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 August and will help educate you on the basics of gardening in Alabama. The class will be conducted every Wednesday, beginning August 29 through November 14 from 8:30 a.m.—2:30 p.m. at the St. Clair County Extension office auditorium, located on the lower level of the St. Clair County Courthouse in Pell City.

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—Bethany O’Rear, specialists from Auburn University, and local resource people.

Interested individuals should complete and submit an application to be considered for the class. This form can be accessed online at http://www.aces.edu/pubs/docs/A/ANR-1155/ANR-1155.pdf or a copy can be mailed or emailed. There is a $125 registration fee to cover cost of materials. This class is only offered once every 2 years and must have at least 15 in order to have the class. Class size is limited to 20.

For more information, please contact Regional Extension Agent, Bethany O’Rear, at the St. Clair County Extension office at 205-338-9416 or email bao0004@auburn.edu. Visit www.aces.edu/mg to learn more about the Alabama Master Gardener Program.

Registration fee is not required until closer to class time but applications are needed as soon as possible.