Kendall County Master Gardeners

Take Your Love of Gardening to the Next Level

The University of Illinois Extension Master Gardener Program is a volunteer program open to anyone with the desire to learn and to share information with others about research-based landscape and gardening practices.

Master Gardeners reach into the communities with a variety of projects in partnership with local organizations, and they also staff the Master Gardener Help Desk by assisting residents with garden and landscape questions.

Volunteers participate in extensive training sessions conducted by University of Illinois Extension specialists and educators in horticulture, insects, diseases, grasses, woody and herbaceous ornamentals, and fruits and vegetables.

How to become a Master Gardener

Interested in volunteering? You do not need to be an experienced gardener to qualify. If you are looking for a way to give back and to grow your knowledge of horticulture, this may be the opportunity for you.

If you are a Kendall County resident and would like to receive information about the next Master Gardener training (tentatively scheduled for fall 2023), please complete this Master Gardener Training Interest Form. You will be placed on our email list to receive information about the next informational meeting and the application process.

To become a Master Gardener, you must attend the orientation meeting where you will learn about our program and how to apply. The horticulture staff reviews all applications and an interview is required. 

The Master Gardener training includes 40 hours of horticultural training in a wide variety of topics. In return, trainees are required to volunteer 40 hours to the program, and staffing the Master Gardener Help Desk is required for the first 24 of those volunteer hours.

Learn more about Illinois Master Gardeners | Active Volunteer Resource Center for current volunteers only

 

Ask a Master Gardener 

The Kendall County Master Gardener Help Desk is available during each growing season, starting in March and closing each Nov. 1.

Monday - Wednesday - Friday | 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

General Help Desk Email Submission Tips:

  • Want to email your question? Please send a detailed message with your question, and a volunteer will get back to you. Please see the tips below to guide your submission. We look forward to helping you!
  • In addition to your question, please include as much additional information as possible:
    • This could include planting date, age of plant, chemicals used, number of plants affected, where found, patterns, when symptoms were first noticed, etc.
  • For plant identifications, please include photos of the whole plant AND close-ups of plant parts.
    • Parts may include leaves, flowers, roots, fruit, seeds, etc.
  • Please check your photos before submitting them. Are they clear and in-focus?
  • When possible, please include a size reference in your photos (such as a pen, ruler, or a coin).
    • Send a maximum of 10 images per sample/question.

     

    Request a Master Gardener for a meeting or event

    University of Illinois Extension is pleased to present these horticultural programs to your Kendall County group. To request a program please fill out a request form.
     

    Attracting Butterflies to the Garden
    Brightly colored butterflies are not only an attractive addition to your garden, they are useful pollinators. Learn about Illinois butterflies and how to design your garden to attract them.

    Body Smart Gardening
    Gardening can be of the most rewarding activities with fresh fruits and vegetables, flowers and expanses of lawns dotted with trees. However, gardening can take a toll on the body, whether you are young or old. This program will give your group steps to make gardening more enjoyable. Topics will include clothing, tools, and methods.

     

    Garden History in England and Wales
    View scenes of historic gardens in northern England and Wales in a PowerPoint presentation of an educational tour in 2016. Learn about the designs of landscape planners such as Capability Brown and Joseph Paxton. This is a rich man's sport; don't expect to see cottage gardens.

     

    Planning and Planting a Vegetable Garden
    Feed your whole family the fruits and vegetables they enjoy from your own garden. From site preparation (size, location and soil) through harvest, a Master Gardener will give your audience the tips and tricks for successful vegetable gardening.

     

    Preparing Your Garden for Winter
    End of season tasks prepare your garden for winter and make next season’s garden more successful. Topics include fertilization, watering and weed control, care of perennials, planting spring bulbs and more.

     

    Preparing Your Garden for Spring
    Learn the seasonal chores that should be done in spring to get your garden off to a good start. Topics covered include planting seeds indoors and out, planting cool season flowers, seasonal lawn care as well as watering, fertilizing, dividing and pruning.

     

    Seed Starting
    Starting your own seedlings for the garden is a great way to save money and grow varieties of flowers, vegetables and other plants not usually found in stores or garden centers. A University of Illinois Extension Master Gardener will present tips on starting your own plants from seed, including soil preparation, container selection, lighting options and troubleshooting.

     

    University of Illinois Extension is pleased to present these horticultural programs to your Kendall County group. To request a program please complete this form.

     

    Requests should be made four weeks in advance in order to coordinate our volunteers’ schedules. Please note: Speaker Bureau requests received on or after March 1 will be charged with the 2023 fee of $150 per Master Gardener presentation. Thank you.