Reliable resources!
Who can we trust for reliable plant and garden information?
- AI?
- A sales rep at the local garden store?
- A “free” consultation from a service provider?
If you read or hear something, ask yourself:
- How is the speaker or writer qualified? Where do they get their information? (Note: AI training data often comes from the web, and there’s a LOT of gardening misinformation on the web)
- Are their recommendations impartial? Are they trying to sell a product or service?
- Is this advice relevant to my particular problem or geographic area?
I trust plant and garden information from local or regional educational institutions. In California, UC and CalPoly provide the results of their scientific research to benefit the public, free or low-cost.
While “free” information from businesses is not impartial and is intended to help sales, some plant growers do provide reliable, educated information about the plants they sell.
I’ve included my trusted links, and a few books, below. If you are outside California, look for your local university sites and groups. Know a reliable source? Let me know!
Web Resources and SF Bay Area Groups:
UC Davis Integrated Pest Management (IPM): get help with diagnosis and treatment of plant problems (diseases, pests, other disorders) http://ipm.ucanr.edu/
Our Water Our World : Pictures of pests and beneficial bugs, suggested beneficial plants, pest control help https://ourwaterourworld.org/
The Informed Gardener: Garden mythbusters from University of Washington (yes, it’s not California, but the information is general enough to be relevant). Don’t believe the hype, be informed! www.theinformedgardener.com
Monthly gardening checklist from UC – online or subscribe to monthly email. Organized by region of California. https://ipm.ucanr.edu/home-and-landscape/seasonal-landscape-ipm-checklist
UC Master Gardener Programs: The UC Master Gardener Program teaches people how to sustainably grow food and cultivate gardens to protect California’s natural resources. Master Gardeners may volunteer in your area to provide plant and garden advice.
- California Master Gardeners: https://ucanr.edu/program/uc-master-gardener-program/find-uc-master-gardener-program-0
- Master Gardeners in other states: https://mastergardener.extension.org/
Selecting Fruit and Nut Crops for San Mateo and San Francisco Counties: find the right fruit varieties for your region (from UC: 15 pg PDF download) https://anrcatalog.ucanr.edu/Details.aspx?itemNo=8261#FullDescription
Water Use Classifications by Species (WUCOLS): Classifies various plants by their water needs according to region, so you can choose waterwise plants, or program your irrigation accordingly. Enter your California city name and then a plant name (botanical or common). Or select a plant type and water use classification to get a list of plants meeting certain criteria. https://wucols.ucdavis.edu/
SelecTree by CalPoly: search trees by name or attributes to choose species for planting. Covers California and Hawaii: https://selectree.calpoly.edu/
Annie’s Annuals (business changed hands but website still good): Native and rare plants. Good plant descriptions even if plants not currently available for sale. www.anniesannuals.com
Las Pilitas Nursery: Southern California Native Plant Nursery, good plant descriptions. www.laspilitas.com
Garden for the Environment: Demonstration and Teaching Garden in San Francisco for home gardeners, 7th Avenue x Lawton. Year-round, in-person gardening classes. Never closes: https://www.gardenfortheenvironment.org/
Drawings and Details:
Tree Protection During Construction: City of San Mateo has very good drawings that explain the options for protecting soil and trees while working near them. Tree protection may vary depending on the project, the tree and the local laws. A qualified consulting arborist can help you. https://www.cityofsanmateo.org/4757/Tree-Protection-Requirements-During-Cons
Planting Details and Specs (CAD ready and PDF): If you plant a tree correctly, you set it up for success. Urban Tree Foundation covers all aspects of planting including nursery stock inspection, staking and irrigation. Drawings are free, open source without the need for attribution. https://www.urbantree.org/details_specs.shtml (There’s a tree protection detail here too, but it’s too generic. City of San Mateo’s are better.)
Books:
Sunset Western Garden Guide – all-purpose gardening and plant information. Find out your “Sunset Zone” for plant choices. Helpful “Problem Solving” plant lists in front of book. 2012 edition still useful.
Golden Gate Gardening by Pam Peirce – Everything you need to know about SF and Bay Area edible gardening. New 4th edition 2023!
California Native Plants for the Garden by Carol Bornstein, David Fross and Bart O’Brien, Cachuma Press 2007. Good for choosing native plants that are commercially available. Helpful plant selection lists in back of book for specific situations.
Insects and Gardens by Eric Grissell, Timber Press 2001. Written by a UC entomologist, provides insight into insect biology and life cycle and encourages gardeners to take a realistic approach to insects in the garden. Not overly academic or technical; good writing. Great photos.
Arborists Certification Study Guide (4th edition) published by International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) You don’t have to be preparing for the Certified Arborist exam to benefit from this book. Topics include soils, pruning and protecting trees during construction. Well presented with good color illustrations, Honestly, it would be a better world if we all learned this stuff in high school – or earlier. Available in English and Spanish, paper or digital.