What is a Master Gardener?
Master gardeners are volunteers trained by the Penn State Extension. Once they complete their training, they help the Extension better serve the home gardening public by answering questions, speaking to groups, working with 4-H horticultural projects, participating in civic beautification, maintaining demonstration gardens, and teaching plant sciences and horticulture. Master Gardeners are willing and able to educate individuals and groups on gardening topics such as plant selection, composting, soil improvement, pest control, vegetable and flower gardening, pruning, and more. The Master Gardener program is active in 48 States, the District of Columbia and 3 Canadian provinces. Penn State Cooperative Extension adopted the Master Gardener program in 1982, and in 2012 there were 1,400 volunteers in 58 Pennsylvania counties. Articles on this page were written by Master Gardeners from Allegheny County, Pa.