An application, background check, and interview is required to become a Master Gardener. Due to the intensive on-boarding process, only a few are selected each year.
If you are selected, in your first year you will:
- Complete approximately 60 hours of college-level horticulture instruction in their first year. Topics will include:
- How plants grow
- Soils, fertilizers, and amendments
- Turf management
- Plant pathology and Integrated Pest Management
- Tree planting and care
- Complete 50 hours of volunteer time
2026 Master Gardener Applications
We thank you for your interest in the Colorado Master Gardener program. At this time, we are not accepting 2026 volunteer applications as our program has currently met the capacity to support community needs.
However, a few other options to get involved are available! You may apply in a neighboring county, though preference is typically given to residents of that county, and volunteer hours must be completed there if accepted. Learn more at the Colorado Master Gardener state website.
You can also enroll in CSU Green School, the horticulture training taken by all Master Gardeners. As a Green School student, you’ll have a three-year window to apply for the Master Gardener volunteer program when applications reopen, without needing to retake the curriculum or pay additional fees if accepted. While Green School does have a higher fee for non-volunteers, scholarships and early bird pricing are available:
Early Bird Registration: August 18 – September 30, 2025 | Tuition: $495
Regular Registration: October 1 – October 30, 2025 | Tuition: $545
Scholarship Applications:
August 18 – August 29, 2025 | Tuition: $270 for recipients
Applicants should wait for scholarship decisions (to be sent by September 5) before registering. The link to apply for scholarships will be posted on the CSU Green School site. Those not selected may still register with the early bird rate until September 30.
