The Nebraska Master Gardener Program
The Nebraska Master Gardener program is a horticulture related volunteer training program based in many counties throughout the state. It has been part of Nebraska Extension since 1976. Master Gardener volunteers are trained by University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension faculty and staff. They contribute time as volunteers working through their local Extension office to provide horticulture-related information to their community. More specifically, they provide education about sustainable horticultural practices. Participants are required to complete 40 hours of training and 40 hours of volunteer service during the initial year of their involvement in the program. Master Gardener volunteers retain their certification through annual training and volunteering.
Nebraska Master Gardener web page
University Horticulture, Landscape, and Environmental Systems website
The Advanced Master Gardener Training for the Panhandle region of Nebraska is scheduled to start on February 24, 2025, and run through March 17, 2025. Classes will be held every Monday from 10 am to 3 pm in the Panhandle Research, Extension and Education Center (4502 Ave I, Scottsbluff). Lunch will be an hour and not provided by the program.
If you only wish to attend classes, the fee is $25. You are offered access to all the classes, but none of the other events throughout the year.
Registration for returning Master Gardener Volunteers is $25. This provides access to the classes and the state-wide online zooms being offered (details attached), along with covering the state registration fee.
Registration for new Master Gardener Interns is $250. Scholarships are available. This provides registrants a shirt, name tag, access to the Nebraska Extension Master Gardener Top Hat and resources, and pays the registration fee with the state.
All courses will be recorded and will be available through the Nebraska Master Gardener Volunteer Reporting System after the fact if you are unable to attend one of the sessions.
The Master Gardener handbook has been digitized into Top Hat. New Interns will be provided access to the site as part of their registration, others may purchase access to the site for $35 through the website. (Information will be provided after registration.)
Register by calling the Scotts Bluff County Extension Office at 308-632-1480. Payment can be made in either cash or check (made out to “University of Nebraska – Lincoln”).
Looking forward to seeing you this year!
| February 24 | Welcome & Overview, Volunteer Opportunities, Pollinator Project & Gardne Design |
|---|---|
| March 3 | Photography in the Garden, Garden Buddies, Strange Garden Fellows |
| Narch 10 | Caring for Roses, Paul Safford (NPNRD), Soil Health, Flower Dissection |
| March 17 | Anaerobic Soil Disinfestation, Herb Your Enthusiasm, Season Extending Builds |
The 2026 Master Gardener Zoom trainings will be held at 5:30 p.m. Fees are $10 per class or $35 for entire series.
Contact Nebraska Extension-North Platte (308-532-2683) to register. New Master Gardener Trainees complete the online application https://mastergardener.unl.edu/master-gardener-application.
| February 5 | Fruit Tree Care |
|---|---|
| February 12 | All About Ants |
| February 19 | Tree ID Beyond Leaves |
| February 26 | Native Grasses in Landscapes |
| March 5 | Lawn and Landscape Weeds |
| March 12 | Weather Information for Garden Planning |
| March 19 | Attracting Good Garden Insects |