Wright County Master Gardeners

Have a Gardening Question?

Master Gardener Helpline: 763-684-8489

Leave a message for a Master Gardener with questions about anything from insects to soils, lawns, gardens, shrubs, trees, and more! Available 24 hours a day! Responses can be expected within 2 business days.

Gardening Information Website:

Find information on a wide variety of yard and garden topics; everything from flowers to shrubs, to insects and wildlife! Access diagnostic modules to discover what’s wrong with your plants, or identify insects. All this and more can be found at: www.extension.umn.edu/garden

University of Minnesota Extension Office – Wright County:

The Extension Office offers many gardening diagnostic services. Bring in samples of anything from troublesome insects to diseased plants and someone will help you identify or diagnose your plant issue. You can also pick up soil sample testing kits. Located at 3500 Braddock Ave NE, Buffalo

Find us on Facebook or Instagram:

For the latest news and information about gardening topics and events visit us on the web at: www.facebook.com/wcmgs (Facebook membership is not required to view) or find us on Instagram!

Who are the Master Gardeners?

The University of Minnesota Master Gardeners are community volunteers who have been trained and certified by the University in basic horticultural principles and environmentally-sound gardening practices. They provide home gardening information to their community by answering gardening questions via the telephone or internet, providing clinics, demonstrations and classes and one-on-one visits using readily-available, up-to-date, research-based information. This educational effort is designed to enhance the public's quality of life and to promote good stewardship of the environment.

What do the Master Gardeners do for Wright County?

Each year around 40 Master Gardeners volunteer almost 3000 hours of service to Wright County with projects such as:

Answering questions, responding to requests for information, diagnosing plant diseases, identifying plants and insects, etc.
Educational news articles for Wright County newspapers.
“Ask a Master Gardener” educational booths at local events and farmers' markets
Host Educational Learning Opportunities
Youth programs at area schools

How Do I Become a Master Gardener?

If combining your passion for people and plants sounds appealing, you may be a good Master Gardener candidate! A formal education in horticulture isn’t necessary—we provide the training and resources to help you teach others. There are several steps to becoming a Master Gardener, each described below:

Candidates must first apply and be accepted into the program (sometime in September).
Those accepted must then attend a 48-hour class through the University of Minnesota known as the "Core Course" in January or February.
Following completion of the Core Course, Master Gardener interns are required to do 50 hours of volunteer work, including a special project during their internship year.
Once certified, Master Gardeners must volunteer a minimum of 25 hours and receive at least 5 hours of approved continuing education each year in order to maintain their certification. Advanced training is also available.

Learn more about becoming a Master Gardener at: https://extension.umn.edu/master-gardener/become-master-gardener