Whether you're just getting started or looking to deepen your understanding of plants and landscapes, Gardening Foundations offers research-based horticultural education in a flexible, accessible format.

This nine-week evening course is offered by N.C. Cooperative Extension, New Hanover County, and covers the foundations of home gardening and landscape management in the Southeast. The course uses the NC Extension Gardener Handbook as the primary text — available free online — and is designed for home gardeners at all experience levels.

This is a personal enrichment course. It does not lead to Extension Master Gardener℠ certification and has no volunteer requirement.

Format and Schedule

Sessions meet live via Zoom on Monday evenings from 5:30 to 6:45 PM ET. Recordings will be available to all enrolled participants.

This schedule is tentative and subject to change at the discretion of the instructor.

Course Fee and Textbook

The course fee is $40 for all nine sessions. The required textbook, the NC Extension Gardener Handbook (2nd Edition), is available free online. A printed copy may be ordered at registration for an additional $45 and must be picked up in person at the New Hanover County Arboretum.

Payment is not collected through the registration form. Once you register, you will receive instructions for submitting your fee. Your enrollment is not confirmed until payment is received.

You can review the full course syllabus here.

How to Register

Register for Gardening Foundations

Questions?

Contact Gabriella de Souza at gadesouz@ncsu.edu or (910) 798-7674.