Editorial Process

GardenMD starts with the problem a gardener can actually see, then works toward the most likely causes, the simplest checks, and the least complicated fix.

Non-commercial fixes come first. Tools and materials are mentioned only when they help confirm the problem or make the fix easier.

Sourcing standards

GardenMD is written by Sam Ellery, whose background is in environmental data analysis rather than horticulture — see the full bio for detail. That background sets the sourcing bar for everything on this site: claims are checked against university extension research and other primary sources before they're published, not drawn from personal opinion or unverified folk remedies. Every diagnostic, cause, and solution page lists the sources behind it, visible on the page and collected in full on the Sources page.