Episodes

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 southeastern U.S. climate. Jenny offers expertise on soil management, especially with red clay, and choosing suitable plants. Topics include dealing with full sun gardens, the importance of knowing plant mature sizes, ...

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 are the best practices Mike implements for soils, plant selections, and timing. All important for a successful fall harvest. Mike and Judy Cunningham have been teaching people how to grow, cook, and preserve good organic food for over 10 years. ...

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 and Longwood Gardens. Now based in Nashville, Troy discusses his successful career in garden and floral design, his role on the hit gardening show Volunteer Gardener, and his current ventures in leading garden tours world...

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 Washington, DC. The garden is open to visitors 24 hours a day. Due to the nearly constant events occurring within a stone’s throw, and major construction on aging buildings, the challenges of keeping the gardens looking good can be daunting. Jan...

173 - Embracing Naturalistic Planting Designs - Jared Barnes 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 this classification system or how it works. We talk about this and more in this episode 173 - Embracing Naturalistic Planting Designs - Jared Barnes, Ph.D...

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 and grasses is essentials and why grasslands are so important. Weaving as much diversity as we can get to create as much resilience we can get in the habitat Jennifer Ceska is accredited Public Service and O...

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 what about those dry shady gardens? She’ll shed some light on that. Kata shares some simple low maintenance techniques that will be well worth your efforts and she also throws in a deer reptant fun fact. Living in Durham North Carolina Kata has ...

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 role of color in gardening with Dr. Laura Deeter, a professor of horticulture at Ohio State University. Laura explains the science behind color perception, the impact of color in garden design, and how different lighting conditions affe...

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. Steve takes great joy in answering your garden questions every day at Southern Living Blog and The Grumpy Gardener on Facebook . Steve is quoted often. Usually in distain tones since he coined the term “Crape Murder”. His book Pass...

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 techniques, shares practical tips, and highlights notable canning equipment and safety practices. Additionally, Denise goes over essential tools, recommended recipes, and personal anecdotes about the importance of clea...

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 in garden design. Shannon provides insights into the growth cycles of warm season and cool season grasses, and offers practical advice on plant selection and maintenance. The episode also touches on the ...

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 design philosophy rooted in resource savings and creating habitats for birds and pollinators, offering practical tips for garden enthusiasts. The ...

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, planting under oak trees, and the psychology behind gardening. He also discusses his book and the importance of connecting with nature through unconventional gardening me...

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 dreamt of crafting your very own plants, tailored specifically for your garden? Well, buckle up because we're about to dive into this extraordinary world with an expert who's mastered the art of plant breeding. In this episode, I'm thrilled to intr...

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 crops has been featured on the popular public television program, “Growing a Greener World” (episode 809 and 1202), hosted by Joe Lamp’l. In the last year Susan’s book, The Vegetable Garden Pest Handbook, has proven...

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 co-leader of the Dwarf Tomato Breeding Project. Around town in Henderson or Raleigh North, Carolina, you may know him as just the odd person with a garden where the driveway...

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 has settled in and in this episode Sarah explains the details that makes it successful. It is a creation perfect for insects, small mammals, birds and people. Sarah Roberts is the Olga C. de Goizueta Vice President of the Goizueta ...

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 discuss the foundational role of soil in gardening success and how adding organic matter can vastly improve soil quality. The conversation covers the importance of understanding soil's physical, chemical, and biological prope...

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 pairing them with some surprise companion plantings. Jason and his wife, Shelly, partner with Jason's mom and dad to produce heirloom plants at their nursery, Petals from the Past. Their mission is to educate and grow tough pl...

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 and sustainable practices. Born into a family of botanists and gardeners in England, she's now dedicated to sharing her expertise through writing, speaking, and tending her garden, Northview Garden...

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, writer, photographer, and speaker. She found herself unexpectedly drawn into the world of gardening despite her initial focus on creating art. With eight books under her belt and a thriving radio program, GardenLine on WXTK , C.L. is...

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 being inspired by garden walks across the United States to establishing the Experience Memphis Garden Walk, highlighting its growth, benefits to the community, and how it fosters a sense of connectivity and pride among re...

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 with a number of botanical delights. Denise’s years of experience and experimentation shares her journey into the world of edible flowers, offering a slice of wisdom for enthusiasts and novices alike. A trip t...

In this episode we explore gardening using tropical plants, with Marianne Willburn. 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 such as 'Summer Romances', 'Long Term Commitments', Best Friends, 'Friends with Benefits' and 'High Maintenance Partners'. Marianne stresses the importance of being open to experimenting with these plants, seeking new adven...