Each member society defines guidelines for beautification of its community, including planning, development and maintenance of urban parks.
[5] At inception, the organization was established to promote horticultural practices in the province, with a specific focus on ornamental plants.
[1] It did so by organizing shows, staging competitions, and hosting courses to "interest juniors and others in the study of horticulture".
[1] Today, it is focused on food gardening,[5] for example by promoting the installation of bee nesting boxes by local societies.
[5] At the 2014 Fall Convention, it established GardenOntario Week, an annual program organizing horticultural events and activities throughout the province.