Cecil ENR

Cecil County Master Gardener Program

The Master Gardener Program is offered through the University of Maryland Extension's Environment and Natural Resources (ENR), delivering research-based education and technical assistance to help individuals, communities, and organizations conserve and responsibly manage Maryland's natural resources. 

The Cecil County Master Gardener Program is composed of local citizens whose common goal is to promote safe, effective, and sustainable horticultural practices that build healthy gardens.  Master Gardeners are volunteer representatives of the University of Maryland Extension and are supervised and supported by University of Maryland Extension staff. To learn more about our local county Extension programs, please contact our office.

About the Program

The University of Maryland Extension Master Gardener Program is designed to train volunteer horticultural educators to support the University of Maryland Extension mission by educating residents about safe, effective and sustainable horticultural practices that build healthy gardens, landscapes, and communities. Volunteers receive 40 hours of classroom, hands-on, and virtual instruction in their county of residence so that they can then teach members of their community through workshops, presentations, demonstrations, and more. 

Our Vision

We envision a healthier world through environmental stewardship.

Our Mission

We support the University of Maryland Extension (UME) mission by educating residents about safe, effective and sustainable horticultural practices that build healthy gardens, landscapes, and communities.

Our History

The UME Master Gardener Program began in 1978 as a means to extend science-based knowledge to the general public by providing horticultural and pest management expertise to help protect and improve Maryland’s natural resources.  UME Master Gardeners are volunteers who combine their love of plants, people, and the environment to help residents in their communities solve problems and make environmentally sound decisions.  

Upcoming Events

  • Social Life of Plants | October 27, 2026 at 6:30 p.m. | Perryville Public Library
  • Lawns to Natives Conversation | November 4, 2026 at 6 p.m. | Cecil County Admin Building Senior Center
  • Master Gardener Toolbox Workshop | November 14, 2026 at 10 a.m. | Cecil County Admin Building Senior Center
  • Fall Bulbs | November 18, 2026 at 2 p.m. | Cecilton Community Center
  • Winter/Holiday Gourd Workshop | December 12 at 10 a.m. | Cecil County Admin Building Senior Center

Become a Master Gardener

The Maryland Master Gardener Program is an exclusive program of the University of Maryland Extension (UME).  The principal goal is to train qualified residents to become certified Master Gardeners and serve as volunteer horticulture educators.  The program's mission is to educate Maryland residents about safe, effective, and sustainable horticultural practices that build healthy gardens, landscapes, and communities.

More Information

Bay-Wise Program

Most Maryland residents live within a half-mile of a storm drain, stream, or river. Most of those waterways eventually drain into the Chesapeake Bay.  What we do to maintain our own landscapes can affect the health of our local waterways (drainage ditches, streams, and rivers), the Chesapeake Bay, and our environment.  We all need to do our part to take care of our waterways and environment.  By changing a few simple landscape practices, you and your family can help keep Maryland communities healthy.

Our Master Gardeners, who have taken the 9 to 12 hours of advanced training in Bay-Wise Landscape Management, form a committee to plan Bay-Wise activities in and around our county. They:

  • Perform one-on-one site visits to help county residents qualify to have their landscapes certified as Bay-Wise using the Maryland Living Landscapes Metric
  • Hold classes and lectures for community groups,
  • Teach youth in schools/community projects,
  • Staff information booths at community events.

Bay-Wise Program