Cold frame demonstration at a flower, lawn and garden show. Bookstores, libraries, the Internet, friends and neighbors are full of gardening information. Ask or search for almost anything gardening-related and you will receive a wide variety of answers. Why is there so much variability? And how do you decipher which resources are best or most appropriate for your situation? Read on for tips on discerning good information from myths and sales pitches.
The most important thing to remember when sifting through gardening advice is that is a lot of anecdotal information that has been passed from person to person despite science dispelling it. There are also lots of businesses who make profits selling garden remedies and products that will fix all of your gardening challenges. With the Internet (and some printed resources), many websites have content written by copy writers who lack actual gardening experience. Another huge challenge for all resources is that gardening is VERY regional. What works on the east coast, in Australia, or in the UK may not work in the Midwest U.S. because of soil and climatic differences. And finally, scientists learn new things over time and recommendations become outdated.
There are no magic books or miracle sources that teach everything needed for every situation. Research tells us what works and what does not in many situations. Anecdotal evidence tells us there are exceptions (hence the name of this site). However, anecdotal evidence often ignores external factors that affect results.
There are no magic books or miracle sources that teach everything needed for every situation. Research tells us what works and what does not in many situations. Anecdotal evidence tells us there are exceptions (hence the name of this site). However, anecdotal evidence often ignores external factors that affect results.
There are many ways to approach gardening and education. General guides, with some reference to the location in which you live, are best when starting out. Try to get a feel for planting methods and plant selection from books, websites, and seeing what's available at independent garden centers, then dig in (literally). Try not to get bogged down in the details of the recommendations. Take what you can from them and take a few chances.
Above all: Take chances and do not fear failure. Some seeds and plants simply will not grow and flourish - you are not to blame. Lean towards neglect rather than overbearing care for most plants.
Above all: Take chances and do not fear failure. Some seeds and plants simply will not grow and flourish - you are not to blame. Lean towards neglect rather than overbearing care for most plants.
Keys to discerning resources:
- Avoid miracle products and plants.
- Pass over websites that cover hundreds of topics and have very general articles.
- Location, location, location – look for resources with some reference to the region, for example in Kansas look for state-appropriate advice or things geared to the Midwest. Recommendations for Florida, Maine, the UK, and Australia may not apply in Kansas because of variations in plant availability, pests concerns, soil, climate, etc.
- Plants, soil types, weather – see item #3. If location data is unavailable, look for recommendations for similar plant and soil types and similar weather. For example, growing herbs in containers with potting soil in the summer is the same in many areas. But overwintering them in Texas, Kansas, and Michigan may vary.
- Age of publication – While information lacks an expiration date, recommendations for many gardening practices has changed over time. There are also new variety introductions and new findings in plant health care. Ideally, find resources published in the last year or two. If the publication is a decade old or more, look for more recent resources that support it.
Missouri Botanical Garden Best sources –
- Your state’s land-grant/Extension University. In Kansas, this is Kansas State University. Other Midwest state's sites are useful also. These mostly have research-based information. The only concern with Extension programs is that they are slow to update resources and recommendations. Be keen to publication dates on these sites. (links open in new window)
- Public gardens with educational programs
- Missouri Botanical Garden (St. Louis) –
- Powell Gardens (Kansas City) –
- Dyck Arboretum – click the “Learn” tab for links to native plant resources and plant lists
- Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden
- Books – library or purchase
- Kansas Garden Guide - available online or for purchase through Kansas county extension offices or order from Kansas State University. Great information to start a vegetable garden or when trying a new crop.
- There are many gardening books out there covering every aspect of growing vegetables, fruit, flowers, shrubs, and trees. If they are very specific in practices, they should also be very specific in region. Look for ones that include general planting and maintenance practices and acknowledge regional differences.
- Refer to 5 keys above
Sources to avoid (or take with a grain of salt at least!)
- Social media – unless it is being posted by someone you know who is interested in horticultural education/works in the field and is not in sales
- That place where you pin/save things – full of misinformation and regional info that is not labeled as such
- Websites with lots of recycled information on a wide variety of topics. There seems to be a new one every few years. They also have lots of advertising.
- Websites of companies that sell lots of garden remedies – pest control products, fertilizer, soil conditioner, etc.
Until next time, Happy Gardening!
-The Garden Girl
-The Garden Girl