UW Extension offers online gardening course for aspiring Master Gardeners

The UW-Madison Division of Extension Horticulture Program is offering an online gardening course this fall that serves as the foundation for Wisconsin’s Master Gardener program.
“Growing and Caring for Plants in Wisconsin: Foundations in Gardening” runs from Sept. 7 through Dec. 6, 2025. The self-paced course targets gardeners of all experience levels who want to improve their skills with everything from trees and houseplants to vegetables.
The course also serves as the first step in the two-step process to become a Wisconsin Extension Master Gardener. Those interested in the Master Gardener program can find more information at mastergardener.extension.wisc.edu/join.
Participants will learn to connect plant biology with good gardening practices, select and maintain different types of plants, manage common plant problems, and use Integrated Pest Management strategies to protect both plant health and the environment.
The course includes 14 modules featuring videos, virtual activities, readings, and live webinars with Extension specialists who present on their expertise and answer participant questions. Students can also register for additional online lab sessions led by Extension educators, where they apply knowledge from the modules to real-life gardening situations. These Zoom-based labs are recorded for later viewing and available for an additional fee.