Grow Your Gardening Skills with UW-Madison Extension’s Online Course
Want to be a better gardener? Whether you’re new to gardening or looking to deepen your skill set, Growing and Caring for Plants in Wisconsin: Foundations in Gardening is the course for you.
Offered online by the UW-Madison Division of Extension Horticulture Program, this self-paced course runs Sept. 7–Dec. 6, 2025. You’ll learn how to grow and care for everything from trees to vegetables to houseplants—and everything in between! Learn more at go.wisc.edu/ExtFoundationsInGardening.
By the end of the course, you’ll be able to:
- Connect plant biology with good gardening practices
- Explain how to select, grow, and maintain the health of different kinds of plants
- Manage common plant problems
- Use Integrated Pest Management strategies to protect plant health and the environment
The course includes 14 modules with videos, virtual activities, readings, and live webinars featuring Extension experts. You can also sign up for optional online lab sessions to apply what you’ve learned in real-life scenarios (additional fee applies).
If you are interested in becoming a Wisconsin Extension Master Gardener, this course is considered an “approved learning opportunity” to be eligible for the Master Gardener Program. For more information on how to become a Master Gardener, visit mastergardener.extension.wisc.edu/join.
Early Bird registration is open July 16–Aug. 11, 2025, for $299, including a digital course manual. You may purchase a physical copy of the course manual for an additional fee. Scholarships are available during Early Bird registration for those eligible for financial assistance. Registration closes Aug. 28. Learn more and register at go.wisc.edu/ExtFoundationsInGardening.
Questions? Email Amy Freidig at gardening.class@extension.wisc.edu
The Extension Horticulture Program provides research-based horticulture information to Wisconsin gardeners so they can make informed decisions that keep their plants healthy while protecting the environment. The University of Wisconsin–Madison Division of Extension provides equal opportunities in employment and programming in compliance with state and federal law.
Editor’s note: The Banner appreciates having permission to use the image on the homepage by Richard Duijnstee from Pixabay.
