Yard & Garden

We are your Larimer County Yard and Gardening Experts

Gardening & landscaping in Colorado can be challenging in our semi-arid climate. Larimer County Extension brings expertise and research from Colorado State University to the Larimer County community. Rely on our Horticulture Agent, Alison O’Connor, and the Master Gardeners to provide you with information and guidance on all aspects of your landscape.

What can we help with?

Lawns · Flower Gardens (Annuals and Perennials) · Houseplants · Landscape weeds & control · Plant Disease and Insect Issues · Trees & Shrubs · Vegetables · Waterwise Landscaping

A landscaped yard in Larimer County

Have questions? 

Email Your Questions: 

Master Gardeners are available year-round and are often found at many community events during the growing season.   Send them your questions and photos or email them directly at LarimerMG@gmail.com.

Stop by the Office: 

Master Gardeners are available to answer questions in person during their office hours. Bring photos and even samples. 

2025 Master Gardener Office Hours:

Tuesdays & Thursdays  
May 6th - October 16th  
10am - 1pm  
1525 Blue Spruce Drive, Fort Collins, CO 80524  
970-498-6000

 

Stop by the Larimer County Farmers' Market: 

Master Gardeners are at the Larimer County Extension Booth. The Larimer County Farmers' Market runs from late May to the last Saturday in October every year at 200 W. Oak Street, 9am - 1pm. 

 

A ladybug sits on a leaf
Master Gardeners

Do you have lawn or gardening question? Having trouble with a tree on your property? Our volunteer Master Gardeners are here to get you answers.

Yard & Garden Services
  • Lawn Checks
  • Request Presentations
  • Ask Question
  • Request a Tree Team Visit
Larimer County Vegetable Trials

Our tomato and sweet pepper results are in. Learn more about which varieties performed the best in Northern Colorado's climate.

Demonstration Gardens at The Ranch

Visit starting in spring/summer 2023 to see turf types and irrigation options.

Best of Demonstration Garden Plants from the Western Slope
Zoom Webinar
The Art of Insect Survival: Masters of Disguise and Flashy Warnings
Zoom Webinar
Space Invaders: Garden variety monsters
Zoom Webinar
Basics of Tree Pruning: Keeping Your Urban Trees Healthy!
Zoom Webinar
Mindfulness in Nature: A Garden and Nature-Based Pilot Project
Zoom Webinar
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In Case You Missed It: Recorded Webinars

The Basics of Backyard Chickens

Larimer County CSU Extension Specialists share the essentials of raising backyard chicken flocks, including housing, raising chicks, biosecurity, breeds, and daily care and tasks.

 

 

Text Transcript Available Here.

 

 

 

Tips and tricks for your yard and garden in less than 2 minutes!

Late Winter and Early Spring Weeds

 

Gall on Tree Leaves

 

 

 

Joe Pye Weed

 

 

Fertilize your lawn before it rains

 

It may not be crabgrass:

 

What to do about dog spots:

 

What is Kochia?

 

Types of Petunias

 

Types of Watering Tools:

 

How to pick gardening gloves:

 

Basics of choosing a hanging basket

Flowers you may find in hanging baskets

 

Synthetic vs. Organic Lawn Fertilizer:

 

What fertilizer you should choose for your lawn

 

Spring means repotting houseplants

Turf Mites

CSU Trial Gardens

Tomato Cages for New Plants

Snow Mold on Your Lawn

 

What to do About Matted Leaves on the Lawn

Do you have extra produce in your garden? Want to get gardening tips and tricks right to your email? 

The Larimer County Grow and Give program makes it easy for backyard and community gardens to donate their extra produce to food pantries across the county. Whether you have a backyard garden or a small farm, your extra harvest can make a big difference in fighting food insecurity. 

You can help nourish neighbors, reduce food waste, and build stronger, healthier communities.

Register for Grow and Give

A Master Gardener volunteer sits in her garden and smiles. She is sitting next to a Grow and Give sign.

CSU Soil, Water, and Plant Testing Laboratory

A variety of testing options.

Hands hold up gardening soil.

 

Plant Talk Colorado

Planttalk Colorado™ is sponsored by Colorado State University Extension, Denver Botanic gardens, and the Green Industries of Colorado. It is a resource for Colorado residents to find research based gardening information for the diverse Colorado climate. Newcomers to Colorado will find specific information to successfully garden in Colorado's diverse climate and geography.

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Yard & Garden Fact Sheets

Colorado State University Fact Sheets are research-based and designed for residents across Colorado. You can find a variety of topics

A grassy yard with gravel and shrubbery bordering

Co-Horts Blog

Advice and Observations from your CSU Extension Horticulture Agents and Specialists

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Grow and Give

Fresh, home-grown produce distributed to those in need is the core mission of CSU's Grow & Give project. Learn how to donate produce to organizations who would love to receive it.

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Flower Trial Gardens

The outdoor display and test areas at the Annual Flower Trial Garden were established to allow students, researchers, industry representatives, homeowners and extension personnel to learn, teach and evaluate through horticultural research and demonstration projects conducted in the unique environmental conditions of the Rocky Mountain/High Plains region.

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Garden Notes

Horticultural information as well as training resources for Colorado Master Gardener and Certified Colorado Gardener students.

Two adults sit at a table with a tree branch in front of them.

CSU Online - Certified Gardener Program

Are you a green thumb? Happiest while knee-deep in dirt? Enjoy planting and watching things grow? Based on the Colorado Master GardenerSM curriculum, the Certified Gardener Program is your opportunity to learn the latest gardening techniques and become an authority for sharing your gardening know-how. Learn more and view fees at CSU online.

A woman plants flowers in a flower bed

 

Los siguientes enlaces proporcionan información disponible en español.

Temas de jardinería en español de PlantTalk Colorado

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Publicaciones de jardinería en español de Extension

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Guía de vegetales

Screen shot of PDF - Guide to Vegetables

Fort Collins Sprinkler Checkups

A free sprinkler checkup helps you save water by using your sprinkler system more effectively.

Sprinklers water a lawn

Fort Collins Xeriscape Incentive Program

Earn a rebate for removing grass and installing a water-wise landscape. Available to Fort Collins Utilities residential water customers only.

Logo for Xeriscape Incentive Program

Fort Collins Licensed Arborists

Businesses that make tree pruning or removal cuts at 10 feet or greater above the ground when working within the City limits are required to be licensed by the City of Fort Collins.

Trees in a yard

NoCo Bloom

NoCo Bloom is your free guide for all things gardening in northern Colorado. Brought to you by Colorado State University's Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, the Gardens on Spring Creek and CSU Extension in Larimer County, NoCo Bloom will provide timely topics to help your lawn and garden thrive.

 

Issue Cover for NoCo Bloom

The Gardens at Spring Creek

The Gardens on Spring Creek is the community botanic garden of Fort Collins, Colorado. The 18-acre site opened in 2004 as part of an important partnership between the City of Fort Collins and the Friends of the Gardens on Spring Creek.

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Upcoming Yard & Garden Workshops

Larimer County Colorado State University Extension

Send email

ADDRESS     
1525 Blue Spruce Dr.     
Fort Collins, CO 80524-2004

Phone: (970) 498-6000

  Sign up for our e-newsletter

 

HOURS  
7:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.    
Monday - Friday

 

Our office follows the Larimer County Holiday Calendar for office closures.