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 […]

Maverick Gardeners Breaking Garden Rules – Felder Rushing – 165 In this episode of The Garden Question podcast, host Craig McManus interviews Felder Rushing, a celebrated horticulturalist and garden communicator. The episode delves into the concept of ‘Maverick Gardeners’-those who follow their own unique gardening practices regardless of trends. Felder shares insights on slow gardening, […]

Creating New Fun Plant Varieties: the Art and Science of Breeding – David Roberts -164 Welcome to another exciting episode of The Garden Question. Today, we’re venturing into the captivating realm of plant breeding, a topic that’s as fascinating as it is innovative. We all relish the joy of designing our own gardens, but have […]

Developing Your Strategy for This Year’s Bugs – Susan Mulvihill -163 Susan Mulvihill is passionate about growing vegetables! Her organic growing methods and pest control have yielded some mighty good eating. She and her husband, Bill, live and garden on 5 acres in Spokane, Washington. Their large raised-bed garden where they grow all sorts of edible […]

Craig LeHoullier is known for many things in the tomato world. Some know him as the NC Tomatoman. Some know him as the fellow who named the very popular heirloom tomato Cherokee Purple. To others, he is the author of two books Epic Tomatoes and Growing Vegetables in Straw Bales. Craig is the co-host of Tomatopalooza and a […]

Embracing the New Perennial Movement in the South – Sarah Carter -161 Sarah Carter and her team have brought the New Perennial Movement to the south on a large scale. The new Entrance Garden’s large sweeps of grasses, perennials, native plants presented in a naturalistic style welcomes you to the Atlanta History Center. The garden […]

The Soil Solution: Unlocking Your Garden’s Potential – Bryce Lane -160 What can you do to improve your garden’s soil to reduce failures? In this episode 160 – The Soil Solution: Unlocking Your Garden’s Potential with Bryce Lane, we discover how understanding soils influences abundant plant growth. This is a remix and encore presentation. They […]

Antique Roses for Today’s Garden – Jason Powell – 159 Jason Powell declares the queen of the garden to be antique roses. Who could argue with old garden roses that exude excellent fragrance, shape, disease resistance and low maintenance? We talk about how these fragrant flowering shrubs make a huge impact in your garden when […]

Smart Water Practices and Your Garden – Jenny Rose Carey – 158 In this episode Jenny Rose Carey, a seasoned horticulturalist, shares how her garden thrives with her smart water-wise practices. Despite 45 inches of rain annually, she emphasizes harmony with natural weather patterns, practical tips and personal anecdotes. She offers valuable insights into tricks […]

Exploring Field Style Planting: A New Approach to Annuals and Perennials – C.L. Fornari -157 In this episode we delve into the fascinating world of gardening with none other than C.L. Fornari. We explore innovative approaches to plantings that challenge traditional gardening norms and embraces the beauty of nature’s design. C.L. is an accomplished artist, […]

156 – Roots of Revitalization: The Transformative Power of Memphis Garden Walks – Kim Halyak This episode of the Garden Question podcast, hosted by Craig McManus, features Kim Halyak, the co-founder of Experience Memphis Gardens. They discuss the impact of garden walks on community connections, local economies, and neighborhood aesthetics. Kim shares her journey from […]

Savoring Edible Flowers in Cooking and Gardening – Denise Schreiber – 155 Exploring the vast culinary experiences of edible flowers offers an explosion of flavors, colors, and textures. I had the pleasure of speaking with Denise Schreiber, an aficionado in the field of edible flowers, to unearth the inspirations, insights, and practices behind her fascination […]

Cultivating Relationships with Tropical Plants in Your Not So Tropical Garden – Marianne Willburn – 154 In this episode we explore gardening using tropical plants, with Marianne Wilburn. Marianne shares insights on how to successfully incorporate tropical and subtropical plants into your not so tropical garden. She breaks down the gardening process into relational categories […]

Choosing and Growing the Right Summer Bulbs for Your Garden – Brent Heath – 153 In this episode we talk with Brent Heath of Brent and Becky’s Bulbs exploring the vibrant world of summer-blooming bulbs. He guides us through making the most out of our gardens with these colorful gems taking center stage. We cover […]

Growing Winter Citrus – Donna Balzer – 152 In this episode we welcome Donna Balzer, an award-winning horticulturist, keynote speaker, and author with over three decades of experience in gardening. Donna’s journey from her roots as a farmer’s daughter with an agriculture degree to her current role as a media personality has equipped her with […]

American Roots: A Conversation with Nick McCullough – 151 In this episode we talk with award-winning garden designer Nick McCullough. He has developed a distinctive style he calls Midwest Modern, one that relies on a balance of natural paving and innovative perennial plantings. Based in Ohio, he and his team at McCullough’s Landscape & Nursery […]

Gardening with Kids and Reaping the Benefits – Em Shipman – 150 Gardening is not just for adults. In fact, getting kids involved in gardening can have a multitude of benefits for their physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Gardening has the power to transform children’s lives and instill in them a love for the outdoor […]

The Maximum Abundance Plan for Your Mini Garden Space – Christy Wilhelmi -149 Christy Wilhelmi shares valuable insights for building and maintaining an organic home food garden. Up to 80 percent of her family’s produce comes from less than 300 square feet of her own garden. We discuss her approach to designing gardens while understanding […]

Square Foot Gardening: Growing More Food with Less Space – Steve and Laura Bartholomew – 164 For 40 years the Square Foot Gardening method has been transforming traditional gardening practice around the world. It is known as a highly efficient method of growing food in small spaces. In this episode of The Garden Question Podcast, […]

Resolving the Bee Keepers and Gardeners Dilemma – Charlotte Ekker Wiggins – 147 In today’s enlightening discussion, Charlotte Ekker Wiggins takes us on a journey through the fascinating intersection of beekeeping and gardening. She breaks down the perceived barriers between these two practices and highlights their inherent connections. Get ready to explore the importance of […]

Growing Herbs for Health, Wellness, Cooking, and Crafts – Kim Roman – 146 Herbs have been around forever, but how well do you understand them? In this episode we have a conversation with Kim Roman. Kim Roman shares her expertise, derives from her forthcoming book “Growing Herbs for Health, Wellness, Cooking, and Crafts.” We talk […]