To join the Wisconsin Extension Master Gardener Program, you must first learn about plants and how to take care of them.

The first step in the process is to participate in the approved learning opportunity, Growing and Caring for Plants in Wisconsin: Foundations in Gardening, with the UW-Madison Extension Horticulture Program. This course is led by Extension Horticulture staff and covers objectives and subjects found in the Wisconsin Extension Master Gardener Program Onboarding exam.

Statewide, Online Course:

Growing and Caring for Plants in Wisconsin: Foundations in Gardening is an online, complete-at-your-own-pace introductory course, where you learn key concepts for selecting, growing, and maintaining plants — from trees to houseplants to vegetables (and everything in between!).

Foundations in Gardening is offered annually from September through December. Registration opens July 16, 2025.