This 10-week course covers soils and mulches, organic and synthetic fertilizers, plant nomenclature and botany, plant propagation and plant pests, irrigation and drainage, plant selection, and proper planting and maintenance practices.

The course fee is $200 and includes a textbook, tote bag, neck wallet, and graduation dinner.

Course Descriptions:

Introduction and Houston Issues
This introductory course includes a history of Mercer Arboretum and Botanic Gardens and a tour of the grounds. The second half of the lecture covers issues such as climate and soils specifically related to Houston.

Taxonomy and Botany
Learn the basics of plant classification and how easy it is to use the Latin names instead of the common names of plants. This lecture involves many hands-on examples and visual aids.

Insects:  What’s bugging your plants? 
Students will learn about common pests in the garden, the plants they attack, how to control them, and how to recognize the beneficial “good guys.”

Plant Propagation
This hands-on lecture and lab demonstrates how plants are grown from seed, whether the seed needs light or dark for germination, how to increase plant growth in the garden through cuttings.

Plant Propagation II
Part II shows how to divide perennials, layer a favorite woody plant in the garden, and grafting techniques.

Plant Categories and Integrated Pest Management

• Plant Categories is a fun lecture on the multiple plant classifications in the garden world.
• Integrated Pest Management is an effective and environmentally sensitive approach that practices common sense in the four-step method of pest control with minimal chemical use.

Site Selection and Installation/Maintenance 

• Site Selection teaches how to evaluate an area to determine sun exposure (sun or shade), soil type (sand or clay), and how the area drains with rainfall. Design process and preparing the soil to successfully grow plants will also be discussed.
• Installation and Maintenance teaches the best horticultural practices on proper planting techniques and how to professionally maintain plants and flower beds.

Diseases I
This in-depth, two-day lecture covers the pathogens that plague garden plants and how to prevent and control them. Class I covers bacteria, fungus, and viral diseases.

Diseases II
Class II covers other plant diseases including nematodes, environmental stresses, and nutritional deficiencies.

Introduction to Landscape Design
This classroom lecture introduces the elements and principals of landscape design and how to apply them to home landscapes.

Irrigation, Tools, and Pruning

• Learn different options for watering a garden, from hoses to sprinklers, drip irrigation, and underground systems.
• Find out which gardening tools are favorites of Mercer staff members and how to maintain them so they last a lifetime.
• Learn proper pruning practices of many plant species and the proper timing of pruning blooming plants such as azaleas, spirea, brunsfelsia, hydrangea, and crape myrtle. Experience hands-on pruning in the garden.

Turf Management and Special Topic
Turf management class covers the varieties of grasses best adapted for home lawns in Harris County and surrounding areas. Pest and disease problems and maintenance of each variety will also be discussed.

This 10-week course is an in-depth study of both common and unique plants. Course content is geared towards individuals interested in learning about native and ornamental plants adapted to the Gulf Coast climate, and includes plant material selected by staff from Mercer Arboretum.

The course fee is $200 and includes a textbook, tote bag, neck wallet, and graduation dinner.

Course Descriptions:

Importance of Trees, Indigenous Trees, and Ornamental Trees for the Landscape

• Class orientation in the morning.
• Learn to choose the right tree for the right application by understanding soil types, light exposure, evergreen or deciduous, height and spread, and ornamental value in the landscape.

Indigenous Shrubs and Ornamental Shrubs
This class introduces shrubs that are used for privacy screens, formal hedges, or in drifts of one, and are often used as foundation plants or the “bones” of the landscape.

Palms and Cycads
Palms and Cycads are two groups of plants that, although not related, are always grouped together. Learn about cold-hardy and tropical palms that push the climatic envelope and gain an understanding of cycads and why a sago palm is not a palm. The class includes an informative garden tour.

Perennials and Bulbs

• The first topic introduces students to bulletproof perennials that thrive in the extreme Harris County climate.
• Is it a bulb, corm, or tuber? How deep should they be planted? Which end is planted up? Learn how to have naturalizing bulbs blooming in the garden year round.

Ferns and Companion Plants
Learn which clumping ferns, running ferns, and tree ferns thrive in Houston’s heat and humidity, along with shade-loving companion plants that are grown for their foliage or flowers.

Field Trip
Class participants determine the destination of the field trip that is guaranteed to be fun, social, and informative!

Bamboos, Ornamental Grasses, and Grass-like Plants

• Learn the difference between running and clumping bamboo, which variety is best in your garden, and how to care for them.
• The Ornamental Grasses and Grass-like Plants course is a botanical and horticultural adventure into the world of ornamental grasses and grass-like plants.

Landscaping with Tropical Plants and Gingers
Global warming and climate change has given Mercer a whole new plant palette to trial in the garden. Learn about winter-hardy plants that also create a tropical paradise throughout June, July, and August. 

Annuals, and Vines and Groundcovers

• What is an Annual? Learn about cool season and warm season annuals and the correct months to plant them in the garden. Maintenance and fertilization will also be discussed.
• The Vines and Groundcovers class discusses the biology of how vines grow and introduces flowering and evergreen vines suited to the Houston area that will not take over the garden.

Herbs and Old Garden Roses

• Herbs have long been grown for their medicinal and culinary uses as well as their beauty. Learn about cool season and warm season herbs and when to plant them.
• Old garden roses, also called antique roses, are more disease and pest resistant than their hybrid teas, grandifloras, or floribundas. They are also considered the best group of roses to grow chemical-free in Harris County.

Special Topic and Potluck Lunch
The topic is chosen by polling the class and each student gets to bring a covered dish to participate in the potluck lunch.

Tier III is a six-week course that offers students hands-on intensive training that implements the content covered in tiers I and II. Through classroom instruction and hands-on activities, this course teaches students professional landscaping techniques and shortcuts. After completing Tier III, students should have the ability to design, install, and maintain a sustainable and beautiful landscape.

The course fee is $115 and includes a textbook, tote bag, neck wallet, and graduation dinner.

Topics Covered:

Introduction and Landscape Design
The course introduction gives a description of the classes, schedule, and expectations of the class. In the second portion of this course, students will be given a project to collect specifications and measurements from Mercer grounds to design a landscape.

• Discover the principles of landscape design and the use of color in landscapes.
• Learn to identify activities that occur in the landscape space and incorporate them into the overall design, e.g. a barbecue site, turf area for children and/or pets, outdoor kitchen, gazebo, etc.
• The Styles portion covers how to establish theme gardens such as Spanish, English, Japanese, formal or informal, wildlife, color, xeric, etc.

Landscape Plans

• Learn how to develop a budget, get the best price for the project, and stay within those limits.
• The Hardscaping and Permanent Structures lecture covers how to incorporate patios, courtyards, walkways, and other structural elements in landscapes.
• The Garden Accents section discusses the best installation methods and proper placement of boulders, minor structures, ponds, fountains, statues, and yard art.

Landscape Maintenance and Year round Care
Design a landscape that matches personal maintenance abilities and commitments.

• This session includes an itemized month-to-month checklist that includes the best times to prune, fertilize, and add plants to the garden; the best months to monitor for diseases and pests.

Plant Selection
The Plant Selection lecture teaches how to choose appropriate plant material for the landscape.

• The Seasonal Considerations portion demonstrates how to design a landscape that remains interesting and beautiful throughout the year.
• The Maturation lecture considers the growth of the landscape as it matures and changes through the years.

Discussion and Potluck Lunch
Each student may bring a covered dish to participate in the potluck lunch during the last discussion.

“Friendly, intelligent, and knowledgeable staff were eager to share their wealth of information.”

“I was very impressed with the class presenters.”
           
“I think the course was outstanding.”

“Great speakers who impart their love of plants and enthusiasm for gardening.”

“Added to the knowledge that I have previously gained. I have yet to feel I know too much!!”  

“Relaxed and fun atmosphere.”

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