How to Become a Master Gardener

If you love gardening, you may consider becoming a master gardener and sharing your knowledge with others to help them grow, literally. There are many programs out there that you can complete that will give you master gardener certification. You’ll just need to find the proper program and be ready to spend a lot of time educating yourself and others about gardening.

• Visit local colleges and universities to ask them about master gardener programs in the area and how you can sign up. Many universities and colleges offer master gardening programs.


• Set aside enough time to complete the education process and volunteer work. A lot of master gardening program require anywhere from 30-40 hours of education and 30-40 hours spent educating others about gardening to gain certification.


• Study as much about gardening in your area as you can. You’ll need to know when to grow specific types of plants, how to fertilize them, how to rid your garden of pests and much more. Be sure to also learn about the best pairing of plants and which combinations to avoid.


• Make sure you have enough money to complete the required courses to gain master gardener certification. The application fee for master gardening classes differs greatly by region.


• Be ready to teach others what you know. This may require you to brush up on your social skills in order to communicate well with people in the community. Master gardeners usually work with local parks and lawn and garden shops to educate others about the benefits and techniques of gardening. Schools also may have you stop by to share your knowledge with students.