Landscape Like You Live Here
Online Program
Practical guidance for landscaping in Colorado
Get a jumpstart on your next project with this six-week, online bootcamp for DIY landscapers. Designed for homeowners, property managers, and new gardeners in Colorado, this program includes six facilitated webinars that walk you through essential best practices, tips, and tricks.
Program at a glance:
- Format: Six live webinars (recorded)
- When: Tuesdays, 4/7 – 5/12, 6:30-8 p.m. (MT)
- Cost: $150 (includes access to recordings)
- Registration opens: 2/13/26
- Registration closes: 3/30/26, 11:59 p.m. (MT)
Get insights and tips from Colorado horticulture experts
Learn from CSU horticulture and landscape design experts during six live, engaging webinars. Topics will include assessing site conditions, plant selection, planting techniques, maintenance, troubleshooting, and more!
- Week One (4/7/26): Designing Your Outdoor Space
- Week Two (4/14/26): Trees & Shrubs that Thrive
- Week Three (4/21/26): Best Lawn on the Block
- Week Four (4/28/26): Perennial & Native Plants that Pop
- Week Five (5/5/26): Seasonal Blooms for Every Space
- Week Six (5/12/26): Putting it All Together
Access recordings on-demand
All webinars will be recorded and available on-demand for registered learners. After the program concludes, you can access recorded webinars for one month.
Refund policy
A registration refund must be requested by 11:59 p.m. (MT) on March 1, 2026 to be eligible for full reimbursement. Refund requests submitted between March 2 and March 30 will receive a 50% refund. Refunds can no longer be requested after 11:59 p.m. (MT) on March 30, 2026.
Webinar Information
Week One (4/7/26): Designing Your Outdoor Space
- Instructor: Deryn Davidson
- Description: Kick off the series with an engaging introduction to landscape design and goal setting. This class will explore the key elements that make outdoor spaces appealing and provide tips for creating a functional and sustainable landscape in Colorado. Participants will learn how to assess their site conditions, set achievable goals, and replicate design principles that enhance beauty and usability.
Week Two (4/14/26): Trees & Shrubs that Thrive
- Instructor: Eric Hammond & Sheila Prentice
- Description: Discover the best woody plants for Colorado landscapes, including tips for planting, care, and maintenance of trees and shrubs that thrive in Colorado’s unique climate. Learn how to troubleshoot common issues and ensure the health and longevity of these garden backbones.
Week Three (4/21/26): Best Lawn on the Block
- Instructor: Alison O’Connor & Chris Hilgert
- Description: This class will cover the essentials of grass and turf care, from selecting the right type of grass for your property to troubleshooting common lawn issues. Participants will also gain valuable insights into sustainable lawn care practices that promote healthy ecosystems. Let no turf be non-functional!
Week Four (4/28/26): Perennial & Native Plants that Pop
- Instructor: John Murgel & Deryn Davidson
- Description: This class will focus on selecting perennials that thrive in Colorado landscapes, emphasizing the role of native and adapted plants in creating vibrant, resilient outdoor spaces. Learn how to care for these plants and incorporate them into your landscape for year-round interest.
Week Five (5/5/26): Seasonal Blooms for Every Space
- Instructor: Sheila Prentice & Chris Hilgert
- Description: Discover how to create stunning seasonal displays with annuals and container gardening. Learn how to select colorful annuals that thrive in Colorado’s climate, design eye-catching container arrangements, and care for your plants throughout the growing season.
Week Six (5/12/26): Putting it All Together
- Instructor: Deryn Davidson
- Description: Wrap up the series as you learn how to bring all the elements of your landscape together into a cohesive and sustainable design and implementation. This class will emphasize the importance of ongoing maintenance and provide guidance on next steps for enhancing your outdoor space.
Instructors
Deryn Davidson
Sustainable Landscape State Specialist
Deryn Davidson is the Sustainable Landscape State Specialist for Colorado State University Extension. In this position, she develops and delivers educational programs and provides expert consultation to public and private sectors on creating sustainable, resilient landscapes. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Horticulture from CSU and a Master of Landscape Architecture from the University of Arizona. Deryn champions the use of thoughtful design and sustainable horticultural practices to foster biodiversity and implement nature-based solutions that enhance urban resilience and livability.
Alison O’Connor
Horticulture Specialist in Larimer County
Alison O’Connor, Ph.D. is the Extension Faculty in Horticulture for Larimer County. She holds her bachelor’s degree from Iowa State University, M.S. from The Ohio State University and PhD from Colorado State University. Dr. O’Connor is passionate about trees and turfgrass and is the star of numerous educational YouTube videos. She manages a Farmers’ Market and teaches Green Industry, CSU, consumer and Colorado Master Gardener audiences.
Sheila Prentice
Sustainable Landscape Specialist in Boulder County
Sheila Prentice is the Sustainable Landscape Specialist for CSU Extension in Boulder County, where she teaches about sustainable landscaping, native plants, and water-wise practices for Colorado Landscapes. Sheila earned both her bachelor’s degree in environmental Horticulture and her M.S. in Horticulture from Colorado State University. Her graduate work focused on improving Extension resources and promoting practical, research-based solutions for landscape professionals.
Chris Hilgert
Horticulture State Specialist & Master Gardener Director
Chris Hilgert is the Colorado Master Gardener Program Director and Horticulture State Specialist for CSU Extension. In this role he works closely with the state team to support Master Gardener education and resources, and Master Gardener volunteer activities across Colorado. Chris obtained a master’s degree in horticulture with an emphasis on turf and landscape management from Oregon State University.
John Murgel
Horticulture Specialist in Douglas County
John Murgel is the CSU Extension Faculty for Horticulture and Natural Resources serving Colorado State University Extension in Douglas County. John studied ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of Colorado at Boulder and received his MS in Horticulture from Colorado State University. His professional background is in public horticulture, having worked at regional public gardens for 10 years before joining Extension. John is particularly interested in the creation of low-maintenance, high-impact landscapes.
Eric Hammond
County Director & Horticulturalist in Boulder County
Eric Hammond is the Extension Director for Colorado State University Extension in Boulder County. Previously, he served as the Extension Director and Horticulture Faculty in Adams County, where he assisted clients with issues related to landscape horticulture. Eric attended Colorado State University where he received an undergraduate degree in Natural Resource Management and later a Master of Science in Horticulture. His studies focused on drought tolerant plants and evaluating woody plant material.