Links

Links to private companies or products are provided as a public service and do not constitute an endorsement by the URI Master Gardeners.

Environment and Conservation Farming Fruit Herbs Horticulture House Plants Integrated Pest Management Lawn Care Master Gardener Associations Miscellaneous Native and Wild Plants Organic Practices

Pesticides Plant Disease Plant Societies Poisonous Plants Professional Trade Associations Propagation Soils and Soil Food Web Toxic Materials and Pesticides Trees Vegetables and Fruits Wildlife

Environment and Conservation
Apeiron Institute for Environmental Living
The Apeiron Institute – a Rhode Island voice for sustainability – works to create ecologically healthy communities by promoting sustainable living practices from around the world in this region.
Backyards on the Bay
A yard care guide for the coastal homeowner.
Ecological Landscaping Association
The Ethel Louise Armstrong Foundation, Inc., whose mission is to promote, through grants and scholarships, the inclusion of people with disabilities in the areas of arts, advocacy and education.
EPA WaterSense: Efficiency Made Easy
WaterSense is a voluntary partnership program sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Its mission is to protect the future of our nation's water supply by promoting and enhancing the market for water-efficient products and services.
Healthy Landscapes:Clean Water Starts at Home (URI)
The basics of maintaining your landscape for clean water.
Natural News Network
Natural News Network has several aims: to help build connections and encourage growth within Rhode Island's diverse community of people with environmental interests; to inspire all Rhode Islanders to get outdoors and explore their natural environment; to educate and inform residents about local issues by providing news in context; to inspire awareness about the ecological impact of choices we make every day; and to help promote the growth of a green economy in the state.
NOAA Drought Information Center
The NOAA's drought information center is a roundup of the various NOAA Web sites and information on drought and climate conditions. Some external links are included.
Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management
The Rhode Island Natural History Survey
The Rhode Island Natural History Survey provides ecosystem science and information.
Rhode Island Rivers Council
The Council was created by statute to coordinate, oversee, and review efforts to improve and preserve the quality of the state's rivers and other bodies of water and to develop plans to increase rier use.
The Rhode Island Tree Council
The Rhode Island Tree Council is dedicated to creating healthy urban and community forests and this site offers a wealth of information including tree tips, volunteer opportunities, a tree registry, and a calendar of events and activities.
Rhode Island Water Resources Board
The RI Water Resources Board and the RI Water Resources Board Corporate, together, support the proper development, protection, conservation and use of the state's water resources while providing for economic development and protection for the environment.
top of page

Farming
Sustainable Agriculture @ URI
The purpose of Sustainable Agriculture @ URI is to assist Rhode Island farmers in their ongoing efforts at sustainability. It offers a variety of technical supports through on-site visits, sample analysis, internet resources, and telephone communication. When they don't have the answer, they connect farmers with the people/facilities that do. This URI/CELS website is a small part of meeting that goal – allowing RI farmers to quickly and easily find answers to common questions.

Fruit
California Rare Fruit Growers
This is the largest amateur fruit-growing organization in the world. It is focused on species not native to nor grown commercially in any given area. Its mission is to share knowledge acquired from its activities with home growers in particular and with anyone else in the world having an interest in edible plant cultivation.
Cornell Agriculture Extension Tree Fruit and Small Fruit Disease Factsheets
A collection of factsheets from University programs throughout the United States.
Michigan State Fruit Resources
This site provides comprehensive information about all small and tree fruits, including varieties, fertilizing, diseases, insect pests, and culture.
Penn State Agricultural Sciences
A Power Point presentation on pruning and training fruit trees.

Herbs
The Herb Society of America
The site supports the mission of the Society which is dedicated to promoting the knowledge and use of herbs through education, research, and sharing the experience with the community. The Herb Society of America does not give advice on the medicinal uses of herbs.
top of page

Horticulture/Gardening
American Horticultural Society
This site connects you to great gardens around the world, gardening education, information sources, a community of gardeners eager to share their experience, gardening events, and much more.
American Society for Horticultural Science
An educational and research site that provides access to publications of the Society, posts information about conferences, and offers multimedia and internet resources.
American Society for Plasticulture
The mission of the Society is to improve the economic efficiency of agricultural systems through the use of plastics in various aspects of production, manufacturing, and distribution within the food and fiber system.
Center for Plasticulture Penn State High Tunnel Research & Education Facility
The principle objectives of The Center for Plasticulture are the development of cutting-edge plasticulture technology for the horticultural crop producer in Pennsylvania and Northeast United States, production information related to specific crop applications, and recovery of plastics in the form of energy or recycled products.
Environmental Horticulture (Virginia Tech)
Information on plant nutrition and nutrient management.
Gardening Resources, Cornell University
This is the main gateway into gardening resources at Cornell and CCE. The educational features offered here are designed to bring you ecologically sound, science-based practices for use in your home gardening projects.
Home and Garden Education Center (University of Connecticut)
Information to help with the management of problems in and around the home.
Home Gardening (Missouri Botanical Garden)
The Missouri Botanical Garden provides a place for gardeners to find instruction, expert advice, and inspiration at the Kemper Center for Home Gardening. Search for plant information and get personalized gardening help.
Horticulture and Home Pest News (Iowa State University)
This site is filled with articles on current horticulture, plant care, pest management, and common household pests written by Iowa State University Extension specialists in the Departments of Entomology, Horticulture and Plant Pathology.
PlantFacts: Horticulture & Crop Science in Virtual Perspective (The Ohio State University)
PlantFacts has merged several digital collections developed at Ohio State University to become an international knowledge bank and multimedia learning center. Includes an Internet search engine, a searchable database of high quality images, a collection of 200 short gardening how-to videos, FAQs, and a glossary with illustrated definitions.
Pronunciation Guide for Plants
A great site to find the proper pronounciation of botanical names.
Rutgers University Cooperative Extension
A resource for commercial agriculture and landscape and turf management; natural disasters and emergencies; natural resources and the environment; a gallery of NJ harmful pests and weeds; and lawn and garden.
Trial Gardens at University of Georgia
The Gardens trials the newest varieties of annuals from all over the world and puts perennials to the test to find those that stand up to Southeastern heat and humidity. The Gardens is open all year.
UMass Landscape, Nursery, and Urban Forestry
Programs, news, events, fact sheets, publications, services, and resources from UMass Extension are included on this site.
USDA National Arboretum Plant Hardiness Zone Map
top of page

House Plants
Care of Flowering Potted Plants (University of Missouri Extension)
Alphabetically arranged, this illustrated list includes 15 common potted house plants and bulbs, covering care of the new plant, reblooming, and care after flowering.

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) for Homeowners
Biological Control (Cornell University)
This guide provides photographs and descriptions of biological control (or biocontrol) agents of insect, disease and weed pests in North America.
Database of IPM Resources
An information retrieval and referral system and a compendium of customized directories of worldwide IPM information resources accessible through the Internet. With DIR, one can quickly find the way to thousands of IPM information sites.
Green Methods: Biological Pest Control and IPM
The answers to all your questions about biological pest control, biocontrol, and integrated pest management, IPM, are here.
HGIC Plant Diagnostic Web Site
This University of Maryland site offers photographic keys to help diagnose and solve plant problems using Integrated Pest Management principles.
Horticulture and Home Pest News (Iowa State University)
This site is filled with articles on current horticulture, plant care, pest management, and common household pests written by Iowa State University Extension specialists.
Insect Identification Laboratory (Virginia Tech)
Invasive Species of Massachusetts
Pest fact sheets containing photos and information to aid you in identifying introduced pests. Pest alerts for your area of interest be it vegetables, flowers, or landscape plants. Report any of the pests featured on this web site.
Invasive Species of Rhode Island
Pest fact sheets containing photos and information to aid you in identifying introduced pests. Pest alerts for your area of interest be it vegetables, flowers, or landscape plants. Report any of the pests featured on this web site.
Iowa State University Department of Entomology
Features an insect zoo, an entomology index of internet resources, an entomology insect gallery, and general information on insects and IPM.
Managing Insect Pests in the Home Vegetable Garden (University of Missouri Extension)
National Pest Management Association
This site from the National Pest Management Association has information form professionals and consumers…and even a website for kids: www.pestworldforkids.org
Pest Management Guide (Virginia Tech)
Three volumes: Field Crops, Home Grounds and Animals, and Horticultural and Forest Crops. Each of the volumes is further divided into chapters and/or sections.
Pro New England (Pest Resources Online)
This site provides pest management information useful to New Englanders.
Resource Guide for Organic Insect and Disease Management (Cornell University)
Systematic Entomology (NC State)
This guide to online insect systematic resources is an excellent site for help with insect identification.
UConn Integrated Pest Management Program
top of page

Lawn Care
The Homeowners Lawn Care and Water Quality Almanac (Cornell Cooperative Extension)
A highly graphic collection of tips and information for the home gardner that is organized month by month.
New Jersey Weed Gallery (Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station)
A collection of photos and descriptions of weeds found in New Jersey . Weeds can be viewed by common name, by Latin name, and by thumbnail image.
Rutgers Center for Turfgrass Science
The Center for Turfgrass Science generates and disseminates knowledge, training, and education in the turfgrass sciences by fostering nationally recognized multidisciplinary research; undergraduate, graduate, and continuing professional education; and service programs that support the turfgrass industry.
Seed Super Store
An online resource for purchasing grass seed in one of three ways: their recommended pre-mixed seed, by individual seed varieties, or customized mixes. You can search by zip code. For example, for southern RI a sunny lawn mix is basically URI #1 with improved varieties.
Turf Program, University of Massachusetts Extension
A web site for turf managers which offers information on turf diseases, soil testing, informational resources, programs, and research data directly to Green Industry businesses and professionals. There are also links to information sources that are available to home gardeners and landscapers.
Turfgrass Program, University of Rhode Island
A website listing turf services and educational programs at URI.
WeedAlert.com
The turf professional’s online source for weed control options organized by geographic region and hardiness zone…with pictures.
top of page

Master Gardener Associations
American Horticultural Society Master Gardener Website Locator

Miscellaneous
CalPhotos
A collection of 123,750 images of plants, animals, fossils, people, and landscapes.
Plant pH Preference Range
Lists of pH preference ranges by plant category.
Plant List – Common Names and Cultivars
Provides photo, features, and general care.
USDA: Plants Database
The Plants Database provides standardized information about the vascular plants, mosses, liverworts, hornworts, and lichens of the U.S. and its territories.
What's This Caterpillar?
This site aims to identify the most common species of caterpillars found in North America. The site is set out in sections depicting those caterpillars that are smooth, knobbly, horned, fleshy, slug-like, hairy, tufty, bristled, spiny, and those that feed within plants and those that build structures.

Native and Wild Plants
New England Carnivorous Plant Society
This site lists the events and meetings of the Society, provides information about the Society itself, and tells you how and where to get plants.
New England Wildflower Society
Find information about conservation of North American native plants through education, research, horticulture, habitat preservation, and advocacy.
North American Native Plant Society
The site provides access to the resource offered by this Society with links to all of the native plant societies in the United States and Canada and a photo gallery of featured plants.
Rhode Island Wild Plant Society
A non-profit conservation organization dedicated to the preservation and protection of Rhode Island's native plants and their habitats. The site offers a wild plants library, access to the society's publications, and lists of services, programs, events and educational and volunteer opportunities.
top of page

Organic Practices
Northeast Organic Farming Association of Rhode Island
Ideas, resources, and information for people interested in organic agriculture and supporting all efforts for a healthier, sustainable agricultural system.
Organic Farming Research Foundation
The Organic Farming Research Foundation is a non-profit whose mission is to sponsor research related to organic farming practices, to disseminate research results to organic farmers and to growers interested in adopting organic production systems, and to educate the public and decision-makers about organic farming issues.
Organic Gardening
The site of Rodale Inc. is a rich source for organic gardening basics and offers message boards, links to organic gardening product resources, a region-specific almanac, and a gardening bookstore.
Organic Gardening Forum
Organic Rose Growing Forum
Peaceful Valley Farm & Garden Supply
Resource Guide for Organic Insect and Disease Management (Cornell University)
top of page

Pesticides
Kelly Registration Systems
This web site integrates pesticide data from multiple states allowingregulated businesses and individuals to complete a multitude of compliance activities.
MSDS Solutions
Material safety data sheets, one of the largest databases in the world, with 10,000 documents added weekly. MSDS Solutions provide compliance for companies answering to regulatory bodies across the globe.
National Pesticide Information Center
General, technical, and contact information about pesticides.
Pro New England (Pest Resources Online)
This site provides pest management information useful to New Englanders.

Plant Disease
Fruit Pathology (University of Wisconsin)
Research, disease profiles, pathogen images, and special topics about cranberry, tree fruits, and berries.
HGIC Plant Diagnostic Website (University of Maryland)
This University of Maryland site This site offers photographic keys to help diagnose and solve plant problems, using Integrated Pest Management principles.
Online Guide to Plant Disease Control (Oregon State University Extension)
A comprehensive A-Z reference on the control and management tactics for important plant diseases of ornamentals and trees in the Pacific Northwest. Includes chemical and biological control recommendations.
Plant Disease and Plant Disease Diagnosis (Montana State University)
Learn the basic principles of plant disease diagnosis through understanding what plant disease is, get a basic checklist of diagnostic questions, learn about common abiotic problems, find out about organisms that cause plant disease, and access a glossary of plant pathology terms.
Plant Disease Diagnostic Clinic (Cornell University)
The Clinic is designed to provide plant disease diagnostic services for anyone interested iin plant diseases. Services include analysis of plant material and soil for bacterial, fungal, viral, and nematode pathogens as well as suggesting control measures when available.
Plant and Pest Diagnostic Laboratory (Purdue University)
The Purdue University Plant and Pest Diagnostic Laboratory is a central facility for receiving both physical samples and digital images submitted for identification of insects, plants and plant diseases or diagnosis of plant and pest problems.
Vegetable MD Online
This site addresses vegetable diseases and pest problems with fact sheets, a photo gallery, and news articles/diseases alert.
top of page

Plant Societies
American Clematis Society
The American Clematis Society's official site offers descriptions and photos of nearly 300 clematis varieties, information about the society and its goals, recommendations for clematis care, and a calendar of events.
American Daffodil Society
This is the United States center for daffodil information, including internet services and local societies.
American Dahlia Society
The Dahlia Society gives detailed information about the basics of growing dahlias, links to dahlia societies within the United States and around the world, guides to classification and commercial growers, and purchasing information for books and other materials.
American Hemerocallis Society
This site features a daylily dictionary, frequently asked questions, daylily sources, and a calendar of national and regional activities.
American Hydrangea Society
Included on this site is a calendar of events, new hydrangeas, garden photos, and books and other resources.
The American Orchid Society
The website tells "all about orchids", has an orchid source directory, a book and gift shop, an orchid forum, and publications.
American Rhododendron Society
On this site find a comprehensive care guide for rhododendrons, proven performers, and contact information for local chapters as well as information about public education, flower shows, seed exchanges, and scientific studies.
American Rose Society
A site dedicated to the enjoyment, enhancement, and promotion of the rose. There is also a shopping section - the Rose Mall - and educational links.
The Cactus and Succulent Society of America
The web site of the Cactus Society offers seeds, access to its publications, and information about local groups, services, and events.
New England Rose Society
The Society web site offers information on rose culture in New England, a calendar of events, and a photo album with links to other gardening and society sites, such as Rhode Island Rose Society, the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, New Hampshire Rose Society, and Connecticut Rose Society.
North American Heather Society
The Heather Society site provides resources and contact information related to the advancement of knowledge about heaths and heathers.
North American Lily Society
Society publications, show calendar, seed exchange, and information about lily species and culture are featured on this site.
North American Rock Garden Society
Information about publications, meetings, and garden visits offered by NARGS provides extensive opportunities for both beginners and experts to expand their knowledge of plant cultivation and propagation, and of construction, maintenance, and design of special interest gardens.
Ocean State Orchid Society
The purpose of the Society is to create, promote, develop and preserve a group dedicated to the education and enjoyment of all aspects of orchids.
Rhode Island Orchid Society
Here you will find a calendar of events and membership information for the Society which is a member of the The American Orchid Society.
Rhode Island Rose Society
Affiliated with the American Rose Society, the RI Rose Society site lists all of its activities, posts articles and news of interest to the general public as well as its members, has a photo gallery, and includes information about Roger Williams Park Victorian Rose Garden.
top of page

Poisonous Plants
Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES) Poisonous Plants
A brief summary of what poison plants are, why they are poisonous, and how they can be identified.
Cornell University Poisonous Plants
A growing reference that includes plant images, pictures of affected animals, and presentations concerning the botany, chemistry, toxicology, diagnosis, and prevention of poisoning of animals by plants and other natural flora (fungi, etc.).
Texas A&M Poisonous Plants
A chart showing plants, their toxic parts, and the corresponding symptoms of poisoning.
US Army Center Guide to Poisonous and Toxic Plants
USDA Agricultural Research Service Poisonous Plant Research Laboratory
The mission of the Poisonous Plant Research Laboratory is to identify toxic plants, isolate and identify plant toxins, determine the mechanism of toxicity, document toxin metabolism and clearance from tissues, develop diagnostic and prognostic procedures, identify conditions of poisoning, and develop management strategies, antidotes, treatments and other recommendations to reduce losses, insure product quality and promote animal and human health.
top of page

Professional Trade Associations
RINLA
The Rhode Island Nursery & Landscape Association (RINLA) is a professional trade association that serves the green industry. RINLA advances the welfare of its members through education, research support, legislative representation, certification, and promotion of the value of green industry goods and services to the public.
top of page

Propagation
Basic Techniques for Propagating Plants (Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station)
Techniques and tools for propagation from stem and leaf cuttings and simple and air layering.
Plant Propagation (Ohio State University Extension)
The key concepts of sexual and asexual plant propagation.

Soils and Soil Food Web
Natural Resources Conservation Service Web Soil Survey
Print a map of the soils in your area and then access soil data. You can determine the suitability of the soils in your area for a particular use.
Soil Foodweb, Inc.
"Everywhere on Earth, life on land depends on soil microbes and the services they provide. We measure the life in your soil."
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Center
A chapter in the Soil Biology Primer covering soil environment, the food web, energy sources, food for soil organisms, soil organisms' habitats, and th importance of the soil food web.
top of page

Toxic Materials and Pesticides
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
This site, under the Department of Health and Human Services, includes Public Health Statements about hazardous substances (arranged alphabetically) and toxicological profiles developed by the Division of Toxicology.There are also shorter versions of the PHSs called ToxFAQs™.
Extoxnet
Extoxnet is a Pesticide Information Project of Cooperative Extension Offices of Cornell University, Michigan State University, Oregon State University, and University of California at Davis. It includes a a series of informational sheets on more than one-hundred commonly used insecticides, fungicides, and herbicides. The Pesticide Information Profiles provide an overview of each pesticide's toxic effects and their expected actions in the environment.
top of page


Trees
Backyard Tree Care (Minnesota Department of Natural Resources)
Information that will help you select the right tree, plant it correctly, keep it healthy, and utilize it when it eventually dies.
Deciduous Tree Diseases (North Dakota State University Agriculture and University Extension)
A very comprehensive site that includes parasitic diseases of widespread occurrence, parasitic diseases of specific trees (listed alphabetically by common name of tree), and non-parasitic disorders.
Fruit Tree Diseases (West Virginia University)
An extensive index of fruit tree photographs, biology, and monitoring information.
Identify and Control Non-Infectious Diseases of Trees
Discusses tree diseases caused by nonliving agents.
Tree Biology from the Ohio State University
This is a series of narrated slide shows on conifers; broadleaf trees; woody stem growth and structure; buds, leaves, and roots; and tree growth and development.
Tree Care 101
A non-credit course for homeowners from Blue Ridge Community College in Virginia.
Tree Disease and Insect Guide for Conifers (Virginia Department of Forestry)
Well organized, detailed coverage of diseases and pests listed by plant common name. Pests or conditions that affect many host species are listed only under the most common host(s).
Tree Identification (Arbor Day Foundation)
Identify trees using a simple set-by-step guide.
Tree Pruning (U.S. Department of Agriculture)
Coverage includes reasons for pruning, pruning approaches, pruning cuts, pruning practices that harm trees, when to prune, pruning tools, treating wounds, and pruning guidelines.
Trees (Arbor Day Foundation)
Good overview of tree care, pruning, selection, identification, health, and much more.
top of page

Vegetables and Fruit
California Rare Fruit Growers
Although oriented toward the environmentally sound culture of any and all edible plants in the home landscape, CRFG is focused on species not native to nor grown commercially in any given area. Its mission is to share knowledge acquired from its activities with home growers in particular and with anyone else in the world having an interest in edible plant cultivation.
Garden Web Forum: Vegetable Gardening
Insect Pests in the Home Vegetable Garden (University of Missouri Extension)
Michigan State University Fruit Resources
A site to link all MSU's diverse fruit resources on the web at one site.
Penn State Small Fruits Resources
Small scale fruit production, the berry diagnostic tool, and other publications.
Penn State Tree Fruit Resources
Fact sheets, pruning and training information, and publications about tree fruits.
Transgenic Crops (Colorado State University)
The site describes what transgenic plants are and how they are made.
Vegetable Varieties for Gardeners (Cornell University)
On this site users can compare over 2000 varieties of vegetables and determine what is best suited to their needs. Visitors are invited to register and rate each variety.
Vegetable MD Online
This site addresses vegetable diseases and pest problems with fact sheets, a photo gallery, and news articles/diseases alert.
Virginia Fruit Resources
Environmental issues, home and commercial practices, insects, diseases, tips, and more.
top of page

Wildlife
Audubon Society of Rhode Island
Audubon Society of Rhode Island is an independent, nonprofit, state organization dedicated to the conservation of wildlife habitat, the education of young and old about natural ecosystems and the need to preserve them, and advocacy in order to promote continued efforts at preserving our natural heritage.
Pro New England: Pest Resources Online
This site provides pest management information useful to New Englanders.
RI Department of Environmental Management: Division of Fish and Wildlife
top of page