Welcome to the Colorado Master Gardener GardenNotes! This site contains University horticultural information as well as training resources for Colorado Master Gardener and Green School students.
2024-2025 Green School Full Course Resources
Registration for Green School is open August 19 – October 30. csugreenschool.org
Below you’ll find information for registered Green School students.
- 2024-2025 Training Schedule Green School Full Course (pdf)
- Syllabus Green School Full Course Colorado Gardener Certificate (pdf)
- Syllabus Green School Full Course Colorado Master Gardener (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
010 – CMG Program Overview
- #010, Reference and Review Material: Colorado Master Gardener Program
- #011, Learning
- #014, Volunteer Handbook
- #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]