Helping Northern Colorado grow with confidence.
Hi, we're Fossil Creek Nursery! Our team knows Northern Colorado gardening like the back of our (green) thumbs! Whether you're a brand-new Colorado homeowner or a seasoned plant pro, our nursery experts are here to help you grow with confidence.
Let's Get Growing!
Our 15 acre nursery, right at your fingertips.
Give The Gift Of Gardening!
Not sure what to get the gardener in your life? Grab a gift certificate! Available for both online and in-store use, our gift certificates give them the freedom to pick the perfect plants for their space. Plus, we can ship all physical gift certificates for free!
Unmatched Balled & Burlap Tree Selection
B&B trees are carefully dug and wrapped with burlap, preserving their root systems for optimal growth and transplant success. These trees offer the advantage of being established and ready to thrive in your landscape, providing faster growth and immediate impact compared to containerized options. Whether you’re looking for shade trees, ornamental trees, or evergreens, our expert team will help you select the perfect B&B tree for your garden, ensuring long-term beauty and health in your landscape.
The Botanist's Bulletin Blog
Check out blog posts and resources from our nursery professionals.
Dealing With Colorado's Late Season Cold Snaps
Just when we all thought it was safe to put the parkas away and start digging in the dirt, Colorado decides to remind us who is boss. A late May cold snap can feel like a personal insult to your gardening progress, but don’t panic just yet. Most of your plants can handle a dip in temperature if you give them a little help. At Fossil Creek Nursery, we’ve seen plenty of these surprise cold snaps, and we’ve got a few tricks to help your plants make it through to the warmer days ahead. Shake It Off! Not just a Taylor Swift song! It’s also a simple, effective way to help your trees stay healthy through the winter. While a fresh snowfall is beautiful, the extra weight can occasionally lean on young or flexible branches a bit too heavily. To lend them a hand, use a broom or pool noodle to gently brush the snow away, which relieves the pressure without stressing the wood. Do not grab the branches or pull down on them, as that can damage them. Taking a moment to clear those limbs helps your trees keep their natural shape and ensures they’re ready to grow strong once the spring thaw arrives. Protecting Your Irrigation System The ground itself is already quite warm by May, which is great news for your irrigation system. You shouldn't need to worry about your underground irrigation lines or sprinkler heads, as this upcoming cold snap will not last long enough to freeze the ground. However, your backflow preventer, the component that sits above ground, may still be vulnerable. If the forecast is looking particularly nasty, our sister company, Alpine Gardens has a great video walkthrough on how to quickly and easily drain your backflow to prevent damages. The Art of the Cover-Up If you have tender annuals, veggies, or new perennials in the ground, they’re going to need a blanket. CSU Extension recommends using frost cloth, which is a specialized, breathable fabric designed to trap heat while letting the plant breathe. Unlike plastic, which can trap cold against the leaves and cause more harm than good, frost cloth provides a much safer buffer. When you cover them, try to drape the fabric all the way to the ground and weigh the edges down with rocks or bricks. This traps the heat radiating from the soil inside a little "tent" of warmth. CSU Extension notes that keeping your covers dry is key, so if your fabric gets soaked, it can actually make the plant colder through evaporative cooling. Just remember to uncover them once the sun comes up the next morning so they don’t bake under there. Protecting Your Container Plants If you have hanging baskets or porch pots, the easiest solution is to simply march them into the garage or a shed for the night. If the forecast is calling for a particularly hard freeze and it's feasible, bringing your favorite containers into the house for a night or two is the safest bet. Even an unheated garage will stay several degrees warmer than the open air. Stay warm out there, and don't let a little frost get you down. We'll be back to t-shirt weather before you know it! Learn more from CSU Extension: Frost Protection & Extending The Growing Season If you are concerned about your landscape or need help picking out the right supplies for your garden, our team is here for you. Whether you are in Fort Collins, Loveland, or Windsor, we are your local resource for navigating the unpredictable Northern Colorado climate. If you have any questions, stop by Fossil Creek Nursery or give us a call; our expert nursery team is happy to help you keep your garden thriving through every season.
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Dealing With Drought On The Front Range | Your Landscape & Nursery Operations Update
Colorado has experienced it’s lowest snowpack in history. We are officially in a drought. Businesses and homeowners and anxiously keeping track as they hear those two scary words: “Water Restrictions” and wait to see whether they will go into place. So what does this mean for your landscape? And how does a plant nursery approach operations responsibly in a drought? Let’s talk about it.
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Your Guide to Natural Colorado Snacks!
They’re natural, they’re tasty, and they’re edible. Little do many know, Colorado actually has several edible plants in our natural areas that are consumable. Whether you’re on the trails or in your backyard garden, here are some of the edible plants of Colorado that you can find around our home state.
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Custom Landscape Design Inspiration
Need help planning your dream garden? Snap a photo of your yard, and let our design tool do the rest. Our team has created a collection of perfect plant "recipes- from native sun-lovers to shade-loving cut flowers- that our program will professionally layer into your space. See exactly how your garden could look, grab your full plant list, and enjoy an exclusive discount. Everything is hand-picked by our local staff and ready for you at the nursery! See what’s possible!
Hi, We're Fossil Creek Nursery
Fossil Creek Nursery has been Fort Collins’ trusted plant nursery since 1969, providing high-quality trees, shrubs, perennials, and garden essentials tailored to Northern Colorado’s unique climate. More than just a garden center, we are a community of plant enthusiasts dedicated to helping you create thriving landscapes, lush gardens, and inviting outdoor spaces. Whether you're a homeowner looking for the perfect low-maintenance, drought-tolerant plants, a landscaper in need of wholesale plant supply, or a gardener seeking expert advice, our knowledgeable team is here to help. Visit us today and discover why we’re Colorado’s go-to destination for sustainable gardening, native plants, and landscape solutions!
Fossil Creek Nursery Wholesale
Fossil Creek Nursery is your destination for premium landscaping plants in Northern Colorado with unbeatable selection, superior plant quality, fast quotes, speedy delivery, and expert team support.
Ready to elevate your landscaping game? Come see why Fossil Creek Nursery is Northern Colorado's #1 Landscape Supplier!