Garden Talk

Do you have someone with a green thumb on your gift list? Our gardening expert has a few suggestions for you and will also answer your gardening questions.

Compost is a great way to get rid of organic waste and create nutrient-rich soil in the process. We talk to a horticulturist about the best ways to compost and how to use it.

There is still time to plant, but the clock is ticking. We look at how to successfully get those woody plants in the ground, what you can compost from your vegetable garden, and how to prepare your garden for winter.

Many factors influence plant disease in a given year, especially weather. We talk to the Director of the Plant Disease Diagnostics Clinic at UW-Madison about this year’s most prevalent problems.

You don’t have to buy lots of bulbs to make a big impact in your garden this spring. We talk about how placement and color can make a difference. We also look at cutting back perennials and mowing leaves.

Many gardeners are removing plants from their containers at this time of the year and asking themselves - what should I do with the soil? Our guests from the UW Extension answer that question and also talk about the pros and cons of different types of mulch.

Many native plants are still colorful at this time of the year. We talk with a native garden specialist from the UW Arboretum about adding them to your landscape.

Cold temperatures aren’t here yet, but they’re coming. We talk about what you should be doing in your garden to get ready for winter.

Jack Frost will soon be nipping at your plants. We talk about what you can do to help your houseplants, shade loving perennials, and annuals stay healthy inside through the winter.

Your shrubs and trees — especially those that are newly planted — need different care in the colder months. We talk about what to do before the ground freezes, how to protect them from fluctuating temperatures, and when it’s safe to prune.

As the growing season winds down, gardeners start dreaming of spring bulbs. We talk about how to find, select, and plant tulips, daffodils, and other spring blooming bulbs.

There are so many beautiful hydrangea varieties to choose from it's hard to know what to pick. We talk about how to find the one that works for you and how to keep it healthy. Correction: our guest misspoke when identifying the insect eating the silks on a caller's corn root. The corn root worm does feed on the silks and caused the damage we discussed. But our guest incorrectly said that it also feeds on corn and bean seeds. It is the seed corn maggot that feeds on the seeds not the corn root worm.

There are lots of options besides mums for fall color and interest. We talk with our expert about plants that make a splash at this time of the year. We also talk about easy and useful roses for the average homeowner.

Design is just as important to an indoor garden as it is to an outdoor garden. We talk about what you should consider when designing your indoor oasis.

Fall is a great time to take a closer look at the health of your lawn. Our turf expert is back to talk about what you can do now to have a healthy lawn next spring.