Editorial Policy

Our goal is gardening information that is accurate, practical and honest about its limits. This page explains how we work.

Sources we rely on

We base recommendations on publicly available guidance from:

• Land-grant university Cooperative Extension programs.
• US government agencies such as the USDA, EPA and NOAA.
• Recognized horticultural and university research institutions.

Each article lists the sources consulted in a "Sources and further reading" section. Where reputable sources differ, we say so rather than presenting one figure as universal.

Original writing

We write original explanations and practical guidance. We do not copy or lightly rephrase other publications. Short factual references are attributed to their source.

Regional accuracy

The United States includes a wide range of climates. We do not present a single planting calendar as valid for every state. We explain how to use local frost dates and state Extension guidance, and we label regional generalizations as such. We explain that USDA hardiness zones describe average annual extreme minimum winter temperatures and are not planting calendars.

What we will not publish

• Invented statistics, studies, quotations or expert endorsements.
• Promises of specific harvests or yields.
• Pesticide mixing or application instructions; we refer readers to product labels and Extension offices.
• Fake reviews, ratings or testimonials.

Review and "Last updated" dates

Every article shows a "Last updated" date. It reflects the date of the most recent substantive editorial review of that article, such as checking facts against sources or revising recommendations. We do not change the date for cosmetic edits, and dates are not refreshed automatically. Articles are reviewed as sources are updated and as reader corrections come in.

Who reviews content

Content is researched and edited by the Raised Bed Atlas publisher. We do not currently use a separate panel of credentialed expert reviewers, and we do not claim one. If that changes, we will name reviewers and their actual qualifications.

Images

Website images are original images created for Raised Bed Atlas, including AI-generated illustrations of garden scenes. They illustrate topics and are not photographs of specific gardens or results.

Corrections

If you spot an error, email [email protected] with the page address and the issue. We review every correction request. Significant corrections are made promptly and the article's review date is updated.

Independence, advertising and affiliates

The site currently carries no advertising and no affiliate links, and no organization pays for coverage. If we introduce advertising or affiliate links in the future, editorial content will remain independent, affiliate links will be clearly disclosed on the pages where they appear, and an affiliate disclosure page will be added to the footer.