Drew Jeffers

Horticulture Agent
South Carolina Certified Landscape Professional Program Coordinator
Horticulture Program Team, Greenville County Cooperative Extension Office

Office: 352 Halton Road Suite 302 Greenville, SC 29607
Phone: 864-986-1497

Email: ajeffe3@clemson.edu
Vita: Download CV
Personal Website: https://www.clemson.edu/extension/scclp/index.html

Educational Background

M.S. Plant and Soil Science
University of Tennessee - Knoxville 2008

B.S. Agriculture with Emphasis in Plant and Soil Science
University of Tennessee - Martin 2006

Courses Taught

Drew Jeffers has developed and delivered a wide range of in-person, virtual, and on-demand educational programs that serve both the general public and green industry professionals. His instructional portfolio emphasizes practical, research-based training in integrated pest management, horticulture, and pesticide safety. Highlights include:

South Carolina Certified Landscape Professional (SCCLP) Online Course
Lead Instructor & Coordinator (2020–present)
A statewide certification course delivered through Clemson Canvas, focused on sustainable landscape practices and IPM principles. Over 600 professionals certified.

Commercial Pesticide Applicator Exam Preparation (Core and Category 3)
On-Demand & Live Webinar Format
Annual training course designed to prepare participants for state certification exams in ornamental and turf pest management.

Integrated Pest Management for Homeowners and Professionals
Regularly offered in Master Gardener trainings, public workshops, and industry conferences, this course covers IPM strategies for landscape, nursery, and home garden settings.

Pesticide Safety and Application Training
Includes private applicator license training, pesticide label interpretation, and calibration workshops for commercial applicators.

All About Vegetable Gardening
A comprehensive homeowner-focused series addressing site preparation, soil conditioning, pest management, and season extension.

Aquatic Weed Management and Right-of-Way Herbicide Training
Recertification credit courses designed for professional pesticide applicators managing aquatic and roadside vegetation.

Master Gardener Curriculum Contributor
Regularly teaches core topics including basic botany, plant nutrition, soils, pest management, landscape design, and plant diagnostics.

Jeffers is also a frequent speaker and workshop leader at national and regional events such as Cultivate, the American Society for Horticultural Science Conference, and the National Master Gardener Coordinator Meeting, where he delivers specialized content on consumer IPM behavior, pest scouting, and landscape sustainability.

Profile

Drew Jeffers is a Horticulture Agent and County Coordinator with Clemson University Cooperative Extension, where he specializes in ornamental plant production, integrated pest management (IPM), and sustainable landscape practices. He holds both a B.S. and M.S. in Plant and Soil Science from the University of Tennessee, where his graduate research focused on the production efficiency and quality assessment of woody ornamental liners.

Drew’s research has been published in HortTechnology, HortScience, and industry publications such as Nursery Management Pro and Tennessee Greentimes. His work explored nursery liner quality grading, production cost analysis, and the purchasing behavior of green industry professionals.

Prior to joining Clemson, he gained extensive industry experience in roles including perennial grower, bonsai production manager, and IPM coordinator. At Clemson, Drew develops and delivers educational programs for homeowners, Master Gardeners, and green industry professionals, with topics ranging from pesticide safety to home vegetable gardening. He is widely recognized for his practical expertise and engaging, accessible teaching style.

Research Interests

Currently seeking his P.h.D, Jeffers’ research centers on applied horticultural science with a strong emphasis on Integrated Pest Management (IPM), consumer behavior, and the production and evaluation of ornamental plants. His work bridges scientific inquiry and practical application, advancing both industry practices and public education.

A significant focus of his recent scholarship lies in understanding how consumer knowledge and perceptions influence the adoption of IPM strategies. His peer-reviewed studies in HortTechnology examine consumer willingness to purchase professional pest scouting services and assess baseline IPM knowledge among residential landscape clients—contributing critical insights into the behavioral economics of sustainable landscape management.

Jeffers also has a longstanding research interest in the propagation and quality assessment of woody ornamental liner stock. His early work, published in HortTechnology, HortScience, and industry journals, explored the cost dynamics, grading systems, and purchasing behavior of nursery professionals, offering actionable recommendations for producers and suppliers.

In collaboration with colleagues at Clemson and other institutions, he has also authored several Land-Grant Press publications and Home & Garden Information Center (HGIC) fact sheets addressing pest management in ornamental plant propagation, soil health, biological control, and sustainable gardening practices.

His integrated research agenda supports Extension programming and industry training, with the goal of enhancing pest control efficacy, reducing environmental impact, and improving consumer outcomes in landscape and nursery management.

Extension and Outreach

Drew Jeffers leads a dynamic extension portfolio that combines science-based education with practical application across the horticulture, landscape, and pesticide safety domains. His outreach efforts have engaged thousands of stakeholders statewide through a wide variety of delivery formats, including large-scale programs, specialized workshops, webinars, field days, and on-demand training.

Key Extension Programs and Initiatives:

South Carolina Certified Landscape Professional (SCCLP) Program
Lead instructor and statewide coordinator for this high-impact professional certification, offered online via Clemson Canvas. Since 2020, the course has certified over 600 green industry professionals in best practices for sustainable landscape management.

Commercial and Private Pesticide Applicator Training
Organizer and instructor for both initial certification and continuing education programs, with a strong emphasis on pesticide safety, resistance management, and environmental stewardship.

IPM Symposium Series
Founding organizer of this annual event which draws professionals from across the Southeast to explore advanced topics in integrated pest management. Sessions have included scouting strategies, consumer adoption research, and biocontrol implementation.

Master Gardener Program
Regular instructor and curriculum contributor for statewide Master Gardener training. Topics include botany, soils, pest identification, diagnostics, and urban wildlife management.

Home Horticulture and Community Programs
Developer and presenter of numerous public-facing workshops, such as All About Vegetable Gardening, Rain Barrel Workshops, and Wildlife in the Landscape, which make horticultural science accessible to homeowners and community organizations.

Digital and Hybrid Outreach
Host of dozens of Zoom-based webinars and online courses that broaden reach and flexibility for clients. Notable topics include pesticide label interpretation, stormwater management, and pollinator-friendly plant selection.

Conference Engagement
Presenter at prominent national and regional conferences, including Cultivate, the American Society for Horticultural Science (ASHS), and the National Master Gardener Coordinator Meeting. Presentations often emphasize consumer behavior insights, IPM adoption, and effective communication of science to public audiences.

Drew's outreach is distinguished by its breadth, accessibility, and responsiveness to emerging industry and homeowner needs. Through a combination of hands-on instruction and innovative virtual delivery, he consistently advances Clemson Extension’s mission to educate, engage, and empower South Carolinians in horticulture and environmental stewardship.

Publications

Jeffers, A. H., Behe, B. K., Vassalos, M., Bridges, W. C., & White, S. A. (2025). Estimating Consumer Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Knowledge. HortTechnology, 35(2), 160 -165. Retrieved Mar 3, 2025, from https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTTECH05586-24

Jeffers, A. H., Behe, B. K., Vassalos, M., Bridges, W. C., & White, S. A. (2023). Consumer Purchase Likelihood of Landscape Management Pest Scouting Program. HortTechnology, 33(6), 493-498. Retrieved Nov 9, 2023, from https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTTECH05268-23

Jeffers, Andrew, Chong Juang H. Integrated pest management strategies for fungus gnats in ornamental plant propagation. Clemson (SC): Clemson Cooperative Extension, Land-Grant Press by Clemson Extension; 2021. LGP 1131. http://lgpress.clemson.edu/publication/integrated-pest-management-strategies-for-fungus-gnats-in-ornamental-plant- propagation.

Jeffers, Andrew, Chong Juang H. Biological Control Strategies in Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Programs. Clemson (SC): Clemson Cooperative Extension, Land-Grant Press by Clemson Extension; 2021 May. LGP 1111. https://lgpress.clemson.edu/publication/biological-control-strategies-in-integrated-pest-management-ipm-programs/.

Jeffers, Andrew. (2019). Integrated Pest Management (I.P.M.) for Bagworms HGIC 2017. Cooperative Extension Service, Clemson University, Clemson, SC. https://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/integrated-pest-management-i-p-m-for-evergreen-bagworms/

Jeffers, Andrew. (2019). Integrated Pest Management (I.P.M.) for Cabbage Looper HGIC 2016. Cooperative Extension Service, Clemson University, Clemson, SC. https://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/integrated-pest-management-i-p-m-for-cabbage-looper/

Jeffers, Andrew. (2018). Soil Texture Analysis “The Jar Test”. HGIC 1656. Cooperative Extension Service, Clemson University, Clemson, SC. https://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/soil-texture-analysis-the-jar-test

Jeffers, Andrew. (2018). Soil Conditioning – Establishing a Successful Gardening Foundation. HGIC 1655. Cooperative Extension Service, Clemson University, Clemson, SC. https://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/soil-conditioning-establishing-a-successful-gardening-foundation/

Jeffers, Andrew. (2017). Citrus. HGIC 1363. Cooperative Extension Service, Clemson University, Clemson, SC. https://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/citrus/

Jeffers, Andrew. (2017). Integrated Pest Management (I.P.M.) for Aphids. HGIC 2009. Cooperative Extension Service, Clemson University, Clemson, SC. http://www.clemson.edu/extension/hgic/pests/plant_pests/trees/hgic2009.html

Jeffers, Andrew. (2017). Integrated Pest Management (I.P.M.) for Spider Mites. HGIC 2010. Cooperative Extension Service, Clemson University, Clemson, SC. http://www.clemson.edu/extension/hgic/pests/plant_pests/trees/hgic2010.html

Jeffers, Andrew. 2017. Iberis. Clemson Extension Home & Garden Information Center Fact Sheet - HGIC 1193. 2 pp. https://www.clemson.edu/extension/hgic/plants/pdf/hgic1193.pdf

Jeffers, Andrew. Showy Rudbeckia Are a Worthy Addition to Garden. The Post and Courier. July 23, 2017. http://www.postandcourier.com/columnists/showy-rudbeckias-are-worthy-addition-to-garden/article_7c8a6346-6cb3-11e7-ace7-cfa3c3bc3a1f.html

Jeffers, Andrew. 2017. Rudbeckia. Clemson Extension Home & Garden Information Center Fact Sheet - HGIC 1192. 4 pp. http://www.clemson.edu/extension/hgic/plants/pdf/hgic1192.pdf

Jeffers, Andrew H., Klingeman, William E., Hall, Charles. R., Palma, Marco. A., Buckley, David. S., and Kopsell, Dean. A. 2010. Estimated Nursery Liner Production Costs for Woody Ornamental Plant Stock, HortTechnology, 20(4), 804-811.

Jeffers, Andrew, Klingeman, William E., Palma, Marco, Hall, Charles. 2010. Marketing stock as "high quality" is an exercise in futility. Learn what growers really care about when buying liners. Nursery Management Pro. Volume 26, Issue 34.

Jeffers, Andrew, Klingeman, William E., Palma, Marco, Hall, Charles. 2010. Make Sure Your Bare-root Liners Get “A” Grades for Quality. Tennessee Greentimes. Volume 11, Issue 4

Jeffers, Andrew, Palma, Marco, Klingeman, William E., Hall, Charles, Buckley, David, Kopsell, Dean. 2009. Assessments of Bare-root Liner Quality and Purchasing Decisions Made by Green Industry Professionals HortScience. 44:3,717-724

Links

CV
Greenvlle County Extension Office
South Carolina Certified Landscape Professional
Master Gardener Program