Disclosure

Poppy's Garden is a small, independent site built around a genuine love of plants, soil, and the slow satisfaction of watching something grow. This page explains, in plain language, how we make money, how we handle gifts and free products, and how we keep our recommendations honest. If you want the shorter legal version specific to affiliate links, see our Affiliate Disclaimer.

Why This Page Exists

We believe readers deserve to know exactly what is going on behind the scenes of any gardening blog they trust for advice. Whether it's a tool recommendation, a fertilizer review, or a tip about which seeds germinated best in our own raised beds, we want it to be clear where our opinions come from and whether money changed hands to get them written. This disclosure covers affiliate commissions, sponsored content, gifted products, and our general editorial approach, which is described in more depth on our Editorial Policy page.

Affiliate Links and Commissions

Some links on Poppy's Garden are affiliate links. This means that if you click through and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission — at absolutely no extra cost to you. The price you pay stays the same whether you use our link or go directly to the retailer. These commissions help cover the real costs of running this site: hosting, photography equipment, seeds and soil for our test beds, and the time it takes to research and write each guide properly.

We only link to products we have actually used, tested, or would genuinely recommend to a friend who asked us over the garden fence. We do not stuff articles with affiliate links just to chase clicks, and we never let a commission rate decide whether something is worth recommending. For the full technical breakdown of which programs we participate in and how these links are disclosed within articles, please read our dedicated Affiliate Disclaimer.

Gifted Products and PR Samples

From time to time, brands send us gardening tools, seed packets, planters, or other products to try out, hoping we'll write about them. When this happens, we follow a simple rule: receiving a free item never guarantees a positive review, a mention, or any coverage at all.

• If a product doesn't perform well in our own garden conditions, we say so — or we simply don't publish anything about it.
• Any article discussing a gifted or sponsored product will clearly state that the item was provided free of charge.
• We test products the same way we would if we had paid for them ourselves: over several weeks or a full growing season where relevant, not a single afternoon.

Sponsored Content

Occasionally, a brand may pay us directly to write about their product or service. When a post is sponsored, we label it clearly at the top of the article so there is no ambiguity about the nature of the content. Sponsored posts still go through our normal editorial standards — we won't accept a sponsorship for a product we wouldn't personally use in our own garden, and we retain full control over the wording, photos, and honest assessment of the item. If you're a brand interested in working with us, details on how that process works are outlined on our Collaboration page.

Editorial Independence and Honest Opinions

None of our advertising or affiliate relationships influence the actual gardening advice we give. If a certain fertilizer burns seedlings in our test containers, we will say so even if that brand is one we've partnered with in the past. If a cheap, unbranded tool outperforms an expensive one we're not earning any commission on, we'll recommend the cheap one. Our goal is to be the kind of gardening resource we'd want to read ourselves: practical, tested, and free of empty hype. You can read more about who writes and reviews our content on the About Us page.

What This Means for Our Product Reviews

When we publish a review of a garden tool, plant food, seed variety, or piece of equipment, that opinion reflects our own experience using it in real growing conditions — not a script provided by the manufacturer. We may mention limitations, better alternatives, or situations where a product simply isn't worth the money, regardless of any commercial relationship involved.

Questions or Concerns

Transparency only works if readers feel comfortable asking questions when something feels unclear. If you spot an undisclosed affiliate link, have a question about a specific sponsored post, or just want to understand how a particular review came about, reach out any time at [email protected]. You can also find general contact details on our Contact page. We take these questions seriously and will always give a straight answer.

Updates to This Disclosure

As Poppy's Garden grows and we take on new partnerships or affiliate programs, this page will be updated to reflect current practices. We recommend checking back occasionally, especially if you're a regular reader who relies on our recommendations before making a purchase.