Extension Master Gardener Course in Adair County
Location
Kirksville Aquatic Center
801 E. Mill St. Kirksville, MO
Date
February 23, 2026 at 9:30 AM - May 11, 2026 at 12:30 PM
Pricing
About
The Extension Master Gardener program was established in Missouri in 1983 and provides in-depth horticultural training for Missourians who wish to share their knowledge of gardening. The mission of the University of Missouri Extension Master Gardener program is to support MU Extension by providing trained volunteers to assist in public horticulture education.
This course prepares Extension Master Gardeners in topics related to soils, plant nutrition, vegetables, fruits, ornamental woody plants, herbaceous plants, plant propagation, disease and insect control, lawn care, residential landscape, environmental stewardship, and safe use of pest management strategies.
Extension Master Gardener volunteers assist MU Extension by utilizing unbiased research-based information to educate, answer frequently asked gardening questions, teach through demonstration gardens, donate produce, present as speakers' bureaus, and share information.
To become trained as an Extension Master Gardener, an individual must attend a 30-hour training course and provide 30 hours of volunteer service back to their community.
- Cost: $200
- Coordinator, Jennifer Schutter
- Adair County MU Extension
- Email: schutterjl@missouri.edu
- Phone: 660-665-9866
Course sessions will be held from 9:30-12:30 on the following dates:
- February 23: Orientation and Policies and Procedures
- March 2: Plants and Their Environment
- March 9: Fruit Gardening and Pruning
- March 16: Soils, Plant Nutrition, Nutrient Management and Pesticide Safety
- March 23: Plant Propagation
- March 30: Vegetable Gardening
- April 6: Establishment and Care of Woody Ornamental Plants
- April 13: Insects, Pollinators, and Integrated Pest Management
- April 20: Turf and Lawn Maintenance
- April 27: Plant Diseases and Disorders
- May 4: Herbaceous Plants
- May 11: Residential Landscaping
Lab Sessions will be held from 10 am until 12 pm on the following dates:
April 23-garden tour and/or hands-on demonstration or project
April 30-garden tour and/or hands-on demonstration or project
May 7-garden tour and/or hands-on demonstration or project
Sessions
Feb. 23, 2026
-
09:30 AM - 12:30 PM CST Orientation and Policies and Procedures
Orientation to the University of Missouri Extension Master Gardener course, and discussion of policies and procedures.
Location: Kirksville Aquatic Center
March 2, 2026
-
09:30 AM - 12:30 PM CST Plants and Their Environment
Plant classification, plant parts and functions, and plant processes will be discussed.
Location: Kirksville Aquatic Center
March 9, 2026
-
09:30 AM - 12:30 PM CDT Fruit Gardening and Pruning
Growing fruit trees and small fruit plants will be discussed, with a demonstration on pruning fruit trees.
Location: Kirksville Aquatic Center
March 16, 2026
-
09:30 AM - 12:30 PM CDT Soils, Plant Nutrition, Nutrient Management, Pesticide Safety
Soil types, soil structure and texture, nutrients needed for plant growth and pesticide safety will be discussed.
Location: Kirksville Aquatic Center
March 23, 2026
-
09:30 AM - 12:30 PM CDT Plant Propagation
Plant propagation techniques will be discussed with hands-on propagation of plants to follow.
Location: Kirksville Aquatic Center
March 30, 2026
-
09:30 AM - 12:30 PM CDT Vegetable Gardening
Vegetable selection, culture, maintenance and harvesting will be discussed.
Location: Kirksville Aquatic Center
April 13, 2026
-
09:30 AM - 12:30 PM CDT Establishment and Care of Woody Ornamental Plants
Selection of trees and shrubs, planting and their care will be discussed.
Location: Kirksville Aquatic Center
-
09:30 AM - 12:30 PM CDT Insects, Pollinators and Integrated Pest Management
Types of insects both beneficial and harmful will be discussed, in addition to the importance of pollinators, and how to use integrated pest management into a garden to control insects.
Location: Kirksville Aquatic Center
April 20, 2026
-
09:30 AM - 12:30 PM CDT Lawn Care
Planting, seeding, and caring for a lawn will be discussed.
Location: Kirksville Aquatic Center
April 23, 2026
-
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM CDT Lab/field session #1
This will consist of a garden tour or a hands-on project or experience.
Location: Adair County MU Extension Center
April 27, 2026
-
09:30 AM - 12:30 PM CDT Plant Diseases and Disorders
Diseases and disorders of plants will be discussed. Plant disease samples will be used for identification.
Location: Kirksville Aquatic Center
April 30, 2026
-
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM CDT Lab/field session #2
This will consist of a garden tour or a hands-on project or experience.
Location: Adair County MU Extension Center
May 4, 2026
-
09:30 AM - 12:30 PM CDT Herbaceous Ornamentals
Flower identification, culture and maintenance will be discussed.
Location: Kirksville Aquatic Center
May 7, 2026
-
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM CDT Lab/field session #3
This will consist of a garden tour or a hands-on project or experience.
Location: Adair County MU Extension Center
May 11, 2026
-
09:30 AM - 12:30 PM CDT Residential Landscaping
Landscaping a home will be discussed, including plant selection and placement.
Location: Kirksville Aquatic Center