Frequently Asked Questions

New to our classes? Here is some information to help your experience be trouble free! Have a question that isn't listed here? Ask us at gardening@usask.ca

All of our classes are open to all adults in the general public. Anyone is welcome regardless of gardening experience. You do not need to be a student at the U of S, nor pay student fees. All classrooms are wheelchair accessible. All instructors are LGBTQ friendly. Everyone is welcome!

At this time we only offer classes for adults aged 16+. In special circumstances, we may accept especially keen teenagers under 16 years of age into our existing classes and tours. Of course, nursing mothers are welcome to bring their young infants to class provided that other students are not excessively disturbed.

When we do host in person classes, almost every class we host is held in the Agriculture Building on the University of Saskatchewan campus in Saskatoon, SK. It is the large glass building found at 51 Campus Drive. Specific location and classroom information will be provided on your registration sheet.

We do not list the room numbers of our classes as they are not always held in the same place. If you forget what room you are in, there will also be signs with directions located inside the Agriculture Building. Some classes and tours, such as at the Patterson Garden Aboretum or the Agriculture Greenhouses, are held outside of the Agriculture building. Location information will be provided on your registration sheet.

Unfortunately, due to copyright and instructor consideration, our classes are  live-stream only. We are actively working to address this, but currently, no recordings are available at this time.

We do not offer refunds at this time. 

There are metered parking stalls available outside of the building, as well as a large underground parkade with access via Science Place. For detailed location information and rates, please see the Visitor and Daily Parking page.

Yes, however we encourage everyone to register in advance to save your seat for all classes - especially free events. Classes often fill up quickly, and so we can't guarantee that there will still be space available if you show up in person without registering. It also gives the organizers an idea of what to expect and helps them plan accordingly for the materials and logistics needed to make the class run smoothly and enjoyably for eveyone. 

Bring a pen, a notepad or paper, a water bottle to stay hydrated, and an enthusiastic attitude. We provide detailed handouts for core courses but you may still want to jot down additional notes for these topics. In the case of more hands-on type activites, any equipment required will be provided unless otherwise noted. If you have and prefer to use your own equipment, feel free to bring and use it as well, provided it is the appropriate tool for the job.

There are many great hotels in Saskatoon, but why not stay right here on campus? The student dorms are open to the public for short term rentals throughout the summer - it's a short and lovely walk to class and the food on campus is fantastic. For more information on staying in student residences, check out their website for individual accommodations.

MGCC stands for Master Gardener Core Course. All courses that say MGCC count as credit towards your Master Gardener Certification. Anyone can take a MGCC, regardless as to whether they want to eventually certify or not. For more information on Master Gardener certification, click here.

Yes, all of our courses are open to anyone even if they are labeled MGCC (Master Gardener Core Courses). You don't need to be registered in the Master Gardener Program to take them, and you don't have to be interested in future certification. For more information on Master Gardener certification, click here.

That's great! If you decide later on that you now want to certify, simply register in the Master Gardener Certificate Program and all your previous courses will be transfered to the accreditation system. You will get credit for all courses already completed, and can continue working towards certficiation. For more information on Master Gardener certification, click here.

We are very proud of the plants the U of S Fruit breeding program has released - especially the sour cherries, haskap, and new apple cultivars! Any plants that have been released to the public can usually be purchased at local greenhouses. Once a year, typically in very early June, we also hold a plant sale where we sell a wide variety of young plants. What is available is a suprise from year to year, depending on what's in stock, but we often have haskaps, sour cherries, apples, plums, apricots, and hazelnuts. We may also have raspberries, strawberries, saskatoon berry, ornamentals, houseplants, succulents, or water plants.

Hort Days offer the public engaging, practical, and fun classes and tours from enthusiastic gardening professionals aimed towards both new and experienced gardeners. Usually held in the spring, it's a great way to connect with like-minded individuals and pick up some new tips on how to keep your garden healthy and your yard beautiful. Workshops may be taken for personal interest or for credit towards the Master Gardener Certificate Program. Come make new gardening friends!

We have been offering gardening classes on campus since 1989 and our department's horticulture program celebrated its 100th year in 2021.