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# What plants should I choose for my yard?
- URL: https://www.foodconsumer.org/plants_should_i_choose_for_my_yard_2704100736/
- Published: 2010-04-27T19:35:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-15T12:48:09.000Z
- Description: A USA.gov roundup of gardening resources, pointing to the National Arboretum's hardiness zone map and gardening pages, USDA plant and gardening databases, CDC gardening safety tips, guides to pruning and spotting hazardous trees, and EPA's GreenScapes landscaping program.
- Author: Food Consumer
- Tags: Miscellaneous, Health News, #vivvo-import

It's gardening season! Visit the FAQ at USA.gov for links to the plants that thrive in your zone of the country, tips for gardening with children, and how to prune trees.

The [U.S. National Arboretum's Gardening Page](http://www.usna.usda.gov/Gardens/gardeningr.html?ref=foodconsumer.org) provides the public with resources related to home gardening, nurseries,[horticulture](http://answers.usa.gov/cgi-bin/gsa%5Fict.cfg/php/enduser/std%5Fadp.php?p%5Ffaqid=6383&p%5Fsid=NosN3v-j&p%5Flva=7358&ref=foodconsumer.org), landscaping, and [composting](http://answers.usa.gov/cgi-bin/gsa%5Fict.cfg/php/enduser/std%5Fadp.php?p%5Ffaqid=8449&p%5Fsid=NosN3v-j&p%5Flva=7358&ref=foodconsumer.org). Their gardening web page identifies the most [commonly asked questions](http://www.usna.usda.gov/Gardens/faqs/faqs%5Fmain.html?ref=foodconsumer.org) and provides the latest answers. You will also find background information about plants and their requirements, as well as strategies for finding plants, and helpful hints for managing pests and diseases that you might find in your garden.

For more information on gardening, please visit the following links:

- [The National Arboretum's Links to Other Internet Resources on Gardening](http://www.usna.usda.gov/Gardens/listofresources.html?ref=foodconsumer.org)
- [The National Arboretum's Plant Hardiness Zone Map](http://www.usna.usda.gov/Hardzone/ushzmap.html?ref=foodconsumer.org)
- [The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Gardening web page](http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?navid=GARDENING&parentnav=CONSUMER%5FCITIZEN&navtype=RT&ref=foodconsumer.org)
- [The USDA's Gardening with Children web page](http://healthymeals.nal.usda.gov/nal%5Fdisplay/index.php?info%5Fcenter=14&tax%5Flevel=2&tax%5Fsubject=526&level3%5Fid=0&level4%5Fid=0&level5%5Fid=0&topic%5Fid=2112&&placement%5Fdefault=0&ref=foodconsumer.org)
- [The USDA's Plants Database](http://plants.usda.gov/?ref=foodconsumer.org)
- [The National Biological Information Infrastructure's (NBII) Invasive Plant Information for Gardeners](http://www.nbii.gov/portal/server.pt/community/education%5Fand%5Foutreach/945/for%5Fgardeners/2760?ref=foodconsumer.org)
- [The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Gardening Health and Safety Tips](http://www.cdc.gov/family/gardening/?ref=foodconsumer.org)
- [The Federal Citizen Information Center's (FCIC) Gardening - Getting Your Green Thumb in Shape Publication](http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/cfocus/cfgardening02/focus.htm?ref=foodconsumer.org)
- [Gardening with Native Plants](http://answers.usa.gov/cgi-bin/gsa%5Fict.cfg/php/enduser/std%5Fadp.php?p%5Ffaqid=8663&p%5Fsid=NosN3v-j&p%5Flva=7358&ref=foodconsumer.org)

For information and tips on keeping trees healthy, please visit the following links:

- [The Ohio Department of Natural Resources' Guide for Beautiful, Safe, and Healthy Trees](http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/tabid/5113/default.aspx?ref=foodconsumer.org)
- [How to Recognize Hazardous Defects in Trees](http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/cic%5Ftext/housing/treedefect/hazards.htm?ref=foodconsumer.org)
- [How to Prune Trees](http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/cic%5Ftext/housing/prune/prune.htm?ref=foodconsumer.org)

Information on the [Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) GreenScapes program](http://www.epa.gov/greenscapes/?ref=foodconsumer.org), which provides cost-efficient and environmentally friendly solutions for landscaping, is also available. The GreenScapes program was designed to encourage companies, government agencies and homeowners to preserve natural resources and prevent waste and pollution. The site includes a seasonal tips calendar on landscape maintenance, [links to state and EPA regional information](http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/conserve/rrr/greenscapes/live.htm?ref=foodconsumer.org), and more.

You may also wish to contact a [local Cooperative Extension Services' (CES) office](http://answers.usa.gov/cgi-bin/gsa%5Fict.cfg/php/enduser/std%5Fadp.php?p%5Ffaqid=5468&p%5Fsid=NosN3v-j&p%5Flva=7358&ref=foodconsumer.org) for assistance with your gardening problems and/or concerns. Each U.S. state and territory has an office at its land-grant university and a network of local or regional offices.

Finally, information on [identifying an unknown plant](http://answers.usa.gov/cgi-bin/gsa%5Fict.cfg/php/enduser/std%5Fadp.php?p%5Ffaqid=5740&p%5Fsid=NosN3v-j&p%5Flva=7358&ref=foodconsumer.org) is also available.

By USA.gov team