TSMG BASIC TRAINING

NEXT TSMG BASIC TRAINING:  JANUARY 2024:  
Thank you for your interest in the TSMG's 2024 Basic Training class. The class is now full! 

Click here for the TSMG BASIC TRAINING APPLICATION

MASTER GARDENERS deal with all aspects of gardening including basic plant physiology, soil
improvement, pest management, and information on local growing environments. We aim to share the most
current scientific information on local pests and diseases, and the use of environmentally-friendly solutions
to plant problems.

MASTER GARDENERS ARE VOLUNTEER educators who participate in clinics at local garden centres, public
garden events including farmers’ markets, fall fairs, seedy Saturdays. In addition to clinics, Master Gardeners
assist with plant sales, lead garden tours, provide presentations for community groups as well as research and write articles for newsletters, websites, social media, pamphlets and brochures. They lead and/or participate in Citizen Science research projects as well as implement or assist with school and community group projects.

WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO BECOME A MASTER GARDENER?
● Be a keen gardener, willing to share knowledge and enthusiasm with the gardening public.
● Attend an information session and complete an informal quiz on basic gardening knowledge.
● Complete Basic Training (approx. 70 hours).
● After completing Basic Training participants transition to Master Gardeners-in-Training and complete 65
volunteer hours over a two-year period.

BASIC TRAINING TOPICS include:

- Botany
- Plant Nomenclature and ID
- Soil & Amendments
- Plant Nutrition & Fertilizers
- Vegetable Gardening
- Tree Fruits
- Berries & Grapes
- Native Plants
- Herbaceous & Woody Landscape Plants
- Basic Entomology
- Insect & Vertebrate Pest Management
- Plant Pathology
- Plant Problem Diagnosis
- Plant Health Care & IPM
- Pruning Principles
- Plant Propagation
- Composting
- Fire-Smart Landscaping
- Waterwise Landscaping
- Invasive Species
- Pollinators

FOR MORE INFORMATION — email tsmastergardeners@gmail.com or click here to view our Basic Training brochure.