> ## Content Index
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# Tips for Gardening
- URL: https://www.foodconsumer.org/tips_for_gardening_0524110515/
- Published: 2011-05-24T18:12:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-15T13:16:21.000Z
- Description: A roundup of federal gardening resources: the U.S. National Arboretum's gardening pages on plants, pests and composting, local Cooperative Extension Service offices at land-grant universities, and the EPA's GreenScapes program for lower-waste landscaping.
- Author: Food Consumer
- Tags: Lifestyle, Health News, #vivvo-import

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/system/selfservice.controller?CONFIGURATION=1000&PARTITION%5FID=1&CMD=VIEW%5FARTICLE&USERTYPE=1&LANGUAGE=en&COUNTRY=US&ARTICLE%5FID=10033&ref=foodconsumer.org), landscaping, and [composting](http://answers.usa.gov/system/selfservice.controller?CONFIGURATION=1000&PARTITION%5FID=1&CMD=VIEW%5FARTICLE&USERTYPE=1&LANGUAGE=en&COUNTRY=US&ARTICLE%5FID=11743&ref=foodconsumer.org). Their gardening website 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.

You may also wish to contact a [local Cooperative Extension Services' (CES) office](http://answers.usa.gov/system/selfservice.controller?CONFIGURATION=1000&PARTITION%5FID=1&CMD=VIEW%5FARTICLE&USERTYPE=1&LANGUAGE=en&COUNTRY=US&ARTICLE%5FID=12421&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.

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 encourages 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.

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

- [Gardening Information for Consumers](http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?navid=GARDENING&parentnav=CONSUMER%5FCITIZEN&navtype=RT&ref=foodconsumer.org)
- [Gardening Health and Safety Tips](http://www.cdc.gov/family/gardening/?ref=foodconsumer.org)
- [Gardening for Pollinators](http://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/pollinators/gardening.shtml?ref=foodconsumer.org)
- [Gardening with Native Plants](http://answers.usa.gov/system/selfservice.controller?CONFIGURATION=1000&PARTITION%5FID=1&CMD=VIEW%5FARTICLE&USERTYPE=1&LANGUAGE=en&COUNTRY=US&ARTICLE%5FID=11974&ref=foodconsumer.org)
- [Vegetable Gardening](http://riley.nal.usda.gov/nal%5Fdisplay/index.php?info%5Fcenter=8&tax%5Flevel=3&tax%5Fsubject=7&topic%5Fid=1063&level3%5Fid=7259&level4%5Fid=0&level5%5Fid=0&placement%5Fdefault=0&ref=foodconsumer.org)
- [Organic Crops and Gardening](http://afsic.nal.usda.gov/nal%5Fdisplay/index.php?info%5Fcenter=2&tax%5Flevel=2&tax%5Fsubject=296&topic%5Fid=1413&ref=foodconsumer.org)
- [Gardening with Children](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)
- [Invasive Plant Information for Gardeners](http://www.nbii.gov/portal/server.pt/community/education%5Fand%5Foutreach/945/for%5Fgardeners/2760?ref=foodconsumer.org)
- [Gardening: Getting Your Green Thumb in Shape](http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/cfocus/cfgardening02/focus.htm?ref=foodconsumer.org)
- [Plant Hardiness Zone Map](http://www.usna.usda.gov/Hardzone/ushzmap.html?ref=foodconsumer.org)
- [Plants Database](http://plants.usda.gov/?ref=foodconsumer.org)
- [Science.gov: Links for Gardening](http://www.science.gov/browse/w%5F105I.htm?ref=foodconsumer.org)
- [Science References on Gardening](http://www.lcweb.loc.gov/rr/scitech/tracer-bullets/gardeningtb.html?ref=foodconsumer.org)
- [Winter Gardening Guide to Selected Resources](http://www.loc.gov/rr/scitech/SciRefGuides/wintergardening.html?ref=foodconsumer.org)
- [Links to Other Internet Resources on Gardening](http://www.usna.usda.gov/Gardens/listofresources.html?ref=foodconsumer.org)

**Additional Resources:**

- [United States Botanic Garden (USBG)](http://answers.usa.gov/system/selfservice.controller?CONFIGURATION=1000&PARTITION%5FID=1&CMD=VIEW%5FARTICLE&USERTYPE=1&LANGUAGE=en&COUNTRY=US&ARTICLE%5FID=11944&ref=foodconsumer.org)
- [USBG's Virtual Tour](http://www.usbg.gov/virtual-tour/?ref=foodconsumer.org)
- [National Arboretum Virtual Tours](http://www.usna.usda.gov/Gardens/collections/VirtualTours/?ref=foodconsumer.org)
- [Sculpture/Sculpture Gardens](http://answers.usa.gov/system/selfservice.controller?CONFIGURATION=1000&PARTITION%5FID=1&CMD=VIEW%5FARTICLE&USERTYPE=1&LANGUAGE=en&COUNTRY=US&ARTICLE%5FID=10900&ref=foodconsumer.org)
- [The Smithsonian Gardens](http://www.gardens.si.edu/?ref=foodconsumer.org)
- [Green Roofs/Rooftop Gardens](http://www.epa.gov/heatisland/mitigation/greenroofs.htm?ref=foodconsumer.org)
- [Springtime Tips for the Environment](http://epa.gov/epahome/hi-spring.htm?ref=foodconsumer.org)
- [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.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/howtos/ht%5Fhaz/ht%5Fhaz.htm?ref=foodconsumer.org)
- [How to Prune Trees](http://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/howtos/ht%5Fprune/prun001.htm?ref=foodconsumer.org)
- [Pollinators](http://answers.usa.gov/system/selfservice.controller?CONFIGURATION=1000&PARTITION%5FID=1&CMD=VIEW%5FARTICLE&USERTYPE=1&LANGUAGE=en&COUNTRY=US&ARTICLE%5FID=12069&ref=foodconsumer.org)
- [Identifying an Unknown Plant](http://answers.usa.gov/system/selfservice.controller?CONFIGURATION=1000&PARTITION%5FID=1&CMD=VIEW%5FARTICLE&USERTYPE=1&LANGUAGE=en&COUNTRY=US&ARTICLE%5FID=9674&ref=foodconsumer.org)

by USA.gov