• Do you enjoy working with plants and gardening?
• Do you have a Volunteer spirit and a desire to help others?
• Whether your thumb is bright green, not-so-green, or brown, join our training classes and share your interests with our community.

Our Mission: Helping Tennessee Grow Better Communities

In support of Extension in Tennessee, the mission of the Knox County Master Gardener program is to educate and serve the community using research-based information on best-practices in horticulture, environmental stewardship, and integrated pest management.

We collaborate with groups and individuals in our community to develop opportunities for all ages and backgrounds to fulfill a passion for gardening.

Volunteers Make the Difference!

Over 200 enthusiastic, friendly volunteers throughout Knox County manage all aspects of the program and deliver services to the community. Everyone who is trained to become a certified Master Gardener is expected to return a minimum number of community service hours. Most volunteers contribute much more than expected because we love what we do and see the impact of our work in the community. We know you will, too.

Beginning Your Journey as a Master Gardener

We are currently seeking dedicated volunteers to join our wonderful group and serve in the community. While a background in gardening is a plus, we welcome all applicants, regardless of your gardening experience! To become a certified Tennessee Extension Master Gardener, you must first complete a 40-hour training course, which covers a variety of horticultural topics such as Basic Botany, Soil Science, Weed Science, and many more. Upon course graduation, you then must complete 40 volunteer hours at an Extension approved project and 8-hours of continued education within one year of completion of training. The first year is the most difficult for new volunteers, but the education and service are well worth the time commitment!

Application and Training Information    

The Knox County Master Gardener training is held every spring, typically from January through April each year. We offer both morning and night classes, based on the year. Morning classes are held on even years (2020, 2022, 2024, etc.) and night classes on odd years (2021, 2023, 2025, etc.). Applications can be submitted anytime before November 15th of each year, but earlier is better as applicants are contacted in the order received. Below are links to the Knox County Master Gardener Training Program and the Tennessee Master Gardener Program application. Click to download the files. After filling out the application, please mail the completed form to: Rylan Thompson, UT-TSU Extension Agent, 400 West Main St., Suite 560, Knoxville, TN 37902

Tennessee Master Gardener Program Application (fillable form)