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 whiteflies. I'll finish by talking about Messenger, a plant health regulator.

I'm talking All-Americas Selections (AAS) for 2009 in this podcast. The mission of All-America Selections is "to promote new garden seed varieties with superior garden performance judged in impartial trials in North America". I then answer gardeners' questions on re-blooming amaryllis, poinsettia care, and Christmas cactus. Visit the Perennial Plant Association website for Perennial Plant of the Year award winners. I'll finish with heat stress of plants.  Click here to view the American Horticultural Society Heat Zone Map.

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

Thank you for sending in your gardening questions.  I'll focus this podcast on getting some of them answered. Should I plant basil in the sun or shade? When to cut my mums? Can I plant a snowberry bush in the same place that I cut down a tree? Suggestions for weed control? Grass seed for shade areas? Italian parsley has mutated. Geranium has foliage but no flower buds. I'll finish with a mention of a great reference book, Garden Insects of North America by Whitney Cranshaw; Princeton University Press. ISBN: 0=691-09560-4

I share tips on midsummer care of perennials. I'll answer gardeners’ questions on poor drainage of lawns, moisture loving plants, and rabbit and deer damage on roses and yews. Then Kristin Gies joins me for tips on managing Japanese beetles. I finish off with a favorite product, Mantis Tiller, a great tool for cultivating soil and edging beds.

This episode I discuss caring for plants and flowers in the garden. Then I answer gardeners’ questions on controlling field bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis), problems with clematis buds and earwigs, and moving bleeding heart plants. I finish off with a favorite product, Fiskars Kangaroo Container, a collapsible container for carrying garden debris and soil amendments.

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.)

So much to do and so little time to do it.  In this podcast I'll offer tips on how to reduce winter damage and lighten the work load for next spring.  I'll touch on storing pesticides and fertilizers, animal protection, winter rose protection, storing tools, winter mulch and fall landscape chores.  I then answer a gardener's question on overwintering geraniums. I'll then discuss yellow leaves on plants that have been moved indoors for the winter.  I wrap things up with the sweet stevia plant.

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.

In this podcast I'll share great lawn tips, solutions to common problems and discuss how to be more eco-friendly. I answer a gardener's question about rust on dwarf Alberta spruce. I'll talk about Martha Washington geranium (Pelargonium x domesticum) a great plant to know and grow. Then I outline the differences between crabgrass and quackgrass. I'll finish with some recommended lawn care guides: The Lawn Guide - Midwest Series by Melinda Myers,  The Lawn Guide - Southern Series by Steve Dobbs and The Florida Lawn Guide by Tom McCubbin.

Learn how leaves turn fall color and capture the magical moments of autumn - the cool crisp air, vibrant colored leaves, and a bountiful harvest. I answer gardeners' questions on mushrooms in the lawn and potentilla buds. I'll discuss seasonal needle drop of conifers. I'll finish with a fascinating plant, lion's ear or Leonotis leonurus. It looks like “beebalm on steroids”.

Fall is a great time for planting and in this podcast I'll discuss getting your trees, shrubs, perennials and spring bulbs planted before winter. I'll discuss fall lawn care from fertilizing to leaving leaf and grass clippings on the ground. I then focus on plant protection and using repellents and fencing to keep the animals at bay. I'll tackle gardeners' questions on creeping Charlie, Joseph's coat and quackgrass vs. crabgrass.

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. 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.

Autumn. I'm going to discuss some tasks for fall maintenance, of course it will depend on where your location is, however the task will be the same but the timing will vary. I'll then answer gardening questions on analyzing lilac, finding a blackberry that will survive Minnesota winters and a greenish-grey moss growing on the trunk of a tree. Finally I'll share a favorite garden, The Portland Classical Chinese Garden.

Fall is an excellent time to care for your lawn. In this podcast I give some helpful guidelines to keep your lawn healthy. I answer gardening questions on purchasing a green roof bird-feeder, allium bulbs and tomatoes that are rotting on the bottom. I'll discuss my updated Lawn Guides - Midwest Series. *Note: to order plans for the Green Roof Birdfeeder: Send a self addressed business size envelope to Melinda Myers - Birdfeeder Plans, P.O. Box 370331, Milwaukee, WI 53237-0331

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.

Great landscape design is just one find at this years flower and garden shows.  I'd like to share my experiences with you that I've gained through appearing and touring flower and garden shows across the country. Then I'll answer gardeners' questions on pruning weigela and fertilizing apple trees. My pest tip covers thatch in the lawn. I'll discuss a great quick read, The Man Who Planted Trees by Jean Giono. Finally I'd like to encourage you to visit and share your photos in my photo galleries.

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. 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.

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.

Let's talk lawns! Gardening tips for your lawn that will give you a carpet of green for next year. I answer gardeners' questions on sweet peas and saving seeds. I'll discuss how to prevent crabgrass in your lawn with corn gluten, an environmentally friendly pre-emergent weed suppressant.

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.

Are your plants feeling the heat? Stay cool, try these helpful hints and keep your plants looking beautiful. I'll answer gardeners' questions on tomatoes, seeds and river birch with yellow leaves. Chlorosis is the subject of my pest tip. I'll finish by recommending a brushed stainless steel compost keeper for your kitchen scraps.

I'll discuss the need to look at ways of working in tune with the environment as we plant and manage our gardens. Then I'll answer gardeners' questions on wooly thyme with mildew and lily bulbs that have turned yellow. My pest tip will cover Fuligo septica, better known as dog vomit fungus. I'll finish my podcast with a wonderful shade plant, Drinking Gourd Hosta.

In this podcast I discuss planting a shade garden. Then I answer a gardener's question on ferns. Next Kristin Gies joins me for tips on garlic mustard. I finish by recommending a favorite plant, Japanese painted fern - Athyrium nipponicum 'Pictum'.

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 focus on reviving summer stressed lawns. I answer a gardener's question on ridding the lawn of wild violets. Then Kristin Gies joins me for tips on managing scab. I finish off with a favorite product, Grass Fast, a fabric mulch used to establish newly seeded lawns.

Increase your gardening success by choosing the right plant for the growing conditions. I'll talk heat and cold hardiness, soil conditions, light conditions, and other environmental factors. Visit our Plant Guide for help choosing the right plant for your landscape. Next I'll answer gardeners' questions on butterfly bush and hydrangea care. My pest tip covers moss in the yard. I finish with a product from Moss Acres, the Moss Milkshake.

Melinda Myers at Wisconsin State Fair...
Gardens are ever changing. I'll offer a few tips for helping you transform a landscape or maximizing the growing space in your existing gardens. I'll talk soil preparation, fertilization, maintenance, spacing plants, shade, hardiness and edibles too.

I give tips on giving your landscape that needed spring clean up. Then I answer gardeners’ questions on growing grass under trees. Next Kristin Gies joins me for tips on golden canker. I finish by recommending a wonderful organization, the National Wildlife Federation, helping you turn your backyard into a certified backyard garden. For more information visit their website at nwf.org/backyard.

Scratch that gardening itch by starting your summer garden indoors now. Whether you're growing flowers or vegetables, starting from seed allows you to expand your garden pallet. Many more cool and unique varieties of plants are available to you in the form of seed. In this podcast I'll walk you through sowing to setting out in the garden. I'll offer tips on germination, thinning, lighting and hardening off. I'll explain how to avoid damping off of seedlings and strategies to keep your seedlings happy and healthy. I finish with a mention of a spring favorite of mine, the early blooming Hellebore, and more specifically a wonderful new introduction, 'Pink Frost' Hellebore. For photos and more information on this plant follow the link here to the National Garden Bureau website. Photo: National Garden Bureau

In this podcast I'll discuss the aftermath of drought and how we often forget about the framework of our landscape - our trees. I answer gardeners' questions on bringing hibiscus indoors for the winter and planting seeds. Multicolored Asian lady beetle is the subject of my pest tip. I then finish with a product to help get your newly planted trees off to a good start - Treegator®

Growing and tending indoor 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.

This podcast features tips on proper lawn care. Then I answer a gardener's question on lawn thatch. Kristin Gies joins me for tips on identifying and managing spittlebugs. I finish off with a favorite product, Milorganite, a slow release, organic fertilizer for your lawn and garden.

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.

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.

Tips on watering your lawn and garden is the focus of this podcast. Then I answer gardeners’ questions on protecting rhododendrons during the winter and understanding emerald ash borer. Then Kristin Gies joins me for tips on managing anthracnose. I finish off with a favorite product from Gardener’s Supply Company, Aqua Cones, to assist gardeners with the task of watering.