Flower Power Garden Hour

Spring is a time of growth in the garden ... but that can also mean proliferation of pests and diseases. In this mini-episode, I address a few of the most common problems and how to counteract them... peach leaf curl, powdery mildew, aphids and more.  To find Marlene on social media or ask questions for future shows, submit them at: Facebook Instagram YouTube email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com

Spring is in full swing. In Zone 9 all summer veggies can be planted, perennials should go in the ground before the heat comes and summer bulbs should be planted. I discuss these as well as all other May garden to-do tasks To find Marlene on social media or ask questions for future shows, submit them at: Facebook Instagram YouTube email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com

May 5th  is World Carnivorous Plant Day! I’m joined by carnivorous plant experts Kenny Coogan and Carson Drexler to discuss the online events people can take part in, including talks led by carnivorous plant experts from around the world. And of course -- Carson and Kenny discuss all the tips for growing carnivorous plants. Check out the links below, including ones to Carson’s online Sarracenia nursery and Kenny’s upcoming book. Carson Trexler: Instagram: Americanpitcherplant Facebook: American Pitcher Plant Website: Americanpitcherplant.com Kenny Coogan: Facebook: Critter Companions Website: Kennycoogan.com World Carnivorous Plant Day: Website: International Carnivorous Plant Society Merchandise: World Carnivorous Plant Day merch Facebook: International Carnivorous Plant Society Instagram: International Carnivorous Plant Society   To find Marlene on social media or ask questions for future shows, submit them at: Facebook Instagram YouTube email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com

Permaculture. It is a word that most gardeners have heard but what is it really? I talk to Greg Peterson, host of the very popular Urban Farm Podcast, who has been practicing permaculture for over 30 years. Whether you are growing vegetables or ornamentals, permaculture is a philosophy of gardening that encompasses the entire system of nature around you. Greg details the steps to implement permaculture best practices in your garden to create a much more balanced and healthier garden (ie less work for you!).  Greg can be found at: Website: urbanfarm.org Instagram: urbanfarmu Facebook: TheUrbanFarm Twitter: TheUrbanFarm   To ask questions for future shows, submit them at: Facebook Instagram email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook

Spring is in full swing and there is a lot to do in the garden. I’ll address which veggies you can plant now and which ones you should hold off on for a bit longer. I’ll also discuss peach leaf curl, weeds, perennial planting and discuss my annoyance with finding a perfect weed eater. To ask questions for future shows, submit them at: Facebook Instagram email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook

Located along the bluffs of Mendocino is a botanical gem…the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens. I speak to horticulturalists Jim and Jaime about a few of the stand-out plants the garden is known for -- Rhododendrons and Camellias. Jaime discusses the history of the gardens and the overall growing techniques of the plants. Former Rhododendron nursery owner Jim shares his years of growing expertise propagating and growing Rhododendrons. The Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens can be found on social media at: Instagram: @mendocinocoastbotanicalgardens Facebook: Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens Website: gardenbythesea.org   To ask questions for future shows, submit them at: Facebook Instagram email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook

Award winning landscape designer Jan Johnsen has been creating magical landscapes for years. She has taken her vast knowledge/eye for design and has written an educational book entitled ‘Floratopia’. I talk to Jan about which flowers are fail-proof in containers, how to use texture/color and her years of designing all around the world. Check out her new book as well as others she has written -- ‘Floratopia’, ‘Gardentopia’, ‘The Spirit of Stone’, and ‘Heaven is a Garden’. She can be found on social media at the following places:   Website: Johnsenlandscapes.com Instagram: @johnsendesign Facebook:  serenityinthegardenblog Facebook: heavenisagarden Jan’s newest book, ‘Floratopia’, can be found here.  To find Marlene on social media or ask questions for future shows, submit them at: Facebook Instagram YouTube email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com

Spring has sprung…well at least in zone 9 of California. Here is my garden list of tasks to be done or continued in March -- including planting potatoes, summer blooming bulbs and sunflower seeds (along with other annuals). I discus which veggies can be planted and which ones to hold off for a bit. Additionally some pruning tips are provided…which plants must be pruned this time of year and a discussion if it’s ok to still prune your blooming stone fruits. To ask questions for future shows, submit them at: Facebook Instagram email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook

Houseplants are very “in” right now and Logee’s knows houseplants. They have been around since the first houseplant craze of the Victorian Era! But in addition to houseplants, they have a marvelous diverse selection of all sorts of plants…edibles, ornamentals and unique varieties of all kinds. I talk to third generation owner Byron Martin about the history of Logee’s and of course all the plants they propagate and sell. Byron and Logee’s can be found at: Instagram: @logeesplants Website: logees.com Facebook: logeestropicalplants Twitter: @logees YouTube: logeesplants   To ask questions for future shows, submit them at: Facebook Instagram email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook

For over 125 years, Placer County in California has been producing delicious mandarins that are shipped all over the country. Nine years ago, Kelly Krause got a crash course in growing these tasty fruits when her family bought an established orchard. I sit down and talk with Kelly all about growing Mandarins including when and how to prune, pests and diseases and how they have to harvest to prevent bruising.   To find Marlene on social media or ask questions for future shows, submit them at: Facebook Instagram YouTube email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com

This continues my series of what garden tasks should be on your to-do list for each month. Here I cover the cold and wet February.  Tasks include: Pruning roses Pruning fruit trees Spraying fruit trees/roses Clean up Plant more winter veggies Start veggie seeds inside   To ask questions for future shows, submit them at: Facebook Instagram email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com   Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook

There are numerous reasons to plant bare-root fruit trees… greater selection, price and ease of planting. I discuss with Fred Hoffman, host of Garden Basics with Farmer Fred, on all you need to know about selecting, planting and steps to get your tree on its way to producing bumper crops. What are chill hours vs chill units? Why do you paint the tree trunks? How do you keep your fruit tree to a manageable size? And my favorite… the story on how fruit tree trunks began being painted.   To find Marlene on social media or ask questions for future shows, submit them at: Facebook Instagram YouTube email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com

Grab bag listener Q&A episode – some very detailed questions this time, so take notes and put your thinking hat on.  Azaleas – not doing so well, how to make grow better? Blueberry bushes – having difficult time growing, need to move them, water issues Seeds – require air circulation for storage? Miracle berry – leaves turning brown Redwoods – foliage turning brown/orange   To ask questions for future shows, submit them at: Facebook Instagram email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com   Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook

Focus on your soil and your garden will thank you. I talk to ‘Stay Grounded: Soil Building for Sustainable Gardens’ author Melinda Cordell about the steps to a healthy soil. How exactly do earthworms help your soil? Can you really compost drywall and levi jeans? These are just some of the topics we touch upon.   To find Marlene on social media or ask questions for future shows, submit them at: Facebook Instagram YouTube email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com

This continues my series of what garden tasks should be on your to-do list for each month. Here I cover the chilly and (sometimes) wet month of January. Pruning – fruit trees (except citrus), ornamentals, roses Plant bareroot Spray liquid copper Vegetables – radishes, loose leaf lettuce, fava beans Weed control Buy seeds for spring To find Marlene on social media or ask questions for future shows, submit them at: Facebook Instagram YouTube email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com

Listener Q&A episode -- Marlene answers listener submitted questions this week. Topics include: Roses: Propagate from cut flowers? Egg shells in soil? Christmas cactus: Care and transplanting Boston fern: How best to thin out foliage Crickets/Frogs: How to promote them staying in your garden Staghorn fern: Able to thrive in Northern California?   To find Marlene on social media or ask questions for future shows, submit them at: Facebook Instagram YouTube email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com

Dahlias can be one of the most stunning and rewarding flowers to grow… AND they are not as mysterious and difficult as a lot of gardeners believe they are. I talk to author and expert Dahlia grower Kristine Albrecht of Santa Cruz Dahlias, and we dive into how to grow Dahlias successfully in your garden. We touch on propagation and her passion for breeding them, which she discusses in her new book ‘Dahlia Breeding’. Instagram: @santacruzdahlias YouTube: kristinealbrecht Websites: SantaCruzdahlias.com Dahliaaddict.com   To find Marlene on social media or ask questions for future shows, submit them at: Facebook Instagram YouTube email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com

This continues my series of what garden tasks should be on your to-do list for each month. Here I cover the cold and blustery month of December. Spray peaches/nectarines with liquid copper Apply horticultural oil for overwintering pests Plant frost resistance perennials Chard. Kale, fava beans, radishes – all can still be planted Clean up plant debris, especially under diseased or pest infected plants Be prepared for frost with cotton sheets or frost blankets   To find Marlene on social media or ask questions for future shows, submit them at: Facebook Instagram YouTube email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com

Epsom salts, hydrogen peroxide, calcium sprays… these are just some of the topics I cover with Robert Pavlis, author of the popular book series Garden Myths 1 and 2. Robert has made it his mission to bust these myths and help gardeners decipher the science behind each one. We talk about the most common myths and the ones that drive him the craziest. Listen in, and check out his amazing gardenmyths.com blog along with gardenfundamentals.com. All of his books (his newest being Soil Science for Gardeners: Working with Nature to Build Soil Health) can be found on Amazon (links below) or other book outlets. Books: Soil Science for Gardeners Garden Myths: Book 1 Garden Myths: Book 2 Facebook: Garden Fundamentals YouTube: Garden Fundamentals Blogs: gardenfundamentals.com gardenmyths.com    

Listener Q&A episode -- Marlene answers listener submitted questions this week. Topics include: Holly bush: How can I propagate it? Succulents: Need to move indoors for the winter? Tuberose: When to stop watering and move inside? Nectarine: Liquid copper for peach leaf curl – what to ask for at the nursery? Rust: Has had rust problem for 5 years – annually attacks dahlias & peonies. How to combat? Papaya: Advice of how to take care of? Currently in a pot To ask questions for future shows, submit them at: Facebook Instagram email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook