A volunteer in training is expected to complete 100 percent of the prescribed hours of instruction. If, for any reason, you need to miss a class, please visit with your local LMG coordinator regarding missed class material.

In order to retain the Louisiana Master Gardener title, individuals are required to complete a minimum of 20 volunteer service hours and six continuing education hours each year. Documentation requirements and validation of volunteer service and continuing education hours are under the supervision of the local Master Gardener Program Coordinator or individual designated by the coordinator.

The Louisiana Master Gardener training program provides a balanced, integrated, practical course in gardening. Special topics, based on Louisiana gardening needs, are part of the curriculum and involve a balance of lecture and hands-on activities. The training is provided by LSU AgCenter Extension faculty and other horticulture experts.

Primary topics covered in the training include:

• Soils and Plant Nutrition
• Basic Botany and Plant Propagation
• Basic Plant Pathology and Entomology
• Vegetable Gardening
• Fruit Culture
• Woody Ornamentals
• Annuals and Perennials
• Lawn Management and Weeds
• Environmental Horticulture
• Diagnostics/Problem Solving

Classroom participation should include 100 percent attendance during the training period. If you need to miss a class session, please visit with your local LMG coordinator to make up the missed material. Class format differs by program, but most of the programs are held for three to six hours one or two days per week, and generally conducted at a parish Extension office. Upon completion of the formal coursework, participants are required to satisfactorily pass a comprehensive examination on the materials covered.

To graduate as a Master Gardener, each trainee must pass a final examination. Examinations are prepared by the local Master Gardener Program coordinator in collaboration with class instructors.

Examinations are under the direction of the local LMG coordinator. As such, they may be open-book or closed. Final exams are designed to evaluate a trainee's ability to retrieve information from the Louisiana Master Gardener handbook and other horticultural resources.

A score of 70 percent or higher is needed to pass.

Louisiana offers 29 parish-level Master Gardener programs with volunteer participation in 58 parishes. LMG trainings are offered at various times during the year and at various parish Extension offices across the state.

To help you decide if you should apply to be a Master Gardener, ask yourself these questions:

• Do I want to learn more about the culture and maintenance of many types of plants?
• Am I eager to participate in a practical and intense training program?
• Do I look forward to sharing my knowledge with people in my community?
• Do I have enough time to attend training and to complete the volunteer service?

If you answered yes to these questions, the Master Gardener program could be for you.

The base fee for participation in the Louisiana Master Gardener Program is $150.

This amount covers costs for the training manual, name badge, certificate and supporting educational materials.

Additional overhead cost may be included as determined by the local Master Gardener Program coordinator and may vary from one parish to another depending on local situations.

2025 Central Louisiana Master Gardener Class

Class will be held the 1^st and 3^rd Wednesday each month beginning August 20 from 9:00 AM to noon.

Class will be held at Camp Grant Walker in Pollock.

Registration fee is $175.

For more information or to register contact Molly Lyles at mlyles@agcenter.lsu.edu or (318) 767-3968.

2025 Livingston Master Gardener Class

Classes will be held Wednesdays from 9 AM to 12 PM at the Southeastern Livingston Center in Walker.

Classes start on August 6^th and end on November 5^th.

Registration fee is $190.

Students can register at https://forms.office.com/r/pyMmj6HfHJ

2025 Lafayette Master Gardeners Class

Classes will be held August – November, Thursdays from 8:45 AM - 3:00 PM

Most classes will be held at ULL’s Ira Nelson Horticulture Center 2206 Johnston St, Lafayette (an additional field trip will be included on the schedule).

For more information on or to receive a copy of the application (due May 31), please see Become a Lafayette Parish Master Gardener - Lafayette Parish Master Gardeners or contact the LSU AgCenter office in Lafayette at 337-291-7090.

2025 River Region Master Gardener Class

Class will be held July 15 - October 21, 2025 at the Lloyd B. Johnson Law Enforcement Training Facility in LaPlace.

Classes are scheduled for Tuesday evenings.

For more information or to receive an application (due July 1) please visit St. Charles Parish Master Gardener.

You may also contact Alyssa Tarrant in St. Charles Parish at 985-785-4473 or atarrant@agcenter.lsu.edu or Stephanie Gravois in St. John and St. James Parishes at 985-497-3261, 225-562-2320 or sgravois@agcenter.lsu.edu.

2025 Piney Hills Master Gardener Program

Classes will be held at the Webster Parish Extension Office.

Classes are tentatively scheduled to begin June 17^th and run through September 2^nd.

Classes will be held Tuesday evenings from 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm.

For more information, contact class coordinator, John Monzingo at 318-371-1371or JMonzingo@agcenter.lsu.edu.

2025 Downriver Master Gardeners Class

Plaquemines and St. Bernard Parishes

Classes held at Docville Farm, 5124 E. St. Bernard Hwy., Violet, LA

June 11th-August 13th, Wednesday evenings 5:30-7:30 PM

For more information and an application (Due May 15) please contact Anna Timmerman at atimmerman@agcenter.lsu.edu or 504-278-4234.

2025 Sabine Master Gardener Program

Classes will be held at the Sabine Parish Extension Office.

Classes are tentatively scheduled to begin March 26, 2025.

Classes will be held Wednesday mornings from 9:30 until approximately noon or a little after.

For more information, contact class coordinator, Chris Pearce at 318-256-3406 or TPearce@agcenter.lsu.edu.

2025 Winn/Jackson Master Gardener Program

Classes will be held at the Winn Parish Extension Office.

Classes are tentatively scheduled to begin March 10, 2025.

Classes are usually held on Mondays from 5:30 – 8:30 PM.

For more information, contact class coordinator, Donny Moon at 318-628-4528 or WMoon@agcenter.lsu.edu.

2025 Northeast Louisiana Master Gardener Program

Classes will meet at the Ouachita Parish AgCenter Office, 704 Cypress Street, West Monroe, LA

Classes will be held on Monday evenings, beginning at 5:00 PM (February 10 – March 24, 2025)

An Orientation Session will be held February 3, 2025, at 5:00 PM

For more information, contact class coordinator, Markaye Russell at 318-323-2251 or MRussell@agcenter.lsu.edu.

2025 Northwest Louisiana Master Gardener Program

Class meeting location – Red River Research Station (210 Research Station Dr. Bossier City LA, 71112)

Classes begin January 16, 2025, and run through the end of March.

Classes are held on Thursdays from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM.

For more information or to sign up for the 2025 class waiting list, contact Mark Wilson at MAWilson@agcenter.lsu.edu.

Applications are also online at: 2025 Northwest Louisiana Master Gardener Application.

2025 La-Terre Master Gardener Program (Lafourche and Terrebonne)

Classes will be held at the LSU AgCenter Office in Raceland (LSU AgCenter-Lafourche, 115 Texas Street, Raceland, LA 70394).

An orientation session will be held on December 5, 2024, for those interested in taking the Master Gardener class.

Classes will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from January 7 – January 30, 2025. Classes are held from 9:00 am – noon and 1:00 - 3:30 pm.

The deadline to apply is November 18, 2024.

For more information, contact class coordinator, Cherie Roger at 985-873-6495 or CRoger@agcenter.lsu.edu.