Terms of use
Plain-English rules for using this site. Last updated June 15, 2026.
Who runs this site
Outdoor Plant Care is an independent garden content site written and operated by Thomas Joseph from Melville, Long Island, USDA zone 7a. "We," "us," and "our" in these terms refers to Thomas Joseph and the Outdoor Plant Care site at outdoorplantcare.com.
What this site is
A research-backed reference for outdoor gardening: plant care guides, problem diagnostics, gear we tested, lawn care, and free tools. We cite primary sources from land-grant universities and botanical authorities (Cornell, NC State Extension, Penn State, UC IPM, Missouri Botanical Garden, and similar).
How you can use the content
You may read, share, and link to anything on this site. You may quote short excerpts in your own work with attribution and a link back. You may not republish full articles, generate derivative works at scale (such as AI training datasets), or scrape the site for commercial use without written permission. Educational use by teachers, extension agents, and master gardener programs is encouraged.
Not professional advice
The information here is informational only. It is not a substitute for a certified arborist, plant pathologist, agronomist, or extension agent who can examine your specific plants on site. Pesticide and fungicide product labels are the law; always read and follow the label, which supersedes anything written here. If you are dealing with a regulated invasive species or a tree disease that affects neighbors, contact your state or county extension office.
Affiliate relationships
This site participates in the Amazon Associates program (tag outdoorplantcare-20). When you click a recommendation and purchase, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Every Amazon link is marked rel="sponsored". See the affiliate disclosure for the full FTC-compliant breakdown. We accept no sponsored content, no paid placements, and no free products in exchange for coverage.
User-submitted content
When you submit a question via the ask form or sign up for the newsletter, you grant us permission to read it, reply to it, and use anonymized excerpts in future content. We will never publish your email address. Don't submit anything you would not want me to see.
Warranty disclaimer
The site and its contents are provided "as is" without warranties of any kind, express or implied. We do not warrant that the site will be uninterrupted, error-free, or free of viruses. Plant identification and diagnostic tools are best-effort references, not certified plant identifications. Always confirm a serious diagnosis (such as fire blight on commercial fruit trees) with your state extension service.
Limitation of liability
To the maximum extent permitted by law, Thomas Joseph and Outdoor Plant Care are not liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, consequential, or punitive damages arising from your use of the site or reliance on its content. This includes plant loss, property damage from misapplied chemicals, allergic reactions, or any decision you make based on what you read here.
Changes to these terms
We may update these terms occasionally. The "last updated" date at the top of this page always reflects the most recent revision. Continued use of the site after a change means you accept the new terms.
Governing law
These terms are governed by the laws of the State of New York, without regard to its conflict-of-law principles. Any dispute that cannot be resolved by reasonable correspondence will be resolved in the state or federal courts of Suffolk County, New York.
Contact
Questions about these terms? Email thomas@outdoorplantcare.com.