Master Gardener Core Course

Most individuals will take the course entirely online. Individuals can use our webinar software to participate live on their computers if they login during the Friday class period (9:00 – noon CDT) while some individuals will watch the recorded videos. The Friday class will be recorded and uploaded to the course website by 5:00 p.m. It is acceptable to take a mix of classroom and online training, though we need to know where you will be for the first session so we can correctly ship your textbook to home or hold it in the classroom.

This list may vary slightly as we finalize speakers for the course.

• A Guide to Tree Planting
• Annuals Best Suited for North Dakota
• Basic Entomology and Integrated Pest Management
• Botany Basics and Plant Physiology
• Building Raised Garden Beds
• Cole Crops
• Composting
• Cucurbits
• Diagnosing Plant Problems
• Establishing and Maintaining Turf
• Fertilizers and Nutrient Disorders
• Flowering Shrubs for Home Landscapes
• Fruit Orchard and IPM
• Houseplants
• Introduction to Plant Pathology
• Landscape Design
• Nightshade Crops
• No-till Gardening
• Organic v Synthetic Pesticides
• Perennials for All Seasons
• Pesticide Safety
• Plant Propagation
• Pollinator Gardens
• Pruning Trees
• Seasonal Checklist
• Seed Starting
• Small Fruits and Grapes
• Soilless Container Media
• The Science Behind Home Garden Remedies
• Trees for North Dakota
• Understanding Garden Soils and Soil Tests
• Useful Websites and Resources
• Vegetable Cultivar Selection
• Weed Identification and Management
• Wildlife Management

• Reading assignments and handouts
• Lectures and videos
• Weekly open-book quizzes on our website
• Open-book final exam on our website
• Final grade of 80% is required

After successful completion of all course work with an average grade of 80% by April 21, 2023, you will be considered a Master Gardener Intern. As an Intern, a commitment to 48 hours of volunteer service (over two growing seasons) will build your gardening, teaching, and communication skills. The 48 hour volunteer service requirement must be completed by October 31, 2025.

After the initial 48 hours of volunteer service, you will become a Certified Master Gardener. As a Certified Master Gardener, 20 hours of volunteer service and 10 hours of continuing education must be submitted annually. Certification (and all included benefits) are annually renewed with submission of aforementioned volunteer hours. This process keeps MG skills honed and education updated.

• Teaching children about gardening through 4H or the school district
• Maintaining a community garden
• Designing and building a pollinator garden
• Growing vegetables and fruits to benefit local food pantries
• Participating in NDSU vegetable cultivar research trials
• Teaching adults how to garden
• Giving gardening talks
• Assisting NDSU Extension personnel in your county
• Volunteering to maintain zoo gardens
• Answering gardening questions at a county fair, home show, or garden tour

To apply to the NDSU Extension Master Gardener Core Course you must be a resident of North Dakota living in a county currently accepting applications or living in a county in Minnesota, South Dakota, or Montana that borders a North Dakota county accepting applications. You must be 18 years of age at the time of application.

ND counties accepting applications for the 2023 Core Course are Bowman, Burke, Burleigh, Cass, Dickey, Divide, Dunn, Emmons, Foster, Grand Forks, Grant, Mercer, Morton, Mountrail, Pembina, Ramsey, Ransom, Richland, Sargent, Stark, Steele, Towner, Traill, Ward, and Williams Counties.

If your county of residence is not accepting Master Gardener applications:

• Consider Professional Horticulture Course
• Complete the course and two-year internship in an adjacent county that is accepting applications

Contact the Extension Master Gardener Program with any questions regarding these options.