Gardening is a rewarding experience as you watch plants emerge from a seed and grow into plants that provide you with fresh, nutritional vegetables and fruits. It is also a great form of exercise as you prepare soil, plant the garden, pull weeds, water the plants and harvest fruits and veggies. It is an experience that can be appreciated as a child and continues to be a rewarding experience as an adult. The following sites help to promote a successful gardening experience.

• Vegetable Gardening Topics
  This website from Cornell University provides educational information on gardening topics. A wonderful gardening guide gives information on growing specific vegetables. Deer defenses and Heirloom Gardening are topics also found at this site.
  
• Fruit Growing
  MSU Extension site on fruit hosted by Van Buren County MSU Extension. Click on "Home Horticulture" to open the fruit section.
  
• Container Gardening
  North Carolina Extension site that explains how to grow vegetables in containers and provides information on specific plants.
  
• Planting a Home Vegetable Garden
  Iowa State University Extension publication on preparation and planting the vegetable garden.
  
• Natural Control of Garden Pests
  MSU publication providing information on biological control of pests in the home garden.
  
• Attracting Beneficial Insects with Native Plants
  MSU publication on how to bring insects into the home landscape to pollinate plants and reduce nuisance insects.
  
• MSU Gardening Bulletins
  MSU site for obtaining gardening bulletins and videos on specific topics.
  
• Controlling Garden Pests
  A brief guide from the Washtenaw County Drain Commissioner.
• 
• Rain Gardens
  Environmenal Portal section about creating a rain garden.
  
• Gardening Hotline - (734) 997-1819
  Local Gardening information can be obtained through the Washtenaw County MSU Extension office through the Master Gardener Hotline at (734) 997-1819. The hotline is open mid-April through October, Monday through Friday, 9am to Noon and 1pm-4pm.  
  
• Dial-A-Garden - (734) 971-1129
  Monthly recorded gardening tips from MSU Extension are available year-round by calling (734) 971-1129.

For more information, please contact the  MSU Extension Master Gardener Hotline at (734) 997-1819.