
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)
- New England Wildflower Society - Simple Key for Plant Identification
National Extension websites that provide science-based solutions for garden pests, weeds, disease problems, plant/insect i.d.
- Cornell University - Home Gardening Resources
- Oregon State University - Science based solutions for garden pests, weeds, and disease problems in one easy-to-navigate place.
- 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
- 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 & Weather Issues
Flooding Resources
Climate Change
- Do Not Sell! Ornamental invasive plants to avoid with climate change - UMass.edu
- 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
- Composting in Bear Country - VT Fish & Wildlife Dept.
- 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
- 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
- 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)
- Pruning Fruit Trees - UMass Extension
- Apple Cultivars for Vermont
- New England Tree Fruit Management Guide - University of New Hampshire
- 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
Houseplants
Houseplant Hero Video Series with UVM Extension Master Gardener Judy Mirro
- Angel Wing Begonia (Begonia coccinea), aired on Across the Fence, April 2023
- Asparagus Fern (Asparagus setaceus), aired on Across the Fence, Mar 2023
- Coffee plant, aired on Across the Fence, 2023
- Euphorbia, aired on Across the Fence, August 2023
- Hibiscus, aired on Across the Fence, 2023
- Keep or Compost Your Houseplant, aired on Across the Fence, Mar 2023
- Moth Orchid (Phalaenopsis), aired on Across the Fence, Mar 2023
- Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum), aired on Across the Fence, Mar 2023
- Pothos (Epipremnum aureum), aired on Across the Fence, Feb 2023
- Repotting an Orchid, aired on Across the Fence, Apr. 2023
- Snake Plant (Dracaena trifasciata, formerly, samsevoeroa), aired on Across the Fence, Feb 2023
Indoor Plant Insects - University of Maryland
Indoor Plant Diseases - University of Maryland
Selection & Care of Indoor Plants - University of Maryland
Diagnose Indoor Plant Problems - University of Maryland
Caring for Houseplants - University of Missouri
Insects & Pests
- Greenhouse Pests, Biological Controls/Natural Enemies & Plant-Mediated IPM Systems - UVM Entomology Research Laboratory
- What's Bugging You? New York State IPM/Cornell CALS
- What Insect is this? University of Minnesota Extension
- Boxelder Bugs (Boisea trivittata (Say) (PDF) by Margaret Skinner, UVM Entomologist
- 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
- Dark-winged Fungus Gnats (Bradysia spp.) Fact Sheet (PDF)
- Green Stink Bugs (PDF)
- Grubs in Vermont (PDF)
- Invasive plants and pests in Vermont
- Leek Moth (pdf) - Scott Lewins & Vic Izzo, UVM College of Agriculture & Life Sciences, Northeast SARE
- Managing Stinging Wasps, Bees and Hornets (PDF) by Margaret Skinner, UVM Entomologist
- 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
- Vermont Invasives website
- Do Not Sell! Ornamental invasive plants to avoid with climate change - UMass.edu
- Methods for Disposing Non-Native Invasive Plants - University of New Hampshire
- Asian Jumping Worm or Snake Worm
- Asian Jumping Worm Homeowners Guide (pdf)- Adapted with permission from Cornell University
- Plant Sale Guidelines to Minimize the Chance of Jumping Worm Spread (pdf) - Ann Hazelrigg, Josef Gorres & Robilee Smith
- Jumping Worm Resources - UMassAmherst
- 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
- Spotted Lanternfly - Cornell Cooperative Extension
Lawns
- White Grubs (Family Scarabaeidae): A Serious Lawn Pest (June 2023)- Margaret Skinner, UVM Extension Entomologist
- 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
- 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
- Ants in Lawns - University of Massachusetts Amherts
- Weeds and Your Lawn - Cornell Cooperative Extension
- White Grubs (Family Scarabaeidae): A Serious Lawn Pest (6/23) - Margaret Skinner, UVM Extension
Native Plants
- Grow Wild? Bringing Habitat Home
- Native Perennials and Shrubs for Vermont Gardens - The Nature Conservancy, VT Invasives
- 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
- Integrated Pest Management Overview brochure - UVM Extension Master Gardener
- Dormant Oils - Answers for All - UConn Extension
- Bio-Integral Resource Center - The Integrated Pest Management Specialists - Answers to your pest control questions
- Greenhouse Pests, Biological Controls/Natural Enemies & Plant-Mediated IPM Systems - UVM Entomology Research Laboratory
- 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 – Some of the local Master Gardener Chapters host annual plant sales every year early in the season. For more information, please email Deb Heleba @ debra.heleba@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
- Edible Weeds on Farms - Northeast Farmers Guide to Self-Growing Vegetables - published by Northeast SARE
- VT Center for Integrative Herbalism - great resource for contacting them regarding plants that are/are not safe to eat
- Plants Poisonous to Livestock - Cornell CALS
- Common Poisonous Plants and Plant Parts - Texas A&M Agrilife Extension
- Poisonous Plants Resources - Texas A&M Agrilife Extension
- ASPCA - Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants List for Animals
Pollinators
- Organic Site Preparation for Wildflower Establishment - Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation
- Maintaining diverse Stands of Wildflowers Planted for Pollinators - Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation
- Planting for Pollinators: Establishing a Wildflower Meadow from Seed - UNH
- Restoring Your Woody-Invaded Meadow to Conservation Meadow - The Nature Conservancy
- 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
- 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 & Soil Health
- Soil Testing - UVM Soil Testing Lab
- Soil, Gardening, and Your Health - Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (soilSHOP)
- 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
- Killing Cover Crops in Urban Farms and Gardens, Build your cover crop plan with an effective termination strategy - Michigan State University
- Managing Cover Crops Profitably, 3rd edition - Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education
- 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
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
- Fungal Cankers of Trees - Sustainable Urban Landscapes - Iowa State University
- 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
- 5/12/2023 - New Virus Alert - Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus
- 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
New England Vegetable Management Guide - UMass Amherst
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
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
- Got Bats? - Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department
- Recognizing Sapsucker Damage in Yard Trees - Mississippi State University, Extension
- Sapsucker Damage on Woody Plants - UofA Research & Extension
- Woodpeckers - Penn State Extension
- 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.