Master Gardeners are members of the local community who take an active interest in their lawns, trees, shrubs, flowers and gardens. We are enthusiastic, willing to learn and want to help others. What sets Master Gardeners apart from other home gardeners is our special training in horticulture from Texas A&M Agrilife Extension Service.  In exchange for the training, we contribute time as volunteers, working through our county Extension office to provide horticultural-related information to residents of Henderson County. 

Ways we provide gardening information to our community

We publish helpful gardening articles each week in local newspapers.

We provide unbiased, research-based gardening information pertinent to Henderson County on this website. A great place to start is under the GARDENING INFO tab.

We constantly share up-to-date gardening information on our Facebook page.

We email our free e-newsletter loaded with lots of gardening information. If you are not signed up to receive it, please email us at: hendersoncmga@gmail.com. We will add you to our email list.

We maintain and constantly update our demonstration garden – the Harvest Garden. It is a backyard style edible garden on the grounds of Henderson County Fairpark Complex. Year round, this garden is a source of inspiration and good ideas.

We’re available to answer gardening questions for individuals via email. Please feel free to email us at:  hendersoncmga@gmail.com

We happily consult with schools and community organizations about their gardening projects or problems.

We staff Gardening Information Booths at community events. If your organization is planning a special event and would like Master Gardeners to answer gardening questions for your attendees in a friendly, one-on-one way, please feel free to contact us.

We share our well-researched horticultural information through a variety of lively talks, demonstrations, and Power Point presentations to groups and organizations. Please, feel free to contact us for more information on how to schedule a speaker and program.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

We’re here to help!

Gardening Guide

We are pleased to offer a month-by-month gardening guide for only $15.

This guide is specifically for gardening in East Texas.

It lists the vegetable planting dates and gardening chores each month for flowers, shrubs, trees, lawn, and ground cover.

Tips and tricks relating to the chores listed are also included.  For example, pruning information for roses, hydrangeas, and clematis is given. Additionally, the four different types of hydrangeas commonly grown in East Texas are listed, along with the correct pruning method and timing for each type.  A breakdown of clematis types and the proper pruning of each one is also included.   

The guide also contains additional information pertaining to gardening in East Texas. Topics such as soils, watering, butterfly and bee gardens, Texas Superstar® plants, bulbs, wildflowers, and herbs are included. 

This book will be a treasure to every gardener in East Texas for two reasons.  First, this guide can be used year after year, unlike a calendar which loses its usefulness.  Secondly, the guide has additional pages each month for notes.  This allows a gardener to personalize it to their own specific garden. 

Covered with plastic, this spiral-bound book is approximately 5.5 x 8.5 inches, just the perfect size to pop into your tote or wagon and take out in the garden with you.  You may want to purchase several for friends and family, and some for gifts. 

Proceeds from the sale of this book help fund horticultural educational projects and programs designed to meet the needs of Henderson County gardeners.  HCMGA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. 

The guides are available at the Henderson County Extension Office, 3rd floor, Courthouse, Athens.

For more information, call the extension office 903-675-6130 or email us at hendersonCMGA@gmail.com.