Resources for the DIY Gardener

Grow With Blue Spruce Horticulure

At Blue Spruce, we have a deep appreciation for the DIY home gardener, and it is actually how we got our start! We are passionate about supporting gardeners like you, which is why we created this page to help you find all the resources you need to get started. We’d like to support the DIY gardener however we can, so we created this page to help you find the resources you need to get started!

Here are some local resources that can help guide you on your garden’s growing journey:

For Garden Designs and Plant Selection:

Garden in a Box offers a variety of aesthetic, ecological, and maintenance options for different sized plots. They provide instruction for planting and placement, and are an excellent budget-friendly garden option for the DIY gardener!
The City’s Xeriscape Page offers resources for waterwise landscapes.
Plant Select’s website is another great place to find information on plants that do well in the local climate.
Wild Ones Front Range is an excellent resource for home gardeners who want to support pollinators and wildlife. They offer guides on seed propagation, pollinator support, and more!
My Home Park by Homegrown National Park offers pre-designed gardens and Custom Native
Ecoplantia (also by Homegrown National Park) offers pre-designed roll-out gardens for the beginner gardener. Simply roll out the garden design printed on biodegradable paper, place the plants where indicated, and watch your garden grow!
Landscape Design for as little as $50! We haven’t tried their designs, but we love their message. If you give this a shot, let us know how it went for you!
The nurseries in Fort Collins are a wealth of knowledge. We especially love Fort Collins Nursery because they are very knowledgeable, helpful, and will take the time to chat with you about ANY issue you’re having in your yard free of charge.
Harlequin Sustainable Nursery and Garden Center in Boulder is also a great place to source your garden materials from.

Sourcing high quality plants and seeds online:

Great Bear Native Plants: Native plants for restoration, habitats, and home gardens
Baker Creek Rare Seeds: Heirloom seeds – Located in Missouri, Good for gardeners that want to grow unique foods and flowers.
Seed Savers Exchange: Located in Iowa, another great option for sourcing heirloom food crops and flowers that is also a non-profit organization.
Prairie Moon Nursery: Located in Minnesota, an excellent resource for native seeds, including options for poor soils, shade gardens, pollinator gardens, grass alternatives, and more.
Earthwise Seed: Located in NJ, seeds for sustainable lawns and lawn alternatives.
Northwest Meadowscapes: Located in WA, seeds for native prairie and meadowscapes.
Xerces Society: Native seed, plant, and related services directory. If one of the resources above isn’t to your liking, you’ll surely find something in the Xerces Directory.

Native Gardening Newsletter Recommendations

Plant-Ed by Jared Barnes: Gives plant-specific guidance, unique design ideas and inspiration, and horticultural tips for the intermediate to advanced gardener
Prairie Up provides ideas, inspiration, pocket guides, and workshops for creating Natural Gardens
Vivant Gardening Services, an eco-friendly garden firm located in Chicago, Casey’s newsletters provide workshops and insights into a variety of subjects including growing meadow gardens, growing herbs indoors, and more!
This community recognition reflects years of dedication to creating landscapes that don’t just look beautiful. They function as living ecosystems that give back to the environment while enhancing the lives of those who experience them.

Other Resources you might find helpful:

Should you use landscape fabric in your yard? Read this article by Resource Central to get some insights! (short answer: landscape fabric is not usually recommended these days)

Start Your Garden With Us

We hope these resources help inspire and guide you on your gardening journey. Whether you are just getting started or looking to expand your knowledge, the DIY gardening community is full of passionate people ready to help you grow. When you are ready to take the next step, contact Blue Spruce Horticulture today!