Resources for Gardeners

Use the following links to find additional gardening information and assistance. To suggest a site for inclusion in our resource list or to report a broken link, send an email to: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Northern Gardening Links

Gardening Questions Answered
Have a question about gardens or landscape plants? Insects or wildlife? Plant disease? Soil testing? Try these resources:

 

Where to Buy Manure by County
Download the pdf


Public Gardens of MN

Sponsored by the University of Minnesota. Each public garden site was visited and all garden photos presented were taken during these visits.

Garden Minnesota
Ask an Expert: Garden Minnesota
Directory to Garden Centers & Landscape Professionals. A lawn and garden resource and annual buyers guide for consumers.

The Energy & Sustainable Agriculture Program, of the MN Dept. of Agriculture

Sustainable Urban Landscape Information Series
a landscape developed with sustainable practices will improve the environment by conserving resources and reducing chemical applications. A sustainable landscape will also reduce labor inputs making it less expensive to implement and maintain. The goal of the SULIS is to provide sustainable landscape information to the public and to the horticulture/landscape industry.

The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum
is part of the Department of Horticultural Science at the University of Minnesota. Its mission is provide a community and a national resource for horticultural and environmental information, research and public education; to develop and evaluate plants and horticultural practices for cold climates; and to inspire and delight all visitors with quality plants in well-designed and maintained displays, collections, model landscapes and conservation areas.

U of MN Department of Horticultural Science
Internationally known for research in cold hardiness and development of new plant varieties for northern climates, the Department of Horticultural Science is home to a highly respected faculty with diverse areas of expertise in plant sciences.

U of MN Gardening and Commercial Horticulture
Gardening and Commercial Horticulture programs include training, seminars, and short courses for Minnesota fruit and vegetable growers, Midwestern food producers, nursery crop producers, floriculture producers, apple growers, grape growers, turf managers/producers, and shade tree/landscape managers.

Minnesota Master Gardener Program
The Master Gardener program in Minnesota is administered at the State Office in the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, of the Department of Horticultural Science at the University of Minnesota. Minnesota Master Gardeners are paraprofessionals who represent the University of Minnesota Extension Service and teach horticulture.

Vegetables: Insects/Diseases
A general site featuring articles on how best to fend off insects and diseases that could threaten your garden’s vegetables. Included are studies on integrated pest management (IPM), specific to the Midwestern U.S.

Center for Urban Ecology and Sustainability
CUES strives to educate landscape managers and urban residents about ways to embrace environmental stewardship by practicing sustainable management. A landscape managed through sustainable methods requires low inputs of labor, fertilizers, herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides. Excessive use of these chemicals can pollute surface and ground water and disturb natural ecosystem processes.

The Men's Garden Club of Minneapolis
is a membership organization intended for all people interested in gardening.

South Dakota State University Extension Horticulture

North Dakota State University: College of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Natural Resources

The Tree Trust, St. Paul, MN
transforming lives and landscapes

FGC-logoFederated Garden Club

 

 

 

 

Local Community Gardens

Bryn Mawr Neighborhood Association

Center for Earth Spirituality

Common Ground Community Garden

Community Design Center of Minnesota

Como Corner Community Garden, Accord Community Garden, Gateway Community Garden, O.W.L.S. Community Garden

Dowling Community Garden

Duluth Community Garden Program

Farm in the City

Friends of Horton Park / Community Gardens

Longfellow Community Council’s Community Garden, Minneapolis

Olson Community Gardens

St. Anthony Park Community Garden
or view our blog

Stevens Square Community Organization

Vera's Garden

Youth Farm and Market Project

 

Plant Society Links

Download the Minnesota Plant Society Directory. *pdf

Plant Society Website

African Violet Society of Minnesota
Lakes Area Violet Growers

www.google.com/site/avsminnesota
www.rosebudm.com/lavc
Apple Growers Association http://www.minnesotaapple.org/
Minnesota Bonsai Society http://www.minnesotabonsaisociety.org
The American Chestnut Foundation http://www.acf.org/
American Conifer Society http://www.conifersociety.org/
Daffodil Society of Minnesota http://daffodilmn.org/
Minnesota Dahlia Society http://www.minnesotadahliasociety.org/

American Hemerocallis Society, Region I
Hemerocallis Society of Minnesota

http://www.daylilies.org/
http://www.northerndaylily.com

Friends of the Wildflower Garden http://www.friendsofthewildflowergarden.org
MN Fruit and Vegetable Growers Assoc. http://www.mfvga.org/
Federated Garden Clubs of America http://www.fgcmgardenews.org/
Gesneriad Society, TC Chapter http://www.gesneriadsociety.org
Minnesota Grape Growers Assoc http://www.mngrapes.org/

North Country Herbalist Guide
Minnesota Herb Society

http://www.nchg.org/
http://www.mnherbsociety.net
Duluth Garden Flower Society http://www.dgfs.us/
Midwest Regional Hosta Society http://www.midwesthostasociety.org/
American Iris Society Region 8 MN/WI
Ikebana International, Mpls./St. Paul Chapter

http://www.aisregion8.org
http://www.ikebanaminneapolis-stpaul.com

American Society of Landscape Architecture, MN Chapter http://www.masla.org
Granite City Rose Society http://www.northcentralrose.org
Minnesota Turf and Grounds Foundation http://www.mtgf.org/
International Lilac Society http://www.internationallilacsociety.org/
North Star Lily Society http://www.nothstarlilysociety.com/
MN Maple Syrup Producers Assoc. http://www.mnmaple.org/
Minnesota Mycological Society http://www.minnesotamushrooms.org/
MN Native Plant Society http://www.mnnps.org/
MN Nursery and Landscape Assoc. http://www.gardenminnesota.com/
Landscape Plant Development Center http://www.landscapecenter.org/
North American Rock Garden Society

http://web.me.com/cjfridley/nargs/Home_&_Welcome_.html

MN Rose Society http://www.minnesotarosesociety.org/
Twin Cities Rose Club http://www.twincitiesrose.org/
MN Forestry Assoc. http://www.mnforest.com/
Minnesota Society of Arboriculture http://www.msa-live.org/
MN Aquarium Society http://www.mn-aquarium.org/
MN Water Garden Society http://mwgs.org/
Lake Superior Rose Society www.dgfs.us/Isrs
MN Hosta Society http://www.mnhosta.org/
Shades of Green Hosta Society http://www.soghs.org
Society of SE MN http://www.soghs.org/
Iris Society of MN http://www.irismn.org/
Orchid Society of MN http://www.orchidsocietyofminnesota.com/
Ornamental grass Society of MN http://www.ornamentalgrasssociety.org/

MN Peony Society
Wild Ones Natural Landscapes

http://www.mnpeony.org/
http://www.for-wild.org/chapters.html#Minnesota

 

Community Gardening Links

The American Community Gardening Association
is a national nonprofit membership organization of professionals, volunteers and supporters of community greening in urban and rural communities.

A City Among the Trees
resource for citizens, planners, policy makers, and youth to actively plan and manage our urban forest to achieve a sustainable quality of life.

Gardening From USDA
This website is dedicated to all gardeners--young and old, novice and experienced, rural, urban, and suburban. In this website, they've pulled together years of research and experience to provide you with useful gardening information.

National Association of Resource Conservation and Development Councils
represents America's 332 Resource Conservation and Development Councils. These local councils deliver coordinated resource conservation and rural development assistance throughout rural America.

National Urban and Community Forestry Advisory Council
supports education, projects, and groups related to urban and community forestry.

Soil and Water Conservation Society
fosters the science and the art of soil, water, and related natural resource management to achieve sustainability.

Urban Community Gardens
Community gardens transform empty lots into green, living spaces. They are collaborative projects created by members of the community; residents share in both the maintenance andrewards of the garden.

Urban Agriculture Articles
from City Farmer, Canada's Office of Urban Agriculture, Vancouver

www.gardenworksMN.org
Promoting and preserving community gardening in the Twin Cities Metro Area.  Based on the philosophy that community gardeners are the best experts on community gardening.  Our ambition is to connect gardeners from across the metro area so they can learn from and support each other in this great endeavor.

 

Rain Barrel and Compost Bin Links

Compost Bin Links:

Composting and Mulching:
GardenWorks
http://www.gardenworksmn.org/Resources/Compost_Mulch.pdf

How to Compost your Organic Waste:
Reduce.org
http://156.98.19.245/compost/

Build a Compost Bin:
Riverside County Waste Management Department
http://www.rivcowm.org/composting/compost_build_bin.html

Where to Purchase Compost Bins:
Dakota County: The Recycling Zone
http://www.co.dakota.mn.us/EnvironmentRoads/RecyclingZone/default.htm
651-905-4520
(You do not have to be a Dakota County resident to purchase these.)

City of White Bear Lake
www.whitebearlake.org (click on “Refuse and Recycling”)
651-429-8526
Cost per bin is $30 for White Bear Lake residents and $47.93 for non-residents.
Pick up bins at White Bear Lake Public Works, 4200 Hoffman Road. 
Pick-up hours: Monday - Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Hand Crafted Cedar composters by Steve's Earth Engine, as seen at the MSHS State Fair display in 2008.
http://www.stevesearthengine.com/

Hennepin County Compost Bins

Eureka Recycling
http://www.eurekarecycling.org/pdfs/WheretoBuyCompostBins.pdf

 

Rain Barrel Links:

Build a Rain Barrel:
University of MN Extension
Rain Barrels: A way of Collecting and Using Rainwater
http://www.extension.umn.edu/environment/00023.pdf

Constructing a Rain Barrel:
Leaves Dance
http://home.comcast.net/~leavesdance/rainbarrels/construction.html
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
http://www.epa.gov/region3/p2/make-rainbarrel.pdf

How to Assemble and Install your Rain Barrel:
Capital Region Watershed District
http://www.capitolregionwd.org/Education%20Outreach%20Events/Assemble%20a%20Rain%20Barrel.pdf

Where to purchase Rain Barrels:
Linder’s Garden Center
www.linders.com
651-488-1927
Rain barrels for $149 to $200.

ReUse Center
http://www.thereusecenter.com/
Call for requests: 612-278-7160.
Rain barrels for Minneapolis residents for $75.

Ramsey Washington Metro Watershed
http://www.rwmwd.org/

 

Gardening for Pets

Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants

These lists from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) contain plants that have been reported as having systemic effects on animals and/or intense effects on the gastrointestinal tract. Please note that the information contained in these plant lists is not meant to be all-inclusive, but rather a compilation of the most frequently encountered plants. If you think that your animal is ill or may have ingested a poisonous substance, contact your local veterinarian or the ASPCA’s 24-hour emergency poison hotline directly at 1-888-426-4435.

Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List - Horses

Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List - Cats

Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List - Dogs

 

 

Insects & Disease

Plant Disease Diagnostics
is a web page designed to help individuals from the state of Minnesota diagnose plant disease problems in their yard and garden. Diagnoses made by 'Plant Disease Diagnostics' are based on visual observations of symptoms expressed by the infected plant.

International Society of Plant Pathology
ISPP promotes the world-wide development of plant pathology and the dissemination of knowledge about plant diseases and plant health management.

 

Other Links

American Horticulture Therapy Association (AHTA), Lexington, KY
Advancing the practice of horticulture as therapy to improve human well-being

The American Ivy Society
for lovers of ivy. Membership includes a new ivy plant each year and subscription to the Ivy Journal.

The Community Food Security (CFS) Coalition, Venice, CA
dedicated to building strong, sustainable, local and regional food systems that ensure access to affordable, nutritious, and culturally appropriate food for all people at all times.

The Food Alliance, Portland, OR
promotes sustainable agriculture by recognizing and rewarding farmers and educating consumers about the benefits.

Garden Mosaics Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
Connecting Youth and Elders to investigate the mosaic of plants, people and cultures in gardens.

Garden Forever
Gardening for people of all ages, abilities and lifestyles. A collection of articles and tips.

Minnesota FFA
FFA makes a positive difference in lives of young people by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success. From floriculture to genetic engineering and raising crops or animals to marketing, there are more than 300 diverse careers in agriculture.

The Minnesota Water Garden Society
is dedicated to increasing the enjoyment and enthusiasm for water gardening through promotion, education and shared experiences. The Minnesota Water Garden Society is one of the few clubs devoted to water gardening that lies in the northern zones of the country and therefore has developed a unique attitude towards water gardening in a climate that does not lend itself favorably to the water culture.

The National Agricultural Library
as the Nation's primary source for agricultural information the NAL has a mission to increase the availability and utilization of agricultural information for researchers, educators, policymakers, consumers of agricultural products, and the public. The Library is one of the world's largest and most accessible agricultural research libraries and plays a vital role in supporting research, education, and applied agriculture.

National Gardening Association
for more than twenty years, the National Gardening Association has been doing two things: helping gardeners and helping people through gardening. Founded in 1972 (as "Gardens for All") to spearhead the community garden movement, today's National Gardening Association is best known for its innovative science education programs, and its garden-related research.

The National Organic Program, AMS @ USDA 

The Reiman Gardens
constructed in 1995, celebrate the natural and botanic diversity of Iowa, as well as the historic traditions of gardening and horticulture at Iowa State University.

everythingoutdoorsEverything Outdoors
Features a directory of “everything outdoors”, an Ask the Expert question and answer forum, and a calendar of events.

 

 
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