In this podcast I'll share a few ideas with you on affordable ways to improve your landscape. Then I'll answer gardening questions on rust in the lawn, blueberry bushes and Japanese beetles. I'll discuss how to deal with white flies. I'll finish by talking about Messinger, a plant health regulator.

In this podcast I would like to focus on the planting beds. I'll answer gardeners' questions on how to get a great lawn, perennials for shade, planting primrose and telling the difference between male and female bittersweet vine. In my pest tip I'll discuss septoria leaf spot on tomatoes. Finally I'll discuss using a down spout shut-off/diverter with your rain barrel.

I'll tackle gardeners' questions regarding planting pussy willows, late blight and other tomato problems, managing weeds and improving the soil organically, and dealing with deer damage to sugar maple. I'll talk great resources for information on late blight -  Penn State, Food Safety & Late Blight; Cornell University, Late Blight Overview; Iowa State University, Tomato Diseases and Disorders; University of Wisconsin, Managing Late Blight in Organic Gardens

In this podcast I'll discuss black walnut and juglone toxicity. A great resource is The Ohio State University's factsheet Black Walnut Toxicity to Plants, Humans and Horses.  I answer a gardener's question on using wood or leaves as mulch or compost. The May pest European pine sawfly is the subject of my pest tip. I'll finish with a product designed to make your landscaping chores a little easier, the LG-Bagz-It.

In this podcast I offer options for caring for your plants while on vacation. Then I answer gardeners’ questions regarding white spots on everbearing raspberries and problems with tomatoes. Then Kristin Gies joins me for tips on identifying and managing verticillium wilt. I finish off with a favorite plant, swap milkweed (Asclepias incarnata.)

In this podcast I'll talk about composting yard waste, a natural, friendly and valuable soil amendment for your garden. Then I'll answer gardeners' questions on non-blooming hydrangeas and environmentally friendly weed killers. Then I'll discuss a "good guy" in the garden - the ground beetle, which preys on other pests. I'll finish with a simple plan for building your own compost bin.

Spring marks transition in the landscape, I'll discuss a few conifers for your landscape. Then I'll answer gardeners' questions on buying red worms, tomatoes and ant hills and groundcovers shaded by trees. I'll talk Milorganite and soil preparation. Wooly adelgid is the subject of my pest tip. Then I finish with a recommendation of The American Conifer Society and Rich's Foxwillow Pine Nursery, both are great resources for information on conifers.

This podcast covers container gardening. Then I answer gardeners’ questions from across the country on crabapple suckering, pruning a yew hedge, and tomato blossom drop. I finish off with a discussion on water holding crystals, a product used to help hold moisture in the soil for less frequent watering.

I'll offer tips on how to create an outdoor party with the help of colorful plants and containers. Then I answer a gardener's question on lupine seedlings.  I'll talk strategies for dealing with rose slug. I finish with container ideas from Proven Winners and Ball Seed Company.

Deadheading and grooming flowers is the topic of this podcast. Then I answer gardeners’ questions on the bloom time and poor flowering of wisteria and trumpet vine. I finish off with a favorite plant, the 2006 Perennial Plant of the Year (PPY), Firewitch Dianthus (Dianthus gratianopolitanus ‘Feuerhexe’). Visit the Perennial Plant Association website for information on all the PPY winners.

Proper harvesting will help insure the best flavor, quality and maximum productivity.  I'll share tips on harvesting squash, peppers, and potatoes as well as many other popular crops.  Also, what to do with green tomatoes. Send in your favorite green tomato recipe (e-mail info@melindamyers.com or mail to Melinda Myers, PO BOX 370331, Milwaukee, WI 53237-0331 and I’ll send you Volume 1 DVD of Melinda’s Garden Moments (a collection of one minute gardening tips). I answer gardeners' questions on tomato troubles and clematis with yellow leaves.  I'll discuss how these pepper plants (pictured) received help from Purple Cow in the garden. I'll finish with a mention of a great harvesting tool, the garden hod.

Spring break is a good time for family fun in the garden! Gardening questions will be posted in next week's podcast. Pest Tip: Bugs! Only 3% are harmful. New Product/Plant: Lois Ehlert from Children's Literature Independent Info and Reviews.

Are your perennials overcome with too much growth? Do your annuals need a bit of deadheading? Let's grab the pruners and get to work!  I'll finish with a mention of the Cut and Hold - developed for roses and other prickly shrubs.

I'll quell some popular garden myths including: evergreen needles making soil too acidic, removing tomato leaves, maple and oak leaves are bad for compost. Send in your garden myth – if we use it in an upcoming podcast or e-newsletter I will send you a complimentary copy of Volume 1 of Melinda’s Garden Moments DVD. E-mail with subject line Garden Myths to info@melindamyers.com or mail to Melidna Myers, PO Box 370331, Milwaukee, WI 53237-0331. I'll answer gardener's questions regarding yellow hibiscus leaves, Johnny Jump-ups and surprise lilies.  The focus of my pest tip is squash vine borer.  I finish with information on Bayer Advanced for Japanese beetle control on fruit trees, citrus and some vegetables.

Gardening questions are the theme of this podcast. Did the flooding cause my lilac bush to suffer root rot? What are these tiny little creatures on my sumac and Diablo ninebark? How can I rebuild and replenish my soil? My potentillas are not flowering pink, they're white? Can I have a garden in the winter and is a cold frame usable all winter in Wisconsin? New Product/Plant: Green Tip of the Day.

Let's jump start the season.  I'll talk about planting and hardening off transplants. Gardener's questions: What type of small shrubs can I plant in Zone 5? Pest Tip: Corn and seed maggots. New Product/Plant: Wall-o-Water.

Many households are going to begin growing vegetables for the first time this year. I'll give you some basics to get started. Then I'll answer gardeners' questions on installing an arbor for trumpet vine and growing onions in the north. This week's pest tip will focus on clubroot of cabbage and other crucifiers. I'll finish with a recommendation of a great vegetable to grow, Eggplant F1 'Hansel' , an All-America Selections winner.

My topic this week is trees, with proper care you can keep them healthy for a lifetime. I answer gardeners' questions on raspberries and overwintering containers. I'll discuss problems and solutions for carpenter ants that nest in and decay wood.

In this podcast I cover managing and recycling fall leaves. Then I answer gardeners’ questions on mulching roses with leaves and composting leaves from scab infested crabapples. Next Kristin Gies joins me for tips on identifying and managing tar spot. I finish off with a favorite product, the Delux Electric Leaf Shredder, used to manage fall leaves.

Let's continue our discussion on maximizing the harvest, ways to get more produce from small spaces. I'll answer gardeners' questions on soil testing and lawn fertilizers. I'll discuss rose slug in this week's pest tip. Then I'll talk about how to create your own Topsy Turvy tomato planter.

Think Spring! I want to share some new products with you for your garden and landscape. Then I'll answer gardeners' questions on worm composting. New Product: Worms Eat My Garbage by Mary Apelhof ISBN 0-942256-10-7. Pest Tip: damping off fungus

In this podcast I'll discuss practical and easy-to-use tips for starting a new garden bed. Then I'll answer gardeners' questions on fall blooming lilac and an unusual sprout in the compost bin. Pest tip: The charcoal black fungus called sooty mold. New product/plant: The Scrap Eater Living Machine, the recycled wine barrel composter.

In this podcast I cover planting and growing tomatoes. Then I answer gardeners’ questions from across the country on blossom end rot on tomatoes and shredded paper mulch. Then Kristin Gies joins me for tips on identifying and managing aphids in your garden.

In honor of National Poison Prevention Week, I focus on reducing chemicals in your home and landscape in this podcast. Then I answer gardeners’ questions on pruning tomato plants and plants for challenging landscape spaces. Next Kristin Gies joins me for tips on black knot. I finish by recommending the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and their website www.aspca.org, for great information on keeping your pets safe from poisonous plants and harmful household products.

In this podcast I discuss early spring container gardening. Then I answer a gardeners’ question on garlic mustard. Next Kristin Gies joins me for tips on phomopsis tip blight. I finish by recommending a new product, the Pot Lifter, for more information visit Gardeners Supply Company.

I'll provide healthy tips on how to plan a great beginning for your garden, starting with the soil. I'll then answer gardeners' questions on supplemental lighting in a greenhouse and petunias with mold on top of the soil. Pest tip: damping-off, a fungal disease. New product: Coir-a natural soil amendment.

Starting early blooming plants indoors from seeds is the focus of this podcast. Then I answer gardeners’ questions on brown spots of ficus plants and keeping poinsettias year round. Next Kristin Gies joins me for discussion of last year’s pest issues and her prediction on issues in the coming year. I finish by recommending a new product called CowPots.

In this podcast I'll give you some pointers on some simple things you can do to spruce up your landscape. I'll answer gardeners' questions on weed control in the garden, overwintering alstroemeria and controlling bindweed in the flower garden. I'll finish off with info on a great plant, Alstroemeria psittacina.

Growing and tending house plants is good for the spirit but also good for your health. I'll answer gardeners' questions on Japanese silver grass, overwintering hibiscus, repotting cactus and growing lilies. I'll discuss what we can do for our tomato plants that have spots on them? I'll finish by talking about a recent visit to Garvan Woodland Gardens at the University of Arkansas Hot Springs, Arkansas.

I thought I'd talk about the number most popular potted plant for the holidays, the poinsettia. Then I'll answer gardeners' questions on moss under an oak tree and worm composting. I'll talk cold damage to your plants and finish by recommending a great holiday plant, Holly Point poinsettia.

This week’s discussion is on common tomato problems; black bottom, fruit isn’t forming, cracking from the rain, distorted fruit and other diseases and insects. I answer gardeners' questions on black walnut toxicity and pine with red spider mites. Then I'll discuss the Topsy Turvy planter that grows tomatoes upside down.

I'll talk topiary, which is the art of sculpting or training plants into ornamental shapes. Then I'll answer gardeners' questions on compost tea and miracle fruit tree that needs help. I'll finish with a wonderful book, Secrets of Disney's Glorious Gardens by Kevin Markey (ISBN 0-7868-5552-5)