How to Become a Certified Master Gardener

If you become a master gardener, you can become a gardening expert while enhancing the gardens in your community. Master gardeners learn about the care of ornamental and edible plants, and they apply this practical information to improve their own gardens.

Instructions

1

Decide if the master gardener program is right for you. Although you can receive valuable training to become a horticultural authority at low or no cost, you must conduct volunteer work for the extension office in exchange.

2

Contact your local county extension office. They can tell you when the next training begins, and give you the necessary paperwork to apply for acceptance into the program.

3

Attend a master gardener training course. Although the exact times and locations vary by county, master gardeners must attend approximately 50 hours of coursework to learn about lawn care, flower gardening, trees, shrubs, vegetables and garden pests.

4

Staff your local county extension gardener's telephone help line. As part of your volunteer requirement, you will staff the extension office's garden hotline and research queries that come in from your county.

5

Work on outdoor garden projects in your community. You might maintain the display gardens at local parks, help 4-H students develop their agricultural projects or install new gardens at community centers, depending on your county's needs.

6

Share the garden knowledge you've acquired. Your extension office may require you to conduct gardening seminars for your community, or you may operate information tables at local festivals.

7

Follow the research-based advice your county extension agents shared with you. When you've completed the required coursework and volunteer hours, you will receive your master gardener certificate.

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If you become a master gardener, you can become a gardening expert while enhancing the gardens in your community. Master gardeners learn about the care of ornamental and edible plants, and they apply this practical information to improve their own gardens.

Instructions

1

Decide if the master gardener program is right for you. Although you can receive valuable training to become a horticultural authority at low or no cost, you must conduct volunteer work for the extension office in exchange.

2

Contact your local county extension office. They can tell you when the next training begins, and give you the necessary paperwork to apply for acceptance into the program.

3

Attend a master gardener training course. Although the exact times and locations vary by county, master gardeners must attend approximately 50 hours of coursework to learn about lawn care, flower gardening, trees, shrubs, vegetables and garden pests.

4

Staff your local county extension gardener's telephone help line. As part of your volunteer requirement, you will staff the extension office's garden hotline and research queries that come in from your county.

5

Work on outdoor garden projects in your community. You might maintain the display gardens at local parks, help 4-H students develop their agricultural projects or install new gardens at community centers, depending on your county's needs.

6

Share the garden knowledge you've acquired. Your extension office may require you to conduct gardening seminars for your community, or you may operate information tables at local festivals.

7

Follow the research-based advice your county extension agents shared with you. When you've completed the required coursework and volunteer hours, you will receive your master gardener certificate.