By Morgan Hopkins-Crawley, Denver Water

Colorado is joining the movement of promoting state-specific water-wise landscaping, shifting away from the thirsty green carpet of Kentucky Bluegrass. The Associated Landscapers of Colorado (ALCC) and Colorado State University Extension Service (CSU Extension) have partnered to create the ColoradoScaping™ Certification Program, training landscape professionals on the science-based skills to create water-wise landscapes across the state. This certification is positioned to be the definitive Colorado landscaping credential, setting up individuals who obtain the certification apart from others in the industry.

Colorado residents face rising water and landscape maintenance costs, coupled with the strain on water resources in the Western US. Coloradoscapes can help reduce outdoor water usage and maintenance inputs by using efficient irrigation and climate-appropriate plants. The ColoradoScaping™ Certification will ensure that landscape professionals gain the skills to design and maintain beautiful and resilient landscapes that can weather Colorado’s environment.

“A ColoradoScape is what we call a landscape that is specifically designed for Colorado’s unique climate,” said John McMahon, CEO of ALCC. “It’s not about putting in rocks and cactus everywhere. It’s about using native, waterwise plants, efficient irrigation, and even new water-saving turf varieties that look great but use a fraction of the water. The goal is to create landscapes that are both beautiful and sustainable.”

“The ColoradoScaping Certification exemplifies Colorado State University Extension’s stewardship in science-based horticulture education and creating resilient, water-wise landscapes that feature plants that will thrive across the entire state,” said Katie Dunker, Director of CSU Extension Programs.

Launching at the 2026 ProGreen Expo, the ColoradoScaping™ Certification will feature an intensive 35-hour program that combines 20 hours of online coursework with 15 hours of hands-on training and testing. The curriculum is a commitment for landscape professionals, including but not limited to grounds workers, irrigation professionals, arborists, landscape designers, and turf managers, ensuring they obtain the skills and expertise to design and maintain sustainable Coloradoscapes. The certification program focuses on four critical areas of Colorado landscape management: Plant Selection Excellence, Irrigation Considerations, Integrated Design Approach and Landscape Installation.

The buzz around this certification program is electric among water providers, municipalities, and the landscape industry. To learn more about the Coloradoscaping™ Certification Program or sign up for alerts on the launch, visit the ALCC’s website here: alcc.com/coloradoscaping.