The Empress of Dirt website is packed with online garden tools and resources to make your garden life easier and more enjoyable.
If you find this useful, be sure to sign up for the free creative gardening newsletter for encouraging tips every two weeks.
Handy Online Garden Tools
While some garden tips and ideas are universal, most of the tools and resources here at Empress of Dirt are tailored to cold climate gardeners in Canada and the United States (hardiness zones 4 to 8). I’ve been gardening here for many years and it’s what I know.
From fun to practical, I hope you find what you need to dig in and create the garden you want.
Empress of Dirt
Garden Name Generator
Use this free tool to create a unique name for your garden.
There are funny, mysterious, fantastic, romantic, and wild options.
Empress of Dirt
Soil, Mulch, Compost, & Potting Mix Calculator
Use this free tool to calculate the volume and costs for adding soil and top dressings to your garden beds, raised beds, and other containers.
Empress of Dirt
Garden Task Checklist: Season-by-Season
Helpful checklists of tasks to get done in the garden each season. Includes everything from top priority to ok-to-procrastinate items.
Empress of Dirt
Garden Quotes, Jokes, & Puns
A collection of favorite garden-related quotes, jokes, and puns from sentimental to silly.
Empress of Dirt
Favorite Garden Books
These are some favorite garden-related book recommendations for sowing, growing, nurturing wildlife, plant propagation, garden art, and memoirs.
Empress of Dirt
Indoor Seed Starting Plan
A smart seed indoor starting plan for cold climate gardeners wanting to get a jump start before the outdoor gardening season.
Empress of Dirt
What Every Gardener Should Know About Their Growing Space
Knowing your garden’s growing conditions helps you select the right plants, plan for seasonal changes, and make sustainable choices. Use these tips to create your own garden profile, covering everything from frost dates to soil health, for better planning and long-term success.
Empress of Dirt
Two Minutes in the Garden Podcast
Our podcast (free audio show) covers topics of interest to gardeners who want facts and science, not folklore, in to-the-point 10-minute episodes. The host is my husband, Gary Will.
More Beginner Tips
- How to Read Seed Packets
- How to Write Botanical Plant Names
- What is Well-draining Soil and How to Know if You Have It
- How to Assess the Light Conditions in Your Garden
- Quick Way to Know Your Soil Type
Find Your Frost Dates & Hardiness Zone
Plant Hardiness Zones | 
United States | 
Canada
These are listed on seed packets and plant tags to guide your choices.
Average Frost Dates | Use this calculator at Almanac.com. Enter your city and state or province to find your first and last frost dates and number of frost-free days.
Ecoregion | Learn about local native plants, animal species, and environmental conditions to make garden choices that benefit your ecosystem.
Learn More: Understanding Frosts & Freezing For Gardeners
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Garden Planner
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Printable Garden Planner & Notes
An assortment of basic garden checklists, undated calendars, and note pages for planning and tracking your gardening season.
About The Planner | Visit Ebook Shop
This is a digital file (PDF format) you save to your device to print as much as you like for your own personal use. It is not a physical product.
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Ebooks
Reader’s favorite tips and tutorials on various topics compiled into handy downloadable ebooks.
~Melissa the Empress of Dirt ♛
