Take Your Love of Gardening to the Next Level

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Master Gardener Annual Impact Report

Illinois Extension Master Gardeners invest their time and talents in local Illinois communities to grow food, support pollinators, sustain resilient home gardens, and share their knowledge with others.

Explore Our Impact

Announcements and Highlights

Master Gardener 50th Anniversary

Enjoy informaiton about the history of the Master Gardener program and what to expect for the next 50 years of "Helping Others Learn to Grow."

Become a Master Gardener

Master Gardeners are trained volunteers who dedicate their time and skills to make their community a more beautiful place. Learn how you can get involved!

Volunteer Resources

Continuing education opportunities, hour tracking, and more resources for current Master Gardener volunteers.

Extension Horticulture Group

Submit questions, network with other gardening enthusiasts and check in with Illinois Extension Horticulture Educators.

Read the newsletter

Find seasonal tips and best practices to take the best care of your lawn and garden year-round

Upcoming Events

Golden Garden Days: East Central Celebration at 4-H Memorial Camp

May 14, 2025

County

Champaign

Managing Common Squash and Pumpkin Pests

May 20, 2025

Illinois Invasive Species Symposium

May 28, 2025

Golden Garden Days: Northeast Celebration

June 17, 2025

County

Cook

DuPage

Grundy

Kane

Kankakee

Kendall

Lake

McHenry

Will

More Events

Recent News

White fuzzy appearing specs that are mealybugs on a houseplant stem.

April 28, 2025

Keeping outside pests off indoor plants
URBANA, Ill. — Keeping houseplants is a hobby that has recently seen a huge resurgence. Now, nurseries that were all but shuttered for the winter are hosting houseplant parties and other events to help people keep their hands dirty all year.Tending to houseplants is a way to maintain our...

A group of Extension staff and volunteers visiting and conversing at an outdoor event

April 22, 2025

Immeasurable impact gained through dedication of Illinois Extension volunteers
URBANA, Ill. — They are friends, neighbors, family members, or someone we run into at local community events. More than 5,000 of these individuals are University of Illinois Extension volunteers.These volunteers make a difference in their...

April 18, 2025

Sprout gardening skills at regional Master Gardener 50th Anniversary Celebrations
URBANA, Ill. — Seek out pollinators in native gardens, dive into the world of aquaponics, and see how cutting-edge technology is transforming garden design at upcoming statewide Golden Garden Day celebrations of the 50-year legacy of University...

View of a layered landscape all green in bloom with flowers, trees, and shrubs in the woods.

April 14, 2025

A layered landscape provides space for wildlife all year
URBANA, Ill. — There are many ways to support pollinators and other wildlife in home landscapes, such as providing floral resources throughout the season, planting host plants, and planting native plants. In addition, consider creating a space for them to live out their life cycles by creating...

March 27, 2025

Explore invasive plant, animal, insect research updates at Illinois Invasive Species Symposium
URBANA, Ill. — When it comes to invasive species, what we don’t know, can hurt us. From insects that kill trees to plants that may increase tick populations, invasive species are a serious threat to Illinois natural areas, waterways, and farm fields because once they take hold, removing them is...

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Take Your Love of Gardening to the Next Level

Master Gardener Annual Impact Report

Announcements and Highlights

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