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Web Research Tips for WNC

Gardening advice is easy to find on the web, but much of the information is inaccurate, inappropriate for Western North Carolina, and may do more harm than good!  Here are a few quick tips for finding useful gardening information:

Keep it local

Garden soils, climate/hardiness zones, other environmental conditions, pests, and diseases vary, so look for information specific to Western North Carolina.

Keep it research-based

Look for up-to- date, science-based information from North Carolina State University or North Carolina Extension sites/sources first. Check South Carolina, Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Virginia Extension services if you need more.

Keep it focused

Start with a list of specific keywords to help narrow your research. Be wary of personal opinion and commercial sites.
Note: although many North Carolina Extension materials appear at ces.ncsu.edu, useful Extension sources may appear in domains other than “.edu”.
For example:

  • ncsupdicblog.blogspot.com
  • extension.org
  • plants.usda.gov

 

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