The University of Wyoming Extension’s fall/winter online Master Gardener training will be offered from Sept. 15, 2022-Feb. 16, 2023. The 16-week course, which includes breaks for holidays, features approximately 48 hours of gardening instruction led by subject matter experts in the UW Extension.

“The course is for anyone with an interest in gardening, from beginning gardeners to experienced gardeners. The focus is all about growing in Wyoming,” says Master Gardener Statewide Coordinator Chris Hilgert.

Live classes take place via Zoom on Thursdays from 6-9 p.m. Class sessions are also recorded.

Registration for the 2022-2023 online training is open until the course begins on Sept. 15. To sign up, visit bit.ly/master-gardener-2022. The registration fee is $150.

Topics include an overview of the training; basic botany; soils and composting; plant propagation; season extension; growing vegetables and herbs; fruit trees and berry crops; site analysis and landscape design; herbaceous plants; woody plants; lawn care; weed management; integrated pest management; diagnosing plant problems; entomology; and volunteering in the Master Gardener program.

Instructors include Hilgert and nine other experts from the UW Extension. The team approach is a great asset, Hilgert says, as not only do the various specialists and county educators offer different perspectives and areas of expertise, they also garden in different parts of the state.

Participants will receive an electronic copy of Sustainable Horticulture for Wyoming: A Master Gardener Handbook as well as a variety of other resources provided by instructors.

The training’s flexible online format allows participants to engage with instructors and fellow students in real time, but also ensures that time conflicts won’t interfere with accessing course content.

Participants cannot earn college credit for the course, but they will receive a certificate of completion. Those interested in earning a volunteer certificate must also fulfill a 40-hour volunteer commitment coordinated with a local UW Extension educator.

While volunteering is not required to take the Master Gardener course, local UW Extension educators facilitate meaningful volunteer opportunities for those who want to serve their communities through gardening, education, and service, Hilgert shares.

To learn more about the Master Gardener program, visit www.uwyo.edu/mastergardener or contact Chris Hilgert at chilgert@uwyo.edu.