Master Rain Gardener - Online Letter of Completion Course 2026

ABOUT THE COURSE

Master Rain Gardener is a program focused on rain garden and rainwater harvesting system design and installation. The Master Rain Gardener (MRG) course will provide design standards and the knowledge-based skill set necessary to install rain gardens and rainwater harvesting systems on a residential scale. Rain gardens and rainwater harvesting systems offer residents and landscape professionals with a management tool for flooding on property, erosion prevention, incorporation of native plants and backyard habitat into the lawn, and the establishment of a low-irrigation landscape.

Online course content will include:

• Rain garden site assessment, soil analysis, design standards, construction, plant selection, design elements, maintenance, and more.
• Rainwater harvesting system sizing, pre-filtration devices, component considerations, water use and safety measures.

The course includes hands-on components that provide participants with the opportunity to apply practices learned.

The Letter of Completion Track is intended for home gardeners, Master Gardeners, Master Naturalist, and other residential audiences. In order to receive a Letter of Completion, individuals must complete four weeks of Master Rain Gardener online course content, complete hands-on class assignments and weekly quizzes.

Please note that this program is entirely online. The Master Rain Gardener Certificate Track with a mandatory field day will be offered in the fall of 2027. If you are interested in participating in a field day version of this course, do not sign up for this one. Please email Samantha Porzelt at sporzel@clemson.edu to join the Certificate Track waitlist.

This class is applicable towards 18 CEUs for ASLA members, 10 continuing education credits for SC Master Gardeners and SC Master Naturalists, 1 (Core) hour of SC Pesticide Applicator credit & 20 hours of renewal credit for educators through the SC Department of Education.

Course Syllabus

Weekly Topics

1. The Built Environment, Introduction to Rain Gardens, Siting & Soil Assessment
2. Drainage Area Analysis, Rain Garden Size & Shape, Planting Mix, Soil Amendments
3. Landscape Design, Plant Selection, Mulch Calculation & Rain Garden Maintenance
4. Introduction to Rainwater Harvesting, System Sizing & Use, Rain Barrels, Cistern Conveyance & Pre-filtration, Maintenance

Technical Requirements:

To participate fully in this course, you will need:

An active email address for the individual participating in the course.

A desktop computer or laptop (recommended): Canvas is available on mobile devices, but some content may appear differently.

Access to a high-speed internet connection.

A web browser compatible with Canvas: Chrome and Firefox are recommended.

Headphones or speakers (closed captioning also available).

Computer skills including Internet browsing, using email, typing, downloading files, and basic troubleshooting.

Participants will be invited to the course after registration closes on February 13th, 2025. Participants will have access to this course beginning on March 9th, 2025 and have until May 1, 2025 to complete it to receive their Letter of Completion.

https://www.clemson.edu/extension/raingarden/mrg/index.html

Questions? Reach out to Samantha Porzelt at sporzel@clemson.edu