Rocky Mountain Gardening Certificate Series
The Rocky Mountain Gardening Certificate Series is a sequence of core required classes offered in the first half of the year. This certificate provides the foundation necessary to have a successful Front Range garden or landscape. From professional development to the home gardener, we welcome all levels as we discuss soils, trees, ecology and food production in Colorado’s harsh climate and growing conditions. Instructors for this program include Denver Botanic Gardens' horticulture staff, authorities in the green industry and CSU extension agents and Master Gardener educators as well as other regional experts in horticulture and natural sciences. This program is endorsed by the Colorado Nursery Association.
Registration for the full Rocky Mountain Gardening Certificate Series opens in November and closes after the first class. Individual courses are offered year-round.
One-Year Certificate Series Requirements
- Complete the 12 required core certificate courses listed below.
- Complete three Rocky Mountain Gardening electives. Electives are not included in the series price.
Required Certificate Series Core Courses
Bluegrass and Other Lawn Grasses
Botany for Gardeners
Colorado Ecosystems
Ecology for Gardeners
Pruning
Rocky Mountain Horticulture I
Rocky Mountain Horticulture II
Seven Principles of Water-Smart Gardening®
Tree ID and Selection
Understanding Front Range Soils
Vines and Groundcovers
Water-wise Landscape Planning for Non-designers
FAQ
Who should participate?
Aspiring gardeners, hobby gardeners, those new to Colorado who love to garden, those looking to develop expertise, landscape maintenance professionals and other green industry individuals seeking a deeper knowledge of best Front Range growing practices.
Is this a professional certification?
No. The Rocky Mountain Gardening Certificate Series is a hobby-based program for personal learning goals. Professionals in the green industry benefit from this program by gaining deeper knowledge of best Front Range growing practices.
When and where are classes held?
There are two certificate options: in person or online. In-person classes have limited space and take place in the Freyer – Newman Center at the York Street location. Online classes are offered live via Zoom and can be taken anywhere you have internet access.
What are the class sizes?
Classroom space is limited and reserved only for in-person registrants. If you cannot attend all of the in-person classes, we recommend taking the online version. Recordings of the live classes are available to all registrants for two weeks after the class.
How much will this cost?
Rocky Mountain Gardening Certificate Series: $1,175, $930 member and $600 student. Electives are not included in series price.
What is the three elective requirement?
Elective courses are available to pursue personal interest and passion and are not included in the price of the 12-core class certificate fee. Electives are offered year-round.
What if the one-year program doesn’t work for me?
To accommodate busy schedules, the certificate can be earned over a 2-year period in-person or online. Courses can be registered for separately and taken in any order. There are no prerequisites. The 2-year period begins when you register for your first class.
What is the cost of the individual self-paced option?
Approximated individual course purchase: $1,303, $1,032 member. There is no student option for individual classes.
Purchasing a Denver Botanic Gardens membership is highly recommended for cost-effectiveness. Please note all prices are subject to change.
Contact us at adult.programs@botanicgardens.org or 720-865-3500 with your questions about the Rocky Mountain Gardening Certificate Series program.