MUSCATINE, Iowa–Whether you enjoy growing showy flowers, cultivating delicious vegetables, or maintaining a verdant lawn, gardeners can always learn more strategies to help their plants thrive. For those wanting to take their skills to the next level and find more ways to use their gardening to benefit and beautify their communities, the Muscatine County Master Gardeners offer many opportunities. This fall, Muscatine County Extension and Outreach will lead a 10-week hybrid master gardener training from Sept. 5 through Nov. 10 for those wanting to become master gardeners.

Throughout the training, participants will complete weekly online lessons exploring 17 horticulture topics, including propagating and growing all sorts of plants (including fruits, vegetables, flowers, native plants, turf grass, and house plants), identifying common nuisances, and implementing integrated pest management strategies, troubleshooting common plant issues, and creating cohesive landscape designs. Self-paced modules, gardeners can take in each lesson at their convenience. Participants will also take a pre and post-test to demonstrate their learning throughout the course.

At various points, the Muscatine County Master Gardeners will offer in-person learning sessions, giving students in-depth and possibly hands-on experiences with select topics. Once the Muscatine County Master Gardeners set dates, times, and foci for their offerings this fall, master gardener training participants must choose four sessions to attend. Students can also meet current master gardeners and get information about continuing education and volunteering opportunities. “Not only will participants get to expand their horticulture knowledge, (but) they will also have the opportunity to meet people, network, and share ideas and information with fellow students and active master gardeners,” explained Lauren Nerad, office assistant for the Muscatine County Extension Office. To maintain master gardener certification, individuals must complete 40 hours of education and 40 hours of volunteering in their county their first year and 10 hours of continuing education, and 20 hours of volunteering each year afterward.

A previous Muscatine County Master Gardeners Art of Gardening workshop. Photo courtesy of the Muscatine County Master Gardeners.

Anyone age 16 or older who wants to become a Muscatine County Master Gardener can register for the training by visiting the Iowa Master Gardener page on the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach website. Registration costs $150 for the master gardener program. Those wanting to earn a ProHort certificate simultaneously must pay $550. Iowa State University Extension and Outreach offers scholarships to help cover the cost of registration. Everyone who wants to join the next session must register by the end of the day on Aug. 18.

Every year, Muscatine County Master Gardeners make a sizable impact on area communities. Four donation gardens allow food pantries to have fresh produce to supplement the dry goods they provide year-round. Community gardens such as the Zoo Garden in Muscatine and West Liberty Elementary School’s garden enhance public spaces and show people plants that grow in Iowa. Educational opportunities, such as enrichment activities via the Muscatine Community School District S. P. A. R. K. (Summer Program for Arts, Recreation, and Knowledge) and the Art of Gardening workshop at Muscatine Community College kindle interest in gardening for people of all ages and teach them techniques they can use in their gardens.

With so many opportunities and more sprouting up all the time, Nerad encourages everyone curious about master gardener certification to give it a chance this fall: “The master gardener program encourages you to keep learning and to learn by doing, in some cases, about a topic you are passionate about, not to mention, you can network and share your passion with others and even find a mentor! After you complete the training, it’s really designed to let you explore your interests and make the program what you want it to be.”