diff --git a/app/models/garden.rb b/app/models/garden.rb
index 0514f2a96..15bbaa9de 100644
--- a/app/models/garden.rb
+++ b/app/models/garden.rb
@@ -28,10 +28,14 @@ class Garden < ActiveRecord::Base
   scope :active, -> { where(:active => true) }
   scope :inactive, -> { where(:active => false) }
 
+  validates :location,
+    :length => { :maximum => 255 }
+
   validates :name,
     :format => {
       :with => /\S/
-    }
+    },
+    :length => { :maximum => 255 }
 
   validates :area,
     :numericality => {
diff --git a/app/models/notification.rb b/app/models/notification.rb
index 3825d7b12..01f157df9 100644
--- a/app/models/notification.rb
+++ b/app/models/notification.rb
@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@ class Notification < ActiveRecord::Base
   belongs_to :recipient, :class_name => 'Member'
   belongs_to :post
 
+  validates :subject, :length => { :maximum => 255 }
+
   default_scope { order('created_at DESC') }
   scope :unread, -> { where(:read => false) }
 
diff --git a/app/models/post.rb b/app/models/post.rb
index 3a1b372af..6aaf8b72d 100644
--- a/app/models/post.rb
+++ b/app/models/post.rb
@@ -41,7 +41,9 @@ class Post < ActiveRecord::Base
   validates :subject,
     :format => {
       :with => /\S/
-    }
+    },
+    :length => { :maximum => 255 }
+
 
   def author_date_subject
     # slugs are created before created_at is set
diff --git a/app/views/gardens/_form.html.haml b/app/views/gardens/_form.html.haml
index 09c3b99ef..74b33249d 100644
--- a/app/views/gardens/_form.html.haml
+++ b/app/views/gardens/_form.html.haml
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
   .form-group.required
     = f.label :name, :class => 'control-label col-md-2'
     .col-md-8
-      = f.text_field :name, :class => 'form-control'
+      = f.text_field :name, :class => 'form-control', :maxlength => 255, :required => "required"
 
   .form-group
     = f.label :description, :class => 'control-label col-md-2'
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@
   .form-group
     = f.label :location, :class => 'control-label col-md-2'
     .col-md-8
-      = f.text_field :location, :value => @garden.location || current_member.location, :class => 'form-control', :placeholder => 'optional'
+      = f.text_field :location, :value => @garden.location || current_member.location, :class => 'form-control', :placeholder => 'optional', :maxlength => 255
       %span.help-block
         If you have a location set in your profile, it will be used when
         you create a new garden.
diff --git a/app/views/notifications/_form.html.haml b/app/views/notifications/_form.html.haml
index 6e73c7444..094be410d 100644
--- a/app/views/notifications/_form.html.haml
+++ b/app/views/notifications/_form.html.haml
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
     To:
     = link_to @recipient, @recipient
   = label_tag :notification, "Subject:"
-  = f.text_field :subject, :value => @subject, :class => 'form-control'
+  = f.text_field :subject, :value => @subject, :class => 'form-control', :maxlength => 255
   = label_tag :body, "Type your message here:"
   = f.text_area :body, :rows => 12, :class => 'form-control'
   %span.help-block
diff --git a/app/views/posts/_form.html.haml b/app/views/posts/_form.html.haml
index 1ef7efb51..607b76bd8 100644
--- a/app/views/posts/_form.html.haml
+++ b/app/views/posts/_form.html.haml
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
 
   .form-group
     = label_tag :post, "Subject", :class => 'control-label'
-    = f.text_field :subject, :class => 'form-control', :autofocus => 'autofocus'
+    = f.text_field :subject, :class => 'form-control', :autofocus => 'autofocus', :maxlength => 255
 
   .form-group
     - if @post.forum || @forum