Garden Talk

Controlling pests on your edible plants can be a very frustrating job. We talk with our guest about how to identify common pests and how to manage them without using synthetic chemical pesticides.

We celebrate National Arbor Day by talking about the correct way to plant a tree. We also talk about selecting the species and how to keep it healthy.

Many gardeners are turning to fabric bags to grow their plants. We talk about why this method is beneficial for both plants and gardeners — and how you can get started.

Berries from your garden are a sweet treat. We talk with a UW-Extension expert about how to grow strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and more unusual crops like aronia, gooseberries and Juneberries.

Straw bale gardening is a popular and easy gardening method. We talk with the inventor of straw bale gardening about how it continues to grow and learn about his latest invention, driveway gardening.

The grass is starting to green up and it’s time to think about your lawn. We talk to a turf expert about how to keep your yard healthy and get suggestions for different varieties of grass.

Even before the pandemic, gardeners were turning to heirloom seeds. We talk with one of the leaders in the movement about his seed business, Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Co., and find out what they have been doing to meet the great demand for seeds in the last year.

You can’t garden without seeds — but where do all those seeds come from and how are they developed? We talk about the SeedLinked program and how you can help growers select, and researchers improve, seeds.

Many gardeners grow herbs but few tackle spices. We talk to a gardener who explains how you can grow many of your own spices, no matter where you live.

Companion planting has been around for a very long time. We talk to the author of a new book that looks at the science behind these combos and why partnering can improve your garden.

We are seeing the first signs of spring in Wisconsin and it’s time for pruning, starting seeds and cleaning up the garden. We get gardening advice and guidance from a horticulturist and a plant disease expert.

Bumblebees are great pollinators for our gardens, but they are in trouble. We find out why these bees are so helpful and what we can do to help save them. We also talk about native plant gardening and what’s going on at the UW-Madison Arboretum.

Plants and animals have evolved together, making native plants a better option for attracting important insects. We talk about what to grow to attract pollinators and look at ways to remove invasive plants.

Gardening during the pandemic has become a very popular hobby. One that is putting pressure on businesses who produce and sell seeds and plants. We talk about how to make sure you get what you need to plant your garden this year.

We warm up a cold winter weekend by talking about how to care for orchids and other tropical plants. Our guests from the Olbrich Botanical Gardens also tell us about the new orchid display in the garden’s conservatory.