Written by Colorado Green NOW

ALCC and CSU Extension unveil groundbreaking program built in Colorado, for Colorado

The wait is over. ColoradoScaping™ Certification is officially launching at ProGreen EXPO, February 3-5 at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver. This groundbreaking program represents more than just another landscaping industry credential, it’s been developed to ensure our landscapes are resilient, water-wise, and built for Colorado’s future.

Visit the ALCC Partner Lounge

Stop by the ALCC area in the partner lounge during ProGreen EXPO to learn more about ColoradoScaping and discover how this certification can elevate and benefit your business and the community you serve.  Get your questions answered and hear the details about the program’s structure, benefits, and registration process.

More Than Beautiful, Built for Colorado

Colorado’s landscapes must meet a higher standard. They need to be more than visually appealing, they must thrive in our semi-arid climate, withstand drought conditions, and support long-term water conservation goals while still providing the beautiful outdoor spaces communities deserve.

ColoradoScapes represent landscapes specifically designed for Colorado’s unique climate challenges. This approach emphasizes native and water-wise plants, efficient irrigation systems, and water-saving turf varieties that dramatically reduce outdoor water consumption and plant replacement costs. The result?  Stunning landscapes that homeowners and communities actually want to spend time in, without the environmental and financial burdens of traditional high-water landscaping.

A Partnership for Professional Excellence

Colorado State University Extension and the Associated Landscape Contractors of Colorado have joined forces to create this comprehensive certification program, combining academic expertise with real-world industry knowledge. This collaboration ensures the training delivers practical, Colorado-specific skills that professionals can immediately apply in the field.

The program directly addresses feedback from landscape companies about undertrained professionals lacking the specialized knowledge needed for Colorado’s challenging conditions. ColoradoScaping Certification equips industry professionals with elevated standards of skill, credibility, and professionalism—creating benefits that scale across companies of all sizes, from solo operators to large commercial firms.

Addressing Colorado’s Critical Challenges

From the Western Slope to the mountains to the Front Range, Colorado communities face escalating water conservation pressures, rising utility costs, and increasing demands for sustainable landscape solutions. ColoradoScaping Certification tackles these challenges head-on by establishing a consistent, Colorado-specific standard for sustainability and professionalism.

The ColoradoScaping credential will ensure that landscape professionals across our state share common knowledge, techniques, and commitments to water-wise practices, creating a reliable benchmark that water providers, municipalities, HOAs, and homeowners can count on when selecting landscape services.

Environmental Benefits and Industry Support

The ColoradoScaping program has garnered support from key stakeholders across Colorado’s water and landscape communities. Representatives from Denver Water, CSU Extension, Designscapes Colorado, City of Grand Junction, City of Aspen, and Northern Water share their thoughts in the video below, highlighting the program’s environmental benefits and practical value.

Watch the official ColoradoScaping Certification video to discover why you should register your employees, learn about the environmental benefits, and understand exactly how the certification process works.

The video features insights from water providers, municipalities, and industry leaders who explain the value ColoradoScaping brings to Colorado’s landscape future.

These endorsements underscore how the certification aligns landscape industry expertise with water conservation goals, creating partnerships that benefit both professionals and the communities they serve.

Join the Movement

ColoradoScaping represents a fundamental shift in how Colorado approaches landscape design, installation, and maintenance. By establishing a shared standard of excellence tailored specifically to our state’s conditions, the program creates opportunities for professionals to distinguish themselves while contributing to Colorado’s long-term water security.

How It Works

The certification program combines comprehensive online coursework with intensive hands-on training, ensuring participants master both the theory and practical application of ColoradoScaping principles. Detailed information about program structure, module content, testing requirements, and registrationis available through the ALCC and will be shared at ProGreen EXPO.

The Future Starts at ProGreen

ProGreen EXPO provides the perfect launch platform for ColoradoScaping Certification, bringing together landscape professionals from across Colorado who are ready to elevate their skills, expand their business opportunities, and contribute to sustainable landscape practices statewide. Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of the ColoradoScaping movement from day one. 

Colorado’s landscape future is being built right now, and it starts with ColoradoScaping.

Don’t miss the two sessions on ColoradoScaping on Thursday, February 5th at ProGreen EXPO

What is a ColoradoScape?
8 – 9 am, Room 705-707
Addressing water wise landscapes and why they are important, including the evolution of xeriscape to the new “ColoradoScape” concept.

Introduction to ColoradoScaping. 
9:15 – 9:45 am, Room 705-707
A short overview session of the ColoradoScaping certification program.

ALCC members qualify for the lowest registration rates for ColoradoScaping certification.

---

For more information about ColoradoScaping Certification, visit the ALCC area in the partner lounge at ProGreen EXPO or contact ALCC.