You don’t need to know everything about gardening to become a Master Gardener — you’ll continue to learn the more you participate in the program. You do need to be committed to lifelong learning and community service, as these are the cornerstones of a Master Gardener.
As a Master Gardener you apply your knowledge and skills educating others and conducting horticulture-related volunteer activities at local organizations. Volunteer service and continuing education are required to be completed and reported each year. Your involvement will lead to an increase in knowledge and skill in yourself and those you reach. You will use your knowledge of plants to improve the lives of others and the community you live in. This, ultimately, will lead to a bigger change in the world around us.
Master Gardener programs
Also known as Extension Master Gardener Programs are volunteer programs that train individuals in the science and art of gardening. These individuals pass on the information they learned during their training, as volunteers who advise and educate the public on gardening.
A typical Master Gardener Program
How to get started
Step 1 | Participate in an approved learning opportunity.
To be a successful Master Gardener, you need foundational knowledge about growing and caring for plants. Extension offers a comprehensive online gardening course to prepare individuals for the Master Gardener Program.
In this case, a course, Foundations in Gardening, occurs annually from September through December. Registration opens in July each year. This approved learning opportunity is led by Extension Horticulture staff and subject matter experts. It focuses on objectives and topics covered in the Wisconsin Extension Master Gardener Program Onboarding exam.
Step 2 | Complete the Master Gardener Onboarding course.
The online Onboarding course introduces you to the requirements of the Wisconsin Extension Master Gardener Program. The course takes place in February and March each year. As part of the course, participants must pass the horticulture entrance exam, which requires a score of 70% or better.
Note: This program is chiefly for Wisconsinites. Not every state or region follows the same format. See the link below to connect with a program in your region.
Interesting facts
Master Gardeners are active in all 50 states in the United States and eight Canadian provinces. According to a Master Gardener Survey, there are nearly 95,000 active Extension Master Gardeners. Thus, who provide approximately 5,000,000 volunteer service hours of per year to their communities. Once volunteers are accepted into a Master Gardener program, they are trained by cooperative extension, university, and local industry specialists. They learn subjects such as taxonomy, plant pathology, soil health, entomology, cultural growing requirements, sustainable gardening, nuisance wildlife management, and integrated pest management.
After completing training, master gardeners serve their communities by providing guidance to others and maintaining community and historic gardens. Awards are regularly presented to master gardeners for community service, innovative programs, and other topics.
The American Horticultural Society
For tailored, region-specific home gardening advice, select your region to connect with your local Master Gardener program.
Here is a link to the AHS web site which will direct you to region-specific programs: Master Gardeners – American Horticultural Society
In addition, there is an on-line program by the AHS. See below:
Excited to delve deep into a horticultural topic, but need to do so on your own schedule? Our Self-Paced Online Courses—Gardening in America, Ecological Gardening and Horticultural Design—are for you. Each course, accessible 24/7 for five months, has seven engaging modules packed with AHS-produced texts, videos, articles, activities, and resource recommendations. Learn at your own pace and connect with other fellow gardening enthusiasts in our online forum.
REGISTER
Register for one course or for all. No prior experience required. On average, participants take nine to twelve hours to complete each course. Participants receive a digital badge upon completion. AHS members receive discounts on registration.
Course fee: $95 AHS Member / $120 non-member
Note: Other organizations offer free courses FREE Online Gardening Course – Garden Tutor is one. However, it may not count for Master Gardener credit. And there are others.
The University of Illinois offers an in-person or on-line course for $300 called:
What is a Master Gardener?
Volunteer Opportunities
Master Gardeners educate the public on topics such as improving landscapes, choosing plant varieties, water-saving tips for gardens, proper pest identification and management, how to grow their own produce, optimum mulching strategies, and composting.
The main guideline is that the projects be educational and concern horticulture. You will work with the local Extension staff to determine how your volunteer time can best be spent.
Is Master Gardener training for you?
- Do I want to learn more about plant care and gardening?
- Do I look forward to sharing my knowledge with people in my community?
- Am I eager to participate in a practical and intensive training program?
- Do I have enough time to attend the training and complete my annual volunteer and continuing education requirements?
- If you answered “yes” to all the questions, the Master Gardener program could be for you.
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