Agriculture & Horticulture

Resources for Living Rural
Climate Presentation (pdf)

Soils

1. Introduction to Soils: https://cmg.extension.colostate.edu/Gardennotes/211.pdf 
2. The Living Soil: https://cmg.extension.colostate.edu/Gardennotes/212.pdf 
3. Managing Soil Tilth: https://cmg.extension.colostate.edu/Gardennotes/213.pdf 
4. NRCS Web Soil Survey: https://websoilsurvey.sc.egov.usda.gov 
5. Fertilizing Cool Season Grasses and Legume Mixes: https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/agriculture/fertilizing-cool-season-grasses-and-grasslegume-mixtures-0-522/ 

Range/Pasture

1. Grazing Management for Soil Health Presentation (MP4)
2. Rangeland Management Before, During and After Drought: https://extension.arizona.edu/pubs/rangeland-management-during-after-drought 
3. CO Forage Guide: https://sam.extension.colostate.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/07/forage-guide.pdf 
4. Ag Business Management Decision Tools: https://abm.extension.colostate.edu/decision-tools/ 
5. Rangeland Analysis Platform: https://rangelands.app/ 
6. CSU Rangeland Carrying Capacity (and app): https://rangemanagement.extension.colostate.edu/stocking-rate/ 
7. Range, Pasture and Natural Area Weed Management:  https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/natural-resources/range-pasture-and-natural-area-weed-management/ 
8. Grass Growth and Response to Grazing: https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/natural-resources/grass-growth-and-response-to-grazing-6-108/ 

Livestock

1. Nitrates in Drinking Water: https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/agriculture/nitrates-in-drinking-water-0-517/
2. Nitrate Poisoning: https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/agriculture/nitrate-poisoning-1-610/ 
3. Alternative Feeds for Cattle During Drought: https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/agriculture/alternative-feeds-for-cattle-during-drought-1-626/ 
4. Irrigation Water Quality: https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/agriculture/irrigation-water-quality-criteria-0-506/ 
5. Feed Composition for Cattle and Sheep: https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/agriculture/feed-composition-for-cattle-and-sheep-1-615/ 

Native Plants

1. Native Grasses for Colorado Landscapes: http://cmg.extension.colostate.edu/Gardennotes/581.pdf 
2. Native Plant Reference List:http://cmg.extension.colostate.edu/Gardennotes/582.pdf  
3. Low-water native plant garden guides for Colorado: Mountains: https://extension.colostate.edu/docs/pubs/native/MountainsSm.pdf 

Weeds

1. La Plata County Weed Department: www.laplataweeds.org 
2. Range, Pasture and Natural Area Weed Management: https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/natural-resources/range-pasture-and-natural-area-weed-management/ 
3. Weed Management for Small Rural Acreages: https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/natural-resources/weed-management-for-small-rural-acreages-3-106/  

Insects

1. Grasshoppers in Field Crops: https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/insects/grasshoppers-in-field-crops-5-535/ 
2. Armyworms: https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/insects/armyworms-5-503/ 
3. Alfalfa Weevil: https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/insects/alfalfa-weevil-5-500/
4. Black Grass Bugs: https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/insects/black-grass-bugs-5-575/ 

Wildfire Mitigation

1. After the Disaster Guidebook (Boulder County): https://extension.colostate.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Boulder-County-After-the-Disaster-Guidebook-CSU-Extension-V3.pdf
2. Addressing the Impacts of Wildfire on Water Resources: https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/natural-resources/addressing-the-impacts-of-wildfire-on-water-resources-6-706/ 
3. Creating Wildfire-Defensible Zones: https://static.colostate.edu/client-files/csfs/pdfs/FIRE2012_1_DspaceQuickGuide.pdf 
4. Soil Erosion Control After Wildfire: https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/agriculture/soil-erosion-control-after-wildfire-6-308/ 

Wildlife

1. Deer Damage Prevention: https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/natural-resources/preventing-deer-damage-6-520/ 
2. Managing Pocket Gophers: https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/natural-resources/managing-pocket-gophers-6-515/ 
3. Managing Prairie Dogs: https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/natural-resources/managing-prairie-dogs-6-506/ 
4. Managing Voles in Colorado: https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/natural-resources/?target=publications#wildlife:~:text=Managing%20Voles%20in%20Colorado 

Colorado Master Gardener Program
Unfortunately, the application period for the 2023 Colorado Master Gardener Program is closed. For more information on how to apply for the 2024 class, visit the state CMG website.

La Plata County Fruit Tree Gleaning  - run by the Good Food Collective - find or list your tree here!

Presentations

Tom Bartels Compost Presentation

Container Gardening (pdf)
Getting Your Vegetable Garden Started (pdf)
Gardening Resiliency in a Time of Climate Change Link to Recording if they ask for a password, enter: &3WmdD#7
Future Garden Favorites: Native Plants:Jennifer Bousselot, PH.D, Colorado State University Link to recording
Powering up with Peppers: An Intro to Hot & Sweet Peppers :Dan Hobbs, Pueblo Seed Company Link to recording
Weeds: How to Identify, Control, and Out-compete: Ben Bain, La Plata Co. Weed Manager Link to Recording

 

 

Darrin Parmenter Horticulture/Small Farms

Durango Botanic Gardens: “Our mission is to create public gardens that demonstrate best practices, advance horticultural education, and celebrate the inspirational power of sustainable gardens.”

CSU Extension is excited to be part of the Durango Botanic Gardens and we are thrilled with all the work being done at the Durango Public Library  Demonstration Garden (between the library and the river trail). Come check the garden and become a member of the Society today!

Colorado Gardener

CSU Extension has several publications for the Colorado gardener. Topics in this section include:

• Gardening Basics
• Diseases
• Flowers

• Fruits & Vegetables
• GardenNotes (Master Gardener Publications)
• Insects
• Native Plants
• PlantTalk ColoradoTM
• Trees and Shrubs
• Yard

 

Gardening Basics

• Choosing a Soil Amendment (2/13)
• Colorado Mountain Gardening Basics (12/14)
• Container Gardens (9/14)
• Drip Irrigation for Home Gardens (7/14)
• Gardening for Newcomers (3/13)
• Growing Plants From Seed (11/18)
  Spanish Version
• Hidden Value of Landscapes: Implications for Drought Planning
• Homeowner’s Guide to Alternative Pesticide Management for the Lawn & Garden (7/18)
• Homeowner’s Guide to Fertilizing Your Lawn and Garden (7/18)
• Homeowner’s Guide to Pesticide Use Around the Home & Garden (7/18)
• Home Sprinkler Systems: Operating and Maintaining (7/14)
• How to Submit Samples to a CSU Extension Plant Diagnostic Clinic (4/11)
• House Plant Tips $$
• Landscaping for Energy Conservation (11/18)
  Spanish Version
• Mulches for Home Grounds (2/14)
• Watering a Home Landscape During Drought (4/13)
• Watering in Fall and Winter (3/13)
• Aquatic and Riparian Weeds of the West $$
• Xeriscaping: Creative Landscaping (3/19)
• Xeriscaping: Retrofit Your Yard (8/11)

Go to top of this page.

Garden Diseases

• Ascochyta Leaf Blight of Turf (6/12)
• Aspen and Poplar Leaf Spots (12/13)
• Bacterial Wetwood (12/13)
• Cytospora Canker (12/13)
• Environmental Disorders of Woody Plants (12/14)
• Fire Blight (12/14)
• Greenhouse Plant Viruses (TSWV/INSV) (12/14)
• Healthy Roots and Healthy Trees (12/13)
• Honeylocust Diseases (12/13)
• Leaf Scorch (12/14)
• Magnesium Chloride Toxicity in Trees (12/14)
• Mistletoes in Colorado Conifer (12/13)
• Necrotic Ringspot of Kentucky Bluegrass (4/15)
• Nonchemical Disease Control (5/13)
• Onion – Xanthomas Leaf Blight (5/11)
• Pine Wilt Disease (2/14)
• Pinyon Pine Diseases and Insects (12/14)
• Powdery Mildews (5/13)
• Recognizing Tomato Problems (5/13)
• Strawberry Diseases (12/14)
• Sycamore Anthracnose (12/14)

Go to top of this page.

Flowers

• Best Perennials for the Rocky Mountains and High Plains $$
• Edible Flowers (9/13)
• Fall-Planted Bulbs and Corms (10/09)
• Growing Lavender in Colorado (10/09)
• Herbaceous Perennials (12/08)
• Mountain Flowers (9/13)
• Native Herbaceous Perennials for Colorado Landscapes (4/14)
• Perennial Gardening (12/09)
• Poinsettias (11/09)
• Rock Garden Plants (7/11)
• Roses – Selecting and Planting (10/14)
• Spring-Planted Bulbs, Corms and Roots (10/09)
• Wildflowers in Colorado (10/14)
• Xeriscaping: Perennials and Annual Flowers (2/10)

Go to top of this page.

Fruits and vegetables

• Apples and Pears in the Backyard (11/14)
• Cucumbers, Pumpkins, Squash and Melons (9/14)
• Currants, Gooseberries and Jostaberries (1/17)
• Fertilizing Fruit Trees (12/14)
• Fertilizing the Vegetable Garden (5/14)
• Grape Varieties for Cold Areas of Colorado
• Growing Peaches $$
• Peppers and Eggplant (8/14)
• Pollination of Tree Fruits (10/09)
• Potatoes in the Home Garden (10/18)
• Preparation of Small Spray Quantities of Pesticides (4/14)
• Raspberries for the Home Garden (8/11)
• Saving Seed (9/13)
• Stone Fruits in the Backyard (5/16)
• Storing Vegetable and Flower Seeds (9/13)
• Strawberries for the Home Garden (12/14)
• Training and Pruning Fruit Trees (9/09)
• Vegetable Gardening in the Mountains (3/14)
• Vegetable Gardening – Nitrogen Recommendations (12/14)
• Vegetables – Storing Home-grown (7/15)

Go to top of this page.

Native Plants

• Native Grasses for Colorado Landscapes (8/12)
• Native Plant Guides
  • Front Range (Print Version)
  • Mountains (Print Version)
  • Prairie (Print Version)
  • Southeast (Print Version)
  • West Slope (Print Version)
• Native Plant Reference List (8/12)
• Native Plant Vendors (4/12)
• Native Herbaceous Perennials for Colorado Landscapes (4/14)
• Native Trees for Colorado Landscapes (7/08)
• Native Shrubs for Colorado Landscapes (1/18)

Go to top of this page.

Trees & Shrubs

• Aspen: Guide to Common Problems in Colorado $$
• Deciduous Shrubs (12/13)
• Deciduous Trees: Large (10/17)
• Deciduous Trees: Small (9/17)
• Dependable Landscape Trees (4/14) $$
• Evaluating Tree Fruit Bud & Fruit Damage from Cold (8/10)
• Evergreen Shrubs (12/17)
• Evergreen Trees (2/14)
• Flowering Crabapple Trees (2/08)
• Front Range Tree Recommendation List (3/14)
• Hedges (9/11)
• Insects and Diseases of Woody Plants $$
• Lilac/Ash Borer: A Common Wood Borer of Colorado’s Street Trees (5/14)
• Magnesium Chloride Toxicity in Trees (12/14)
• Mountain Areas Trees and Shrubs (4/18)
• Native Shrubs for Colorado Landscapes (7/08)
• Native Trees for Colorado Landscapes (7/08)
• Pollination of Tree Fruits (10/09)
• Protecting Trees During Construction (3/14)
• Training and Pruning Fruit Trees (9/09)
• Xeriscaping: Trees and Shrubs (12/16)

Go to top of this page.

Yard

• Buffalograss Lawns (10/14)
• Composting Yard Waste (8/14)
• Ground Cover Plants (1/18)
• Ground Covers and Rock Garden Plants for Mountain Communities (2/08)
• Home Sprinkler Systems: Backflow Prevention Devices (10/14)
• Home Sprinkler Systems: Operating and Maintaining (7/14)
• Home Sprinkler Systems: Preparing Your Sprinkler System for Winter (10/14)
• Irrigation: Inspecting and Correcting Turf Irrigation System Problems (10/14)
• Lawns: Control of Annual Grassy Weeds (12/14)
• Lawns: Eliminating Grass Clipping Collection (3/14)
• Lawns: Home Lawn Renovation (3/14)
• Lawns: Lawn Care (3/12)
• Lawns: Growing Turf on Salt-Affected Sites (12/13)
• Lawns: Watering Established Lawns (11/14)
• Ornamental Grasses (10/11)
• Sustainable Landscaping (10/11)
• Watering a Home Landscape During Drought (4/13)
• Watering in Fall and Winter (3/13)
• Xeriscaping: Ground Cover Plants (1/09)