Pike County Extension Office will conduct a Master Gardener Course starting in January 2016.

Heath Wesley, Pike County Extension coordinator, said the Master Gardener Course is for those who would like to learn more about gardening, container or raised-bed gardening or how to grow a few backyard tomatoes.

“If you want to know more about lawn care, soil testing, plant propagation, best management practices, composting, fruits and nuts, entomology, plant pathology, care and maintenance of landscape plants, weed identificaton and control or just a little about all things horticultural, then the Master Gardner Course is for you,” Wesley said. “The Master Gardener Course is slated for January 2016 through April 2016 but we need at least 15 interested people to make up a class. We need to get people registered now in order to make all the necessary plans to get the course stated in January.”

Wesley said all Master Gardener Courses are conducted by Auburn University specialists with additional instruction and information provided by Extension agents and local experts.

The classes will meet once weekly from 8 a.m. until noon on either a Tuesday or Thursday. The cost is $150 for the 10-week course which includes hands-on instruction and all course materials.

“In exchange for the 50 hours of classroom instruction, class members agree to volunteer 50 hours in support of Cooperative Extension program efforts or other educational programs,” Wesley said. “Those who are interested in the Master Gardener Course are encouraged to sign up as soon as possible. We need at least 15 people to continue planning to offer this course. Don’t wait until the last minute to sign up.”

To sign up for the Master Gardener Course, call the Pike County Extension Office at 334-566-0985 or stop by the office on South Three Notch Street in Troy.