The podcast for people who love plants—but not always the same ones.
Brought to you by the editors of Fine Gardening, this fun, informative podcast tackles a...
One deer can do major landscape damage overnight, and if a herd regularly visits your garden you may feel like giving up. Although almost no plant is completely safe if the herbivores are hungry enough, gardeners facing extreme deer pressure aren’t powerless. Incorporating plants with “nasty” characteristics like strong smells, prickly textures, or even toxicity is one easy way to encourage those hooved hordes to browse elsewhere. In this episode, Danielle and Carol share some of the plants that have remained unscathed in their backyards, and expert Bonni Engelhardt weighs in with some of her own go-to selections. Expert: Bonni Engelhardt is a landscape designer and consultant based in southwestern Oregon. You can read about more of her deer-resistant plant recommendations in this article.
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Episode 170: High-Impact Native Plants with Uli Lorimer
Ulrich Lorimer is the director of the Native Plant Tust in Framingham, MA, a conservation organization that manages Garden in the Woods. He has been a longtime advocate for cultivating native plants in both public and private gardens to help offset habitat loss. In this episode, he talks about some outstanding native species that have an outsized impact when planted in a garden setting. He also digs into the nitty-gritty of designing with regionally adapted plants, gardening in a changing climate, and integrating native plants into our backyard ecosystems.
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Episode 169: Great Foundation Plants
When we say “foundation plants” you might think we’re talking about plants that are the backbones of our beds and borders. But that’s not what we mean in this instance. Today we’re discussing plants that are perfect for planting around your home’s foundation. These selections need to adhere to a certain set of requirements: they can't get too big; they can't be too small; they can’t have aggressive root systems; they must have multiple seasons of interest. If that sounds like the holy grail of plants, it is! But luck for you we’ve culled together a dynamic assortment of options for all areas of the country. So, if you're sick of looking at that ugly 2-foot expanse of concrete at the foot of your home listen up, because we’re going to help you cover it up in style. Expert: Lifelong horticulturist Tony Fulmer is the retired chief horticulture officer for Chalet, a specialty nursery in Wilmette, Illinois.
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Episode 168: Rewind – Design Rules of Thumb with Stacie Crooks
Seattle-based garden designer Stacie Crooks creates beautiful, ecologically friendly, low-maintenance gardens throughout the Pacific Northwest. Her most recent article in the December 2024 issue of Fine Gardening magazine tackles the challenges of integrating a vibrant, plant-focused garden into a cookie-cutter neighborhood developed during the post-World War II building boom. To coincide with the publication of the article, we’re revisiting this engaging interview where Stacie covers some of the most valuable insights she has gained through years of experience. Anyone can use Stacie’s rules of thumb to make their own outdoor spaces more welcoming and easier to maintain.
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Episode 167: Pollinator Plants
Great options for welcoming winged visitors to your garden Hardly an episode goes by where we don't mention a pollinator plant. But we have never dedicated an entire episode to the topic, which in our minds is bananas! So today we’re fixing that track record and discussing 11 of our favorite pollinator plants. Native plant expert Cheyenne Wine joins us from Rare Roots Nursery in Virginia to add her top picks to the conversation, as well. Listen now to find trees, shrubs, perennials, and even some bulbs to plant if you’re interested in turning your garden into an insect party buzzing with activity! Expert: Cheyenne Wine is a writer and photographer for Rare Roots nursery in Mechanicsville, Virginia.
The podcast for people who love plants—but not always the same ones.
Brought to you by the editors of Fine Gardening, this fun, informative podcast tackles all things topical in gardening. You’ll listen to the insights (and arguments) of Editor-in-Chief Steve Aitken and Senior Editor Danielle Sherry as they discuss various horticultural subjects on a deeper level. You will also hear from today’s leading horticultural minds who will offer their wisdom and opinions about what you might want to grow in your garden. We guarantee you’ll be entertained and feel like a better gardener.