Unleash your green thumb through educational and scientifically based horticultural programs
Discover Research-Based Horticulture Solutions
We offer a variety of community service programs
Smith County Master Gardeners offer a variety of programs that disseminate research-based horticultural information, supporting our community in important ways. These community-based programs vary from plant sales and garden tours to conferences and seminars on a variety of gardening topics. You will discover eco-friendly gardening techniques that will nourish your plants and the environment.
Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned gardener, our team will guide you towards a greener, more sustainable future.
Visit our demonstration gardens
Smith County Master Gardeners follow Earth-Kind® principles as they care for an impressive group of innovative research and demonstration gardens. These gardens serve as outdoor classrooms where our Master Gardeners provide Smith County residents and visitors with research-based information about sustainable horticultural practices and environmental stewardship.
Bulb Sale and Conference
This annual event offers a unique selection of heirloom, hard-to-find, and
regionally adapted bulbs.
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Start Composting; What? Why? How?
Compost is nature’s gift to gardeners. It is nutrient-dense humus from decomposed biological organisms that enriches the soil and gives nutrients to plants, which in turn, reduces your need to buy chemical fertilizer. Compost can amend sandy soil to help retain water and help plants take root, and it can amend clay soil to break…
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Spring’s Promise
There’s a certain magic to spring in East Texas—one that feels especially alive as Easter approaches. It’s not just a change in the weather; it’s a full awakening. Lawns green up almost overnight, trees unfurl fresh leaves like they’ve been saving them for a special occasion, and gardeners everywhere begin that familiar ritual of stepping…
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What’s Your Garden’s pH? Why Should You Care?
Picture this. You’re ill, in the hospital, and the nurse’s face shows concern. She reviews your lab report, which shows an abnormal pH. She informs your physician, who then determines a treatment plan, and then he calls upon the pharmacist to formulate the response. Huh? Your normal pH is 7.4 (7.35-7.45) on a scale of 1 to…
More science-based lawn and gardening information from the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service can be found at aggieturf.tamu.edu and aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu.