Welcome to the website of the Howard County Master Gardeners.  The mission of the Howard County Master Gardeners is to educate residents about safe, effective, and sustainable horticultural practices that build healthy gardens, landscapes, and communities. The Master Gardener program is administered by the University of Maryland College of Agriculture and Natural Resources Extension Service.

Howard County Master Gardeners are volunteers, trained by the university, who provide horticultural education services to individuals, groups, and communities including government agencies, neighborhood associations, non-profit organizations, historic sites, schools and youth groups, senior citizens and garden clubs. Master Gardener programs and services are available free of charge to all Howard County residents and community groups.

For any Howard County Master Gardener program specific inquiries please contact Natasha Meehleib, natmee@umd.edu, the Howard County Master Gardener coordinator. Our class of 2026 Master Gardener Training is underway. If you are interested in joining the next training cohort, please complete this form  and we will reach out to you once recruitment of the next cohort begins in the fall of 2026.

SPEAKERS BUREAU

Do you have a topic about which you and your group would like to learn more?  If so, Howard County Master Gardeners are available to speak to garden clubs, community associations, libraries, civic groups, businesses, and other community organizations on a wide range of home-gardening topics.  Our latest Catalog of Presentations can be found here.  If you wish to schedule a talk, please contact (hocomdmg.publiced@gmail.com).  Thank you.

Upcoming Events (see calendar for full details)

Master Gardener Public Talks

Master Gardener Calendar is under construction

DateTimePresentationPresenterLocation
4/10/20261:00 PMMaryland Native Bees in Your BackyardDiana TuckerEllicott City 50+ Center
4/17/202611:00 AMGardening for HealthLoni CohenBain 50+ Center
4/18/20262:00 PMEasy Herbs for your GardenRuth VriendCentral Branch
4/28/202610:00 AMMaryland Native Bees in Your BackyardDiana TuckerEast Columbia 50+ Center
5/6/20266:30 PMMaryland Native Bees in Your YardDiana TuckerGlenwood Library
5/7/20261:00 PMRaised Beds and Container GardeningKent PhillipsEllicott City 50+ Center
5/9/202610:30 AM1001 Worms Eat My Garbage: A Vermicomposting PrimerBarbara SchmeckpeperMaryland City @ Russett Library
5/20/202611:00 AMMaryland Native Bees in Your BackyardDiana TuckerBain 50+ Center
5/26/202610:00 AMUsing Citizen Science to Guide Your Gardening PracticesAnn CorenEast Columbia 50+ Center
5/27/20262:00 PMFour Keys to Happy HouseplantsChris HippleGlenwood 50+ Center
6/10/202611:00 AMEasy Herbs for your GardenRuth VriendEllicott City 50+ Center

More details are available on the MG calendar