Welcome to the Colorado Master Gardener GardenNotes! This site contains University horticultural information as well as training resources for Colorado Master Gardener and Certified Colorado Gardener students.
2023-2024 Green School Information
Below you’ll find information for registered Green School students. If you missed registration, you can join our interested list here. Course is offered once a year.
- Full Course 2023-2024 Training Schedule (pdf)
- Certified Colorado Gardener Syllabus (pdf)
- Colorado Master Gardener Syllabus (pdf)
- Student Training Guide | Print to take notes, if desired
- Includes optional homework/activities, and class notes
- Volunteer Handbook (pdf)
- Link to Online Courses CSU Online’s Canvas site
- Canvas Cheatsheet (pdf)
Direct Links to Gardening Information
- CMG Program Overview
- Botany: How Plants Grow
- Colorado Climate Summaries & Frost Dates
- Diagnosing Tree Disorders
- Entomology and Identifying Insects
- Herbaceous Plants
- Identifying Trees and Shrubs
- IPM and the Diagnostic Process
- Irrigation Management
- Lawn Care – Turfgrass Management
- Native Plants
- Plant Pathology
- Pruning
- Small Fruits
- Soils, Fertilizers, and Soil Amendments
- Tree Care
- Tree Fruit
- Tree Planting: Right Plant Right Place
- Vegetable & Herbs
- Water Wise Landscape Design
- Weed Management
DOWNLOAD GARDEN NOTES COMPLETE SET [PDF]
Note: GardenNotes is in the process of being updated. This will be completed at the end of 2023. Revised publications are posted as they are completed. Thanks for your patience while we work to improve this resource!
010 – CMG Program Overview
- #010, Reference and Review Material: Colorado Master Gardener Program
- #011, Learning
- #015, Communications
- #016, Fielding Questions: Tips
- #017, Listening Habits Evaluation
- #018, Using Copyrighted Materials, Are You Legal?
CMG PROGRAM SECTION [pdf]
100 – IPM and the Diagnostic Process
- #100, Reference and Review Material: Integrated Pest Management and the Diagnostic Process
- #101, IPM and Plant Health Care
- #102, Diagnosing Plant Disorders
- #112, Systematic Plant Evaluation
- #113, Diagnosing Root and Soil Disorders on Landscape Trees
IPM & DIAGNOSTIC PROCESS SECTION [pdf]
120 – Botany
- #120, Reference and Review Material: Botany
- #121, Horticultural Classification Terms
- #122, Taxonomic Classification
- #131, Plant Structures: Cells, Tissues and Structures
- #132, Plant Structures: Roots
- #133, Plant Structures: Stems
- #134, Plant Structures: Leaves
- #135, Plant Structures: Flowers
- #136, Plant Structures: Fruit
- #137, Plant Structures: Seeds
- #141, Plant Physiology: Photosynthesis, Transpiration, and Respiration
- #142, Plant Growth Factors: Light
- #143, Plant Growth Factors: Temperature
- #144, Plant Growth Factors: Water
- #145, Plant Growth Factors: Plant Hormones
BOTANY SECTION [pdf]
170 – Identifying Trees and Shrubs
- #170, Reference and Review Material: Identifying Trees and Shrubs
- #171, Identifying Trees and Shrubs
- #172, Identifying Conifers
- #173, Identifying Broadleaf Flowering Trees and Shrubs
- #177, Key to Identifying Common Landscape Trees of Colorado
IDENTIFYING TREES & SHRUBS SECTION [pdf]
210 – Soils Fertilizers and Soil Amendments
- #210, Reference and Review Material: Soils, Fertilizers, and Soil Amendments
- #211, Introduction to Soil
- #212, The Living Soil
- #213, Managing Soil Tilth: Texture, Structure, and Pore Space
- #214, Estimating Soil Texture: Sandy, Loamy, or Clayey
- #215, Soil Compaction
- #218, Earthworms
- #219, Soil Drainage
- #221, Soil Tests
- #222, Soil pH
- #223, Iron Chlorosis of Woody Plants
- #224, Saline Soils
- #231, Plant Nutrition
- #232, Understanding Fertilizers
- #233, Calculating Fertilizer Application Rates
- #234, Organic Fertilizers
- #241, Soil Amendments
- #242, Using Manure in Colorado Gardens
- #243, Using Compost in Colorado Gardens
- #244, Cover Crops and Green Manure Crops
- #245, Mulching
- #246, Making Compost
- #251, Asking Effective Questions About Soils
SOILS, FERTILIZERS, & SOIL AMENDMENTS SECTION [pdf]
#260 – Irrigation Management
- #260, Reference and Review Material: Irrigation Management
- #261, Colorado’s Water Situation
- #262, Water Movement Through the Landscape
- #263, Understanding Irrigation Management Factors
- #264, Irrigation Equipment
- #265, Methods to Schedule Home Lawn Irrigation
- #266, Converting Inches to Minutes
- #267, Watering Efficiently
- #268, Irrigation Management: In-Ground Sprinkler System Checkup
IRRIGATION MANAGEMENT SECTION [pdf]
310 – Entomology and Identifying Insects
- #310, Reference and Review Material: Identifying Insects
- #311, Taxonomy of Arthropods: Insects and Insect Relatives
- #312, Insect Anatomy and Growth
- #313, Insect Orders
- #314, Key 1 – Key to Insects Associated With Gardening
- #315, Key 2 – Key to Insect Orders
ENTOMOLOGY SECTION [pdf]
330 – Plant Pathology
PLANT PLANTOLOGY SECTION [pdf]
350 – Weed Management
- #350, Reference and Review Material: Weed Management
- #351, Weed Management
- #352, Weed Descriptions
- #353, Weeds Associated with Specific Environments and Cultural Conditions
- Additional Resources:
WEED MANAGEMENT SECTION [pdf]
410 – Water Wise Landscape Design
- #410, Reference and Review Material: Water-Wise Landscape Design
- #411, Water-Wise Landscape Design: Steps
- #412, Water-Wise Landscape Design: Selecting Turf Options
- #413, Water-Wise Landscape Design: Principles of Landscape Design
510 – Herbaceous Plants
- #510, Reference and Review Material: Herbaceous Plants
- #511, Colorado Plant Ecosystems
- #512, Herbaceous Plants: Right Plant, Right Place
550 – Lawn Care – Turfgrass Management
- #550, Reference and Review Material: Turfgrass Management
- #551, Basic Turf Management
- #552, Broadleaf Weed Control in Lawns
- #553, Dog Urine Damage on Lawns: Causes, Cures, and Prevention
- #554, Earthworms and Nightcrawlers in the Home Lawn
- #561, Turfgrass Species Selection Guidelines
- #562, Best Turf Varieties
- #563, Hybrid (Kentucky X Texas) Bluegrass
- #564, Fine Fescues for Lawns
- #565, Buffalograss Lawns
- #566, Sources of Grass Seed, Sod, and Plugs for Colorado Lawns
LAWN CARE & TURFGRASS SECTION [pdf]
Additional Resources:
- Sprinkler Types for Lawn Irrigation
- Lawn Watering Guide
- Irrigation Audit
- Should you move over to clover?
580 – Native Plants
- #580, Reference and Review Material: Native Plants
- #581, Native Grasses
- #582, Native Plant Reference
- #583, Sources of Colorado Native Plants
NATIVE PLANTS SECTION [pdf]
610 The Science of Pruning
- #610, Reference and Review Material: The Science of Pruning
- #611, Tree Growth and Decay
- #612, Pruning Cuts
- #613, Structural Pruning of Young Shade Trees
- #615, Pruning Maturing Shade Trees
- #616, Pruning Flowering Shrubs
- #617, Pruning Evergreens
THE SCIENCE OF PRUNING SECTION [pdf]
630 The Science of Planting Trees
- #630, Reference and Review Material: Tree Planting
- #631, Tree Placement: Right Plant, Right Place
- #632, Tree Selection: Right Plant, Right Place
- #633, The Science of Planting Trees
- #634, Tree Staking and Underground Stabilization
- #635, Care of Recently Planted Trees
- #636, Tree Planting Steps
TREE PLANTING SECTION [pdf]
650 – Tree Care
- #651, Fertilizing Shade Trees
- #652, Tree Preservation During Construction
- #653, Wrapping Trees for Winter
- #654, Staking Trees
- #655, Dealing with Leaves in the Landscape
- #656, Herbicide Use Around the Landscape
- #657, Watering Mature Shade Trees
- #658, Mulching Trees
- #659, Understanding Tree Roots
TREE CARE SECTION [pdf]
710 – Vegetables & Herbs
- #710, Reference and Review Material: Vegetables
- #711, Vegetable Gardens: Soil Management and Fertilization
- #712, Sample Vegetable Garden Seed Catalogs
- #713, Block Style Layout in Raised Bed Vegetable Gardens
- #714, Irrigating the Vegetable Garden
- #715, Mulches for the Vegetable Garden
- #716, Water Conservation in the Vegetable Garden
- #717, Growing Tomatoes
- #718, Tomato Early Blight
- #719, Vegetable Garden Hints
- #720, Vegetable Planting Guide
- #721, Sample Planting Guide for Raised-Bed Garden
- #722, Frost Protection and Extending the Growing Season
- #723, Growing Vegetable in a Hobby Greenhouse
- #724, Vegetable Gardening in Containers
- #731, Herb Gardening
VEGETABLES SECTION [pdf]
740 – Climate Summaries & Frost Dates
- #741, Climate Summary: Boulder and Longmont
- #742, Climate Summary: Castle Rock, Littleton and Parker
- #743, Climate Summary: Colorado Springs
- #744, Climate Summary: Dillon
- #745, Climate Summary: Eagle and Glenwood Springs
- #746, Climate Summary: Fort Collins, Greeley and Estes Park
- #757, Climate Summary: Gilpin
- #747, Climate Summary: Gunnison
- #748, Climate Summary: Northeast Colorado
- #749, Climate Summary: Northwest Colorado
- #750, Climate Summary: Southwest Colorado
- #751, Climate Summary: Pueblo
- #752, Climate Summary: Salida and Buena Vista
- #753, Climate Summary: Norwood and Telluride
- #754, Climate Summary: San Luis Valley
- #755, Climate Summary: Canon City
- #756, Climate Summary and Planting Dates: Tri River Area
CLIMATE SUMMARIES & FROST DATES SECTION [pdf]
760 – Small Fruits
- #760, Reference and Review Material: Small Fruits
- #761, Growing Raspberries in Colorado Gardens
- #762, Growing Blackberries in Colorado Gardens
- #763, Growing Strawberries in Colorado Gardens
- #764, Growing Grapes in Colorado Gardens
SMALL FRUITS SECTION [pdf]
770 – Tree Fruit
TREE FRUIT SECTION [pdf]