Winter Garden Tips

About Melinda



horticulture, arborist Melinda Myers, known for her gardener friendly and practical approach to gardening, has more than 30 years of horticulture experience in both hands-on and instructional settings. She has a master’s degree in horticulture, is a certified arborist, was a horticulture instructor with tenure, and is on the board of directors for the International Society of Arboriculture. Each year, Melinda presents at many of the major flower shows and garden events throughout the U.S., sharing her knowledge with gardeners from across the country.

Melinda also shares her expertise through a variety of media outlets. She has written over 20 books, including Can’t Miss Small Space Gardening, the Birds & Blooms’ Ultimate Gardening Guide, and Jackson and Perkins’ Beautiful Roses Made Easy: Midwestern Edition. She hosts “Melinda’s Garden Moments,” which air on 89 television and radio stations throughout the United States.  She is a contributing editor and columnist for Birds & Blooms magazine, has a column in Gardening How-to magazine as well as Wisconsin Gardening magazine. She also writes the twice monthly "Gardeners' Questions" newspaper column. Melinda has also been a contributing editor and columnist for Backyard Living magazine and has written articles for Better Homes and Gardens and Fine Gardening magazines. Additionally, she hosted “The Plant Doctor” radio program for over 20 years and seven seasons of Great Lakes Gardener on PBS. Melinda appears regularly as a guest expert on various national, regional and local television and radio shows. 


Melinda Myers gardening help Melinda has written many other books, including Jackson and Perkins’ Selecting, Growing and Combining Outstanding Perennials: Midwest Edition, The Garden Book for Wisconsin, Month-by-Month Gardening in Iowa, Month-by-Month Gardening in Nebraska, Month-by-Month Gardening in the Dakotas, My Wisconsin Garden: A Gardener’s Journal, Month-by-Month Gardening in Wisconsin, Month-by-Month Gardening in the Prairielands, The Minnesota Gardener’s Guide, The Minnesota Horticultural Society’s Month-by-Month Gardening in Minnesota, and The Perfect Lawn: Midwest Series. See all of Melinda’s books and DVDs.

Her 13 years of experience at the University of Wisconsin Extension allowed Melinda to work with backyard, community, and master gardeners throughout Wisconsin. In addition, she began the Master Gardener Program in Milwaukee County. As Milwaukee’s Assistant City Forester, Melinda helped manage the city’s street trees, boulevards, and green spaces. She worked with the Young Adult Conservation Corps supervising crews that maintain University of Wisconsin Extension urban test gardens and provide trail repair and other conservation work. She serves as a horticulture consultant to numerous community and beautification groups.

For her work, community service and media presence, Melinda has received recognition and numerous awards, including the Garden Globe Award for radio talent and the Quill and Trowel Award for her television work, both from the Garden Writers Association. She has also received the Garden Communicator’s Award from the American Nursery and Landscape Association, the Perennial Plant Association Garden Media Award, the Gold Leaf Award for Arbor Day from the International Society of Arboriculture, WMYX’s Remarkable Women Award, as well as the Honorary Life Membership Award from the Wisconsin Arborist Association.