One of the best parts of the internet is how easy it is to find advice on just about anything. It’s also one of the worst parts of the internet.
It seems as if everyone considers themselves an expert, handing out sometimes faulty advice and, when it comes to gardening. “old wives’ tales” that often do more harm than good.
Just as you wouldn’t rely on your hair stylists for medical advice or your next-door neighbor for expert real estate advice, so should you not rely on amateurs for gardening advice.
Which is why we’ve scoured the internet to find true professionals who blog consistently about gardening. Here are five of our favorites.
Garden Myths
Canadian Robert Pavlis authors the posts at GardenMyths.com, busting gardening myths left and right.
Pavlis, with a “background in chemistry and biochemistry,” has gardened for more than 45 years and owns a 6-acre botanical spread, Aspen Grove Gardens.
When you read online that a mixture of Dawn dish liquid and water will cure just about anything that ails your plant, or eggshells kill slugs, do yourself a favor and check with Pavlis first. The chances are good that it’s a gardening myth.
One of our favorite posts: Anecdotal Evidence – Not Worth The Screen It’s Displayed On.
Pavlis also admins a Facebook group, Garden Fundamentals.
Gardenologist
Although not devoted to the topic, you’ll find myth busting at Gardenologist.org as well. We like the blog for the variety of information, from tips for new gardeners to how to deal with pests and diseases and basic “how to grow” type of posts.
You’ll also find a list of every Cooperative Extension office in the U.S. and Puerto Rico and a handy “Find Your Growing Zone” tool. Just enter your ZIP code and out it pops.
Gardenologist is hosted by “a group of over-educated dirt-farmers who love nothing more than puttering around outdoors — planting, pruning, fertilizing and even pulling weeds.”
What we like best about this blog: It contains affiliate links to products for sale on other sites, such as Amazon.com and Bootstrap Farmer. The group donates 15% of their commissions to helping extremely low-income women across the globe to set up small agriculture businesses via Kiva.org.
They even introduce you to some of the women that they’re helping.
You’ll find Gardenologist on Facebook and Pinterest.
A Way to Garden
If you’re seeking “horticultural how-to and woo-woo” and “the source of organic gardening inspiration,” do seek out Margaret Roach’s blog, A Way to Garden.
She has also written a book by the same name, which went on to be named the Garden Writers Association of America’s best book of 1998.
We like her composting advice. It’s scientific yet explained in a way that’s easy to understand as well as puts to rest some common myths about compost creation.
You’ll also find a brilliant seed-starting calendar, podcasts, webinars and more.
Visit A Way to Garden on Facebook and Pinterest.
Garden Rant
Garden Rant promises it is “uprooting the gardening world,” and we agree. Online since 2006, Garden Rant is considered a “team blog,” co-founded by Susan Harris, a certified Master Gardener, a gardening coach and a nationally-known garden writer.
Amy Stewart is the second of four Garden Rant co-founders and the author of seven books, including four New York Times bestsellers.
Michele Owens is the vegetable gardener in the bunch and is also a national garden writer. Additionally, although it has nothing to do with gardening (but we find it highly impressive), Michele was also a staff speechwriter for former Governor Mario Cuomo of New York.
Elizabeth Licata gardens in Buffalo, N.Y. That right there gives her major gardening cred, as far as we’re concerned. She’s also a nationally-published garden writer and does radio segments for the local NPR affiliate.
That’s a whole lot of experience for one garden blog and it shows in each and every amazing post. Check out the nav bar to get an idea of what you can learn at Garden Rant:
- Shut Up and Dig
- Science Says
- Crrritic
- Ministry of Controversy
- Feed Me
Engage with Garden Rant on Facebook.
Dirt Simple
If you’re not afraid to take on big projects (such as buying a home simply for the backyard and the landscaping dreams that surround it), Deborah Silver’s Dirt Simple blog is right up your alley.
A landscape and garden designer by trade, Silver operates Detroit Garden Works, selling garden ornaments and specialty plants. But it’s her landscape design knowledge that inspires her blog readers.
Silver began the blog in 2009 and offers up advice and examples of garden and landscape design, gorgeous container plantings, seasonal advice and more.
Follow Silver on Facebook and check out her inspirational boards at Pinterest.
