Texas Master Gardeners is a volunteer program designed to spread horticultural information throughout the state, town by town. to become a Texas Master Gardener, a participate attends 50 hours of instruction, then shares this knowledge by donating 50 hours of volunteer service back to the community.
The touch of Master Gardeners’ green thumbs can be found across the state in school garden projects and demonstration gardens by volunteers who also conduct gardening programs, answer gardening questions, encourage planting natives and Texas Super-Stars, while stressing the importance of being mindful of our pollinators. Information booths and clinics can be found across the county, spreading AgriLife Extension research based horticultural information. The type of service done varies according to community needs and the abilities and interest of the Master Gardeners.
For more information check out the Hays County Master Gardener Website: www.hayscountymastergardeners.org
Hays County Master Gardener Events:
San Marcos Public Library Gardener’s Lunch Break Program
Every First Thursday of the Month | 12PM- 1PM
625 E. Hopkins St., San Marcos
Become a Hays County Master Gardener:
2023 Fall Hays County Master Gardener Training Class – September 9th – November 17th- REGISTRATION IS CLOSED
The Program:
The members of the Hays County Master Gardeners Association (HCMGA) are people from Dripping Springs to San Marcos and Wimberley to Buda who take an active interest in the unique challenges of creating thriving landscaping, trees, and gardens in our Central Texas conditions and who strive to teach our community about sound horticultural practices like using native plants and capturing rainwater. Members receive invaluable training and continuing opportunities for education, then share their horticultural expertise through a wide variety of projects benefiting Hays County residents and organizations.
In a typical year, Hays County Master Gardeners log nearly 6000 hours of volunteer service to the community. We spend a lot of time getting our hands dirty planting and tending public and community garden sites. We log many hours answering horticulture questions from the public or presenting talks and gardening advice at schools and working with community groups ranging from food pantries to women’s shelters. At our greenhouse, you’re likely to find us working on our propagation techniques and experimenting with water-efficient container gardening.
Training:
The Hays County Texas Master Gardener Program holds ONE training session every year, in the Fall, September – November , consisting of a hybrid of in-person and virtual classes. Classes typically meet twice a week on Tuesdays and Fridays, in-person classes have been held at locations in San Marcos and Wimberley. In addition to the training classes, Master Gardener Interns must complete 50 hours of volunteer service within one year of the start of the class to become a Texas Master Gardener.
The course is a high level, intense training class, led by Texas A&M Professors and Specialist Speakers.
The Hays County program offers a minimum of 64 hours of instruction following:
- Earth-Kind practices of landscape management covering:
- Soil and Plant Nutrition
- Insect, Disease, and Weed Management
- Trees
- Vegetable and Herb Gardening
- Lawn Care
- Plant Selection
- Composting
- Water Conservation
Waitlist:
All inquiries for submission/entrance into the class are waitlisted. The Hays County Master Gardener Association will send applications via email in June to those who have been waitlisted first, then applications are opened to the public. 40 individuals are offered entrance into the course each year, applications close once the class meets the 40.
The Hays County Master Gardener Training Course tuition is $250.
Wanna join the waitlist? Email name & contact information to HCMGA@hayscountymastergardeners.org
Helpful Gardening Tips:
Hays County Master Gardener Association
