Do you want to learn more about sustainable practices in your home garden or landscape? This online, self-paced course is based on our Master Gardener basic training and provides an educational opportunity that does not require a volunteer commitment. This class is well suited for beginner to advanced home gardeners as well as green industry professionals.
Students will learn through interactive online modules carefully crafted by experts within each specific plant area. Topics include soils, vegetable gardening, entomology (insects), integrated pest management, and more! Each module runs about 30-60 minutes. Once a module opens, you are able to access the materials at your leisure.
Students will receive a certificate upon completion of the course. *Please note: The Sustainable Horticulture Certificate does not imply that the holder is representing the University of Maryland as a certified Master Gardener volunteer.
Timing and Cost
This course will run annually from late winter-early spring and costs $225.00. There are no required textbooks for this course.
How to Apply
Registration is now open for our next session (January 5- March 10, 2026)! As a reminder this course is self-paced and completely virtual, so there are no set dates that classes will occur, but there will be two quizzes due at the end of each week.
To enroll, you will need to create an associate account which you can do here. You will then receive an email confirming your user ID and enabling you to create a password. After doing so, please visit the Open Learning storefront to search for the course. You can log in using the directory ID and password that you created and enroll in the course.
Enrollment deadline: December 23, 2025
Please email statemg@umd.edu if you have any trouble accessing the course once you have registered or have any other questions.
Course Schedule
Week 1: Ecology and Botany
Week 2: Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and Pesticide Safety
Week 3: Plant Pathology and Entomology
Week 4: Soils and Turf
Week 5: Native Plants and Conservation Landscaping
Week 6: Weeds and Invasive Plants
Week 7: Woody Plants and Indoor Plants
Week 8: Vegetable Gardening and Vegetable Gardening IPM
Week 9: Work on project (optional) and prepare for final exam
Week 10: Final exam and project due
Please contact statemg@umd.edu for questions or to request a reasonable accommodation.
We are grateful to USDA-NIFA for their support in creating some of the teaching materials used in this course.
University programs, activities, and facilities are available to all without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, age, national origin, political affiliation, physical or mental disability, religion, protected veteran status, genetic information, personal appearance, or any other legally protected class.