The Home and Garden Information Center (HGIC) is a statewide program of the University of Maryland Extension (UME) in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. We are located at the Central Maryland Research and Education Center/Clarksville (CMREC). HGIC provides science-based gardening and pest management education for residents of Maryland. We are the home of the UME Master Gardener Program, a 2,500+ member network of volunteers who deliver gardening education in local communities throughout the state.
Our vision
People gardening and managing land in harmony with nature.
Our mission
Connect Maryland residents to trusted science-based resources to grow healthy gardens, landscapes, and communities.
Our services
Master Gardener Program
Master Gardeners are volunteers who receive training from the University of Maryland Extension and combine their love of plants, people, and the environment to help Maryland residents create gardens, solve plant problems, and make environmentally sound decisions in their green spaces. This popular program is active in 20 Maryland counties and Baltimore City. Master Gardeners:
- Teach classes and workshops on topics such as food gardening, native gardens, composting, Bay-wise landscaping, and more.
- Diagnose plant problems and provide gardening education at “Ask a Master Gardener” plant clinics.
- Create and manage demonstration gardens that feature Maryland-adapted plants and good gardening practices – all open for the public to discover, learn from, and enjoy.
Teaching and outreach
UME faculty provide education to the Maryland public and Master Gardeners in a variety of formats.
- In-person and online classes and workshops
- Individual consultations at county offices and online
- The Master Gardener Handbook
- Sustainable Horticulture Short Course
- Instructional videos, digital fact sheets, social media, and newsletters
Ask Extension
We answer over 6,000 yard and garden-related questions annually from Maryland residents via the Extension Foundation’s national Ask Extension platform. All residents of Maryland are welcome to submit garden or pest-related questions at any time, year-round. Questions are answered by Maryland Certified Professional Horticulturists, University of Maryland faculty and staff, and UME Master Gardeners.
What sets our service apart from other information sources? Our team is in tune with Maryland’s environments, seasonal pest outbreaks, and horticultural science best practices. We are not influenced by businesses or product sales. Our answers are tailored to each resident’s specific needs and concerns. We offer an Integrated Pest Management approach that aims to reduce unnecessary pesticide use and reduce harm to the environment.
GARDENING Resources Online
We provide information in a variety of formats online to help Maryland residents start and maintain healthy green spaces.
- An extensive library of Gardening Resources and Videos
- Daily updates on Facebook & Instagram
- Weekly updates on the Maryland Grows Blog
- Monthly Gardening Tips and Tasks
- Quarterly Newsletter
Annual report
(PDF) 2023 Home & Garden | Master Gardener Annual Report
Staff
| Name | Contact Information |
|---|---|
| Jon Traunfeld HGIC Director, Extension Specialist, Fruits & Vegetables |
jont@umd.edu 410 531 5572 |
| David Clement, Ph.D. Extension Specialist Plant Pathology (20% HGIC; 80% commercial industry) |
clement@umd.edu 410 531 5558 |
| Madeline Potter, M.S. Faculty Specialist - Entomology & Integrated Pest Management |
mpotter@umd.edu |
| Allyson Rogan Business Services Specialist Home and Garden Information Center |
abrogan@umd.edu 410 531 1764 |
| Stephanie Pully Coordinator State UME Master Gardener Coordinator |
pully@umd.edu 410 531 1754 |
| Christa Carignan Coordinator Digital Horticulture Education |
christa@umd.edu 410 531 1752 |
| Miri Talabac Coordinator Horticulture Consultant |
mtalabac@umd.edu |
| Chris McComas Coordinator Horticulture Consultant |
cmccomas@umd.edu |
| Emily Porter Coordinator Horticulture Consultant |
eporter2@umd.edu |
| Kaitlyn Baligush Program Management Specialist State Master Gardener Program |
kbaligus@umd.edu 410-531-5557 |
Master Gardener Coordinators for each city/county are listed on our Local Programs page and you can visit or call your local Extension Office.
