1. Evidence labels
Document and exact-model research
We did not physically use every product. Conclusions come from the cited model’s official product page, current manual, written warranty, material specifications, current price, independent guidance, and clearly identified owner-reported patterns.
Documented physical use
We name the exact item, test period, environment, method, measurements, observations, original photographs, and limitations. Owning a similar product or reading reviews does not qualify.
Named, verifiable review
We identify the reviewer, link to relevant qualifications, state the scope of review, and publish the review date. This label is not used for anonymous or unverifiable feedback.
2. Source hierarchy
- Primary product evidence: the exact current product listing, manual, warranty, specification sheet, safety documentation, and official price.
- Independent technical guidance: university Extension, government, recognized standards bodies, and peer-reviewed sources where the question requires them.
- Documented first-hand evidence: our own measurements and original media only when the page describes the method and limits.
- Owner experience: useful for recurring fit, assembly, service, or durability patterns, but never a substitute for measured facts. We describe it as owner-reported.
Marketplace snippets, search summaries, affiliate copy, and AI-generated text are not treated as evidence.
3. How products are selected
We start with the buyer’s constraints—not commission rate. Depending on the page, the decision set can include:
- exact size, usable growing area, depth, access, and site fit;
- published material, panel, coating, bracing, foundation, or hardware specifications;
- written warranty coverage and exclusions, replacement parts, and support path;
- assembly requirements, freight, soil, foundation, climate, and other whole-project costs;
- current delivered price and availability for the target country;
- important unknowns that the available documents do not resolve.
A product can be the best fit for one use case without being “best” in every climate, budget, or site.
4. Claim and language rules
- Manufacturer service-life, rust, load, temperature, and performance statements stay attributed to the manufacturer.
- A written warranty is not presented as proof that a product will last for that period—or for a longer marketing estimate.
- Assembly time is identified as a manufacturer estimate or owner-reported range unless we timed it ourselves.
- “Tested,” “measured,” “observed,” and “hands-on” require a documented record.
- Editorial illustrations are captioned and never passed off as product photography or test evidence.
- Prices are ranges or snapshots and readers are directed to confirm the live total before buying.
5. Affiliate relationships
Raised Garden Hub may earn a commission when a reader buys through a tracked link, at no extra cost to the reader. Affiliate approval, payout, or commission rate does not determine a recommendation, score, winner, or inclusion.
Commercial links use rel="sponsored". A merchant citation without an approved tracking URL remains a citation and is not counted internally as an affiliate conversion.
6. AI and automation
Automation may assist with outlining, calculations, consistency checks, formatting, or identifying facts that need review. It is not a source. The named editor remains responsible for checking claims against the cited material, removing unsupported language, and deciding whether the page is ready to publish.
Generated diagrams or illustrations are labeled as editorial artwork. They are not evidence that a physical product was used.
7. Updates and corrections
- Commercial pages show an evidence method and, when completed, a source-checked date.
- Model generation, price, availability, manuals, and warranty terms are rechecked during material updates.
- Substantive corrections are made in the page itself; the updated date is not changed merely to make old content look fresh.
- Readers and manufacturers can request a source, flag an exact-model mismatch, or provide correction evidence.
Email [email protected]. Include the page URL, disputed sentence, and a primary source where possible.
8. Expertise and scope limits
Azura is the research editor responsible for this method. The author profile states the editor’s demonstrated scope and does not invent horticulture, engineering, laboratory, or trade credentials.
Site-specific structural load, anchoring, permits, electrical service, glazing requirements, pesticide use, and crop diagnosis may need an appropriately qualified local professional.