Introduction to Advanced Training page
Texas Master Gardeners must complete 12 hours of continuing education each year to maintain their certification. There are many training opportunities available throughout the year. The guidelines for Advanced Training are (see Members Handbook for more details):
- Training from programs offered during DCMGA monthly association meetings
- Horticulture Educational workshops, classes, lectures, field trips sponsored or conducted by DCMGA
- Earth-Kind online training (can be taken only once)
- Horticulture Educational workshops, classes, lectures, specialist training listed on Texas Master Gardener Association including workshops, classes and lectures offered by other County Master Gardener Associations
- Horticulture Educational workshops, classes or lectures offered by Texas AgriLife Extension
- Horticulture Educational workshops, classes, lectures and tours offered during annual State Master Gardener Conference
- AT opportunities approved by Agent and announced to members by Denton County Extension Office via email or DCMGA website
- Research for DCMGA sponsored lectures, presentations or help desk
- Discretionary Horticulture educational workshops, classes or lectures up to three hours can be used for lectures at garden centers, clubs and other organizations. No prior approval is needed for these three hours
New Training Opportunity
As partial fulfillment of advanced training requirements, Denton County Master Gardeners may take one or two classes during intern training, as a refresher each year. First day, last day, field trips and the propagation class are not included in this opportunity. Fee to attend each intern class is $10. Sign up by clicking here
Additional Training Opportunities
The DCMGA website will contain a list of advanced training opportunities by month. The page will be updated frequently. However because some training opportunities have a short lead time for registration, announcements of new opportunities approved by the agent will continue to be sent via email.
March 2012
| Date | March 1 |
| Title | Spring IPM Seminar |
| Location | Texas AgriLife Research and Extension Center Pavilion Building 17360 Coit Road Dallas, Texas 75252 |
| Time | 8:30 am – 3:00 pm |
| Credit Hours | |
| Cost | Early registration w/lunch — $70.00 Registration at the door – $85.00 |
| General | Topics Covered: Ant Management, Texas Pesticide Law, Turfgrass Weed Control, Recognizing and Managing Tree Problems and Aquatic Ecosystems and Pesticide Impacts |
| Contact | Kaye Garrison at 972-952-9201 or email at vkgarrison@ag.tamu.edu |
| Date | March 13 |
| Title | Native and Adaptive Plants for a Water Conserving Landscape |
| Location | Texas AgriLife Research and Extension Center Whitehurst Classrooms 17360 Coit Road Dallas, Texas 75252 |
| Time | 6:30pm-9:30pm |
| Credit Hours | |
| Cost | $10 |
| General | Native and adaptive plants require less water, fertilizer and pesticides and create a beautiful sustainable landscape. This program will teach how all future sustainable landscapes must conserve water. Plant selection and placement are key for conserving water in your landscape. |
| Contact | Registration forms |
| Date | Monday, March 26 – Wednesday, March 28, 2012 |
| Title | Master Gardener Specialist – Irrigation Efficiency Training |
| Location | San Antonio Botanical Garden 555 Funston Place San Antonio, TX 78209 |
| Time | |
| Credit Hours | |
| Cost | $200 |
| General | This hands-on training will include practices for determining irrigation efficiency, setting controllers, soak and cycle method, minor irrigation repairs, system trouble shooting, catch can test, converting spray head irrigation to new water conserving head, converting spray irrigation to drip irrigation and many other water conservation practices.Master Gardener Irrigation Efficiency Specialists will volunteer for 12 hours above their current volunteer obligation, train Master Gardeners in their county, present the information to at least 3 other groups and do a catch can demonstration for Master Gardeners, a garden club, neighborhood association or civic organization. |
| Contact |
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| Date | March 27 |
| Title | Rain Gardens: Design, Construction and Maintenance |
| Location | Texas AgriLife Research and Extension Center Whitehurst Classroom 17360 Coit Road Dallas, Texas 75252 |
| Time | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm |
| Credit Hours | |
| Cost | $10 |
| General | Dr. Fouad Jaber, Assistant Professor and Extension Program Specialist in Integrated Water Resources Management will be teaching this class about rain gardens. A rain garden is a landscape feature consisting of a planted shallow depression that collects rainwater runoff from roofs, parking lots and other impervious surfaces. The main function of rain gardens is to retain and treat the stormwater collected. This class details the design, construction and maintenance requirements of rain gardens for retail businesses and home owners including a plant list. |
| Contact |
| Date | March 31 |
| Title | WaterWise Irrigation Workshop |
| Location | Texas AgriLife Research and Extension Center 17360 Coit Road Dallas, Texas 75252 |
| Time | 9:00 am – 2:00 pm |
| Credit Hours | |
| Cost | |
| General | The WaterWise Irrigation Workshop is an opportunity for homeowner to learn how to manage and operate their irrigation system. The workshop is set up as a hands on and interactive event with multiple stations where participants can move between educational stations and see first-hand how an irrigation system works. Participants will learn how to conduct a sprinkler check-up, schedule and operate their irrigation controller, install drip irrigation to water trees and foundations and much more. In addition, information will be provided on plant selection for a water conserving landscape, rain water harvesting and city representative will be on hand to discuss water conservation measures, rebate programs and current watering restrictions.The event begins at 9 am and ends at 2 pm and takes about an hour to visit all stations. Some stations have specific times for demonstrations.
Station 1 How your Irrigation System Works
Station 2 Simple and Easy Repairs
Station 3 The importance of Water Pressure and Sprinkler Performance
Station 4 Distribution Uniformity – Preventing Dry Spots in your Landscape
Station 5 Conducting a Sprinkler Check-up
Station 6 Education Building
Setting your Controller
DIY – Drip Irrigation Conversion
AgriLife Ask a Specialist?
Irrigation Manufacturer Exhibits – Latest and Greatest Technologies
Water Conservation Made Easy Video Series- Playing in the Theater
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| Contact |
April 2012
| Date | April 3 |
| Title | Saving from a Rainy Day – Making a Rain Barrel |
| Location | Texas AgriLife Research and Extension Center Whitehurst Atrium 17360 Coit Road Dallas, Texas 75252 |
| Time | 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm |
| Credit Hours | |
| Cost | $50 includes a rain barrel |
| General | Dr. Dotty Woodson, Extension Program Specialist – Water Resources will be teaching this class and will provide participants the opportunity to construct a 55 gallon rain barrel as well as discuss installing an efficient irrigation system. The rain barrel* is yours to take home! |
| Contact | Registration form |
| Date | April 13-14 |
| Title | Master Gardener Specialist training in Citraculture |
| Location | Montgomery County. Extension Office, Conroe, Texas |
| Time | |
| Credit Hours | |
| Cost | $100 |
| General | Participants for the session must be preregistered by their County MG Coordinator/Agent and approved by the MG Specialist Training Coordinator (Monte Nesbitt, Extension Program Specialist). Due to the urgency in training Master Gardeners to detect and mitigate movement of CG, priority is being given to individuals who reside in counties from Williamson County (Georgetown) and south. If available seats are not taken by Master Gardeners in this “citrus zone”, other Master Gardeners in Texas interested in the training will be invited to attend one of the three sessions. Fee for the course is being specially priced at $100/person, because of state grant awards for CG prevention. Registration fee includes educational materials and three meals. |
| Contact | If you are interested, please contact the County MG Coordinator for a preregistration form. |
| Date | April 24 |
| Title | Drip Irrigation: Do it Yourself |
| Location | Texas AgriLife Research and Extension Center Whitehurst Classroom 17360 Coit Road Dallas, Texas 75252 |
| Time | 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm |
| Credit Hours | |
| Cost | $10 |
| General | Dr. Dotty Woodson, Extension Program Specialist – Water Resources will be teaching this class and will teach how efficient irrigation is essential to sustainable landscapes. Drip irrigation is the most efficient irrigation method for landscape irrigation. Learn how to install a drip system or convert an existing system to drip. |
| Contact | Registration information |
