This year’s window of opportunity to become a certified Master Gardener is quickly closing. If you enjoy gardening, but want to learn more-the St. Clair County Extension office is the place to be! A Master Gardener training course begins in September and will help educate you on the basics of gardening in Alabama. The class will be conducted on Tuesdays, beginning September 7th through November 30th from 9:00 a.m.-2:30 p.m. and will be held in the St. Clair Extension Office Auditorium, located on the lower level of the St. Clair County Courthouse in Pell City. Whether you are already a so-called expert or not, don’t pass up this opportunity to become a Master Gardener! You’ll have fun and be prepared with all sorts of knowledge for next year’s growing season.

The Alabama Master Gardener Volunteer Program is an educational program offered by the Alabama Cooperative Extension System. Through this program, individuals are trained and certified in horticulture and related areas. The Master Gardener Program trains volunteers, who work through Extension, to bring the latest horticultural information and practices from the world of research to landscapes and gardens in their communities.

This training program provides more than 40 hours of classroom and hands-on instruction in horticulture and related areas. Classes taught will include soils and plant nutrition; composting, plant physiology; plant pathology; landscape design and plant selection; weed identification and control; entomology; pesticide education, fruit culture; plant propagation; home lawn care; vegetable gardening; interior plants, care and maintenance of landscape plants; and bedding plants. Courses will be taught by Regional Extension Agent-Charles Pinkston, specialists from Auburn University, and local resource people.

Interested individuals should complete a registration form available at the Extension office or online at www.aces.edu/StClair. There is a $115 registration fee to cover cost of materials. Registration deadline is Tuesday, August 10th, and the class is limited to 20. For more information, please contact Regional Extension Agent, Charles Pinkston, at the St. Clair County Extension office at (205) 338-9416 or email pinkscb@aces.edu. Visit www.aces.edu/mg to learn more about the Alabama Master Gardener Program.