Colorado Master Gardeners

Real Answers for Real Gardens

Colorado Master Gardeners are your neighbors who are passionate about plants (and lawns, trees, shrubs, flowers, and vegetables!) and committed to supporting our community with their knowledge. 

Through hands-on volunteer service, Master Gardeners help people grow with confidence. Each volunteer completes annual continuing education to stay up to snuff and contributes meaningful service that strengthens our local community. Their impact is real, practical, and deeply valued across Larimer County.

You’ll find Master Gardeners out in the community:

  • Answering questions at community events
  • Supporting demonstration gardens
  • Writing helpful gardening content
  • Providing one-on-one guidance to residents
  • Responding to your gardening questions by phone and email
  • Teaching workshops and presentations
     
A group of adults plant a tree.

Have a yard or garden question? 

Master Gardeners are available year-round to help. Send your questions and photos to LarimerMG@gmail.com, connect with them at the Larimer County Farmers Market, or at the community events below.

Find a Master Gardener!

April

 

May


June


July


August


September

October

A special program of the Larimer County Master Gardeners is the Tree Team. Diagnosing tree issues can be difficult over the phone or email. Additionally, a large portion of questions Master Gardeners receive are about woody plants. The Tree Team was formed so Master Gardeners could provided site visits to better support residents of Larimer County.

Education for Tree Team Members

Master Gardeners who want to join the tree team must complete 24 additional educational hours. During the classes, they will learn:

  • How trees respond to stress
  • Woody plant root function
  • How to identify different species of trees
  • Pests of concern in our area

 

Tree Team Fast Facts:

  • About 33 members
  • Complete about 100 calls a year
  • Started in 1999
A group of Master Gardeners stand looking at a tree

Have an event coming up? Master Gardeners are available:

  • Event Speaker
    • Master Gardeners can give a presentation about a yard or garden topic. Please note, presentations may incur a nominal fee.
  • Q&A Booth
    • Invite Master Gardeners to host a Q&A table or booth. They can answer yard & garden related questions. There is no fee for a Q&A booth.

Contact Alison O’Connor for more information: AStoven@larimer.org

A group of Master Gardeners stand for a picture and smile.

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

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.

 

2021

2021 Impact Report PDF

Value of services contributed in Larimer County: $128,601

122 Colorado Master Gardener Volunteers

4,506 volunteer hours

1,503 advanced horticulture training hours

7,784 community contacts


 

A adult male talks about a plant with a Master Gardener at the Larimer County Farmers' Market

2020

2020 Impact Report PDF

Value of services contributed in Larimer County: $130,240

128 Colorado Master Gardener Volunteers

4,270 volunteer hours

1,773 advanced horticulture training hours

2,645 community contacts

A Master Gardener plants something in a very large planter

Larimer County CSU Extension

Email: extnsn01@larimer.org
Phone: (970) 498-6000

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

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