Ozark Garden Talk (with White River Nursery)

From drought and heat swings to soggy low spots, rocky hillsides, privacy screens, and confusing soil conditions, the team shares practical, experience-based advice for creating resilient, lower-maintenance gardens that still support pollinators and wildlife. Along the way, they talk native plants, smart design, mixed plantings, rain garden strategies, and why observation and patience matter just as much as plant choice.

Check out our show notes @https://www.whiterivernursery.com/ozarkgardentalk for all the details including links! Late-winter in the Ozarks can feel like spring one day and deep-freeze the next—so in Episode 14, Sarah, Charity, and Alex share what you should do now (soil prep, compost + mulch, weeding, soil testing, and planting cold-hardy crops like onions, cole crops, and bare-root strawberries) and what to wait on (tomatoes, peppers, sweet potatoes, and pruning spring-blooming shrubs). They also cover smart frost protection, seed-starting timing, and why “leave the leaves” matters for pollinators and beneficial insects. ❄️🌱🐝

Check out the full show notes with images of all the plants here: https://www.whiterivernursery.com/oza...In this episode of Ozark Garden Talk, Sarah, Charity, and Alex get you in planning mode with a peek at the plants they’re most excited to bring in this season. Consider it your early-bird guide to what’s coming before the trucks start rolling. They share what they’re watching for, what they’re hunting down, and how to think about these picks in real gardens, so you can sketch out your beds, make a wish list, and be ready to grab your favorites as soon as they arrive. 🌿✨

❄️ Winter doesn’t have to mean a boring garden! In this episode of Ozark Garden Talk, Sarah, Charity, and Alex explore plants that bring beauty, structure, and wildlife value to the winter landscape. From evergreen hollies and colorful red twig dogwoods to winter berries, ornamental grasses, and hellebores, the team shares their favorite picks for four-season interest in the Ozarks—plus practical tips for protecting plants through cold snaps and freeze-thaw cycles. A must-listen for gardeners looking to appreciate (and design for) the quiet season. 🌿

In this episode of Ozark Garden Talk, Sarah, Charity, and Alex get real about growing fruit trees in Northwest Arkansas—why peaches and plums break your heart, which apples and pears actually stand a chance, and how rootstocks, pruning, and disease pressure shape your success. They share practical, experience-based advice on choosing varieties, managing cedar apple rust and fire blight, and setting realistic expectations for a backyard orchard. You’ll also hear details about White River Nursery’s bare-root apple and pear preorder and why they’ve hand-picked each variety for the Ozarks.