TURN YOUR
THUMB GREEN with Help from the Broomfield Extension By Kristen Beckman
With March comes longer days, warmer temperatures and daffodils peeping through the snow, all of which herald the beginning of Spring. Although conventional wisdom warns Coloradans to avoid starting their gardens until after Mother’s Day, you may already be dreaming about colorful annuals and perennials to beautify your yard, or perhaps a vegetable garden that you can tend to with your kids.
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Our Broomfield™ Magazine | April 2021
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uch to the chagrin of many novice gardeners, Colorado does not provide a naturally easy environment for gardening, and many a brown thumb have given up on their gardening dreams after a few failed attempts. But what many people don’t know is that there is a resource in our figurative backyard to help us make the most of our literal backyards. The Broomfield County Extension office, which is administered by Colorado State University, exists to provide residents with expertise and information about yard and gardening topics. The Master Gardener program, made up of about 30 volunteers, is a primary focus of Broomfield’s Extension office. These expert gardeners maintain a demonstration garden in partnership with the Denver Botanic Gardens and CSU’s Plant Select program, which tests plants to find out which will do the best in Colorado. Master Gardener volunteers also provide free advice to citizens via phone or email and will make site visits for a fee. “Colorado is one of the most diverse states geographically,” said Nancy Klasky, Master Gardener Coordinator with the Broomfield Extension office. “We have plant hardiness zones ranging from 3a to 7a. This creates unique gardening challenges depending on where you live.” With such a diverse spectrum of influences on horticulture and agriculture, county CSU extension offices are crucial in Colorado to provide highly local information, she said.
