Rutgers Master Gardener Program

Rutgers Master Gardeners are volunteers trained and certified by Rutgers Cooperative Extension to provide educational programs and activities in support of environmentally responsible home gardening. To learn more about becoming a Master Gardener or to receive an application, call 732-431-7260, ext. 7262.

Some Master Gardener services are:

• Helpline
• Community Projects
• Gardening Speakers
• Horticultural Enrichment

Master Gardener Helpline: 732-303-7614

Trained Master Gardener volunteers operate a year-round telephone helpline to advise the public about horticultural matters and diagnose and solve home gardening problems. County residents may get free answers to home garden, insect, and pest questions by calling the helpline from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday–Friday. After hours, on weekends, and during especially busy times of the year, please leave a voicemail stating your questions, and your call will be returned.

The Rutgers Master Gardeners of Monmouth County are sponsored by the joint cooperation of Rutgers Cooperative Extension, Brookdale Community College, and Monmouth County Parks System.

Email us your questions, photographs and general gardening inquiries.

Community Projects

If you have a Monmouth County public gardening project on which you would like consulting, contact us. Examples are garden planning, and educational outreach and advice. Call Diane Larson at 732-431-7260, ext. 7262.

Gardening Speakers

Are you looking for someone to speak at your next meeting or event? We’ve got a speaker for you! We can provide a knowledgeable speaker about many garden topics – from growing roses to generating compost, hummingbirds and vegetable gardening…  Give us a call. We are here to serve the Monmouth County gardening community.

We are continually adding talks to our catalog, if you don’t see a topic you’re interested in, please ask. Please see our Brochure (PDF) for the complete list of presentations we offer on a wide variety of horticultural topics. For more information contact the Rutgers Master Gardeners of Monmouth County, 732-303-7614.

Horticultural Enrichment

Horticultural enrichment is a process utilizing plants and horticultural activities to improve the social, educational, psychological and physical of persons, thus improving their body, mind and spirits.

Groups for whom horticultural enrichment has proven beneficial include people who are physically disabled, mentally ill, developmentally disabled, elderly, substance abusers, public offenders and socially disadvantaged. We provide consultative services to all of these. For more information, contact the Rutgers Master Gardeners of Monmouth County, 732-303-7614.

Events for the Public

The Master Gardeners host a variety of public events throughout the year. These events include a Home Garden Symposium and a School Garden Conference (for educators) in the spring, a spectacular plant sale held on the Friday and Saturday after Mother’s Day, a Butterfly Workshop and an award-winning Bugs, Birds, and Beyond festival for children in August. These events are held at the Monmouth County Agriculture Building in Freehold.

Diane Larson, County Horticulturist, coordinates the Master Gardener Program in Monmouth County. For more information, contact her at 732-431-7260, ext. 7262.