Local volunteers serving their communities

Master Gardeners are more than just gardening enthusiasts. They are trained horticultural experts who give back to their communities through service projects and delivery of educational programs. Learn more about this volunteer opportunity in your county:

Join us for upcoming events near you

2026 Community Tree Care Series: Jan. 13- Feb. 17. Tree care isn't always led just by certified arborists, so Illinois Extension is ensuring that everyone has access to research-backed information on practicing proper tree care.
2026 Home Gardening Webinar Series: Home Gardening Webinars will be Thursday evenings from 6–7 p.m. central time from January 8–March 12, 2026. Attendees can choose to join in the Zoom room or on Facebook Live.
2026 Garden Learning Series: Starting Feb. 11, 2026. More classes coming SOON!
2026 Agronomy Update: Feb 18- Hear from experts on 2025 disease trends, weed adaptability & herbicide resistance.
CCA credits applied for. Join us!
2026 GardenFest: April 11, 2026. Held annually, Gardenfest is sponsored by McHenry County College and the University of Illinois Extension McHenry County Master Gardeners.
2026 Lake County Seed Expo: March 27, 2026 at CLC from 10 am- 2 pm
2026 McHenry County Seed Expo: Feb. 7, 2026 at McHenry County College from 10 am- 2 pm
2026 Lake County Plant Sale: May 16, 2026 at the Lake County Extension Office from 9 am - 3 pm
2026 McHenry County Farm Stroll: Sept. 22- more info. COMING SOON!

Ask A Master Gardener

Have questions about gardening? We can help.

The Master Gardener Help Desk is a community service that Master Gardener programs provide across the nation. Our Master Gardener Help Desks are open year-round in Lake and McHenry counties.

To reach a Master Gardener, individuals can call or stop by a local Extension office during Help Desk hours, or complete the online forms. Volunteers will assess your question and reply with research-based answers.

Throughout the year, trained volunteers field questions from community members on trees, shrubs, lawns, flowers, vegetables, and other plant-related topics. In 2024, across both counties, Master Gardeners and Master Naturalists answered more than 4,255 help requests and logged 26,707 hours through service projects in our communities.

Lake County Help Desk

Hours: