Promotional graphic for Clemson Extension’s South Carolina Home Horticulture Foundations: Lawns & Landscapes course.
Why Take the Home Horticulture Foundations Course in South Carolina
Gardening in the Palmetto State comes with peculiar challenges that even experienced gardeners from other regions may find baffling.
Clemson Cooperative Extension Service is launching Home Horticulture Foundations: Lawns & Landscapes on February 2, 2026, a six-week online course that doesn’t just give answers but teaches how to find solutions for specific yard challenges.
Ever wondered why lawns go dormant while neighbors’ stay green, or whether camellias and cacti can coexist? Clemson Extension’s new online course and optional hands-on field days teach the skills to figure it out.
How to Understand South Carolina Lawn Care Basics
“Wait, My Lawn Needs to Sleep in Winter?”
South Carolina features warm-season lawns (bermudagrass, zoysiagrass, centipedegrass) that turn brown and go dormant when temperatures drop, and cool-season grasses (tall fescue) that stay green all winter but struggle in summer heat.
For newcomers to the South, watching lawns turn tan in November can be alarming, but it’s just nature’s nap time.
The lawn management modules teach participants to assess specific conditions and make informed decisions about lawn care. Participants learn to identify current grass types, evaluate sun exposure and soil drainage, and use those observations to choose appropriate management strategies.
The course provides decision-making frameworks applicable year after year as conditions change.
How to Choose Plants for the Right South Carolina Microclimate
“Can Camellias AND Cacti Actually Grow in the Same Yard?”
South Carolina’s diverse climate means gardeners enjoy mild winters perfect for cold-sensitive camellias, while some microclimates support drought-tolerant succulents. The answer depends entirely on location.
Home Horticulture Foundations include entire modules on annuals, perennials, as well as trees and shrubs for the southern garden.
These modules teach participants to become site detectives and installation gurus. Participants learn to assess property microclimates and match plants to those conditions.
The course provides plant selection checklists and installation tools helpful for informed garden action.
How to Identify Pests in Your South Carolina Yard
“Something’s Eating My Plants, But What?!”
South Carolina’s mild winters mean year-round pest activity. The Integrated Pest Management module transforms participants into plant detectives, equipping them with diagnostic skills that last a lifetime.
Participants learn systematic observation techniques:
- examining damage patterns
- checking both sides of the leaves
- looking for actual pests or evidence
- timing observations for maximum information
The course teaches the use of Clemson Extension’s diagnostic resources and evidence-based treatment decisions.
These troubleshooting skills work for any pest problem and provide holistic management solutions.
How to Garden Successfully in Wet or Poorly Drained South Carolina Sites
“My Yard Is Basically a Swamp, Can I Even Garden Here?”
Between clay soils, flat coastal terrain, and 40-50 inches of annual rainfall, poor drainage plagues many Palmetto State yards.
The weather-wise gardening module teaches site-assessment skills used by professional landscapers. Participants learn to observe water movement patterns, identify problem areas in drainage systems, test soil infiltration rates, and understand the seasonal expectations for occurrences such as flooding and hurricanes.
The course introduces the unique ways to site and design gardening for environmental resilience.
How the Course Teaches Through Video and Hands-On Practice
Weekly Video Modules (Online Learning)
Starting February 2, 2026, new videos drop every Monday at noon, covering nine comprehensive topics. Each module includes practical tools, checklists, and decision-making frameworks immediately applicable to home landscapes.
Participants learning proper pruning techniques during a hands-on Home Horticulture Foundations field day.
Carmen Ketron, ©2025 HGIC, Clemson University
Hands-On Field Days for Real-World Skill Building
Charleston Field Day – Friday, March 20, 2026
10:00 AM – 3:00 PM at Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC)
Practice diagnostic techniques on actual landscape problems, work through site assessment exercises with expert guidance, and apply identification skills to real plants and pests amongst the 90-acre urban arboretum along the South Carolina coast.
Due West Field Day – Friday, April 10, 2026
10:00 AM – 3:00 PM at Erskine College
Build practical competency by diagnosing real lawn and landscape challenges, practicing plant identification techniques, and working through decision-making scenarios with expert feedback. Enjoy touring the newly established Janice Hamilton Haldeman Arboretum and learning about Upstate gardening techniques.
Both field days include refreshments, lunch, problem-solving clinics, and opportunities to practice new diagnostic skills. All participants receive printable slide decks, comprehensive resource guides with diagnostic flowcharts, curated reading lists, and access to Clemson Extension’s ongoing resources.
Master Gardener Volunteers earn four continuing education hours by attending a field day.
What You’ll Gain from the Home Horticulture Foundations Course
This course builds skills to solve future challenges independently.
Participants learn to observe systematically, research effectively, diagnose problems accurately, and make informed decisions based on specific
conditions.
How to Register for the Home Horticulture Foundations Course
Register for the class now at:
South Carolina Home Horticulture Foundations: Lawns & Landscapes by Clemson Extension
