Low-Water Gardening Made Easy

The Garden In A Box program makes it easy to transform your yard into a colorful, pollinator supporting landscape helping you to use less water on your landscaping year after year. Each spring and summer, we offer a selection of professionally designed, low-water garden kits tailor-made for Colorado yards. These do-it-yourself kits – designed to replace portions of lawn for water savings – include quart-sized perennial plants, professionally designed Plant by Number maps, seasonal maintenance suggestions, and watering schedule recommendations. Once established, these gardens deliver meaningful water savings over time. Our research shows Garden In A Box participants save an average of 5,000 gallons of water per year. Ditch thirsty turf and plant a new (waterwise) perspective with Garden In A Box.

What You Get

• Hardy starter plants in 4-inch pots
• Comprehensive printed guide including:
  • Detailed plant info
  • Seasonal maintenance info
  • Preparation & planting tips
  • Watering recommendations
  • Professional and easy plant-by-number maps

How It Works

The Garden In A Box program offers two times to order gardens during the gardening season. Supply is limited each season and gardens will remain for sale until gardens are sold out.

• • Pre-order starting in March for pickup and planting in May and June.
  • Pre-order starting in June for pickup and planting in August and September.

1. Join the Interest list for all 2026 Garden season news and updates.
2. Measure your space and determine the sun exposure.
3. When available, pre-order your Garden In A Box online here.
4. Remove lawn: Our kits are designed to replace sections of non-functional lawn for the most water-saving impact.
   Want help? Apply for our affordable Lawn Replacement program.
5. Pick up your Garden In A Box order at designated pick up event.
6. Plant, mulch, and set up or convert your irrigation to drip or microsprays.
7. After the first year, reduce your water usage and start saving.

Jumpstart your Waterwise Journey

Colorado’s semi-arid climate means every drop of water matters. Resource Central offers a suite of proven water conservation programs designed to help residents create beautiful, climate-adapted landscapes that use water wisely.

Learn the basics of removing turf with Lawn Replacement, planting low-water Garden In A Box kits, or optimizing your irrigation system with Slow the Flow. Our programs work together to support every step of your waterwise yard transformation.

Join thousands of Coloradans working with Resource Central to make waterwise landscapes the new norm across Colorado.

Learn more about our water conservation programs.

We’re Growing

After 21 years on the Front Range, we’ve expanded our Garden In A Box program into the Rockies and the western slope of Colorado with sponsorship from several water partners and the Colorado Water Conservation Board. We’re excited to help more Colorado communities transform their yards into waterwise landscapes and pollinator habitats.

In 2026, we’ll be offering pickups in Alamosa, Aspen, Eagle County, Summit County, Grand Junction, Durango, and Steamboat Springs. Learn more about our western Colorado expansion.

Get Involved

As a small nonprofit, we rely on volunteer support to help distribute Garden In A Box kits to thousands of customers across Colorado annually. Volunteering at garden pickup events is a fun way to support low-water landscaping in your community and meet others who share your love for gardening.

Volunteer With Us