Transform Your Outdoor Space

If you have access to or influence on an outdoor space, no matter how big or small, you can transform it into a cooling haven for life of all kinds which also conserves water, stores carbon, and fights climate change! Here are our top tips:

#1 Nurture the soil: Apply a layer of compost, fallen leaves and/or mulching to help your soil thrive. 


#2 Grow native plants: Native plant gardens are easy to maintain once established and provide so many benefits to our community.


#3 Ditch the chemicals: Avoid pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides. Applying these chemicals poses risks to pets and children and disrupts the natural function of our ecosystems. Learn more about natural pest management here.

#4 Learn to let go: Let nature do its thing! When possible, avoid cutting back flower stems too soon and discarding fallen leaves or wood. These provide integral habitat for our pollinators and other insects which are critical for our ecosystems. 

#5 Keep pollinators in mind: Grow plants that provide a variety of nectar and pollen sources for pollinators. 

#6 Minimize artificial outdoor lighting: Artificial outdoor lighting disrupts the natural rhythms of creatures big and small. Consider using light shields or installing motion activated lights if you have concerns about nighttime safety. 


#7 Plant and care for trees: Trees, especially connected canopies, help reduce temperatures and provide many other benefits. Boulder needs major investments to both maintain the health of the existing tree canopy and plant thousands of additional trees.

Learn more about:

Caring for Trees

Growing Native Plants

Supporting Pollinators

Cultivating Healthy Soil 

Click on an icon below for resources gathered specially for Boulder residents:

 Check Out These Community Partners

Featured
Rocky Flora Landscapes
Rocky Flora Landscapes

Inspired by Colorado's landscape, Rocky Flora’s mission is to integrate nature seamlessly into our designs and constructions, creating inviting spaces that transform your garden, expanding your home.

The Colorado Native Seed Company

The Colorado Native Seed Company grows and sells native grass and flower seeds.

Soil Transformations
Soil Transformations

Soil Transformations is founded and led by Christine Gust, a Certified Lab Technician. Her work is focused on educating people about the roles and importance of soil microbes and how to grow and diversify the soil food web community.

Wild Ones - Front Range Chapter
Wild Ones - Front Range Chapter

Wild Ones Front Range hopes to support everyone who wants to add more native plants to their part of the Front Range, from a handful to a yard full. They have an extensive library of native seeds and often host plant/seed exchanges and workshops.

Suelo Bueno LLC
Suelo Bueno LLC

Suelo Bueno is a consulting group who broadly focuses on the rebuilding of urban and suburban ecosystems through planting native plant species (including grasses, flowering plants, shrubs, and trees), building optimal soil health, and environmentally attuned use of water.

Boulder Mushroom
Boulder Mushroom

Boulder Mushroom has dedicated its mission to the development of prolific mushroom strains which are adapted to locally available substrate materials, while also cultivating the highest quality culinary and medicinal mushrooms for our growing community.

Earth Love Gardens
Earth Love Gardens

Earth Love Gardens was founded upon a vision of a world living in community and authentic connection with each other through connecting with the Earth. Their services services include building and installing raised garden beds and hoop houses, pollinator gardens, and other beautiful and functional landscape designs.

Edaphic Solutions
Edaphic Solutions

Edaphic Solutions mission is to provide the highest quality non synthetic soil and plant care through innovating classic techniques into the modern world. They provide services such as applying compost tea and managing weeds using steam.

Eco-Cycle
Eco-Cycle

Eco-Cycle launched recycling in Colorado in 1976, and today is one of the nation’s oldest and largest nonprofit recyclers and a leader of the Zero Waste movement. They work with every sector of the community to innovate, implement, and advocate for local and global Zero Waste solutions to foster a more regenerative, equitable, and climate-resilient future.

Resource Central
Resource Central

Resource Central is an award-winning non-profit dedicated to helping people save water, conserve energy, and reduce waste. Their “Garden in a Box” program and lawn removal services are transforming yards in the Boulder area.