Editorial Policy
The Garden UK Standard
At Garden UK, we believe that gardening advice is only as good as the soil it was tested in. In an era of generic, AI-generated content and repackaged advice from warmer climates, we maintain a strict UK-First editorial standard. Every guide on this site is written by British gardeners for British gardens.
Last updated: 16 March 2026
1. The "Tested in UK Soil" guarantee
We do not publish theoretical gardening advice. Our content is built on hands-on experience in British gardens.
Real-world trials
When we recommend a plant, it is because we have grown it in UK conditions - accounting for our specific light levels, damp winters, and unpredictable spring frosts.
Technical accuracy
We prioritise hard data over marketing fluff. Our guides include specific technical specifications, from soil pH requirements to 85mph wind-load ratings for garden structures.
No generic substitutes
We never localise advice from the US or Europe. If a plant is not hardy to at least RHS H4, we will explicitly warn you about the winter protection required for our climate.
Every article on Garden UK includes a visible "How we tested" badge. This badge details the specific location, soil type, duration, and method behind the advice. It is our promise that the content you are reading comes from real hands-on growing, not desk research.
2. Expert authorship and E-E-A-T
Every article is authored or reviewed by a specialist with years of practical horticultural experience.
Author transparency
Our lead expert, Lawrie Ashfield, brings over 30 years of hands-on knowledge in greenhouse cultivation, landscaping, and British plant health. Lawrie started on his grandfather's allotment as a child and has been growing, experimenting, and refining methods in Staffordshire clay ever since. He is an RHS member and grows most of his own vegetables using no-dig methods.
Lawrie's name, credentials, and a specific credibility statement appear on every article. We do not hide behind a faceless brand. You can see exactly who wrote the advice you are following and verify their expertise.
Fact-checking and freshness
Content is audited for freshness. Gardening is a living science. We regularly update our articles to reflect new pest threats (like the Box Tree Caterpillar), changes in UK legislation (such as the peat-free compost transition), and seasonal timing shifts caused by changing weather patterns.
Articles that become outdated are flagged, revised, and re-dated. We do not leave stale advice on the site.
3. Monetisation and integrity
Garden UK is a revenue-independent authority site. To maintain our editorial integrity:
Honest limitations: If a product or method has a flaw, we say so. Our reputation for honesty is more valuable than a single affiliate commission.
Affiliate transparency: We may earn a commission if you purchase through our links. Our product recommendations are chosen based on technical performance and UK availability, never on commission rates.
Ad standards: We ensure that display advertising never interferes with the readability or technical utility of our guides.
4. UK-specific formatting standards
For the benefit of our readers and to ensure precision, we strictly adhere to British standards throughout:
| Standard | What we do | Example |
|---|---|---|
| British English | All terminology uses UK conventions | Secateurs, not Pruners. Autumn, not Fall. |
| Metric and imperial | Formats recognised by UK gardeners | 4ft 3" widths, 50mm paving slabs, temperatures in Celsius |
| UK sowing calendars | Calibrated to British seasons | "Sow indoors in March" means a British March, not a global average |
| RHS hardiness ratings | UK-standard plant hardiness | H4 (hardy to -10C) minimum for outdoor planting without protection |
5. Correction policy
We strive for 100% accuracy. If you believe a technical specification is incorrect or out of date, please contact our editorial team at editor@gardenuk.co.uk. We investigate every report and issue updates within 48 hours to ensure our community has the most reliable data available.
When a correction is made, we note the change at the top of the article with the date it was updated. We do not silently edit published content.
Our commitment
Garden UK exists to provide the most reliable, UK-specific gardening advice available anywhere. Every article we publish must pass a simple test: has this advice been tried and tested in a real British garden? If the answer is no, we do not publish it.
For more about our team and background, visit About Garden UK.