This page is the public version of the evidence policy every article on this site is checked against before it publishes.
The general rule
A general gardening technique (mowing height, mulching, pruning basics) is written from editorial knowledge, cross-checked where a specific figure is claimed. A planting-window or climate claim always states which Australian zone it applies to — subtropical, temperate, tropical or cool — and cites a state horticultural source where the timing matters.
What always needs a cited, authoritative source
Some subjects are never written from general knowledge, no matter how confident the claim sounds:
- Plant toxicity to pets or children — never described as “safe” without a citation; always paired with the Poisons Information Centre (13 11 26) for people and a vet for pets
- Pesticides, herbicides and chemical rates — we never state an application rate or mixing ratio. Only broad active-ingredient categories are discussed, always deferring to the product label and APVMA registration
- Biosecurity and invasive species — fruit fly zones, declared weeds and interstate plant movement are sourced to the relevant state authority (e.g. Queensland DAF), never stated from memory
- Water and fire restrictions — we never assert a current restriction level as fact. We link to the relevant council or state lookup instead
- Protected wildlife — for possums and other protected species, only legal deterrents are described, sourced to the relevant state environment authority
- Legal or regulatory questions — body corporate rules, tenancy law and permit requirements are framed generally and never presented as specific legal advice
What this means in practice
An article touching any of the subjects above is classified internally as AMBER or RED. AMBER content requires a cited authoritative source before it can even be considered for publication, and is never published automatically regardless of how complete every other part of the article is. RED content — anything that would require stating a chemical rate or specific legal position — is never published by automation at all.
Corrections
If something on this site is wrong, we want to know. Use the contact page and we will review and correct it.
How we are paid
See our affiliate disclosure for how commercial relationships work and why they never affect a recommendation.