Everything published on Rootiva Garden has passed through the same editorial process. We wrote this page so that you can see exactly how a guide gets from a Sunday morning idea to a finished article on the journal. If a piece of ours ever falls short of these standards, please tell us.
How a guide is commissioned
Most of our pieces start with a question. Sometimes it is one of our readers writing in with a confusing garden problem. Sometimes it is the editor wondering why a particular bed failed for the third season running. Sometimes it is a guest contributor pitching a topic they know better than we do. We do not commission pieces because a brand is offering payment. We have never done that.
How we research
Every guide begins with a research file. We pull from peer-reviewed horticultural sources, cooperative extension publications, our own past notes, and conversations with experienced growers in the relevant region. If a contributor is writing the piece, their lived experience counts as primary research too, but we still cross-check the claims against at least two independent sources before publishing.
Field testing
Wherever practical, we test what we write about. For seasonal guides, this often means a full growing season in our zone 6b and 7a test beds. For product mentions, we use the product for at least one full season before recommending it. If we cannot test something directly, we say so clearly in the article.
How we write
Our writing voice aims to be calm, useful, and free of the things that make gardening writing tedious – empty promises, scary jargon, and that cheery upselling tone that treats the reader like a customer. We write the way we would talk to a friend in our own garden.
Fact-checking and review
Before a piece goes live, it is read by at least one other team member. For pieces that touch on regional climate, plant identification, or pollinator behaviour, we send drafts to a relevant subject reviewer. Names of reviewers are listed on the byline.
Corrections
If we make a factual mistake, we correct the article and add a short note at the bottom describing what changed and when. Major corrections also include a credit to the reader who pointed it out, with their permission. Send corrections to editor [at] rootivagarden.com.
Updates
Older guides are reviewed annually and updated when the best practice has moved on. The “Last updated” date at the top of each guide tells you when the most recent review happened.
Sponsorship and commercial relationships
We do not publish sponsored posts. We do not accept gifts in exchange for coverage. We are not paid by any garden brand, seed company, or tool manufacturer. The journal is supported by reader donations, a small number of affiliate links (always disclosed), and the occasional non-promotional collaboration with educational institutions, which we credit transparently.
Independence
Editorial judgment is independent of any commercial relationship. If we receive a free sample of a product, we say so. If we choose to write about it after testing, the article will reflect our honest opinion, not a thank-you note.
Reader feedback
Reader feedback shapes our editorial calendar more than anything else. If you would like to write to us, do.