Clemson Extension Offers Master Gardener Training Course

Area residents looking to deepen their gardening knowledge and give back to the community have an opportunity to enroll in the Clemson Cooperative Extension Master Gardener Volunteer Training Course.

The South Carolina Master Gardener Program trains, selects and uses knowledgeable volunteers to support the educational work of local Extension horticulture agents by delivering research-based information to residents across the state. Becoming a certified Master Gardener is a two-step process. Participants first complete at least 40 hours of practical horticultural instruction and pass a final exam, then contribute 40 hours of educational volunteer service to earn the title of South Carolina Master Gardener. A criminal background check is also required.

The course covers a wide range of subjects. Classes include Soils and Plant Nutrition, Basic Entomology, Tree Fruits and Small Fruits, Lawn Care, Vegetable Gardening, Plant Pathology and Diseases, and Residential Irrigation, among others.

Enrollment is limited to 24 people, and interested residents are encouraged to register early. The Laurens and Newberry area class is scheduled to meet each Tuesday from 6 to 9 p.m., beginning Aug. 11 and ending Dec. 1.

Those interested in the course may call 864-984-2514 for more information. Additional details about the Master Gardener Program are available at https://www.clemson.edu/extension/mg/.