Severe weather shook our region last weekend, with tornadoes, high winds and hail wreaking havoc on lives and property alike. In this episode, Don and John talk about steps you can take to protect your yard and garden from severe storm damage. Plus, they go over your "Independence Day for gardeners" checklist.
In this episode, Don and John learn something new from seasoned gardener Mary Holm as well as her favorite annuals and perennials and a beneficial reason to plant parsley.
You aren't the only one looking to get the most out of your plants and shrubs. Fungi, bacteria and pests are after them, too. In this episode, Don and John go over some common fungal diseases, like powdery mildew, and other blights that can strike your garden early in the season, along with strategies to keep them at bay.
If you want to level up your landscaping game, you might want to give a good thought to how you use shrubs in your yard. In this episode, Don and John discuss shrubs, the backbone of your landscaping. You'll learn how to choose varieties that work with your available space and give your yard some class.
It's the backdrop for your heated cornhole games and memory-making family barbeques, so it's nice to have a healthy, green lawn. In this episode, Don and John talk about seeding, fertilizing and other important steps to improving your lawn and making it the envy of your neighbors.
We all have big dreams when it comes to what we want to grow, but the hard truth is that we have to work with the space we have, and every space comes with different amounts of available sunshine. In this episode, Don and John go over some strategies for planning your garden to make the best use of your sun, with some considerations for container gardening. Plus, they take a listener question about apple tree care.
Fertilizing is an important part of a successful garden, and the spring is the most important time to fertilize, so it's important to get it right. In this episode, Don and John go over fertilizing the yard and garden, with special considerations for vegetables and containers, all to help your plants reach their full potential this season.
The time has finally come for our part of the world: planting season in your yard and garden. In this episode, Don and John go over some basics on soil preparation and tips for putting annuals, vegetables, shrubs and more in the ground. Plus, they answer a question about mulch from the listener mailbag and Don has a "dirty" joke.
If you're enthusiastic to hit the garden centers for the first time this season, great! But it helps to have a plan first. In this episode, Don and John go over some considerations to keep in mind before you get swept up in the thrill of a new growing season. They also answer a few questions from the mailbag.
Unique conditions can lead to winter burn on some area evergreens. In this episode, Don and John discuss what winter burn is, how it can happen and steps to prevent it.
The snow is gone and the days are getting longer and warmer, and while we're not quite ready to plant, the time has come to get everything set for the growing season. In this episode, Don and John talk about the tasks you should be doing right now to get your yard and garden ready for spring planting. They also discuss Easter lillies and a ... man/plant cave?
Maybe your trusty garden tools are getting a little rusty, or maybe you're just itching for some new gear this season. Either way, this show's for you. In this episode, Don and John highlight some new garden tools currently on the market as we count down the days before outdoor work can begin in earnest.
Before you know it, it'll be time to get outside and start getting your hands dirty in the garden. Before you plant, though, you probably want to get that dirt into shape. In this episode, Don and John talk about amending your soil so your garden can start the season with gusto.
How can gardeners be sure that the plants, shrubs and trees they buy in local gardening centers will survive our region's winters? In this episode, Don and John talk with Charles Elhard, plant protection officer with the North Dakota Department of Agriculture about nursery laws and inspections.
It's still a bit too early to get out into the lawn or garden, but with our increasing sunlight it's a perfect time to start cuttings of your houseplants. But how do you go about it? In this episode, Don and John talk about the process of taking cuttings (or "slips") from your houseplants, including the best candidates for cuttings and good practices for growing them successfully.
It's a sad truth nowadays, but it seems like anything you see online is too good to be true, and that's true for gardeners, too. In this episode, Don and John talk about the disturbing new phenomenon of using images generated by artificial intelligence to sell plant varieties that don't exist. But if you've been duped by one of these, don't fear: they also go over some varieties that might seem too good to be true and can be found at a local garden center.
If you're a regular listener to this podcast, then we know you're chomping at the bit to get out into the yard and start work on your garden. In this episode, Don and John go over some of the gardening tasks you could be doing right now as we get our first sings of spring.
Our cold Northern Plains winters don't seem like they're friendly toward year-round growing of fresh greens, but they're actually a positive for the team at Great Plains Greens. In this episode, Don and (guest host) Kris talk with Dylan Kallman, founder of Great Plains Greens. Kallman and his team use a converted shipping container to grow fresh produce for a variety of local markets. Learn more about Great Plains Greens on their website: https://www.greatplainsgreens.co/
This is our 100th episode of Growing Together! That's 100 episodes of gardening tips from Don, John, and plenty of guests who share our love of gardening. In this episode, Don and John present 50 quick-fire gardening tips to commemorate this milestone and get you all caught up for the next 100 episodes.
Like all good pursuits, gardening is filled with a rich variety of terms and word usage, but it might not always make sense, especially to newer gardeners. For instance, what is "deadheading," and what does it do? In this episode, Don and (guest host) Kris go over some of the head-scratching terms that gardeners might come across. What does it mean to "set out" your plants? And what does it mean to "force" them? Learn all of these and more.
The growing season is still a ways off, so now is the time to plan and learn new gardening techniques—maybe saving a buck or two in the process. In this episode, Don and John go over the 2025 issue of "The Prairie Garden," a periodical put together with help from Don himself. This year's edition is all about gardening on a budget. Plus, they open up the mailbag to take a question about fungus gnats, those annoying little bugs that fly around your houseplants. Learn more about "The Prairie Garden...
Cut flowers in a lovely bouquet make a great Valentine's Day gift, but what if you'd like to give someone a houseplant instead? In this episode, Don and John are joined again by Audrey Gilbraith of Fargo's Baker Garden and Gift. Audrey has some helpful tips for giving the gift of a houseplant, like thinking about the space and skill level of your giftee. And, in case you'd like to make it a gift you give yourself, she has lots of suggestions for great houseplant choices, too. Learn more about Ba...
Each winter, every gardener has a decision to make when planning for the growing season: stick with the varieties that worked last year or take a chance on something new. In this episode, Don and John go over some new plants and vareties that you should consider if you're looking to shake things up a bit.
Many of us get out into our gardens as a way to escape the hustle and bustle of a busy life, like it's our own little retreat. In fact, it's shaping up to be a key trend in the coming year. In this episode, Don and John look at this and a few more trends that 2025 might have in store, like finding a way to bring music into the garden and focusing more on growing things we can eat.
Sure, your green thumbs have been busy the last few weeks thumbing through seed catalogs, but if anything, that's just making you more excited to get your hands dirty working on actual plants. In this episode, Don and John talk about repotting your houseplants as a way to ease your cabin fever, with plenty of tips on keeping your beloved plant homies healthy.
It's the holidays, a time when we all could use a little bit of joy along with a reminder that there's always more we can do to spread that joy even further. In this episode, Don and John talk with Kelly Krenzel, founder of the nonprofit organization Hope Blooms, whose mission it is to repurpose flowers into arrangements that are then distributed throughout the community to those who need it most. Learn more about Hope Blooms on their website: https://hopeblooms.org/...
Unlike, say, fashion or music, gardening doesn't change quickly or go through rapid trend shifts. But that doesn't mean that there aren't exciting new ways for it to captivate us. In this episode, Don and John review the year's top trends in gardening as identified by the guru herself: Martha Stewart. Sensory gardens and food forests top the list, and there's plenty of local examples for you to see for yourself.
The Christmas season might be twinkly and bright, with electric lights and shiny wrapping paper, but there's still nothing quite as showy as a healthy poinsettia. In this episode, Don and John talk about the lovely poinsettia plant and how to keep it healthy through the holidays. They also talk about other plants, like Christmas cactus and amaryllis, that can make a festive home.
If you have a gardener on your Christmas gift list, rest easy. Like the plants they grow, they're always thirsty for new information and techniques. That's where a good gardening book comes in. In this episode, Don and John talk about giving the gift of gardening, especially through resources like "The Prairie Garden," a book series based in western Canada that is packed with knowledge useful for gardeners of all stripes.
(Don and John are taking a little break for the Thanksgiving holiday, so please enjoy this republished 2023 episode.) In this episode, Don and John go over some basic tips for houseplant care, like optimal watering practices and intentional care. Plus, they discuss the importance of giving your houseplants something of a social life. Plants need friends, too.
