PLANTING RESOURCES
Click the map above to access the USDA's interactive hardiness zones map.
USDA Plant Hardiness Zones
This map is the standard by which gardeners and growers can determine which plants are most likely to thrive at a location. The map is based on the average minimum winter temperature, divided into 10-degree F zones.
In 2023, the USDA updated its map of plant hardiness zones for the first time in over a decade. This might change how you garden, including when you plant and what you grow. The new map shows that half the country has shifted to warmer zones. (Click the image above for an interactive map.)
UW EXTENSION RESOURCES
Dane County University of Wisconsin Extension Horticulture
The main site for all Extension-related information, including MGV information regarding volunteer hours, certification, and reporting.
Wisconsin Master Gardener Association
Website of the Wisconsin Master Gardener Association, the statewide non-profit organization supporting Master Gardeners.
The Learning Store
The Master Gardener's go-to resource for science-backed, locally relevant fact sheets, books, guides, and more.
Read about the latest developments in University horticultural research.
TOPICS OF INTEREST
Joe Pye Weed, a native Wisconsin plant. Photo: Liz West, Creative Commons.
Wild Ones
"Wild Ones strives to become a widely recognized voice for native plants and the sustainable landscaping movement, promoting increased use of native plantings that create living landscapes through grassroots efforts by example, education, marketing, and personalized support."
The rusty-patched bumblebee is an endangered species in Wisconsin. The Xerces Society provides resources on invertebrates like bees and many of our other important pollinators. Photo: Dan Mullen, Creative Commons.
The Xerces Society
The Xerces Society is a nonprofit organization that protects wildlife through the conservation of invertebrates and their habitat. Established in 1971, the Society is at the forefront of invertebrate protection worldwide, harnessing the knowledge of scientists and the enthusiasm of citizens to implement conservation programs.
Plant Guide
The National Gardening Association (NGA) is a Texas-based national leader in garden-based education. NGA supports KidsGardening.org, a provider of grants and free materials for educators and families so that they may use gardening as a resource for learning. Our mission is to empower every generation to lead healthier lives, build stronger communities, and encourage environmental stewardship through educational garden programs.
AREA GARDENS TO VISIT
The Allen Centennial Gardens. Photo: Kenneth Casper, Creative Commons.
Allen Centennial Gardens
The Allen Centennial Gardens is a horticultural teaching garden managed by the University of Wisconsin Department of Horticulture.
Olbrich Botanical Gardens
Stroll 16 acres of outdoor gardens featuring stunning landscapes and Midwest-hardy plants. Visit the tropics in the Bolz Conservatory, filled with exotic plants, flowers, orchids, birds, and a waterfall.
Olbrich Gardens. Photo courtesy Wisconsin-Explorer.blogspot.com
UW-Madison Arboretum
Since 1934 the University of Wisconsin - Madison Arboretum has been restoring the land, advancing ecological restoration, and fostering Aldo Leopold's land ethic.
West Madison Agriculture Research Station
UW-Madison College of Agriculture and Life Sciences' Trial and Demonstration gardens of annuals, fruit, vegetables and perennials.
Rotary Botanical Gardens, Janesville, WI
A 20-acre nonprofit botanic garden, is home to many dramatic and themed gardens. Some have an international focus, such as the Japanese, Scottish, French Formal, Italian and English Cottage Gardens. Also included are less formally-structured gardens.
Extension Dane County Teaching Garden, Madison, WI
The Teaching Garden was established in 2004 as an outdoor classroom for Master Garden Volunteers and an educational resource to the public. Master Gardener Volunteers help design and maintain 12 distinct garden areas. Plant labels feature a scannable QR code that links to detailed on-line plant profiles.
Other resources
Refresh your Master Gardener knowledge online
If it has been a few years since your training took place, you may want to look at the online training modules on the WIMGA website. Each topic has a bibliography of more resources available online.
Master Composter Manual
A new manual about composting is available free for downloading at The Learning Store. Composting is an effective tool that keeps yard materials and food scraps out of landfills while producing a finished product valued by gardeners everywhere. By diverting waste intended for landfills, home composting serves as a model of sustainability that illustrates the results of returning degradable organic materials to the soil. Learn about managing organic materials at home, the science behind composting, and the benefits of compost with this resourceful manual.
Information about Invasive Plants
Raised beds in the Youth Garden