DENTON COUNTY MASTER GARDENER ASSOCIATION

The Denton Master Gardner Association (DCMGA) began in 1989 under the guidance of Texas A&M University AgriLife and the Denton County extension agent for horticulture. DCMGA has approximately 270 trained members dedicated to provide research-based horticultural information to the citizens of Denton County. Each member completed an intern training year requiring 70 hours of classroom instruction conducted by AgriLife professionals from the Texas A&M University campus or the Texas A&M AgriLife research centers.
Master Gardeners receive training in subjects including plant growth and development, plant pathology, plant propagation, rainwater harvesting and irrigation, soil management, Texas native plant identification, shrub and flower care, tree identification and care, turf grass care, fruit and nut crops, vegetables and herbs, entomology and Integrated Pest Management, vermiculture, and Earth-Kind® gardening. Each class is tailored to the growing conditions of North Texas. Intern knowledge acquisition is assessed with pre-and post-testing covering all training topics, and after each class test, collected data targets areas requiring further study.
DCMGA interns commit to 70 hours of volunteer work on approved projects under the supervision of veteran Master Gardeners. Each veteran member must complete a minimum of 12 hours of additional continuing education and service each year--although most volunteers significantly exceed the minimum required hours. Over the last five years, DCMGA members provided in excess of 70,000 volunteers hours in the service of our mission to engage and educate county residents in the implementation of research-based horticultural and environmental practices that create sustainable gardens, landscapes, and communities.
DCMGA’s youth outreach projects, Junior Master Gardener (JMG) and Science With Attitude (SWAt), have been particularly successful. In 2016, the International Master Gardener Association awarded 2nd place in youth education to DCMGA’s SWAt educational outreach program. In 2015, SWAt was recognized with a 1st place award for education from the Texas Master Gardener Association (TMGA). In 2014, TMGA awarded DCMGA 1st place for written education for its handouts on garden design and 2nd place for its classes on landscape design principles and plant selection.