The Texas Master Gardener Association (TMGA) provides advanced training to certified Master Gardeners (MGs) in specialized areas, one of which is Tree Care. In addition to classroom training, MGs must provide a minimum of 20 volunteer hours specifically related to trees before being certified as having advanced Tree Care knowledge.

Six Dallas County MGs completed TMGA’s advanced Tree Care training class in 2021 and another completed the course in 2022. In addition to writing articles on tree care for the Dallas County Master Gardeners Association’s (DCMGA) website and monthly newsletter, these MGs teamed up on a project to identify, catalog, and photograph all trees located in the Texas Discovery Gardens (TDG).

Kerry Gray-Harrison, TDG Botanical Director, approved and supported the project because she knew it would be a valuable resource that TDG could use to promote the gardens and create educational programs. In support of the team, Kerry provided maps dividing TDG’s 7.5 acres of gardens into 10 areas and served as a resource when the team was “stuck.”

The team used an online form, completed in real time in the field, to create the catalog and photo library. Using the form ensured that the same information was gathered for each tree along with close-up images of leaves, flowers, and bark. Data gathered for each tree included: location, common name, scientific name, type of tree (evergreen or deciduous), mature height of the tree (small, medium, or large), overall health of the tree, and any unique characteristics of the tree.

The MGs met at TDG biweekly, working area by area, using field guides, online applications, and their own personal knowledge to identify the trees and plot their location on the quadrant maps. The team worked from May 2021 until fall that year, when no leaves were left on the trees. They resumed their efforts in the spring of 2022. After correcting suspicious data and rechecking each area, data gathering was completed in September 2022.

The MGs debated the merits of all the trees and arrived at a consensus of 17 “great trees for North Texas.” Just in time for the State Fair of Texas, they put signs at each tree and created a free brochure titled “Find These Trees.”The brochure was made available in TDG’s main lobby for self-guided tours. It included key information about each tree such as common and scientific names, mature size, sun exposure, leaf persistence (deciduous or evergreen), and outstanding characteristics for each tree.

The Tree Identification Project allowed the MGs to hone and practice their tree skills to better serve the community. In the future, they may use their knowledge to answer DCMGA Help Desk questions, create educational programs, train other MGs or the public on proper tree care, or assist in applied research and demonstrations.

The final report of their work, including a searchable database, is being finalized and will be provided to TDG’s Botanical Director and others. DCMGA will be able to use it to enhance their website and newsletter articles, speaker presentations, school lessons, and other relevant projects.

Here are some numbers and a few fun facts: The Tree Identification Project identified 359 trees, representing 106 different species. Two hours was the longest time it took to identify one tree. The team had to ask the TDG Botanical Director for help identifying only 12 trees.