Who are Travis County Master Gardeners?
The Travis County Master Gardener Program is the volunteer service arm of Travis County AgriLife Extension Service, assisting in Extension’s mission to disseminate research-based horticultural and environmental knowledge among the citizens of Central Texas. Travis County Master Gardener volunteers provide free, year-long expert gardening advice to Austin area homeowners. They will help you sort through all of your plant questions and issues then provide up-to-date, research-based advice from AgriLife Extension.
Three ways to get help |
||
Call: |
512.710.7098 |
Please leave a message to have a Master Gardener volunteer return your call. |
Email: |
travismg@ag.tamu.edu |
Please follow these tips if you are including photos:
|
Visit: |
Travis County AgriLife Extension
|
Office visits are by appointment only. Please contact us by email or leave us a phone message so that we can arrange an available timeslot. |
Please follow these tips if you are bringing samples:
-
-
-
- Lawn samples: Cut a 4” X 4” square from your lawn at the edge between the healthy green and the brown or affected area, including the roots and soil, and put it immediately in a sealed plastic bag to keep any insects in the sample and to keep the sample fresh. The blades should still be attached to the runners and make sure the sample grass is not completely dead. Attach a note explaining what you wish to learn (like diagnosis, treatment, etc.)
- Leaf samples: Cut off a short piece of a branch that has both healthy and affected parts, then place into a sealed plastic bag to keep the leaves from drying out. Keep the leaves on the branch if possible. Bring leaves that are in the process of being affected, rather than leaves that are completely brown and dead. Attach a note that explains what the plant is (if known,) which parts of the plant are being affected: the lower or upper branches, the tips of branches or areas nearest the stem, new growth or old growth, one side of the plant or randomly all over the plant, and what information you wish to learn.
- Weed samples: Weeds are difficult to identify unless they are flowering, please include the flower head or seeds. Include the root or rhizomes if possible. Attach a note explaining where the weed is growing, it’s approximate height and spread, and what you wish to learn.
- Seed samples: Put samples of seeds, including pecans, in sealed plastic bags to keep in any insects and to maintain freshness. Include more than one seed if possible. Attach a note naming the plant it was obtained from (if known) and what information you wish to gain.
-
-
Host a Plant Clinic
A plant clinic is a traveling expert gardening advice help desk. They are held at locations across the county at local neighborhood events, farmer’s markets, churches, and community gardens. To schedule a clinic for your event contact TravisMGplantclinics@gmail.com
Take a Gardening Class in Austin
Travis County Master Gardeners and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension host several gardening classes, seminars, workshops, garden fairs, and other events throughout Travis County where you can learn more about gardening in Austin and Central Texas. Topics include backyard vegetable and fruit gardening, native and adapted plants, month-to-month gardening calendars, pollinator gardens, and hands-on garden project workshops, just to mention a few. You can see the schedule on our events page.
Join Us!
Are you interested in becoming a Master Gardener? Please click here for more information and to sign up for class enrollment notifications.
More Resources
Travis County Horticulture Home Page
