Gardens, Trees & Landscapes
Practical landscaping advice you can trust
Providing information, programs and training grounded in research to help residents and businesses manage gardens, trees and landscapes.
Latest Publications
Some tips for providing habitat for birds during the winter months. Creating a bird-friendly garden is a good way to provide wildlife habitat in urban and suburban areas. Plus, birds help keep lots of garden pests in check.
Mule deer are native to Nevada, but they can damage plants in our gardens and landscapes, especially in the wintertime when they are hungry. Learn more about this important wildlife species and some tips on how to limit the impacts to your yard.
Northern Nevada is a high desert climate, so traditional lawns require a lot of water and maintenance here. If you're looking for a more water-efficient and low-maintenance option for your yard, here are a few ideas to get you started.
All Gardens, Trees & Landscapes Programs
Biggest Little Pollinator Garden
The Biggest Little Pollinator Garden is located on the campus of University of Nevada, Reno near the Fleischmann Agriculture Building. The garden is maintained by U.S. Fish and Wildlife; University Arboretum Board; University Facilities; University Museum of Natural History; Nevada Bugs and Butterflies; College of Science; and College of Agriculture, Biotechnology & Natural Resources faculty, staff, students and volunteers.
Botanic Gardens
Extension's 7 acre outdoor educational Botanic Gardens surround the Extension office at 8050 Paradise Road in Las Vegas. The Plant Collection of the Botanic Gardens contains approximately 4,500 plants, most of which are desert-adapted and well-suited to the xeric conditions of southern Nevada. All plant selections and designs are water-smart in accordance with SNWA restrictions. The Botanic Gardens are curated and managed by the Botanic Garden Manager.
Carson City Community Garden
The Community Garden began in 2001 and allows community members who don’t have room for a vegetable garden to rent a 4-by-16-foot garden bed for $40 a season at a 25-bed garden complex located at 1044 Beverly Drive, Carson City, NV. Applications open in 2024!
Desert Demonstration Garden
Extension's Pahrump Master Gardener Volunteers maintain the Desert Demonstration Garden, which features landscape and fruit trees, shrubs and plants suitable for the Mojave Desert climate, plus seasonal vegetable beds to show what you can grow to feed yourself and your family. The garden is free and open to the public.
Desert Green, Commercial Water Conservation Training
Desert Green is in its eleventh year and is designed to educate commercial clientele in the Green Industry as well as others who have an interest in water conservation issues. A committee representing the industry implements the training. Desert Green is chaired by one industry representative and one Extension representative. The program is presented once a year, with 36 classes taught in a two-day period.
Desert-Adapted/Native Plants Garden
The Desert-Adapted/Native Plants Garden is located at the Extension, Clark County Logandale Office. It is designed to show people what trees, shrubs and other plants grow well locally. It is set up for self-guided tours. Enjoy the black locust, honey locust, sweet acacia, shoestring acacia, chir pine, forest pansy redbud, chaste tree, coolibah eucalyptus, golden rain and a lacebark Chinese elm trees.
Garden-based Nutrition Education
Garden-based nutrition education efforts throughout the lifespan empower participants of all ages to grow their own affordable, nutrient-dense food. Garden sites include schools, residential centers, and parks & recreation facilities in order to serve a wide range of populations including preschoolers, women under correctional supervision, and older adults. We believe that gar
Green Industry Training
A workforce development program to train green industry professionals, who receive continuing education units for pesticide applicator, ISA-certified arborist and Qualified Water Efficient Landscaper
Home Horticulture Certificate Program
The Home Horticulture Certificate Program was developed by the University of Nevada, Reno Extension Horticulture team to provide basic horticulture education to homeowners, educators, and anyone interested in learning more about the Nevada landscapes, plants, and more.
Integrated Pest Management
Integrated Pest Management program is a long-term management strategy that uses a combination of tactics to reduce pests to tolerable levels with potentially lower costs for the pest manager and minimal effect on the environment.
Nevada Desert Bioscape
Extension’s Desert Bioscape program takes a holistic approach to conserving natural resources in an urban setting. This program targets adult learners in the green industry of southern Nevada. The program uses the successful Correctional Horticultural program as a model for development. Implementation of the curriculum meets the needs of people already working in the industry. In addition to these goals, training will be translated into money savings for the
Pesticide Safety Education Program
Extension’s Pesticide Safety Education Program provides web-based training for pesticide applicators seeking to apply restricted and general use pesticides safely, properly and according to the law. Pesticide licensure and certification is administered by the Nevada Department of Agriculture.
Qualified Water Efficient Landscaper (QWEL)
Training will provide participants with local water, soil and plant information, basic and advanced irrigation principles and hands-on water audit skills they can use in the field
Weed Prevention & Management
Integrated weed management is based on economically viable and environmentally friendly weed management tactics that combine use of herbicides with other control tactics, such as mowing, burning, tillage, grazing and re-vegetation. By taking steps to prevent weed invasion, land owners/managers and other stakeholders can avoid the economic and environmental impacts of noxious and invasive weeds.
