Horticulture in Benewah County

Gardening and horticulture

UI Extension, Benewah County offers a variety of resources and programs to help you better understand horticulture and gardening issues. The Idaho Master Gardener Program trains citizens to share their gardening knowledge through community outreach. Contact the UI Extension, Benewah County office at benewah@uidaho.edu or 208-245-2422 for current class dates.

Master gardener program

Each year, hundreds of master gardeners share their gardening knowledge as they serve their communities and the environment. UI Extension, Benewah County offers the Idaho Master Gardener Program course every other year.

What master gardeners do

Answer horticulture questions (by telephone and in person at the UI Extension office)
Promote environmental responsibility
Bring the joy of gardening to all ages
Teach classes for large groups: civic organizations, church groups, garden clubs, schools and others

Becoming an Idaho Master Gardener

If you are interested in being certified as an Idaho Master Gardener, contact the UI Extension, Benewah County office at benewah@uidaho.edu or call 208-245-2422 to learn about upcoming classes and request an application. Space is limited, so apply early.

Students are required to complete 30 hours of classwork, 12 hours volunteering at the Plant Clinic and 32 additional volunteer hours for projects and events.

To maintain certification, master gardeners must complete six hours of training annually, volunteer six hours at the Plant Clinic and volunteer an additional 20 hours.

Advanced Idaho Master Gardener

The Advanced Idaho Master Gardener program includes a series of in-depth horticulture classes that strengthen gardening skills and knowledge. Participants must be certified Idaho Master Gardeners and be invited to participate in the advanced program. To remain certified, volunteers are required to complete 16 hours of training and 46 hours of volunteer time.

Projects and committees

Adult education

Meets as needed to plan non-certification classes for volunteers, community education classes or series of classes regarding horticulture topics, newsletter, newspaper or bulletin articles, garden tours, fair demonstrations, etc.

Youth education

Meets as needed to plan activities that teach children about gardening at day camps, afterschool or other programs. May work with current UI Extension programming organized by the UI Extension office.

Fair booth

Meets as needed 2-3 times per year to organize educational display for the fair booth.

Website

Meets as needed, to build website and maintain information.

Social media

Answer social media questions, cultivate or post educational information.

Farmers market

Meets as needed, to plan educational topics and demonstrations at St. Maries and Plummer Market. Works with Adult Education Committee.

Plant clinic library

Appointed position to maintain and label library books.

Editor

Appointed position to provide monthly publication to the members, including upcoming meetings, location, dates and other relevant information to the organization. Works with adult education, website and social media committees.

Goodwill representative

Appointed position to maintain communication with membership for special holidays, illness or loss of family members and other approved issues.

Works with two sites at Fairgrounds and UI Extension office to develop educational and research projects within demonstration sites. May also work to develop new garden sites across the county.

Community garden areas

Works with Presbyterian Church grounds, St. Maries Catholic Church and St. Maries Main Street Islands to provide maintenance to be enjoyed by the facility users and the community. Activities include weeding, watering, planting and general maintenance of designated garden areas. Chair of these projects shall notify all members of work day via email and call tree to ensure hours count as volunteer service.

Plant diagnostic clinic

Need some help with your landscape or garden? Visit our free Plant Clinic from April 15-Sept. 30 on Tuesdays from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. and Thursdays from 1-4 p.m. Our Idaho Master Gardeners will research and advise on yard and gardening questions, including insects, plant diseases and identification. Samples can still be submitted during the off season. Drop off your sample and form at the UI Extension, Benewah County office.

You can also submit your gardening questions, plant problems, and plant and weed identifications by email or phone call. If you prefer email, please fill out the appropriate form below and email your form with pictures (if appropriate) to the Benewah County master gardeners. Use the recommendations below.

Include a full description of your situation, including the variety of the plant, if possible.
Include details about your planting, watering, fertilizing, pesticide use, etc.
Include one close-up picture.
Include one entire plant picture.
Include one picture which shows the plant and the surrounding landscape.
For insects, position a penny next to the insect to give us some scale.
Take photos with indirect light when possible.
- Plant clinic submission guidelines (pdf)
- Plant problem diagnosis (pdf)
- Insect identification guidelines (pdf)
- Plant and weed identification guidelines (pdf)

The more info we have, the better detectives we can be. Please expect to fill out a questionnaire related to your request. We will need the entire questionnaire completed in order to answer your questions.