Boulder Master Gardeners
Growing Plants. Growing People.
Who are the Colorado Master Gardeners?
The Colorado Master Gardener program is a unique intersection between University horticulture expertise and community volunteers interested in educating locally.
We’re hands-on in educational school gardens, we’re helping grow food for local communities, and we’re passionate about pollinators. Some of us are tree-huggers, most of us are plant (and insect) lovers.
The Colorado Master Gardener Program is a community-based, horticulture training and volunteer program through CSU Extension. After completing in-depth training, Master Gardeners help the gardening public solve their horticulture-related problems with scientific, research-based knowledge, while providing meaningful outreach.
Boulder Master Gardeners
Boulder Master Gardeners are here to answer your home horticulture questions in Boulder County. Our volunteers check email year round. Home horticulture questions can be sent to mggpa@bouldercounty.gov any time.
Our in-office Help Desk is staffed March through October. Stop by to talk with our volunteers Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. During the growing season, you can also call (303) 678-6388 with your gardening and horticulture questions.
Volunteers check email year round. Home horticulture questions can be sent to mggpa@bouldercounty.gov any time.
Grow with us
Become a Colorado Master Gardener
Are you passionate about volunteering and sustainable gardening? Do you love to learn? If yes, the Colorado Master Gardener program is for you!
Participants receive intensive training in horticulture in exchange for a small tuition fee plus required volunteer service. Among other things, CMGs answer gardening questions, teach classes, and maintain demonstration sites. Colorado Master Gardeners provide 50 hours of service their first year as Apprentices and 24 hours each year thereafter. Alternately, those with limited time may choose to receive a Colorado Gardener Certificate, which provides the same training with no volunteer commitment for a higher class fee.
The Colorado Master Gardener/Gardener Certificate program is a great way to give back to your community and enhance your home garden, and is also an ideal stepping-stone toward a career in horticulture. The program is recognized by the Green Industry as an excellent vocational education course; many people considering a career in horticulture start with Colorado Master Gardener training as an all-around introduction to advanced plant care.
Events & Opportunities
We will be accepting applications for a limited number of openings in the Boulder County Apprentice program. Applications will be available on the CSU Extension CMG website statewide in August.
Training Information
Program participants hone their knowledge through classes in horticulture taught by Colorado State University professors, and Extension specialists. Beginning with basic botany, the program focuses on sustainable approaches to plant health issues such as soil composition, plant selection and care, disease diagnosis, and insect identification and control. Topics include water-wise gardening, home vegetable and fruit production, turf management, integrated pest management, irrigation, flower and tree care, and other topics.
The course is taught online through CSU with live review sessions and opportunities for local in-person labs supporting the content.
Applications
Applications are housed on the CSU Extension Colorado Master Gardener website. Information about course schedules and other FAQs can also be found there.
Volunteer/Community Greening Projects
The Colorado Master Gardener Program in Boulder County works to match volunteer interests, skills and schedules with ideal community greening projects. We partner with local groups and community service programs to promote environmentally responsible horticulture throughout our community.
In their first year, Colorado Master Gardener apprentices provide 50 hours of volunteer time to the program during the first growing season following their classes. Volunteers help the community by staffing the Master Gardener office, staffing clinic sites at nurseries and garden centers on weekends, working with the public at special events, teaching classes, and many other activities.
Interested in Converting Your Lawn?
Turfgrass removal and replanting is a popular topic. Contact your Boulder County Colorado Master Gardener volunteers if you have questions.
Colorado Master Gardener Qualifications & Enrollment
A desire to help others learn about gardening is the number one requirement for becoming a Colorado Master Gardener! While this is not a beginning gardening program, and having some Colorado gardening experience is required, you don’t have to be a gardening expert to join us.
Interested in becoming a Master Gardener?
If you live in Boulder County and love gardening and volunteering, consider becoming a Colorado Master Gardener! Applications typically open in August for classes starting in November.
Questions? Please contact our Master Gardener Coordinator.
Green School
Want to take the classes but don’t have the time to volunteer? Build your gardening knowledge with CSU Extension’s Green School, an online program focused on the science and practices of successful plant care. Learn how to manage fruits, vegetables, and ornamentals through every season using proven, climate-aware techniques.