How We Select, Test, Rate & Review Products + Our Editorial Process

Part of our mission here at DIY Gardening is to provide our visitors with unbiased information on gardening methods, tools, equipment and products, as well as plants, composts, feeds and garden design.

We also publish content about other topics we are familiar with such as home improvement, building and sometimes, construction.

Much of our process involves testing and reviewing products ourselves.

Our mission? To help you find the best products or plants that suit your needs and budget.

We may earn a commission when you make a purchase via a link we’ve posted on our pages, but we don’t accept payments to write positive or negative reviews, and we have a strict editorial process.

Our content is our own, and we buy all the products and plants ourselves with our own money. If we are ever asked to write a review and are provided with the product or plant for free or given any other reward, we will state this clearly at the top of the review page.

We understand that trust is important to our visitors and we aim to report the truth about the products we test, even if that means urging our visitors to avoid a product (example 1 and example 2).

Our Process

The first step is the selection process.

With so many competing products, picking a good one from the crowd can be challenging. We start by conducting a meta-analysis of existing reviews and ratings online. We look at common faults and issues, recommendations, and positive comments.

Once we’ve selected a product or multiple products, we look at the features and, if applicable, the specifications.

We then test the products just as you would use them – we open up the box and carry out real-world testing in our garden.

We don’t just describe the products, we put them through their paces and we also ask contacts we have to use them and report back to us as well.

Does the product work as described? What could be better? Where does it fall short? Is it worth paying more for these extra features or not?

We then compare the product(s) to others on the market and offer suggestions that may benefit certain users or scenarios.

For example, does another product offer a longer-lasting battery? Is it worth the extra cost if you have a small garden?

Fact-Checking

Prior to publication, we always ask at least one other person to fact-check any claims we have made in the review or article.

This includes:

• Suitability.
• Specifications.
• Plant ideas/combinations.
• Comparisons.
• Prices.
• Warranty periods.
• Building Regulations.

We ask the fact checker to use their experience and judgement and where applicable to double check with respected organisations and websites.

If a review or guide has been fact-checked, we will state the fact checker’s name at the top of the page.

Seeking Expert Advice

We have many contacts in the gardening and landscaping industries and where applicable, we ask for a second opinion. 

Whether we are testing physical products or creating a list of plants/combinations, or even a lawncare guide, we know that citing industry experts ensures our content is accurate and can be trusted.

If possible, we will provide a clickable web link to an external site to back up any important claims we make.

No Take-Down Policy

On several occasions, we have been asked by product manufacturers to take down a negative product review and we have even been offered incentives to do so.

We do not accept financial rewards or anything else to take down negative reviews.

Plant Growing Guides

We also publish plant growing guides that are based on our experience and knowledge that we have gained through formal education and from trial and error over the years.

On our site, you’ll also find ideas for inspiration, combining plants and overcoming common gardening issues. These are based on our own experience and where practical, we will verify the information with a peer or third party for accuracy.

Price Guides

Our team here has also published price guides for projects we are familiar with, these are usually related to:

• Gardening.
• Landscaping.
• Roofing.
• Home improvement.

Our selected authors carry out independent research prior to publishing price guides and we insist that the prices are checked at least once a year so our readers know they are up to date.

Why Trust Us

We don’t mass produce content and only provide a limited number of reviews and guides within the home improvement, gardening and garden niche here in the UK. 

We do this so we can concentrate on what we are good at and what we enjoy – gardening home improvement.

Each product review is fact-checked before publication and once it’s live online, we don’t just forget about it. Instead, we update our content on a regular basis, so it’s always relevant and helpful.

We know that trust is important and where practical, we will provide evidence that we have used the product/plant or have tested/grown it.

Meet Us

Meet the team behind DIY Gardening: