Garden Talk

As frost hits most of the state, it’s time to think about cleaning up our gardens. Our guest talks about what to cut back and what to leave for critters and winter interest.

With temperatures starting to cool, we talk about how to garden in accordance with the change. We also look at the progress of fall colors in woods and gardens, and hear about UW-Madison Arboretum opportunities and resources to take advantage of this fall.

One way to extend the gardening season is to bring your plants inside. We talk about the best way to acclimate them, discourage insect hitchhikers and help them thrive in a new environment.

Recent cool temperatures remind us that fall is on its way. We talk to two gardening experts about what you need to do to prepare your garden and yard. We also discuss bulbs and soil testing.

A water feature can transform an ordinary garden into an extraordinary one. We talk about what to consider when adding a pond or other water feature to your landscape, what plants work well and what you need to do to maintain it.

Many people began gardening this year and more are thinking about giving it a try. We talk with our gardening expert about how to start a garden and to be successful with the space you have available.

Gardeners face a lot of difficulties on their way to a perfect garden. One of the worst is jumping worms. We talk about them and other more easily controlled problems, like powdery mildew and squash vine borer.

Growing your own organic vegetables doesn’t have to be intimidating. From backyard gardens to small-scale farms, we talk about the tools, techniques and tips to grow organic.

Adding a new plant to your garden is part of the pleasure of gardening, but sometimes they don’t live up to our expectations. We talk with a perennial expert about how to be more realistic when it comes to our garden plants.

A climbing rose vine that survives Wisconsin winters is difficult to find. Our gardening expert talks about hardy climbing roses and other woody perennials.

Great gardens are attractive in every season. We talk with our gardening expert about some of the best annuals, perennials and shrubs to create summer interest in your yard.

Preventing plant disease is the best way to control it. We talk to an expert about what you can do to keep plants healthy. We also look at some of the common diseases that have been found around Wisconsin.

A good gardener doesn’t like to waste anything. We talk about space-saving measures, how to harvest, how to keep your blooms going all season, succession planting and managing water using rain barrels.

Gardening is a hobby that can be done at any age. We talk to a horticulturist about how to get kids interested in this life-long pursuit.

Using mulch in your garden helps retain moisture, protect soil and suppress weeds. We talk about the pros and cons of various mulch methods including living mulches.