Coconino Master Gardener

Master Gardeners are trained volunteers who provide educational information to Cooperative Extension clientele.

To become a Master Gardener in Coconino County you must complete the formal Master Gardener training in Coconino County, and then complete 50 volunteer hours within 13 months to become certified.  After that there is an annual requirement of 12 volunteer hours and 6 continuing education hours to remain certified.

The in-person 15 week training course, delivered by University of Arizona Cooperative Extension faculty and specialists, is held each year (late January to mid-May) with half day sessions once a week. The online course is offered twice a year: spring and fall. 

The course content includes current science-based information on such topics as: basic botany, soils, fruit tree care, planting, staking, pruning, ornamental trees and shrubs, water/irrigation, wildlife in the garden, insects, integrated pest management, vegetables, plant diseases, pesticide safety, and weed management.

Applications are available in November of the previous year. Applicants should be residents of Coconino County for at least one year, want to learn more about high elevation gardening, enjoy meeting others with similar gardening interests, enjoy sharing knowledge with others in your community, and have time to meet the volunteer and continuing education requirements. To obtain an application you may contact the Extension Office to be put on the class interest list. Currently, the course is first come, first serve but you must be accepted into the class..

The primary focus of the volunteer work is providing science-based horticultural information to the community. Some examples of volunteer work are:

• staffing horticulture help lines in the Cooperative Extension offices
• giving talks, demonstrations, etc. to groups
• sharing horticulture information at festivals, farmers' markets, etc.
• assisting students in school gardening projects or with wildlife habitats
• providing horticultural advice to individuals, groups, and establishments
• assisting local non-profits with horticulture educational activities.

We are also offering the course as a Home Horticulture Certificate for those that are not interested in the volunteer portion of the program. This option has a higher fee.