The Garden Question is a podcast for people that love designing, building and growing smarter gardens that work.
Listen in as we talk with successful garden designers, builders, and growers. Discovering their stories along with how they think, work, and grow.
This is your next step in creating a beautiful year-round, environmentally connected, low maintenance, and healthy thriving outdoor spaces!
It doesn’t matter if you’re a beginner or an expert there will always be something inspiring when you listen to “The Garden Question” podcast.
Host Craig McManus.
Subscribe to the “Good to Know ” Newsletter Gardening as a Lifestyle – Rick Vuyst – 197 Chapters 00:00 Introduction to the Garden Question Podcast 00:17 Meet Rick Vuyst: A Gardening Legend 00:54 Rick’s Insights on Gardening Trends 02:06 The Impact of Climate Change on Gardening 03:10 Innovations in Plant Breeding 04:41 Generational Shifts in Gardening 05:10 Rick’s Retirement and Industry Changes […]
Read More and Listen to EpisodeThe 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 […]
Read More and Listen to EpisodeSquare 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, […]
Read More and Listen to EpisodeResolving 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 […]
Read More and Listen to EpisodeGrowing 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 […]
Read More and Listen to EpisodeCreating Dry Shade Gardens and Other Adventures at the Longleaf Botanical Gardens – Hayes Jackson – 145 Dry shade is often a challenge in creating a successful garden. Such conditions require careful plant selection and insights. Hayes Jackson believes “there’s a plant that loves that spot no matter how bad or how difficult you think […]
Read More and Listen to EpisodeBreaking the Garden Mold: A Conversation on Garden Constraints and Adaptation – Marianne Willburn – 144 In episode 144 of the Garden Question podcast, host Craig McManus interviews Marianne Wilburn, a garden writer and expert. opinion columnist for the American Horticultural Society’s The American Gardener and is a contributing editor at GardenRant.com. She authored the […]
Read More and Listen to EpisodeGardening for Stress Relief: Exploring Wellbeing in Nature – Perla Sofía Curbelo Santiago – 143 In this episode we talk with Perla Sofía Curbelo-Santiago, a passionate gardener and professional communicator from Puerto Rico. Perla Sofía is the founder of Agrochic, a gardening lifestyle platform in Spanish that advocates for the profound benefits of gardening for […]
Read More and Listen to EpisodeCrape Murder Season – Craig McManus -142 In this episode of the Garden Question podcast, the host, Craig McManus, explores the practice of ‘crepe murder’. He emphasizes the damage improper pruning can cause to crape myrtle trees, detaching their natural beauty and weakening their growth potential. McManus suggests proper pruning techniques to maintain the tree’s […]
Read More and Listen to EpisodeCultivating Change: The Power of Gardens – Jennifer Jewell – 141 Host Craig McManus discusses the transformative power of gardening and the incredible impact they have on our lives with guest Jennifer Jewell. Jennifer is a garden advocate, author, and award-winning podcast and radio host, shares examples of how gardens influence our lives. She addresses the […]
Read More and Listen to EpisodeNurturing a Garden: Adventures, Wisdom, and Insights from Cox Arboretum and Garden – Tom Cox -140 Starting a garden isn’t just about planting seeds and tending greens. It’s a compelling journey that goes beyond the soil – a tale that’s not only visually enthrall but emotionally connect. To learn more about this horticultural expedition, we […]
Read More and Listen to EpisodeThe Unexpected Journey of Poinsettias from Mexico to our Living Rooms – Jim Faust -139 The vibrant red and green foliage of the poinsettia are familiar sights in homes around the world during the Christmas holiday season. But have you ever wondered how this exotic flowering plant from Mexico became a quintessential symbol of Christmas? […]
Read More and Listen to EpisodeThe Stories and Magic of Real Christmas Trees – Mel Koelling – 138 Tannenbaum Farms – Courtesy of Mel Koelling We had the unique opportunity to interview Dr. Mel Koelling, a seasoned expert in the Christmas tree industry. With Christmas season on the horizon, there is no better time to learn about the fascinating world […]
Read More and Listen to EpisodeCultivating Gratitude: A Thanksgiving Special in the Garden – 137 In this Thanksgiving special episode of the Garden Question Podcast, host Craig McManus brings together a variety of influential guests from previous episodes to talk about what they are thankful for, both in the garden and in life. The episode kickstarts with Brent Heath, a […]
Read More and Listen to EpisodeHarvesting Hope: Nurturing the Soul in Your Garden – Shelley S. Cramm – 136 Today’s episode is an enlightening conversation with Shelley S. Cramm, the insightful author of “My Father is the Gardener.” She writes regularly for her Devotions Blog at GardeninDelight.com, and speaks enthusiastically to garden clubs and faith groups about plants of the […]
Read More and Listen to EpisodeRoots & Ramblings: Cultivating Harmony in the Garden – Molly Hendry -135 Join us in this episode as we explore the harmonious blend of beauty and functionality in gardens. Molly Hendry is a Birmingham native whose expertise as a horticulturist and landscape architect has taken her across the globe. We’ll unravel the fascinating tale of […]
Read More and Listen to EpisodeThe Garden Journey, Mystery, and Discovery – Dan Benarcik – 134 In this episode passions collide and creativity blossoms with Dan Benarcik. A seasoned expert whose life has been a vibrant tapestry of horticulture, art, teaching, and design. Growing up surrounded by the aroma of blooms and saw dust, Dan inherited a deep love for […]
Read More and Listen to Episode133 – Unveiling the Art and Science of Plant Breeding – David Roberts 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 you ever […]
Read More and Listen to EpisodePlant Bulbs Harvest Smiles – Brent Heath – 132 Welcome to another fantastic episode. “Planting Bulbs, Harvesting Smiles,” I’m your host, Craig McManus. Today we’re diving into the vibrant world of bulbs with the one and only Brent Heath from Brent and Becky’s Bulbs. Brent Heath is not just your average gardener; he’s a renowned […]
Read More and Listen to EpisodeWater, Food, Healing: The Transformative Power of Gardening – Heidi Heiland – 131 Heidi Heiland has been diligently leading and artfully expanding her landscape gardening company, Heidi’s Lifestyle Gardens as the CEO. That’s Chief Experience Officer since 1979. With the help of her expert team, they create award winning ecoscapes and nourishing encounters with nature […]
Read More and Listen to EpisodeCultivating the Perfect Garden with Effective Goal Planning – Jeff Rugg – 130 You will be happy that you listen to this episode before you plant your first plant. It begins with setting garden goals. Jeff Rugg is an educator at heart. For over 33 years he has written the weekly nationally syndicated newspaper column […]
Read More and Listen to EpisodeGardeners Never Retire: Overcoming Challenges in Your Senior Years – Duane Pancoast – 129 In this episode we talk about adapting to various gardening challenges. We explore making tough decisions in gardening through the later seasons of life. Also, having the best attitudes toward tough decisions. Mobility restrictions began taking a toll on 84-year-old Duane […]
Read More and Listen to EpisodeThe Monarch Crusader – Carol Pasternak – 128 Carol Pasternak lives by the motto “It’s Gotta Be Fun”. That is what she brings to this episode. Have you ever thought about having a caterpillar as a pet? You will want to after listening to her. Egg hunts are not just from the Easter Bunny. Carol […]
Read More and Listen to EpisodeMr Plant Geek’s Botanical Adventures – Michael Perry -127 In this fresh episode we are talking with Michael Perry also known as Mr. Plant Geek a multihyphenate in the plant world. You know he is adept at many roles in horticulture. Michael is a TV presenter, speaker, hortpreneur and author of Hortus Curious, a visual […]
Read More and Listen to EpisodeBranches and Boundaries: Navigating Tree Legalities – Lea Clark -126 Have you ever wondered about your neighbor’s tree branch hanging over your house? Or thought who really owns that tree on my property line. Is ignoring the questionable tree in my backyard a good idea? Well in this episode we talk with an ISA Certified […]
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