Learn to Use your Local Master Gardeners
I first encountered Master Gardeners when I lived in California. We were new to Sacramento and new homeowners, and I needed some advice about what to plant. A friend recommended a gardening consultant who also happened to be a California Master Gardener. She made fabulous plant recommendations and helped us get a start on what became a beautiful, tiny garden. As we were working, I asked her about being a Master Gardener. Becoming a Master Gardener wasn't in the cards at that point in my life, but I tucked that information away in my brain.
About five years ago, training as a Colorado Master Gardener actually did fit into my life – so I applied. I absolutely loved my Master Gardener training, and I love doing the work of being a Master Gardener, too.
Here's the thing: Master Gardeners are here in all 50 states and parts of Canada to help YOU with your gardening questions.
How do I find my local Master Gardener program?
Search online for:
“[Your State] Master Gardener Program”
Or visit the National Extension Master Gardener website
What is a Master Gardener?
A Master Gardener is a trained volunteer who provides research-based gardening and horticultural information to their community through local Cooperative Extension offices. They receive specialized training and commit to sharing their knowledge through outreach and educational activities. They are educated through their state’s Cooperative Extension Service, part of the land-grant university system.
Each state's program is a little different. Here in Colorado we take a semester of horticultural training which is largely online and is done once per year. During this training, we must also pass a series of exams. Then we are required to do 50 hours of volunteer work over the summer – often with a mentor – before we become Master Gardeners.
Once we have become Master Gardeners, we must meet annual continuing education requirements and annual volunteering requirements to maintain our MG status.
Most states and provinces operate on a similar system, but their requirements and training differ. They reflect the differences in geography and ecology state to state. Being a Master Gardener in Colorado, for example, does not mean you are a California Master Gardener. If you move, you start all over!
Who runs the Master Gardener Program?
The program is operated by the Cooperative Extension Service which is part of each state's Land-Grant University System. Each state’s extension office manages the training and volunteer requirements for its local area.
This is important because gardening varies widely state to state – and within states as well. Here in Colorado conditions are extremely different from place to place. We have to be able to help people who garden at 12,000 ft in the mountains with a very short season as well as gardeners on the plains near Nebraska, on the Western Slope of the Rockies, and every location in between. So our training is localized and specific to our state and the conditions in every biome in the state as well.
What do Master Gardeners do?
Master Gardeners typically:
Answer gardening questions from the public
Staff plant clinics or help desks
Teach workshops or classes on gardening topics
Work on community garden projects
Help with youth gardening programs or school gardens
Support local beautification and conservation efforts
In Colorado we are organized into county offices, and each office has a range of projects. In my county we staff a table where people can ask questions every Saturday during the summer at a local garden center, for example. We also have an after-school program for children at a local elementary school. We have a helpline where gardeners can call or email in questions and get personalized answers as well as several demonstration gardens which we tend and use as places to teach others about plants and plant choices. And we have lots of other projects as well!
When can you call a Master Gardener?
Any time! Master Gardener offices have different hours and contact information, but generally someone is available to answer questions weekly. For example, in the office where I volunteer, we have MGs on duty twice per week and all weekend. We answer phone calls, are available for walk-in appointments, and we answer emails as well. In addition, we often have "Ask a Master Gardener" booths at local garden centers and public events. People bring in plant samples, photographs of insect damage, bugs – dead and alive. They want to talk about trees and flowers and ask for suggestions and tips.
Our office is not staffed for a few months during the winter, but other states have offices open year-round because their conditions allow for year-round gardening.
Questions I have answered in the last few weeks as a Master Gardener:
1. I just bought a new house. Can someone come help me identify the trees and help make a care strategy for them?
2. What is this bug?
3. Why is my lawn turning yellow?
4. Where can I get free mulch for my garden?
5. What is this plant?
6. How do I feed my roses?
7. Why is this shrub dying?
8. What happened to my tomato plant?
9. How do I keep coyotes out of my yard?
10. What tree do you recommend for my front yard?
What is the history of the Master Gardener Program?
The Master Gardener Program began in 1972 in Washington State, created by Dr. David Gibby and Dr. William Scheer of the Washington State University Extension. They developed it to meet the growing public demand for gardening information, especially in urban areas. The concept of training volunteers to extend university-based gardening knowledge was an immediate success. It quickly spread across the U.S., and now all 50 states (and several Canadian provinces) have Master Gardener programs. Today, tens of thousands of active Master Gardeners contribute millions of volunteer hours annually across the country.
How can the public use the Master Gardener Program?
You can reach out to Master Gardeners to:
Get answers to questions about plants, pests, soils, watering, pruning, and more
Submit samples (photos or physical) for plant disease or pest identification
Attend free or low-cost classes and workshops
Visit demonstration gardens to see best practices in action
Request speakers for garden clubs, schools, or community groups
FAQs
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Step 1: Apply
You must apply through your local or state Cooperative Extension Office. Applications usually open once per year, and space is often limited.
Step 2: Attend Training
If accepted, you will attend a Master Gardener training course. Training includes topics such as:
Botany
Soil science
Plant diseases
Pest management
Sustainable gardening
Composting
Vegetable and ornamental gardening
Courses may be in-person, online, or hybrid.
Step 3: Volunteer
After completing the course, you become a Master Gardener Intern. You’ll be required to complete a set number of volunteer hours, usually within 1–2 years, to earn full certification.
Step 4: Certification and Continuing Education
Once volunteer hours are complete, you are a Certified Master Gardener. To maintain your status, most programs require:
A minimum number of annual volunteer hours
Continuing education to stay current on gardening practices
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While requirements vary slightly, you typically must:
Be at least 18 years old
Have an interest in gardening and community service
Be willing to complete training and volunteer hours
Pass a background check (in most states)
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Yes, most programs charge a training fee to cover materials, instruction, and administrative costs. Fees range from $100 to $300+, depending on the state.
Some programs offer scholarships or fee waivers for those with financial need.
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Many programs now offer online or hybrid training options, but volunteer service is typically in-person in your local community.
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No! Master Gardeners all recieve a lot of training and mentoring — and we all know that gardening is a discipline of life-long learning. Having some experience in the garden is important, but the training you recieve will help fill in the gaps of your knowledge. And that’s why we do continuing education — to keep learning and to become better gardeners.