Master Gardeners

What is the Master Gardener Program?

The OSU Extension Master Gardener Program is a premier statewide network of volunteer education and leadership development; as well as a consumer horticulture education delivery system that maximizes human, material, and natural resources, and values teamwork and excellence in educational programming.

The Ohio State University Extension Master Gardener Program has rapidly expanded in the last five years. In 1991, there were less than 10 Ohio counties with Master Gardeners. In 1998, over 53 counties involved with the Master Gardener program. In addition, there are a number of counties that have expressed interest in starting the program in the near future.

There are many exciting opportunities for continuing education and camaraderie and this has helped OSU Extension to develop a corps of dedicated volunteers. Volunteers are an important component of the OSU Extension system. The Master Gardeners' knowledge, experience and enthusiasm have become essential to Extension education of consumer horticulture in the state of Ohio.

Please feel free to contact our facility with any questions about our programs and services to the community. We are available for presentations, programs and information sharing that your group, company, or organization might like to know more about. 

The formal training program is the responsibility of the Ashland County Extension professionals. Instructors are Ohio State University faculty, Extension Specialists, Extension Associates, experienced Master Gardeners, and other experts. 

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Training

The training program provides a balanced, integrated practical course in plant science. Core topics that are to be part of the training in every county are oriented to Extension and the Master Gardener Program:

• Basic Botany
• Plant Physiology
• Soils and Soil Fertility
• Basic Entomology
• Basic Plant Pathology
• Plant Disease Diagnosis
• Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
• Pesticide Use and Safety
• Plant Identification
• Home Lawn Care
• Annuals
• Perennials
• Bulbs
• Trees and Shrubs
• Home Vegetable Production
• Home Fruit Production
• Backyard Wildlife Management
• Organic Gardening
• Herbs

Special topics, based on local needs, may be part of the curriculum.  

Volunteer Commitment

The Master Gardener training course consists of a minimum of 50 hours of instruction. An equivalent number (50) of horticulturally significant volunteer hours is required to become a certified Master Gardener. Master Gardeners may recertify by completing 10 additional hours of public service and 6 hours of continuing educational training.  Only unpaid public service in Ohio State University Extension-sponsored activities count toward the requirement. 

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