Garden blogging
Disclosure and trust for garden bloggers
Readers trust garden bloggers because they seem to be fellow gardeners, not salespeople. Clear disclosure keeps that trust when you accept free seeds, tools or payment, and in the US it is what the Federal Trade Commission expects.
Updated 26 Oct 2026 · Facts checked against the sources at the end.
What needs disclosing
The FTC's guidance for influencers says to disclose any financial, employment, personal or family relationship with a brand. That includes:
- Free or discounted products, like seed packets or a trial tool.
- Payment for a post.
- Affiliate links that earn you a commission.
- Trips, event passes or gifts from a company.
Where to put it
- Place the disclosure with the recommendation itself, where readers see it without clicking 'more'.
- A note only on an 'about' page or at the very end of a long post is easy to miss.
- In videos, say it in the video, not only in the description.
Plain words to use
- 'The company sent me this hose for free to try.'
- 'This post is sponsored by [brand].'
- 'If you buy through these links, I earn a small commission.'
The FTC warns against vague tags and abbreviations that readers may not understand.
Honest reviews
Disclosure does not make a review honest on its own. Say how long you used the product, what did not work, and who it is not for. Never post a review of something you did not use.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to disclose affiliate links on my blog?
Yes. FTC guidance expects clear disclosure when you earn from a link, placed near the link where readers will see it.
Is a disclosure on my About page enough?
No. The FTC says disclosures should be with the endorsement itself, not only on a separate page.
What should a disclosure say?
Use plain words such as 'sponsored', 'the company sent me this for free' or 'I earn a commission if you buy through this link'.
Sources
Written in our own words from the sources above. See our editorial policy. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.