Gardening Resources

Check out these gardening resources.

Click on the topic to learn more!

Composting	Pesticides
Fruit Cultivation	Plant Disease
House Pests	Pollinators
Houseplants	Soil
Insect Pests	Ticks
Invasive Species	Trees
Lawn Care	Vegetable Gardening
Native Plants	Weeds
Ornamentals	Wildlife

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Composting

• Composting at Home - US Environmental Protection Agency
  
• Composting Resources - Cornell Cooperative Extension
  
• How to Build a Compost Bin - University of Missouri
  
• How to Make Compost at Home - University of Maryland Extension
• More Composting Resources - Cornell Waster Management Institute
• Troubleshooting Compost Piles - Cornell Cooperative Extension

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Fruit Cultivation

• Apple IPM for Beginners - Cornell Cooperative Extension
  
• Berries and Small Fruits - Cornell Cooperative Extension

• Educational Resources for Small Fruit Growers - Cornell Cooperative Extension

• Guide to Growing Fruit at Home - Cornell Cooperative Extension
• VIDEO: How to Prune Apple Trees - University of Maine Extension

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Household Pests

• IPM for Homes - NYS IPM
• What's Bugging You? - NYS IPM

• Bed Bugs - NYS IPM
  • How to Get Bed Bugs Out of Your Belongings - NYS IPM
• Carpenter Ants - NYS IPM
• Cockroaches - NYS IPM
• Stink Bugs - NYS IPM
  • Homemade Stink Bug Traps - Virginia Tech

Stinging Insects

• Bald-Faced Hornets - NYS IPM
• Bumble Bees - NYS IPM
• Carpenter Bees - NYS IPM
• Cicada Killers - University of Kentucky
• Honey Bees - NYS IPM
• Paper Wasps - NYS IPM

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Houseplants

• Bringing Houseplants Indoors - Penn State Extension
  
• Diagnose Indoor Plant Problems- University of Maryland Extension
• Forcing Bulbs for Indoor Bloom - University of Missouri Extension
  
• Gardening Indoors Resource List- Cornell Cooperative Extension
• Growing Indoor Plants with Success - University of Georgia Extension
• Houseplant Pests - Cornell Cooperative Extension
• Houseplant Varieties - Cornell Cooperative Extension
• Myth Busters: Improving Container Drainage with Gravel - Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia

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Insect Pests

• Flower Garden Pests - Purdue University Extension
• Household Pests - Cornell Cooperative Extension
• Insect Factsheets - Cornell University
• Insect Identification for the Casual Observer - Insect Identification
• Landscape and Ornamentals - Insect Pests - Purdue University Extension
• Vegetable Problems Caused by Insects - University of Maryland Extension

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Invasive Species

• New York State Invasive Species - New York Invasive Species Information
• Alternatives to Invasive Plants - NYS IPM
• Alternatives to Invasive Ornamentals - Cornell Cooperative Extension
• Managing Invasive Plants: Methods of Control - University of New Hampshire Extension
• Mistaken Identity? Invasive Plants and their Native Look-alikes - Delaware Department of Agriculture

Species Information

• Emerald Ash Borer - Cornell Cooperative Extension
• Jumping Worms - Cornell Cooperative Extension
• Spotted Lanternfly - NYS IPM

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Lawn Care

• Correcting Soil pH - Cornell Cooperative Extension
• Grubs in Your Lawn? - NYS IPM
• Homeowner's Lawn Care and Water Quality Almanac - Cornell University
• Lawn Care: The Easiest Steps to an Attractive Environmental Asset - Cornell Cooperative Extension
• Repetitive Overseeding - Cornell Cooperative Extension
• Turf Grass Varieties - Cornell Cooperative Extension

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Native Plants

• Mistaken Identity? Invasive Plants and their Native Look-alikes - Delaware Department of Agriculture
  
• Native Plant Finder - National Wildlife Federation 
• Native Plant Alternatives - USDA USFS
  
• Native Plants for Gardening and Landscaping - NYS DEC
• Native Plants of North America - Lady Bird Wildflower Center
• Native Plant Profiles - Finger Lakes Native Plant Society
• Plant Database - University of Connecticut
• Why Use Native Plants? - Penn State Extension

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Ornamentals

• Flower Growing Guides - Cornell University
• Sequence of Bloom of Perennials, Biennials and Bulbs - Cornell University
• Weed-suppressive Groundcovers - Cornell Cooperative Extension
• Woody Plant Database - Cornell University

Maintenance

• Common Woody Ornamentals and their Common Insect and Disease Problems - Cornell Cooperative Extension
• Dividing Perennials - Cornell Cooperative Extension
• Hydrangeas - Types and How to Prune - Cornell Cooperative Extension
• Pruning Ornamental Trees and Shrubs - Purdue Extension
• Timing of Maintenance Pruning of Woody Ornamentals - Cornell Cooperative Extension
• When to Prune Ornamentals - Cornell Cooperative Extension

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Pesticides

• What is a Pesticide? - Cornell Cooperative Extension Pesticide Safety Program
• Hazard vs. Risk - Cornell Cooperative Extension Pesticide Safety Education Program
• Home Remedies to Control Pests - Cornell Cooperative Extension Pesticide Safety Education Program
• How to Select a Pesticide Product - Cornell Cooperative Extension Education Program
• National Pesticide Information Center

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Plant Disease

• Diseases of Ornamental Plant Diseases - University of Tennessee Extension
  
• Disease Resistant Vegetable Varieties - Cornell University
• Plant Disease Factsheets - Cornell University
• Vegetable Disease Factsheets - Cornell University
• Vegetable Diseases - University of Maryland Extension
• Vegetable MD Online - Cornell University
• What is Wrong with My Plant? Diagnostic Tool - University of Minnesota Extension

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Pollinators

• Creating Pollinator Habitats - Cornell University
  
• Finding Pollinator Attractive Plants - Rutgers University
• General Beekeeping Resources - Cornell University
  • Beekeeping Calendar for the Northeast
• Native Plants for Pollinators and Beneficial Insects: Northeast - Xerces Society
• Pollinator Conservation Program - Xerces Society
• Pollinator Plants: Northeast Region - Xerces Society
  
• Protecting Pollinators While Using Pesticides - Ohio State University Extension
• Wild Bees of New York - Cornell University

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Soil

• Correcting Soil pH - Cornell Cooperative Extension
  
• Cover Crops for Home Gardens - Oregon State University Extension
• Getting the Most Out Your Soil Test Guides - Cornell University
  
  • Annuals and Perennials
  • Blueberries
    
  • Fruit Trees
  • Grapes
    
  • Lawn Establishment
    
  • Lawn Maintenance
  • Raspberries
  • Strawberries
    
  • Trees and Shrubs
    
  • Vegetable Garden
• Guide to Homeowner Soil Testing - Cornell Cooperative Extension
• Low and No-Till Gardening - University of New Hampshire Extension
• Soil, Compost, and Fertilizer - University of Maryland Extension
• Soil Temperature Map - Network for Environment and Weather Applications
• Soil Testing for Homeowners - Cornell Cooperative Extension

Lead and other Heavy Metals in Soil

• Should I worry about heavy metals in my garden? - Oregon State University Extension
• Lead in Residential Soils: Sources, Testing, and Reducing Exposure - Penn State University
• Reducing Lead Hazards in Gardens and Play Areas - Oregon State University Extension

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Ticks

• Black-Legged Ticks and Lyme Disease - Cornell Cooperative Extension
  
• Don't Get Ticked NY - NYS IPM
  • Frequently Asked Questions
• Tick Encounter - University of Rhode Island
  • VIDEO: How to Remove a Tick
• VIDEO: Spray Safe, Play Safe - Backyard Tick Management - Western Connecticut State University

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Trees

• Find an Arborist - International Society of Arboriculture
• Tree Care Tips & Techniques - Arbor Day Foundation
• Tree Diseases - University of Maryland Extension
• Tree-Dwelling Lichens - Rutgers University

Transplanting

• Planting and Transplanting Trees and Shrubs - University of Minnesota Extension
  
• Transplant Shock: Disease or Cultural Problem? - University of Kentucky

Tree Identification Keys

• Tree ID Dichotomous Keys - Virginia Tech
  
• What Tree is That? - Arbor Day Foundation

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Vegetable Gardening

• Beginning a Vegetable Garden - Cornell Cooperative Extension
• Vegetable Growing Guides - Cornell University
• Vegetable Planting Guide - Cornell Cooperative Extension
• Vegetable Varieties for Gardeners - Cornell University
  • Selected List of Vegetable Varieties for Gardeners in New York State

Integrated Pest Management

• Got Tomato Blight? Which One? - NYS Integrated Pest Management
  
• Vegetable Disease Factsheets - Cornell University
• Vegetable Diseases - University of Maryland Extension
• Vegetable MD Online - Cornell University
• Vegetable Problems caused by Insects - University of Maryland Extension
• Vegetable Problems caused by Nonliving Factors - University of Maryland Extension
• What is Wrong with My Plant? Diagnostic Tool - University of Minnesota Extension

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Weeds

• Agricultural Weed ID - Cornell University
  
• Managing Invasive Plants: Methods of Control - University of New Hampshire Extension
• Turfgrass and Landscape Weed ID - Cornell University
• Weed Control Around the Home Grounds - Rutgers University Extension
• Weed Identification Key - Virginia Cooperative Extension
• Weed Photo Gallery - Rutgers University
• Weed Management in Turf - Penn State Extension

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Wildlife

Gardening to Attract Wildlife

• Backyard Conservation: Bringing Conservation from the Countryside to your Backyard - USDA NRCS
• How to Make Your Yard Bird-Friendly - National Audubon Society
• Native Plant Finder - National Wildlife Federation
• Recommended Plantings for Migratory Songbird Habitat Management - University of Rhode Island
• Sustainable Landscaping - NYS DEC
  

Nuisance Wildlife

• Beast Begone! A Practitioner's Guide to IPM in Buildings - Cornell University
  
• Find a Licensed Nuisance Wildlife Control Operator - NYS DEC
  
• Find a Wildlife Rehabilitator - NYS DEC
  
• Landscape Plants Rated by Deer Resistance - Rutgers University
• Wildlife Fact Sheets - NYS IPM
  

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Some of these resources contain pesticide recommendations. Changes in pesticide regulations occur constantly and human errors are still possible. Some materials mentioned may no longer be available and some uses may no longer be legal. All pesticides distributed, sold or applied in New York State must be registered with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). Questions concerning the legality and/or registration status for pesticide use in New York State should be directed to the appropriate Cornell Cooperative Extension Specialist or your regional DEC office. READ THE LABEL BEFORE APPLYING ANY PESTICIDE.

Last updated December 28, 2023