Fact Checking Policy

Incorrect gardening information is not just an editorial problem — it wastes gardeners’ time and money, harms plants, and in some cases poses real risks to human health and local ecosystems. TN Garden Tips treats factual accuracy as a core editorial obligation, not an afterthought.

“We’d rather publish less and be right than publish more and lead a gardener astray. Every piece of advice on TN has been verified before it reaches your garden.”

Scope

TN Garden Tips’ fact-checking standards apply to all editorial content, including:

  • Planting guides, growing calendars, and zone-specific advice
  • Plant care instructions (watering, fertilizing, pruning, repotting)
  • Soil composition ratios, pH recommendations, and amendment guides
  • Pest and disease identification and treatment recommendations
  • Plant toxicity and safety claims
  • Product reviews and tool recommendations
  • Scientific plant names (binomial nomenclature) and taxonomy
  • USDA hardiness zone data and seasonal planting windows

Our Verification Process

  1. Claim identification— Every factual claim in a submitted article is flagged during the editorial review process, including planting dates, care ratios, zone ranges, and product specifications.
  2. Primary source verification— Flagged claims are verified against primary horticultural sources: peer-reviewed journals, USDA plant databases, university cooperative extension publications, Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) references, or direct consultation with certified horticulturalists.
  3. Regional cross-check— Zone-specific claims are cross-referenced against USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map data and regional cooperative extension guides to ensure accuracy across U.S. growing regions.
  4. Expert review for specialist topics— Articles covering soil science, plant disease, organic pest management, or plant toxicology are reviewed by a subject-matter expert before publication.
  5. Editorial sign-off— All verified claims are reviewed by the Head Horticulturalist or senior editor before publication approval.

Source Hierarchy

  • Tier 1 — Primary: Peer-reviewed horticultural and botanical journals, USDA Plant Database, university cooperative extension publications, official plant toxicity registries (ASPCA, FDA)
  • Tier 2 — Secondary: Established horticultural institutions (RHS, AHS, botanical gardens), Master Gardener program publications, recognized garden encyclopedias
  • Tier 3 — Supporting: Reputable garden writers with verifiable credentials, corroborated by multiple Tier 1 or Tier 2 sources

Handling Conflicting Horticultural Advice

Gardening science evolves. When credible sources present conflicting advice — such as differing watering frequencies or competing soil amendment recommendations — TN presents the range of evidence and, where possible, indicates which approach is most broadly supported. We do not present a single view as definitive when legitimate expert disagreement exists.

Report a Concern

If you believe a TN Garden Tips article contains incorrect horticultural information, please contact [email protected]. Include the article URL, the specific claim you believe is inaccurate, and a supporting source. All credible reports are reviewed within 48 hours.