
Home Horticulture Resources from the UVM Extension Master Gardener Program and Beyond
General Home Gardening
- Looking for references to local landscapers? Visit the Vermont Nursery & Landscape Association website for a list of reputable members. (Master Gardeners cannot recommend individual landscape businesses).
- Looking for a list of Vermont Garden Nurseries? Visit this website. (Master Gardeners cannot recommend individual nurseries).
- Beginning Gardening - by Cynthia Gilhooly, Certified UVM Master Gardener
- 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
- What's Wrong With My Plant? - Univ. of Minnesota - Diagnose problems in the yard & garden caused by insects, diseases & non-living factors.
- Find A Plant - Search engine/Plant Toolbox for all plants - University of Extension, North Carolina
Climate Change
- Climate Change webinars - Living A Sustainable Lifestyle: Tea & Talk
- 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
- Public Library Kids Workshop: It's A Worm's World: Vermicomposting - Created by the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources Composter Center
- 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 & Videos
- Public Library Kids Workshop: It's A Worm's World: Vermicomposting - created by the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources Compost Center
- Gardening Activity Guide: A resource to promote vegetable and fruit gardening with young children, North Carolina State University
- Harvest Tips Series, presented by Joyce Amsden, UVM Certified Master Gardener
- Harvest Tips for Drying Flowers (video)
- Harvest Tips for Preserving Herbs (video)
- Harvest Tips for Canning Tomatoes (video)
- Harvest Tips for Perfect Pickling (video)
- Harvest Tips for Raspberry Freezer Jam (video)
- Harvest Tips for Dehydrating Veggies, Fruits & More (video)
- Harvest Tips for Drying Flowers (video)
- Harvest Tips for Preserving Herbs (video)
- Make Your Own Mini Wildlife Pond (pdf, includes a video) - by Madeline Chamberlain, EMG Intern
- UVM 4-H Spring Gardening Series - Fruits - by UVM Extension 4-H & Master Gardener Programs
- Let's Plant for Pollinators! (pdf) - by Julia Parker Dickerson, UVM Extension Master Gardener
- Bee Pollinator brochure/handout (tri-fold) - provided by Cheryl Frank Sullivan and Margaret Skinner of the UVM Entomology Research Lab
- Beginning Gardening (pdf) Power Point - presented by Cynthia Gilhooly, Certified UVM Master Gardener
- Pollinator Resource List - by EMG Elizabeth Manning with research by Cheryl Frank Sullivan and Margaret Skinner of the UVM Entomology Research Lab
- How to Propogate with Cuttings - by Madeline Chamberlain, EMG Intern
- 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 - Annuals & Perennials
- Harvest Tips for Drying Flowers (video) - presented by Joyce Amsden, UVM Master Gardener
- Tips on Scouting for Herbaceious Perennial Diseases - Leanne Pundt, UConn Extension
- Best Plants for 30 Tough Sites - University of Minnesota Extension
- Disease Resistant Annuals & Perennials - Purdue University Extension
- Flower Fact Sheets - UMass Amherst
- Impatiens Downy Mildew (PDF)
- Perry's Perennial Pages
- Plant Bulbs Now for Spring Bloom - by Bonnie Kirn Donahue, UVM Extension Master Gardener Volunteer
- The Jerusalem Artichoke: An Unsung Hero - by Nadie Van Zandt, UVM Extension Master Gardener Volunteer
- Amaryllis: A Gift That Keeps On Giving - by Nadie Van Zandt, UVM Extension Master Gardener Volunteer
Fruits (All)
- Small Fruit Leaf Analysis - by Vernon Grubinger, UVM Fruit & Berry Specialist
- Michigan Crabapples Guide (pdf) - Michigan State University - Cooperative Extension Service
- New Fruit IPM Fact Sheet Series - UMass Amherst
- Tree Fruit Diseases
- Cornell Fruit Gardening Resources
- VT Vegetable & Berry Grower Page
- Fruit Fact Sheets - UMass Amherst
- Home Fruit Spray Schedule - UNH
Herbs - Growing & Using
- Harvest Tips for Preserving Herbs (video) - presented by Joyce Amsden, UVM Master Gardener Volunteer
- Growing Herbs Indoors
- Indoor Herb Pests
- Using Summer Dried Herbs & Flowers - by Bonnie Kirn Donahue, Certified Master Gardener Volunteer
- Healthy Cooking With Fresh Herbs - by Purdue University/Extension
Insects & Pests
- What's Bugging You? New York State IPM/Cornell CALS
- What Insect is this? University of Minnesota Extension
- 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
- Spongy Moth, Lymantria dispar update (formerly known as Gypsy Moth) (PDF) - Department of Forests, Parks & Recreation
- Spongy Moth ( Lymantria dispar)Video (by Margaret Skinner-UVM Entomologist)
- Spongy Moth (Lymantria dispar) Fact Sheet (PDF) - updated June 2022
- Spotted Wing Drosophila in the Home Garden - by Ann Hazelrigg
- Spotted Wing Drosophila - by Vern Grubinger
- Spiders in Vermont
Invasives
- Asian Jumping Worm or Snake Worm
- Asian Jumping Worm - Homeowners Guide (pdf)- Cornell University
- Introduction to Snake Worms & Their Management (pdf)- Josef Gorres, UVM Dept of Plant & Soil Science
- Plant Sale Guidelines to Minimize the Chance of Jumping Worm Spread (pdf) - Ann Hazelrigg, Josef Gorres & Robilee Smith
- Gardening with Climate-Smart Native Plants in the Northeast - NE Regional Invasive Species & Climate Change Management
- Invasive Plant Control Contractors (pdf)
- How to Battle Japanese Knotweed & Win (pdf) - by Dottie Sundquist, Bennington Chapter EMG volunteer
- Mistaken Identity? Invasive Plants & their Native Look-Alikes - an identification guide for the mid-Atlantic - published by Delaware Dept. of Agriculture
- Proper Disposal of Invasive Plant Material - VT Dept. of Environmental Conservation
- Spotted Lanternfly - VT Invasives
- Vermont Invasives website
Lawns
- What's Wrong With My Lawn - UMass Amherst
- 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
- Moles in the Lawn, Control - Iowa State University
- White Grub Control in Turfgrass - Iowa State University
- Moles: Damage Management - Iowa State University
- Turfgrass - Improving the environment one turf at a time - Cornell Cooperative Extension
- Grubs In Your Lawn - Cornell Cooperative Extension
- Weeds and Your Lawn - Cornell Cooperative Extension
Native Plants
- Native Plant Finder - National Wildlife Federation
- Native Plants Database - Audubon
- What You May Not Know About Those April Flowers, by Margaret Renkl, NYTimes Opinion Writer
- Landscape Plants for Vermont (order the book)
Pesticides & Integrated Pest Management
- IPM News and Events Roundup - A weekly collection of IPM news, webinars, employment and funding opportunities and more from the NE IPM Center. To join the list, please send a request via e-mail to NortheastIPM@cornell.edu. .
- 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
- Safe Practices for Plant Sales - Nadie VanZandt, Certified Master Gardener Volunteer
- Plant Sale Guidelines to Minimize the Chance of Jumping Worm Spread (pdf)
- Winter Garden Planning - by Suzanne Freitas, NW Chapter Master Gardener Volunteer
- Tips for Choosing Grow Lights - by Nadie VanZandt, Certified Master Gardener Volunteer
- Starting Seeds at Home - University of Maine
Poisonous Plants
- Find A Plant - Search Engine/Tool for all plants - University of North Carolina Extension Master Gardener
- Poisonous Plants - by Leonard Perry, UVM Professor - Emeritus
Pollinators
- Creating Pollinator Friendly Landscapes in Vermont - Self-Paced Online Course! Provided by UVM Master Gardener
- Gardening for Pollinators & Beneficial Insects - Resources for the Home Gardener - produced by UVM Extension Master Gardener Volunteers/Pollinator Group
- Attracting Beneficial Insects to Promote Biodiversity - by Cat Buxton, Certified UVM Master Composter & Food Systems Consultant
- Encouraging Pollinators in Vegetable Gardens - by Karen Burke, Certified UVM Master Gardener Volunteer
- Improving Pollinator Habitat in HOA's - by Karen Burke, Certified UVM Master Gardener Volunteer
- UVM Extension Pollinator Resources - Laura Johnson, UVM Extension Pollinator Support Specialist
- Bringing in Un-BEE-lievable Beneficials - Cheryl Frank Sullivan & Margaret Skinner, UVM Entomology Research Lab
- Pollinator Resource List 2021 - Gathered by the UVM Extension Master Gardener Pollinator Working Group
- Prestigious Pollinators Presentation (pdf) - by Cindy Heath & Donna Thomas, UVM Extension Master Gardeners (see video recording below)
- Okemo Valley TV recording of Prestigious Pollinators Presentation (video)
- Gardening for Hummingbirds, Butterflies & Moths (pdf) by Maryland Master Gardener Program
- Let's Plant for Pollinators (pdf) - by Julia Parker Dickerson, UVM Extension Master Gardener
- Bee Pollinator brochure/handout (tri-fold) - provided by Chery Frank Sullivan & Margaret Skinner - UVM Entomology Research Lab
- Un-BEE-lievable Beneficials - Awareness Sign (pdf), by Cheryl Frank Sullivan, UVM Entomology Research Lab
- Attract & Recognize Your Pest Fighting Pollinators & Other Beneficial Insects, by Cheryl Frank Sullivan & Margaret Skinnner - UVM Entomology Research Lab
- Habitat Plants for Pest Management, by Bonnie Kirn Donahue, EMG Volunteer
- 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
Soils
- Create a Biodiverse Garden for Ecological Resilience (pdf) - by Wendy Sue Harper, Ph.D., Associate Faculty Prescott College, WSH Consulting
- Does Your Soil Get A Passing Grade? - by Nadie VanZandt, UVM Extension Master Gardener Volunteer
- Soil Testing - UVM Soil Testing Lab
- Interpreting Your UVM Soil Test Results - by Dr. Vern Grubinger, UVM Vegetable and Berry Specialist
- Interpreting Heavy Metals Soil Tests - by Dr. Vern Grubinger & Prof. Don Ross
- Lead Screen Results in a Soil Test - provided by UVM Ag Testing Lab
Ticks
- Disposing of Leaf Litter in Tick Country - by Nadie VanZandt, UVM Extension Master Gardener Volunteer
- Information on Ticks in Vermont - Vermont Dept. of Health
Trees & Shrubs
- Best Plants for 30 Tough Sites - University of Minnesota Extension
- Boxwood Health (pdf)
- Branch Out Burlington Tree Resources
- How To Kill A Tree (PDF) (Arbor Day Foundation)
- How to Plant a Bare Root Tree (video) - presented by VJ Comai, Burlington City Arborist
- How to Plant Your Bare Root Trees (pdf) - provided by Branch Out Burlington
- Maple Problems (PDF)
- Mulching Trees & Shrubs - by The Morton Arboretum
- Our VT Woods - an online resource center for healthy forests
- Proper Mulching Techniques - by ISA & Trees Are Good organizations
- Spongy Moth (Lymantria dispar) (July 2021, pdf) - by Margaret Skinner, UVM Extension Entomologist
- Tree and Shrub Fact Sheets, UMass Amherst
- Vermont County Foresters
- Find An Arborist
- Vermont Forest Health Insect & Disease Observations Newsletter - this newsletter is provided every Spring, Summer, Fall. To sign up and receive this newsletter, email Jenny Lauer @ jenny.lauer@vermont.gov Visit this link to view a previous newsletter - provided by the VT Dept. of Forests, Parks & Recreation
- Vermont Urban & Community Forestry Resources
- Winooski Conservation District Tree Sale
- Vermont Tree Selection Guide (PDF)
Vegetables
• Getting Started With Vegetable Gardens (pdf)
• Visit Gardening During COVID-19 for more resources on planning and planting vegetables
• Raised Bed Gardening (pdf) - Oregon State University Extension
• Growing Seedlings Under Lights - Cornell University
• Growing Tomatoes in Vermont
- Tomato Problems in the Home Garden (PDF)
- Blight Resistant Varieties (PDF)
- 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
- USABlight.org
Vegetable Gardening in Small Spaces - UMaine Coop. Extension - Excellent raised bed resources
Vegetable Disease Fact Sheets - Cornell
Vegetable Fact Sheets - UMass Amherst
VT Vegetable & Berry Grower Page
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
- Does Vinegar Kill Weeds? - Montana State University
- Are There Alternatives to Glyphosate for Weed Control in Landscapes? - NC State Extension
- Weed Identification-Photo Gallery - Vermont Wildflower Farm
- Weeds and Your Lawn - Cornell Cooperative Extension
- Weeds - Suppressive Groundcover - Cornell Cooperative Extension
- 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
- Deer and rabbits and mice, oh my! - MSU Extension
- Wildlife Management Factsheets - UMass Amherst
- Deer Resistant Trees and Shurbs
- Nuisance Wildlife Control - Trusted source for sound, legal & responsible wildlife control & damage prevention advice.