We at the Rutherford County Extension Service are excited to announce that we are taking applications for the 2008 Master Gardener Program.

The training will cover a variety of topics related to horticulture. These include basic garden botany, fruits, herbaceous and woody ornamentals, turf and houseplants. Identification and control of insects, disease and weeds is heavily emphasized. Specialized instruction dealing with soil, lawn and garden equipment, backyard wildlife management, household pests, landscaping, organic gardening and composting are also included.

The training will cost $100.00 per person. The cost will cover a Tennessee Master Gardener Handbook, refreshments for sixteen sessions . After an initial $100.00 payment, additional family members (assuming they will not want another handbook) may attend for $60.00 each. The fee(s) paid are non-refundable. If you would like to participate in our program, please complete and return an application along with your registration fee(s) no later than January 4, 2008, or call the Rutherford County Extension Office at 615.898.7710.

2008 Master Gardener Class Schedule

January 15 Intro to Master Gardeners January 22 Soil Fertility January 29 Basic Botany February 5 Lawn Management February 12 Managing Landscape Weeds February 19 A) Pruning Trees and Small Fruit  B) Managing Fruit and Small Trees March 4 Gardening March 11 Selecting Woody Landscape Plants March 18 Landscape Design March 25 Native and Invasive Plants April 1 Disease Around the Landscape April 8 Gardening: Organic and Traditional April 22 Master Gardener Graduation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All training sessions will be held at the Lane Agriculture Park located at 315 John R. Rice Blvd. Suite 101 in Murfreesboro, TN 37129.

Classes will begin at 9:00 AM and will conclude no later than 12:00 PM. Classes will be taught once a week beginning on January 15,2008 and will run until April 22, 2008.