Editorial Policy
The Grow a Garden Standard
At Grow a Garden, we believe that gardening advice is only as good as the soil it was tested in. In an era of generic content and repackaged advice from other climates, we maintain a strict zone-specific editorial standard. Every guide on this site is written by American gardeners for American gardens.
Last updated: April 8, 2026
1. The "Tested in US Soil" guarantee
We do not publish theoretical gardening advice. Our content is built on hands-on experience in American gardens.
Real-world trials
When we recommend a plant, it is because we have grown it in US conditions - accounting for specific USDA zones, regional weather patterns, and local soil types.
Technical accuracy
We prioritize hard data over marketing fluff. Our guides include specific technical specifications, from soil pH requirements to USDA zone ranges for every recommended plant.
No generic substitutes
We never repackage advice from other countries without verifying it works in US conditions. If a plant is not hardy in your zone, we will explicitly tell you.
Every article on Grow a Garden includes a visible "How we tested" badge. This badge details the specific USDA zone, soil type, duration, and method behind the advice. It is our promise that the content you are reading comes from real hands-on growing, not desk research.
2. Expert authorship and E-E-A-T
Every article is authored or reviewed by a specialist with years of practical horticultural experience.
Author transparency
Our lead expert, Sarah Mitchell, brings over 20 years of hands-on knowledge in vegetable growing, organic gardening, and American plant health. Sarah started gardening with her grandmother in rural Oregon and has been growing, experimenting, and refining methods across multiple USDA zones ever since. She is a certified Master Gardener and grows most of her own vegetables using raised bed and no-till methods.
Sarah's name, credentials, and a specific credibility statement appear on every article. We do not hide behind a faceless brand. You can see exactly who wrote the advice you are following and verify their expertise.
Fact-checking and freshness
Content is audited for freshness. Gardening is a living science. We regularly update our articles to reflect new pest threats, changes in best practice, and seasonal timing shifts caused by changing weather patterns.
Articles that become outdated are flagged, revised, and re-dated. We do not leave stale advice on the site.
3. Monetization and integrity
Grow a Garden is a revenue-independent authority site. To maintain our editorial integrity:
Honest limitations: If a product or method has a flaw, we say so. Our reputation for honesty is more valuable than a single affiliate commission.
Affiliate transparency: We may earn a commission if you purchase through our links. Our product recommendations are chosen based on technical performance and US availability, never on commission rates.
Ad standards: We ensure that display advertising never interferes with the readability or technical utility of our guides.
4. US-specific formatting standards
For the benefit of our readers and to ensure precision, we strictly adhere to American standards throughout:
| Standard | What we do | Example |
|---|---|---|
| American English | All terminology uses US conventions | Pruners, not Secateurs. Fall, not Autumn. |
| Imperial measurements | Formats recognized by US gardeners | 4-foot beds, 6-inch spacing, temperatures in Fahrenheit |
| USDA zone calendar | Calibrated to your local frost dates | "Plant after last frost" with zone-specific timing guidance |
| USDA hardiness zones | US-standard plant hardiness | Zone 5a (-20F to -15F) minimum for outdoor perennials |
5. Correction policy
We strive for 100% accuracy. If you believe a technical specification is incorrect or out of date, please contact our editorial team at [email protected]. We investigate every report and issue updates within 48 hours to ensure our community has the most reliable data available.
When a correction is made, we note the change at the top of the article with the date it was updated. We do not silently edit published content.
Our commitment
Grow a Garden exists to provide the most reliable, zone-specific gardening advice available anywhere. Every article we publish must pass a simple test: has this advice been tried and tested in a real American garden? If the answer is no, we do not publish it.
For more about our team and background, visit About Grow a Garden.