Lawn, Garden & Landscape Questions
Helping solve your most challenging landscape and garden issues
CSU Extension works to help Colorado residents improve their gardens and home landscapes, support pollinators, learn about native plants, solve insect-related issues, diagnose plant diseases, identify invasive species, and address other horticultural challenges.
Need help? Get in touch with your local or regional Extension office. Be sure to send them as much info as possible about your issue, including photos.
Why Ask CSU Extension?
CSU Extension staff and volunteers (including Colorado Master Gardeners) have extensive horticulture training and participate in continuing education to stay up-to-date with this evolving field.
Get Unbiased Advice
As an educational organization that doesn’t sell landscape or gardening products, CSU Extension is widely looked to for unbiased, reliable, science-based advice.
Access Local Support
Diagnosing lawn problems can often be accomplished by sending photos of the issue or, in some cases, bringing a small sample to your local CSU Extension office. In select cases, an Extension office may schedule an on-site visit for additional diagnostics. Mileage fees may apply. Contact your local Extension office for details.
Frequently Asked Questions
The issues we assess most frequently include:
- Thinning or dying lawns
- Failing newly seeded or sodded lawns
- Lawns with brown spots
- Identifying noxious or invasive weeds
- Diagnosing tree and plant diseases
CSU Extension looks for the root causes of problems and provides recommendations and advice.
Site visits are not always necessary to diagnose problems and recommend solutions. However, if an Extension office determines that a site visit is necessary to move forward (and has capacity), they will ask for your specific location and provide an estimate. Mileage charges may apply. Additional charges apply for any laboratory analysis, although lab analysis often isn’t required.
Site visits are only made where the owner and manager of the turf can meet CSU Extension staff to sign for lawful entry to the property and provide information about the lawn’s history and care. The irrigation system may need to be operated to determine how water is being applied. If the owner is not the lawn manager, both parties should be present to insure that all information is available to determine the problem. If dogs or other animals are on the property, they must be kenneled/secured.
Early work involving farmers and ranchers has expanded to affect the lives of Coloradoans through educational programs in community forestry, nurseries, greenhouses, gardens, landscapes, and more.
University turf specialists, plant pathologists, entomologists, weed scientists, and plant clinicians provide backup and continuing education for CSU county staff and volunteers.
CSU Extension staff and volunteers have no vested interest in particular products, equipment, companies, or methods. As educators and consultants, we offer advice unburdened by the need to “make the sale.” This allows customers to verify information on landscape and garden problems knowing it comes from a source they can trust. Extension staff can work in partnership with customers and landscape professionals (when needed) to achieve the goal of growing a healthy landscape.
Lawn, garden, and landscape problems are best diagnosed as they develop and display active symptoms. Problems that are weeks or months old, unless they recur, are difficult to diagnose. To obtain the best diagnosis, contact CSU Extension right away when you notice a problem.
Soil and plant testing can be done by Colorado State University labs. In certain limited situations, tests may help determine problem causes and solutions. For most lawn problems, the additional charges for lab tests are unwarranted and results contribute little or nothing to solving plant problems. Let CSU Extension staff and volunteers be your guide in determining if such tests will be helpful based on your situation.
CSU Extension staff and/or volunteers based in select Colorado counties provide assistance with lawn, landscape, and garden issues. They are trained and participate in continuing education to stay current and maintain skills.
Due to limited capacity, not all counties can provide site visits. However, some counties do have limited capacity based on need and staff availability.
Contact your local CSU Extension office with your issue. They will assess the problem and provide additional instructions, which may or may not include scheduling a site visit.