Subscribe to the “Good to Know ” Newsletter or  On Your Favorite Listening App The Christmas Tree Chronicles: The True Story – Dr. Mel Koelling – 189 Welcome to The Garden Question Podcast-where we’re all about designing, building, and growing a smarter garden that works! I’m your host, Craig McManus, and today we’re diving into […]

Subscribe to the “Good to Know ” Newsletter A Conversation with John Bartram – Kirk R. Brown – 188 In today’s episode I have a fascinating conversation with John Bartram, America’s First Botanist and a Legacy of Native Plant Explorer. Well actually, it’s with Kirk R. Brown, a renowned garden speaker and historian who brings […]

Subscribe to the “Good to Know ” Newsletter Salt Hay and Pine Straw Sustainable Mulching – Bill Strock -187 This is The Garden Question Podcast where you’ll learn to “Design, build, and grow a smarter garden that works.” In today’s episode, we’re diving into an emerging trend in sustainable mulching that’s capturing gardeners’ attention far […]

Gentle Gardening: Gardening With Uncooperative Bodies – Erin Alladin -185 Welcome to The Garden Question Podcast! I’m your host, Craig McManus. Today we’ve got a fantastic episode lined up. Whether you’re a beginner or an expert seasoned pro, this conversation will inspire you to think deeper about gardening. Our guest is Erin Alladin, creator of […]

Empowering Your Fall Garden – Heather Andrews – 184 Welcome to today’s episode, where we talk about empowering your garden by diving into the importance of incorporating native plants into your garden-especially during the fall season. Our guest is Heather Andrews, a published author, award-winning photographer, Master Gardener, and Pollinator Steward with a passion for […]

Creating a Sense of Place: The Art of Garden Design – Nathan Wilson – 183 In this episode Nathan Wilson explores the concept of creating a ‘sense of place’ in gardening. He emphasizes the importance of blending architecture, plant materials, and personal history to create unique garden environments. He shares insights into the balance between […]

Photo courtesy of NGB Your Success with National Garden Bureau and All-America Selections – Diane Blazek -182 00:00 Introduction to The Garden Question Podcast 00:41 Meet Diane Blazek: A Journey in Gardening 01:29 The Legacy of National Garden Bureau 05:10 Victory Garden 2.0: Reviving a Historic Movement 06:23 The Impact of COVID-19 on Gardening 08:09 […]

A Gardening Power House in Your Pocket – George Nagrodsky – 181 George Nagrodsky, a season gardener and the developer of Garden Savvy, an app designed to make your gardening easier and more fun. George’s gardening journey took a new direction when he moved from Long Island, NY, to John’s Island, SC. Facing sandy soils, […]

How to Grow Nutritious Baby Salad Greens All Winter – Mike Cunningham -180 Mike Cunningham believes that having a salad every day is probably one of the healthiest things you can do for yourself. In this episode we will discover how simple, easy, and quick growing greens can keep your salad bowl full all winter. […]

Amazing Native Vines for Your Garden – Dajawn Williams – 179 In this episode we discuss the benefits of native vines with guest Dajawn Williams, covering their ecological importance and management. The discussion highlights specific native vines like muscadine, climbing hydrangea, purple and yellow passion flowers, more and their roles in local ecosystems. The conversation […]

Plant Geeks in Love and Their Botanical Journey – Jon & Adrienne Rothling – 178 In episode 178 of ‘The Garden Question’ podcast, host Craig McManus interviews Adrienne and John Rothling, directors of the Paul J. Ciener Botanical Garden in Kernersville, NC and  Reynolda Gardens of Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, NC. respectively. They share […]

Becoming A Student of Your Garden – Jenny Simpson – 177 In this episode of The Garden Question Podcast, host Craig McManus converses with Jenny Simpson, co-owner of Creekside Nursery in North Carolina. They delve into the concept of becoming a diligent student of your garden by understanding its unique conditions and adapting to the […]

Fall Organic Vegetable Gardening Wisdom – Mike Cunningham – 176 Mike and Judy Cunningham are harvesting the last summer crops at Country Gardens Farm. Fall gardening is just beginning. Mike takes a break to talk about his favorite time of the year in the garden. Some of the things you will discover in this episode […]

Gardening Adventures, Myths, Dreams, and Inspiration – Troy B Marden – 175 In this episode of The Garden Question podcast, host Craig McManus interviews accomplished garden designer Troy B Marden. Troy shares his incredible journey in horticulture that began at the age of 14 and includes notable experiences at public gardens such as Calloway Gardens […]

Exploring The Smithsonian’s Ripley Garden – Janet Draper -174 Janet Draper gets to play in the dirt and talk to people from around the world. This is her 25th year as the sole horticulturalist for Smithsonian’s Mary Livingston Ripley Garden. This tiny 1/3 of an acre garden is located on the National Mall and in […]

Embracing Naturalistic Planting Designs – Jared Barnes -173 Naturalistic planting design begins with understanding what roles certain plants play in nature. One of the most useful concepts in a plants’ survival strategy is learning how to classify it on the Grimes Triangle. This is a new concept for me. I don’t remember every hearing about […]

Enhancing Your Garden with Native Plants – Jennifer Ceska – 172 You will be surprised how much your day-to-day gardening helps save our endanger plant species. In this episode Jennifer Ceska is determined to make native plants regular. How to wake up native plants already on your land and learning to love the untidy. She explains why connecting people […]

Mastering Perennials in Southern Heat and Humidity – Kata Wallace – 171 Do you often find it a challenging to grow perennials in the heat and humidity of the south? In this episode we talk with Kata Kress Wallace about the best ways to overcome those challenges. It’s no secret that perennials love the full sun, but […]

Understanding Your Garden Color – Dr. Laura Deeter – 170 Color excites us more than any design element in the garden because it speaks emotionally to us. In this episode we will dissect and learn how color speaks to us in our garden. In this episode of ‘The Garden Question’ podcast, host Craig McManus discusses the […]

Inside the Mind of Southern Living’s The Grumpy Gardener – Steve Bender -169 When Southern Living’s The Grumpy Gardener speaks gardeners listen. For more than 40 years Steve Bender has strived to make gardening fun. His writings about southern gardens and his hands in the dirt experiences are sought after by beginning and expert gardeners. […]

Preserving Your Harvest: Best Practices and Safety Tips – Denise Schreiber – 168 Denise Schreiber provides an in-depth guide on how to preserve an abundant vegetable garden harvest through various methods such as canning (both pressure and water bath), dehydration, and freezing in this week’s episode. She discusses the pros and cons of different preservation […]

The Untapped Potential of Grasses & Sedges – Shannon Currey – 167 In this episode of The Garden Question Podcast, host Craig McManus interviews Shannon Currey, a horticultural educator and consultant with Izell Native Plants. They delve into the distinctions between ornamental grasses and turf grasses, and the ecological benefits of using grasses and sedges […]

Crafting Gardens that Thrive Ecologically – Preston Montague – 166 In Episode 166 of The Garden Question Podcast, host Craig McManus interviews landscape architect Preston Montague about creating impactful ecological landscapes. Preston discusses using plants from diverse regions, the importance of understanding ecosystem relationships, and integrating native plants to enhance ecological function. He describes his […]