David Rodriguez

You might say David Rodriguez with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service is deeply rooted in the Texas gardening and landscape plant world.

He started working at the prime age of 10 with local nurseries in San Antonio which included Grimm’s Garden Centers and Landscape, Wolfe Nurseries and Calloway’s. David then went off to Texas A&M University and earned a bachelor and master degree in horticultural sciences. Before and during these formal educational years, he often worked seven days a week after school, during spring, summer and Christmas breaks to save up money for his educational and living expenses.

David joined the ranks of the Extension Service an educational agency of the Texas A&M University System in 2006 as the area Extension Horticulturist. This however was not David’s first experience with the agency, because as a summer intern, he helped set up the first Bexar County Master Gardener class in 1989.

During his service with the Extension Service, David has helped expand youth horticulture programming, enhanced outreach to the green industry which includes trialing and releasing new plant introductions in support of the Texas Super Star Plant Program as well as increasing the awareness of the Bexar County Master Gardener program and their significant contributions to the community.

David continually looks for community service and education opportunities for himself and the 260 plus members of the Bexar County Master Gardener association, a volunteer horticulture program of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service. He leads by example in horticultural efforts to improve the community and educate youth and adults on the value of environmentally responsible gardening, including Earth-Kind® practices to conserve natural resources like water and reduce the use of chemical products.

In 2018, David coordinated Bexar County Master Gardener volunteer activities that contributed 35,000 plus hours to various horticulture-related programs and activities, which translated to more than $700,000 in community service. They also made more than 250 community presentations reaching more than 60,000 county residents on the topics of landscaping, rainwater harvesting, lawn care, plant and tree maintenance, proper irrigation, sustainable limited-space gardening, community beautification and more.

David also oversees the Bexar County Youth Gardens program, which serves more than 80 schools, the majority of which are located in low-income areas of Bexar County.

Among the most popular of his youth gardening programs are two award winning and national recognized Children’s Vegetable Gardens conducted on Saturday mornings at the San Antonio Botanical Garden and on Tuesdays for home schoolers at Phil Hardberger Park. As part of these programs, children are provided a plot and learn to grow their own vegetables, herbs and seasonal annuals under the mentorship of a Master Gardener. For many urban youth, these programs provide their first experience working in a vegetable garden and learning how plant-based foods are grown and how their nutritional value impacts overall health. It also teaches them responsibility, teamwork and leadership in addition to many aspects of earth science.

David can be heard every Saturday morning on the WOAI 1200 AM Lawn and Garden Radio Show answering horticulture and gardening questions. He regularly provides his expertise through television interviews, newspaper and magazine articles as well as numerous presentations on a wide range of gardening and landscape topics at large and small venues countywide and beyond.

David has received numerous awards and recognitions including most recently The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Vice Chancellor’s Superior Team Award in the category of Earth-Kind® Environmental Landscape Stewardship for his many community activities and educational outreach efforts.