Home horticulture resources from UVM Extension Master Gardener and beyond.
Do you have a resource you'd like to include? Contact: master.gardener@uvm.edu
General Home Gardening
- Soil Testing
- USDA Plant Zone Hardiness Map
- USDA Zones 3 & 4 Planting Schedule (PDF)
- USDA Zones 5 & 6 Planting Schedule (PDF)
- National Extension Projects Site
- Cornell University - Home Gardening Resources
- Ohio State: Home, Yard & Garden Factsheets
- University of Maryland Home & Garden Info. Center
- UMaine Home & Garden IPM website
- UNH Education Center - Great Factsheets!
- University of CT Home & Garden Fact Sheets
- New England Wildflower Society - Simple Key for Plant Identification
- University of Minnesota Yard and Garden Info. Center
- Clemson Cooperative Extension - Home & Garden Info. Center
Climate Change
- Gardening with Climate-Smart Native Plants in the Northeast - Northeast Regional Invasive Species & Climate Change Mangement
- Climate Change and Agriculture in Vermont (pdf)
Composting
Composting General
- Composting Made Simple (You Tube video) Central VT SWMD
- 5 Tips to Keep Animals Out of Your Compost (YouTube video) Central VT SWMD
- Act 148 (YouTube video) Central VT SWMD
- Installing a Green Cone (YouTube video) Central VT SWMD
- The Dirt on Compost (pdf) - A Guide to Backyard Composting, VT Dept. of Environmental Conservation
- 5/06/19 Home Composting: How You Can Manage Food Waste on 'Across The Fence'
- Compost With Confidence booklet - aimed at residents (PDF) - New 3/19
- How To Compost video, by Sujata Gautam-VT Master Composter/LRSWMD volunteer
- Compost Fact Sheet (UVM)
- Compost Happens, Or Does it? (UVM)
- Compost - Turning Trash To Treasure - Presentation by Cat Buxton, Master Composter & Community Educator (PDF) - New 3/19
- Health & Safety Guidance for Composting in the School Setting - Cornell
- Health & Safety Guidance for Small Scale Composting - Cornell
- A Solid Waste Guide for Invasive Plant Matter (PDF)
- The Composting Council Research & Education Foundation
- Persistent Herbicide Information for Horse and Livestock Owners (PDF)
- Growing Local Fertility: A Guide to Community Composting (PDF)
Composting Factsheets
- Composting Food Waste: How To Get Started
- Backyard Composting of Food Waste: It's As Easy As 1:3
- Composting With Worms (PDF)
- Backyard Composting (PDF)
- Improving Garden Soils with Organic Matter (PDF)
- Composting for Farmers (PDF)
Vermont State Government
- Waste Management Division, Vermont Agency of Natural Resources - Department of Environmental Conservation
- Vermont Agency of Natural Resources Compost Center
- Vermont Solid Waste Districts
Vermont Non-Profit
- Composting Association of Vermont
- Food Works: Two Rivers Center for Sustainability
- Northeast Organic Farming Association (NOFA)
- Vermont Community Garden Network
Vermont Commercial
- Champlain Valley Compost (CVA), Charlotte
- Vermont Compost Company, Montpelier
- Green Mountain Compost
- Grow Compost
- Vermont Natural Agricultural Products (MOO DOO, etc.)
Compost Bins
- Designs for Composting Systems (PDF)
- Includes plans for a Wooden Box Bin, Wood and Wire Three-Bin Turning Unit, Cinder Block Bin, Cinder Block Turning Unit, Wire Mesh Bin, Snow Fence Bin, Garbage Can Composter, Worm Composting Bin, Compost Mound, Compost Pockets and Mulch
- Designs using wooden pallets
- Stacking sides system
Educational Outreach Materials & Workshops
- National Extension Projects Site - Educational Outreach videos and materials
- Emerald Ash Borer Presentation, by Elise Schadler, VT Forests, Parks & Rec, Program Manager (see presentation notes on next line)
- Emerald Ash Borer Presentation Notes, by Elise Schadler
- Gardening for Hummingbirds, Butterflies & Moths, (pdf) by Maryland Master Gardener Program
- Indoor Herb Gardening (pdf) by EMGs Carol Holmquist & Liz Parker
- Climate Change - Action Plan - Full Presentation (pdf) by EMG Carol Holmquist & Priscilla McKinney
- Prestigious Pollinators Presentation, (pdf) by EMGs Cindy Heath & Donna Thomas (see video recording below)
- Okemo Valley TV recording of Prestigious Pollinators Presentation (video)
- Okemo Valley TV Fletcher Library Compost Workshop (video) presented by Certified Master Composter Hamilton Gillette
Flowers
Fruits & Vegetables
- Getting Started With Vegetable Gardens (pdf)
- Visit Gardening During COVID-19 for more resources on planning and planting vegetables
- Growing Seedlings Under Lights - Cornell University
- Growing Tomatoes in Vermont
- Tomato Problems in the Home Garden (PDF)
- Blight Resistant Varieties (PDF)
- Late Blight Management in Tomato with Resistant Varieties
- Late Blight of Tomato & Potato: Frequently Asked Questions (PDF)
- A Few Key Points About Late Blight (PDF)
- Symptoms of late blight (with images)
- Tomato Plant Sources in Vermont (PDF)
- Tomato Disease ID Key by Leaf Symptoms
- Tomatoes and potatoes infected with late blight: Are they safe for canning?
- USABlight.org
- Vegetable Gardening in Small Spaces - UMaine Coop. Extension - Excellent resources for raised bed gardening
- Vegetable Disease Fact Sheets - Cornell
- Fruit & Vegetable Problems - Diagnostic Sites
- Cornell Fruit Gardening Resources
- VT Vegetable & Berry Grower Page
- The Vegetable Garden: All About The Garden
- Fruit Fact Sheets - UMass Amherst
- Vegetable Fact Sheets - UMass Amherst
Growing Herbs
Insects & Pests
- Insect Pests of the Home Vegetable Garden - Mississippi State University
- Home Invasions of the Insect Kind, by Ann Hazelrigg
- Identification & Management of White Grubs in Vermont's Greenscapes
- Grow Smart Grow Safe Guide to Choosing Safer Garden Products
- Beneficial Insects of NH Farms & Gardens (PDF)
- The Bug Book - a garden field guide (PDF)
- Swede Midge Info Center-Cornell
- BugGuide.net
- Green Stink Bugs (PDF)
- Grubs in Vermont (PDF)
- Invasive plants and pests in Vermont
- Leek Moth
- National Pesticide Information Center
- Spotted Wing Drosophila in the Home Garden - by Ann Hazelrigg
- Spotted Wing Drosophila - by Vern Grubinger
- Spiders in Vermont
Invasives
- Proper Disposal of Invasive Plant Material - VT Dept. of Environmental Conservation
- Gardening with Climate-Smart Native Plants in the Northeast - NE Regional Invasive Species & Climate Change Management
- Introduction to Snake Worms & Their Management, by Josef Gorres - UVM Associate Professor
- Vermont Invasives website
- How to Battle Japanese Knotweed & Win (pdf) - by Dottie Sundquist, Bennington Chapter EMG volunteer
Lawns
- New England Regional Nitrogen & Phosphorus Fertilizer & Associated Management Practice Recommendations - For Lawns Based on Water Quality Considertaions (pdf)
- Soil Fertility & Fertilization Guidelines for Lawn Turf in Vermont (pdf) - Sid Bosworth, UVM Extension Professor
- Home Lawn & Garden Lawn Fact Sheets - UMass Amherst
- Lawn Renovation & Establishment (pdf) - created by UVM Extension Master Gardener Helpline Volunteers
- Lawn Management in the Fall (pdf) - Sid Bosworth, UVM Extension Professor
Pesticides & Integrated Pest Management
- How to Identify, Prevent & Manage Plant Problems - University of Maryland
- Glyphosate: Farming, Health & The Environment - Vt. Dept. of Agriculture
- National Pesticide Information Center
Plant Starts, Seeds & Sales
Regarding free seeds, starter plants, assistance with home gardening grants, etc. – the Vermont Community Garden Network collaborates with another agency called Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity on organizing a free plant give away in late May. The VCGN calendar also provides information on seed swaps. Here is a phone number you can call to talk with them directly - To reach the VCGN staff, call (802) 861-4769 about the above opportunities.
Plant Sales – The 7 local Master Gardener Chapters each host annual plant sales every year early in the season. For more information please email Cindy Heath @ cindy.heath@uvm.edu
Pollinators
- Gardening with Climate-Smart Native Plants in the Northeast - Northeast Regional Invasive Species & Climate Change Management
- Resources for Pollinator Habitat Enhancement (pdf) - Jane Sorensen, UVM Adjunct Faculty Lecturer
- Vermont Pollinator Pallette with Common Names (pdf) - Jane Sorensen, UVM Adjunct Faculty Lecturer
- Homestead Pollinator Habitat Guidelines & Options for the Homescale (pdf) - Jane Sorensen, UVM Adjunct Faculty Lecturer
Trees & Shrubs
- Tree and Shrub Fact Sheets, UMass Amherst
- How To Kill A Tree (PDF) (Arbor Day Foundation)
- Maple Problems (PDF)
- Boxwood Health (pdf)
- Branch Out Burlington Tree Resources
- Winooski Conservation District Tree Sale
- Vermont Tree Selection Guide (PDF)
- Vermont County Foresters
- Find An Arborist
- Our VT Woods - an online resource center for healthy forests
- Vermont Urban & Community Forestry
Vermont's Universal Recycling Law (Act 148)
In June 2012, Vermont passed Act 148, a universal recycling law focusing on recyclables and organics. The legislation aims to reduce the amount of material ending up in landfill by improving recycling and disposal options and by diverting valuable materials from the waste stream.
The law began roll-out in stages in 2014. The timeline for items to be banned from residential trash disposal is:
- July 1, 2015: Mandated recyclables
- July 1, 2016: Leaf, yard and clean wood debris
- July 1, 2020: Food scraps
Get up-to-date information, status reports, and your questions answered about Vermont Universal Recycling Law at the Vermont Waste Management & Prevention Division.
Weeds
- Ohio Perennial & Biennial Weed Guide - Ohio State University
- Weed Herbarium - UMass Extension
- Preen weed i.d.
- Weed ID Guide
- Common Pasture Weeds & Grasses in Vermont (PDF)
- Plant and Flower Identification - VT Wildflower Farm
- Is this plant a weed? - University of Minnesota
Wildlife
- Wildlife Management Factsheets - UMass Amherst
- Deer Resistant Trees and Shurbs
- Nuisance Wildlife Control - Trusted source for sound, legal & responsible wildlife control & damage prevention advice.
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Landscape Plants for Vermont
By Dr. Norman E. Pellett, Horticulturist and Professor Emeritus, UVM, and Dr. Mark C. Starrett, Associate Professor, UVM. Published by University of Vermont Extension. This book is designed to help Vermont residents select trees, shrubs, vines, and woody ground cover plants to serve their landscape needs and interests. New to this edition are the latest varieties of azaleas, rhododendrons, roses, and crabapples. Highlights multi-season plants, wet/dry soil tolerant plants, salt tolerant plants, deer-resistant and susceptible plants, and poisonous plants. Winner of the 2003 American Society for Horticultural Science Extension Publication Award! $19.95 ea. (includes shipping & handling).
Order Your Copy: Landscape Plants for Vermont Book Order Form