A New Gardener Boot Camp

Are you a blank slate when it comes to starting your very own garden? Worried about ending the growing season with a pile of dead plants and sad vegetables? Are you new to the Front Range and want to become a successful gardener in this climate? Join us at Denver Botanic Gardens for a full-day event, packed with answers to all those looming and mysterious gardening questions. Get started on the right foot this year with all of our best classes, carefully designed to equip beginners with the tools you need to master that garden once and for all!

This full day of programming is held in the Denver Botanic Gardens' state-of-the-art Freyer - Newman Center Sturm Family Auditorium. Registration for this program includes admission to the Gardens for the day.

Classes include:

Garden Planning 101 - Where Do I Start?

This beginner's class takes you step-by-step through the process of laying out a plan of attack for your garden! Whether you are starting with a blank slate garden or working with an old, outdated garden this class gives you the basics on where to start. It covers needs and planning tools for raised beds, container gardens and in-ground vegetable gardens. We discuss the basics of garden locations, sun requirements, water needs, starting from seed, transplanting and the basics of planning the organization of perennials and annuals, trees and shrubs. This class is the perfect fit for anyone needing to understand how the garden works together as a whole.

Soils 101

Soils are always the first place to start when building a beautiful garden. This class covers the best management practices for building your soil for in-ground beds, containers and raised beds. It discusses the basics of composting and demonstrates the value of soil testing.

Beginning Vegetable Gardening

If you have never planted edible plants or had little success at growing your own vegetables, our instructor walks you through the basics from planning, soil preparation, crop selection, watering, fertilizing, pest protection, and harvesting your first vegetable garden. We cover tips on the most popular vegetables to grow, including leafy salad greens, tomatoes, squash, peppers, and more. Gain a comprehensive understanding of how to successfully do each gardening task and take home a planting guide that helps you through the entire growing season.

Perennials and Landscape Design

Plants provide the backbone of the garden with vibrant colors, textures, and forms that weave together to create your own personal oasis. Learn the basics of perennials, annuals and biennials, how to make the best selections for your garden and how to best maintain your plants throughout the season. From the traditional to the unusual, we explore the limitless varieties of plants and send you into the growing season prepared.

These classes combined usually cost more than $200, but with New Gardener Boot Camp the cost is dramatically reduced. Register early as space is limited.

Price: $89, $69 member