Gardening Simplified

As deer populations and pressures have grown, so has the damage that they do in the garden. We talk deer resistant plants, ways to help alleviate deer damage, and interview Professor Alexandra Locher, with Grand Valley State University, on what is being done about the deer problem in Kent County, MI. Featured shrub: Sweet Emotion abelia.

As Stacey always says, when in doubt, don't do it! Whether it's prepping, planting, or pruning, we discuss what not to do and why you shouldn't do it. Featured shrub: Let's Dance Big Band  Reblooming bigleaf hydrangea.

Whether it's a gardening task, plants to plant, or garden design - don't overthink it, just do it! We give our list of things to just do in the garden.

Big plants hold a special fascination: watching them shoot from nearly nothing to truly epic proportions in a matter of weeks never gets old. Learn our favorite big plants! Featured shrub: Miss Violet butterfly bush.

Combining plants is more art than science. Join us as we offer ideas and dispel myths on companion planting. Featured plant: Happy Jack Purple clematis.

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 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.

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.

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 - 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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.