Gardening Simplified

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Introducing Gardening Simplified, a new radio show and podcast from Proven Winners ColorChoice Shrubs. Hosted by life-long gardeners Rick Vuyst and Stacey Hirvela, the Gardening Simplified show is designed to share our love of plants and gardening. Whatever your skill or experience level, you’ll find something interesting, useful, and just plain fascinating in every episode.

Newsradio WOOD 1300 and 106.9 FM (WOOD-AM)


    • May 17, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • weekly NEW EPISODES
    • 46m AVG DURATION
    • 142 EPISODES

    Ivy Insights

    The Gardening Simplified podcast has been an incredibly helpful resource for me on my gardening journey. The hosts have a fantastic chemistry, making the episodes enjoyable and engaging from start to finish. Their knowledge and expertise in the field of gardening shines through, providing listeners with valuable information and insights.

    One of the best aspects of this podcast is the wealth of knowledge that the hosts bring to each episode. They cover a wide range of topics, discussing everything from plant care tips to landscaping ideas. I appreciate that they take into consideration different growing zones and offer advice specific to each area. This makes the information applicable to gardeners from all over, no matter where they are located.

    I also love that the hosts inject humor into their episodes, even if it means including some cheesy planting puns or dad jokes. It adds a lighthearted touch to an otherwise informative show, making it enjoyable to listen to. Additionally, their discussions on which plants can be moved when redesigning a yard have been particularly useful for me as I've recently undergone some changes in my own outdoor space.

    However, there have been moments in the podcast where some of the jokes or puns felt forced or unnecessary. While humor can be a great addition, it's important not to overdo it at the expense of providing valuable content. There were times when I wished they would dive deeper into certain topics or provide more detailed information rather than focusing on jokes.

    Overall, The Gardening Simplified podcast is an excellent resource for both beginner and experienced gardeners alike. The hosts' chemistry, knowledge, and helpful tips make each episode enjoyable and educational. Whether you're looking for guidance on plant care or inspiration for your garden design, this podcast has something for everyone. I highly recommend giving it a listen!



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    Latest episodes from Gardening Simplified

    Deserted Island Plants

    Play Episode Listen Later May 17, 2025 44:46 Transcription Available


    If you were stranded on an island, what plants would you need for survival? That's our topic for today. Featured shrub, Flavorette Pear'd rose.

    Hanging Baskets

    Play Episode Listen Later May 10, 2025 45:36 Transcription Available


    Hanging baskets never go out of style! Learn how to choose the best one and care for it like a pro. Featured shrub: Fairytrail White Cascade Hydrangea.

    White Flowers

    Play Episode Listen Later May 3, 2025 43:23 Transcription Available


    Moon gardens have been gaining popularity and for a good reason! White flowers are great for creating an ethereal look in the garden, particularly in the early morning and evening hours. Hear about some of our favorite white flowering plants. Featured shrub: Oso Easy Ice Bay.

    Goldilocks Plants – Plants That Are Just Right

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 26, 2025 43:49 Transcription Available


    Not too big, not too small, but just right! We discuss plants that not only have sought after habits, but also have multiple season interest, and tie together the landscape. Featured shrub: Wine & Spirits weigela.

    Nativars

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 19, 2025 54:37 Transcription Available


    Nativars - a contraction of "native" and "cultivar" - get a bad rep from some people. But is it deserved? Find out the facts and opinions surrounding these controversial plants.

    Pruning Pointers

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 12, 2025 43:44 Transcription Available


    Tis the season - for pruning! We know that's scary to some, so we're giving you the basics you need to make pruning decisions in your landscape. Featured shrub: Perfecto Mundo Double Purple reblooming azalea.

    Spring Ephemerals

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 5, 2025 46:13 Transcription Available


    They're short-lived but much anticipated! Spring ephemerals are a sign of sunnier days and warmer weather, which we could really use here in West Michigan. Featured shrub: Legend of the Small fothergilla.

    Spring Tasks - What to Do and When to Do It

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 29, 2025 54:56 Transcription Available


    Spring is here and with it, the return of garden tasks. Join us to learn what to do and when to do it. Featured shrub: Show Off Sugar Baby forsythia.

    Plants We Hate

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 22, 2025 43:20 Transcription Available


    Every gardener has at least one plant they can't stand. Whether it's due to aesthetics, invasiveness, or a bad experience, some plants just aren't for everyone. Find out what plants we hate and hear what listeners had to say about the plants that make their “no thanks” list.

    Covering Ground - All About Ground Cover Plants

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 15, 2025 45:45 Transcription Available


    So much ground to cover! Learn about plants that work well and ones that are best to avoid when it comes to ground covers. Featured shrub: Spilled Wine weigela.

    Plants You Can't Kill

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 8, 2025 58:23 Transcription Available


    Looking for the toughest, most durable plants for your garden or landscape? They're in this episode! Featured shrub: Low Scape Mound aronia.

    The Lavender Show

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 1, 2025 54:45 Transcription Available


    Lavender is one of the most beloved garden plants - and also one of the most frustrating. That's why we're devoting an episode to growing it! Featured shrub: Bloomerang Dark Purple lilac.

    Plants that Don't Mind Moving and Those That Do

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 22, 2025 45:25 Transcription Available


    We're about to enter the prime period for moving shrubs and perennials, so get the dirt on what you can - and shouldn't - move. Featured shrub: Wee Bit Grumpy hydrangea.

    Life Is Too Short For Proper Spacing

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 15, 2025 52:46 Transcription Available


    Do you want more plants than you technically have room for? We're sharing where you can bend the rules a bit and ignore the plant tag. Featured shrub: Stonehenge yew.

    Overachievers: Plants that do More

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 8, 2025 44:33 Transcription Available


    We're sharing our list of overachievers - plants with maximum beauty and performance but minimal maintenance and fussing. Join us for ideas for your spring planting list!

    Sprouts: The Vegetable You Can Grow Indoors

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 1, 2025 67:11 Transcription Available


    Sprouting is the fast, easy, low cost way to grow your own healthy nutritious food indoors - even in winter! Join us to learn about sprouting + microgreens. Featured shrub: Soft Serve chamaecyparis.

    2025 Houseplant of the Year and Talking Tropical Plants

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 25, 2025 47:03 Transcription Available


    Warm up this winter with the 2025 Houseplant of the Year! We also talk tropical hibiscus and a mystery plant predator. Featured shrub: Bambino Variegated Orange bougainvillea.

    2025 Annuals of the Year

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 18, 2025 52:37 Transcription Available


    Introducing the 2025 Proven Winners Annuals of the Year! Learn why these high-performance annuals deserve a spot in your garden. Featured shrub: Sky Dew Gold ornamental blueberry.

    2025 Perennials of the Year

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 11, 2025 55:35 Transcription Available


    Introducing the 2025 Proven Winners Perennials of the Year! Learn why these high-performance perennials deserve a spot in your garden. Featured shrub: Spice Baby viburnum.

    2025 Shrubs of the Year

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 4, 2025 57:35 Transcription Available


    New Year, new plants! We're talking what's new for 2025, as well as the Proven Winners Shrubs of the Year. Featured shrub: Kintzley's Ghost honeysuckle.

    What We Learned in the Garden

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 28, 2024 45:39 Transcription Available


    The garden is a great teacher, and every season is different, so we're reflecting on what we learned in 2024. Featured shrub: Glow Girl birch leaf spirea.

    The Citrus Show

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 21, 2024 44:57 Transcription Available


    The look, scent, and taste of citrus fruits helps to keep the winter bright and cheery, so in this episode, we celebrate all things citrus. Featured shrub: Juiced Orange jessamine.

    Gifts for Gardeners

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 14, 2024 51:47 Transcription Available


    Got a gardener in your life - or maybe the gardener is you? Join us as we share gift ideas and suggestions for the horticulturally inclined. Featured shrub: Invincibelle Wee White hydrangea.

    A Celebration of Garden Vacations

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 7, 2024 44:51 Transcription Available


    The Gardening Simplified team recently vacationed (separately!) in some pretty fabulously plant-filled locations: Costa Rica, Australia, and Japan. Join us for a fun chat on what we saw and loved.

    Winter Protection for Plants

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 30, 2024 43:37 Transcription Available


    You often see plants that have been protected somehow for winter, but is it really necessary? Join us to find out if and when you should protect something in the garden. Featured shrub: Sky Box Japanese holly.

    plants winter protection
    Holiday Décor from your Backyard

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 23, 2024 46:38 Transcription Available


    Make the holidays more special with place settings and arrangements from your garden. We share familiar and unconventional ideas for decorating. Featured shrub: Ringo Double Pink rose.

    Garden Nostalgia

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 16, 2024 44:46 Transcription Available


    Whether it's a specific plant or an entire vibe you create, there's something nostalgic about gardens and gardening. Celebrate that with us in this episode. Featured shrub, Illuminati Tower mockorange.

    Moving Plants Indoors

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 9, 2024 43:23 Transcription Available


    Moving plants that can't tolerate your winter indoors is a time-honored tradition. Learn about what you can move in and what to expect. Featured shrub: Jazz Hands Variegated loropetalum.

    Garden Horror Stories

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 2, 2024 45:08 Transcription Available


    To celebrate the end of spooky season, we asked our listeners to share their garden horror stories, and you delivered big time! Join us to hear their stories, as well as a few of our own.

    Fall is for Transplanting

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 26, 2024 44:28 Transcription Available


    Got a plant that's not working in its spot? Bust a move! We share why fall is ideal for transplanting, and how to do it. Featured shrub: Diamond Ball clematis.

    Colorful Flowers + Foliage for Fall

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 19, 2024 43:16 Transcription Available


    Go beyond mums and maples to discover the many other plants that make fall such a colorful, memorable season. Featured shrub: Tres Amigos abelia.

    Beautiful, Bountiful Berries for Fall

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 12, 2024 46:55 Transcription Available


    Leaves get all the attention in fall, but the many shrubs with colorful and unique berries deserve to be celebrated, and that's what we'll do. Featured shrub: Pearl Glam beautyberry.

    Fall-planted Flower Bulbs for Spring

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 5, 2024 50:24 Transcription Available


    You'll never regret planting flower bulbs in fall - join us in this episode to learn why these easy to plant, easy to grow flowers offer so much. Featured shrub: Kodiak Fresh diervilla.

    Repetition & Rhythm in the Garden

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 28, 2024 43:12 Transcription Available


    Using the concepts of repetition and rhythm is one of the easiest ways to up your garden or landscape design game. Learn how in this episode! Featured shrub: Tater Tot arborvitae.

    Things to Do Now for an Even Better Spring

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 21, 2024 43:26 Transcription Available


    Investing time in your lawn, garden, or landscape now can pay big dividends come spring - learn what you can do to save time and get great results! Featured shrub: Double Play Red spirea.

    In Praise of Ornamental Grasses - A Look At Rick's Garden

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 14, 2024 45:55 Transcription Available


    Rick talks about his love for ornamental grasses and why they play a central role in his very sandy, very dry, and very deer-filled garden. Featured shrub: Sister Redhead Scotch broom.

    Gardening in the North, Gardening in the South

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 7, 2024 47:23 Transcription Available


    Is the grass always greener on the other side? Probably - so we're exploring the difference between gardening in cold and hot climates. Featured shrub: Center Stage Pink crapemyrtle.

    Labor-Saving Tips and Ideas

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 31, 2024 43:39


    Less work in the garden means more time to enjoy it, so we're dedicating this pre-Labor Day episode to labor-saving ideas. Featured shrub: Red Balloon viburnum.

    The Soil of the Matter

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 24, 2024 50:10 Transcription Available


    Soil is a vital and valuable natural resource - it's not just dirty ol' dirt. That's why we're celebrating it throughout this episode. Featured shrub: Lo & Behold Pink Micro Chip butterfly bush.

    That's Just Peachy! Using Peach in the Garden | Talking About Summerific Hibiscus

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 17, 2024 53:51 Transcription Available


    The color peach, whether in foliage or flowers, is a useful blender in the garden. Join us for a celebration of this happy hue! Featured shrub: Ringo All Star rose.

    In Praise of Panicle Hydrangeas | South vs North Gardening with Dr. Allan Armitage

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 10, 2024 56:50 Transcription Available


    Panicle hydrangeas are dominating the landscape right now - learn just how easy to grow they really are. Plus, an interview with Dr. Allan Armitage on North vs South gardening. Featured shrub: Limelight hydrangea.

    Gardentopia

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 3, 2024 53:56 Transcription Available


    We're celebrating our 100th episode with the concept of "gardentopia" - creating a dreamy place to escape the world, right in your own backyard. Featured shrub: Cedar Rapids false cypress.

    Eat Your Landscape

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 27, 2024 45:09 Transcription Available


    Growing food doesn't necessarily mean turning your yard into a farm: there are many ways to mix edible plants in with your garden and landscape. We share ours and provide new ideas. Featured shrub: Paraplu Pink Ink rose of Sharon.

    The Hydrangea Show

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 20, 2024 43:56


    Hydrangea season is in full swing, so we take the opportunity to clear up the mystery surrounding summer's favorite flowering shrub. Featured shrub: Invincibelle Lace smooth hydrangea.

    Dogs in the Garden

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 13, 2024 44:49 Transcription Available


    Yes, you can have a pup and a garden too! We share listeners' advice, as well as our very own Adriana Robinson, on how they make it work. Featured shrub: Funshine abelia.

    Garden Regrets and Learning From Them

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 6, 2024 46:24 Transcription Available


    Regrets? We've had a few, and maybe you have too, which is why we're dedicating this episode to the things we wish we had - and hadn't - done in the garden. Featured shrub: Let's Dance Arriba reblooming hydrangea.

    Can Plants Repel Spiders and Snakes? Myths, Tips, and More!

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 29, 2024 43:48 Transcription Available


    Don't like spiders and snakes? You're not alone! They are beneficial for gardens, though, so we're sharing advice on coexistence and safe, simple management. Featured shrub: Gatsby Moon oakleaf hydrangea.

    Plants that Play Supporting Roles

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 22, 2024 51:09 Transcription Available


    Some plants play starring roles in the landscape, while others play supporting ones. Meet these valuable plants and learn to use them in the landscape. Featured shrub: Happy Face White potentilla.

    Meet The Incredible Changing Plants

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 15, 2024 46:29 Transcription Available


    Plants are naturally dynamic, but some undergo dramatic natural changes in flower color and leaf color through the season. Learn what they are and why they're so amazing. Featured shrub: Simply Scentsational calycanthus.

    Weeding by Example

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 8, 2024 44:35 Transcription Available


    Ah, weeds - maybe the #1 thing that discourages people from gardening. But weeds are interesting and become a lot easier to manage when you apply some basic IPM principles. Featured shrub: Sugar Tip rose of Sharon.

    The Hummingbird Show

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 1, 2024 60:10 Transcription Available


    Join us for a celebration of all things hummingbird! Three outstanding guests share their expertise on hummingbirds and welcoming them to your garden. Featured shrub: Snippet Dark Pink weigela.

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