GardeningHelp.org  -- Site Index

• PlantFinder
  Look up, view a photo and read about the over 5,400 plants which are growing or have been grown in the Kemper Center display gardens (plus selected additions) by garden location, scientific name or common name.
  • Plant Characteristic Search
    Search online for plants that meet any of 40 characteristics or uses including: height, bloom time, flower color, good fall color, attracts hummingbirds, and more. Produce individualized lists of plants.
  • ProblemSolverPlants.org and Tried & True Plants
    Get lists of plants for problem locations such as clay soil, dry locations, wet locations, dry shade, and locations with persistent deer or rabbit problems. See which plants have been rated as Tried & True(T&T) by local horticulture professionals.
  • Featured Plants with Expert Comments
    Read comment by our experts on plants for many special uses such as "Best Bulbs","Native Trees for Missouri Landscape", and others.
  • Plants in Bloom
    View plants currently in flower at the Missouri Botanical Garden. Listen to narration, and with a click of your mouse access detailed information on many of the plants. Updated monthly. You can also subscribe to our monthly podcast of the plants in bloom! View bloom data on over 3800 plants in the Garden.
• MBG Plant Collections
  Explore the Garden's collection of over 12,000 plants.
  • Collections Database
    Search the Garden's plant collection database, find where a plant is growing in the Garden and read about the plant and its culture (click on Kemper number in last column, e.g., A100, when available).
  • MBG Virtual Garden Tours
    Tour the many gardens of MBG on-line.
  • Garden Images
    View images of plants in various gardens within the Garden.
• NurseryTracker
  This program helps gardeners search through over 1700 Missouri and southern Illinois nurseries, garden centers, landscapers, and plant care businesses by name, kinds of plants or services offered, region or zipcode area. You can also search for businesses that offer plant specialties or services in your area.
  • Nursery Inventories
    Plant inventories of participating nursery and garden centers. Includes search features!
• Plants of Merit
  Describes over 200 plants identified by Garden staff and regional horticulturists that have outstanding qualities and dependable performance, but are underutilized in the Midwest.
• Bloom Time Summary
  View peak bloom times for our major groups of plants. You can view by plant name, bloom time sequence, or just our top 20 plant groups.
• Flowering Annuals Performance Trials
  View the performance test results of over 350 cultivars of flowering annuals.
  

• Kemper Center Blog
  Follow our weekly blog with great tips and insight into the fine art and science of gardening.
• Kemper Factsheets
  Our popular factsheets on over 70 subjects formerly only available by purchase in the Kemper Center for Home Gardening are now available online free of charge!
• HortLine
  Find information on over 300 gardening topics written for the lower Midwest. Topics are grouped by plant categories.
• Slideshows
  View useful slideshows and free tutorials online.
• Questions and Answers
  Searchable database of over 2,700 gardening questions answered by the Garden's Chip Tynan and John Stephens.
• Gardening Tips Calendar
  View a "to do" list of gardening tasks to perform each month in your garden. Categorized by plant groups, e.g., ornamentals, lawns, fruits, vegetables, etc. Why not print it off each month and post it on the refrigerator! Check tasks off when they have been completed. Don't forget to assign some tasks to other family members as well.
• Plant Collections at the Garden
  Read about some of the Garden's significant plant collections.
• Area Plant Societies
  Locate an area plant society.
• XPLOR
  Links to University of Missouri Outreach and Extension gardening information.

Pest and Problem Solutions: (Includes insect, disease, animal, and environmental problems)

• IPM - Integrated Pest Management
  Diagnostic and control measures for nearly 200 of the most common insect, disease and environmental problems encounterd in Missouri as compiled by the Center for Home Gardening Plant Doctor service.
• Pest Categories
  Short articles on the major categories of plant pests. For more detailed information on specific pests, please refer to the list of IPM - Integrated Pest Management problems below.
• Pesticide Information
  Information on common pesticides available to homeowners.
• Pests and Problems Calendar
  Get general and specific information about the most common pests and problems for each month of the year based on our experience at the Missouri Botanical Garden.
• Insect Orders
  Informational pages with images of common orders of insects found in gardens.

• Creative Gourdaments
  View the artistic, creative, lavish, and sometimes funny gourds that have adorned the Kemper Center's holiday tree the past three years. The gourdaments were all made by MBG staff and volunteers. Plan to come and see what we have in store for 2010!
• Resources for Organic and Natural Gardening
  Here is a page with links to some of our best resources for organic and natural gardening.
• Sustainable and Green Gardening
  Here are some sustainable and green gardening ideas to help you make this the "greenest" year ever in your home, yard, and garden.
• Benefical Insects
  Pictures of common beneficial insects found in St. Louis yards and gardens..
• Squash Display
  View over 150 varieties of squash displayed at the Kemper Center for Home Gardening in prior years.
• Plant Sales & Shows
  Area plant society shows and sales at the Garden.

Services:

• Kemper Center for Home Gardening
  • Horticultural Answer Service
    Master Gardeners provide personalized answers to your specific phone-in gardening questions, 9 a.m. to 12 noon, Monday through Friday. Call (314) 577-5143.
  • Kemper Center Plant Doctors
    Bring in a sample of your sick plant and let the Master Gardeners at the Plant Doctor desk diagnose your problem and provide treatment recommendations. This is a walk-in service from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Service is free with Garden admission. Try to include leaves and flowers representative of the entire plant.
  • Plastic Pot Recycling
    Learn about the Garden's innovative program that turns discarded plastic gardening pots and trays into timbers for building retaining walls and more! Information on how to order is also found here.
  • St. Louis Master Gardeners
    Learn about the St. Louis Master Gardener program in St. Louis.
  • Email Questions
• Horticulture Department at MBG
• Classes
  Browse the full listing of all adult, family and youth classes at the Garden as well as classes at Shaw Nature Reserve, EarthWays Center, and The Butterfly House. Don't miss out - you can register online.