Howard County Master Gardener Program

These dates are for the 2027 training class; future years will have a similar timeline/process)

1. Watch the Info Session Recording, and/or review the slides. 
2. Review the timeline & training schedule (payments not due until 11/13/2026, AFTER conditional acceptance has been sent) 
3. Complete and Submit your UME application by 4:30PM on 10/13/2026 with a wet signature (you may complete all fields digitally except for the signature line) 

Mail or drop off at above address during business hours (8-4:30PM, M-F), (please note the
office is closed on 10/12/2026 for Indigenous People's Day.) : 
Mail to (postmarked by 10/09/2026):
University of Maryland Extension
c/o Natasha Meehleib
8930 Stanford Blvd, Suite 25
Columbia , MD 21045

Alternatives to the MG Basic Training
If the MG training program is not the right fit for you at this time, a Sustainable Horticulture Certificate is offered through the state Master Gardener office. For more information:

1. Read about the certificate here
2. Email statemg@umd.edu if you would like to register or be added to the waitlist for
   the next course offering.

Howard County's Master Gardeners offer education via activities such as:

• Integrated pest management to solve problems using least toxic methods
• Plant clinics to diagnose plant problems (diseases, insects, fertility, and abiotic disorders) and offer advice on weed and other pest control
• Nutrient management: composting demonstrations and soil improvement practices
• Bay-Wise landscaping practices that protect the Bay and local environments
• Youth education about gardening at public schools such as our Schools and Streams program
• Speakers to talk on almost any aspect of gardening
• Demonstration gardens open for public visits

Benefits of the Master Gardeners Program for communities:

• Enjoy a healthier environment by reducing fertilizer runoff into our watersheds and the Bay
• Save money and reduce health risks by minimizing use of toxic pesticides
• Improve soils and save landfill space by composting yard waste
• Reduce water use through horticultural practices
• Create beautiful and ecologically sound landscapes for local conditions
• Learn ways to provide habitat for native wildlife and beneficial insects

Benefits to individuals who become a Master Gardener:

• Sense of satisfaction in helping others
• Regular interaction with other gardening experts to share experiences
• Opportunity for self improvement, advanced education in horticulture
• Proudly wear apparel bearing Master Gardener logo: shirts, caps, pins, nametags, etc.

University of Maryland Extension Master Gardener Program is designed to train participants as 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.

Who Can Become a Master Gardener?

Any Maryland resident, 18 years of age or older, who likes working with people and plants and has a thirst for knowledge.

Why Join the Program?

By joining the program, you'll have the opportunity to learn new gardening skills as well as hone your existing skills. You'll also learn how to solve gardening problems, and be able to teach others to do the same. Best of all, you'll meet new people who enjoy gardening just as much as you do!

How Do I Become a Master Gardener?

Master Gardener basic training is conducted in each county.  In Howard County, annual training classes typically run from late winter through spring and include both virtual and in-person sessions.  Applications are accepted in fall of the previous year.  There is a fee that covers the cost of the Basic Training manual and other associated costs of training.  

If you are interested in an upcoming Howard County Master Gardener Training, please complete this form and we will reach out to you once recruitment for the next cohort begins. Contact Howard County MG Coordinator, Natasha Meehleib, natmee@umd.edu with specific questions not answered
below.

What Else Do I Need to Know?

A Master Gardener Trainee is required to attend at least 75% of the UME Master Gardener Basic Training classes and pass the final exam. Master Gardener Trainees are taught about a variety of horticultural subjects by specialists, educators, and other horticulture professionals. 

Topics may include:

• Botany
• Composting
• Diagnosing Plant Problems
• Ecology
• Entomology
• Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
• Lawn Care
• Vegetable, Fruit, & Flower Gardening
• Organic Gardening
• Pesticide Use and Safety Precautions
• Soils and Fertilizers
• Tree and Shrub Care

Once a Master Gardener Trainee has completed the UME Master Gardener Basic Training and passes the final exam, he or she becomes a Master Gardener Intern.  Interns must complete at least 40 hours of approved volunteer service within the year of training before achieving the status of Master Gardener.  

To remain a Master Gardener, each calendar year individuals must complete

1) a minimum of 20 hours of approved volunteer service, and
2) a minimum of 10 hours of approved continuing education.

Continuing education hours may be completed through classes, webinars, seminars, and other educational activities offered by UME, plant societies, botanical gardens and arboreta, colleges, nature centers, etc. Subject matter presentations made at Master Gardener membership meetings are also valid.  The State office also coordinates continuing education opportunities.

Is there a topic you and your group would like to learn more about?  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.  

You can find our latest Catalog of Presentations here. 

 To schedule a talk, please contact hocomdmg.publiced@gmail.com.

The Ask a Master Gardener-Plant Clinic is a program in which Master Gardener volunteers, in conjunction with the University of Maryland Extension, provide information to home gardeners at county libraries and other events throughout the county. Master Gardeners answer questions, give recommendations, and provide printed information on a variety of gardening subjects.

Ask a Master Gardener library plant clinics are conducted from April through September. See library dates and locations below for full details.

2026 Plant Clinic Schedule

Charles E. Miller Branch & Historical Center

9421 Frederick Road, Ellicott City, Maryland 21042

Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. - Noon

Mondays from 6:00 - 7:30 p.m.

Library Phone Number: 410-313-1950

The exception will be holiday weekends.

Glenwood Branch Library

2350 Route 9,  Cooksville, Maryland 21723

1st & 3rd Saturdays of the Month, 10:00 a.m. - Noon

Library Phone Number: 410-313-5577

Elkridge Branch Library

6540 Washington Boulevard, Elkridge, MD 21075

3rd Saturday of the Month  10:00 a.m.  — Noon

Library Phone Number: 410-313-5077

Central Branch Library

10375 Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia, Maryland 21044

2nd Saturday of each month from 10:00 a.m. - Nto noon

Library Phone Number: 410-313-7800

Howard County ENR Calendar

Howard County Master Gardener Public Talks