Nevada communities. Brinkerhoff, K. 2024, Extension, University of Nevada, Reno