The Simple Garden Life

The Best Way To Support Tomatoes - DIY Tomato Supports! Apr 02, 2024

If you are looking for the best way to support your tomato plants this year without spending a fortune - today's episode covers how to create the perfect DIY solution that can hold the biggest of plants without worry!
Tomato cages have been around for years, but they can be expensive. Not only that, many cages simply grow out of the ground when plants get too big.
Tomato stakes are another option, but they too have issues. Not only are they hard to tie tomato plants to, they easily snap if plants get too big and heavy. And whether you use cages or stakes – the real issue is that they don’t last for long. In fact, most don’t make it past a season or two without needing to be replaced.
Jim and Mary walk listeners through the simple steps to build strong and sturdy tomato supports that make growing tomatoes easier than ever. And best of all - not only will they last for years and years, they are quite inexpensive to build too!

4 Simple Secrets To Grow Cucumbers Like Crazy! Feb 05, 2024

In this season's first episode, Jim and Mary walk listeners through the four simple steps to planting and growing cucumbers. See how with just a few simple tips and tricks, you can grow your best crop of cucumbers ever!

How To Best Feed Birds In Winter - Helping Birds Survive Winter! Dec 26, 2023

There is no harder time for birds than trying to survive in the harsh, bleak and cold conditions winter can bring - and there is no better way to help them through it than by feeding them on a regular basis!
Winter is extremely tough on birds that do not migrate to warmer areas. Not only can it be hard to find adequate shelter from the cold and precipitation, they have to be wary of predators that are hungry for food sources as well.
Today's podcast from Jim and Mary centers on the best way to feed and help birds have the food and protection they need to make it through the cold, harsh winter - and have them ready to help you and your garden next year by controlling insects and consuming thousands of weed seeds too!

The Secret To Watering Poinsettias - How To Mist Poinsettias! Dec 10, 2023

Did you know that how you water your poinsettias during the holiday season is one of the biggest factors of all in determining just how long your plant will keep it’s gorgeous colorful leaves in place throughout the holiday season – and that misting your poinsettia regularly can play a huge role in that too?
Jim and Mary walk listeners through how to best water their poinsettias to keep them blooming right on past the New Year - including a few tips and tricks that can really make a huge difference in just bright and beautiful they stay!

Drought Resistant Perennials - 6 Plants You Won't Have To Water! Jul 25, 2023

Looking for a few low-maintenance, drought resistant perennials to add big interest and color to your landscape – all without the worry of having to constantly water?
One of the most difficult and time consuming chores for a gardener to perform is having to continually water their plants. Especially if that water is difficult to come by, or even restricted as it is in many drought plagued parts of the country and world.
But that is exactly where planting smart from the start with drought resistant perennials can be a huge help. Drought resistant plants require far less water to survive and thrive. So much so that watering is rarely if ever needed. And can these plants ever be beautiful!

How To Fertilize Hanging Baskets - Keep Your Baskets Blooming Big All Summer! Jun 20, 2023

See how to fertilize your hanging baslets like a pro! Jim and Mary walk listeners through how to fertilize their baskets low and slow - and how it can help keep flowering baskets blooming big all summer long!
There is little doubt about it - how, when and what you use to fertilize your hanging baskets can make a huge difference in just how well they bloom this year. And perhaps even more importantly - for just how long into summer or fall you can keep your baskets flowering big.
If there is one thing that gardeners struggle with, it's keeping their hanging baskets blooming all summer long. For many, although their baskets might start out strong and beautiful in the spring - by mid-summer, they begin to suddenly appear weak and feeble.
See how fertilziing your baskets with a simple one-two punch on a conisten basis can keep your baskets flowering big all season long.

How To Stop Carpenter Bees - And The Damage They Cause! May 23, 2023

Jim and Mary walk listeners through how to stop carpenter bees from damaging the wood around their home, without having to kill of these important pollinators.
When it comes to stopping carpenter bees and the damage they cause to the wood surfaces around your exterior of your home, one thing is for sure, it takes a persistent approach to win the battle!
Carpenter bees can cause extensive damage to the exterior wood surfaces all over your property. Not just to the wood siding and eaves on your house, but any wood surface that is exposed. That includes your garage, shed, pergola, swing sets and yes, even wood fences.
Unfortunately, once they find a surface to their liking, they keep coming back. In fact, with each new generation of carpenter bees, they will continue to drill more new holes, all while expanding their original homestead into an even larger nesting site with more tunnels.
See how to safely stop carpenter bees from damaging the wood around your home, and still keep these valuable pollinators around!

How To Jump Start Your Tomato Plants - Get Your Tomatoes Growing Fast! May 16, 2023

Want to give your young tomato plants a jump start and get them growing fast? Jim and Mary walk listeners through how to power up tomato plants after they have been planted to get them growing strong, healthy and faster than ever!
As garden season gets into full swing, many gardeners are planting their tomatoes and already dreaming of the big, juicy harvests they hope will come from their plants this summer.
But to get those big yields, it's vital to get young transplants growing fast - and right from the start. After all, getting your plants to grow healthy and strong early is the key to having them produce more blooms and fruit later.

How To Recharge And Reuse Old Potting Soil May 02, 2023

Jim and Mary walk listeners through how to recycle, recharge and reuse old potting soil.
Potting soil can be one of the biggest annual expenses of all for those who like to plant flowers and vegetables in pots, containers and hanging baskets. In fact, quite often, it can cost a gardener more for the soil filling their containers than the plants being potted in it!
Old potting soil can be lifeless and nutrient poor. Without amending it, you simply can't grow new plants well. See how to recharge your soil in the spring or fall with two unique methods, grow amazingly healthy plants, and save big on your gardening budget in the process!

The Best Spring Garden Seed Crops To Plant Early – Get Growing Now! Apr 18, 2023

Listen in as Jim and Mary walk you through getting your garden growing early in the season with seed crops! From sugar snap peas, to spinach, radishes and more, they cover some of the best crops that can handle cooler season temperatures with ease. Don't wait for late spring and summer to plant, get growing now!

How To Divide Perennials In The Spring Apr 04, 2023

Jim and Mary talk about dividing perennials in the spring, and how to transplant them into your flowerbeds to help add more color and stop weeds in the process!
One of the easiest, best and least expensive ways to fill your flowerbeds with life and color is to divide the perennials you already have this spring into even more plants! Not only is it simple to do, it can save you hundreds of dollars on plants. And, of course, on mulch too!
For podcast article & notes on Dividing Perennials In The Spring, see : https://simplegardenlife.com/divide-perennials-in-spring/

How To Make The Best Homemade Potting Soil Around - Without Peat Moss! Mar 21, 2023

In today's episode, Jim and Mary walk listeners through the simple steps for how to create their own powerful and amazing potting soil - without the need for peat moss! Using just 5 natural ingredients, they have been making this potting soil on their farm for the last 10+ years - and with stunning results for their hanging baskets, pots and container plantings. Listen in and grow your best container plants ever this year with your own homemade potting soil mix!

Cutting Back & Dividing Ornamental Grasses In The Spring Mar 06, 2023

Jim & Mary take listeners through the process of ornamental grass care, inlcuding when to cut them back and how to divide and transplant overgrown grasses.
There is no better time to cut back and divide ornamental grasses than in late winter and early spring. Not only can it keep your grasses manageable, it can also create all kinds of new grass transplants to use all over your yard.

How To Control & Repel Ticks Safely - In Your Backyard & More! Feb 20, 2023

Looking for a few simple and safe methods to control and repel ticks in your backyard this spring, summer and fall?
Jim and Mary take you through 3 natural methods to control the tick population in your yard, and highlight a few simple and natural methods to help deter them from finding you no matter where you are!
Ticks are one insect that can create a long list of issues for the health and well being of humans and pets. The tiny insect with a unique look all to its own can be infected with bacterial disease as well as viruses and parasites.
That is exactly why keeping ticks out of your backyard and off of your skin is so important - and what today's podcast is all about! See how to safely rid your yard of ticks, and how to repel them from you, your family and your pets too.

How To Recharge Your Raised Bed Soil - Keep Your Raised Beds Healthy! Feb 07, 2023

Jim and Mary discuss how to keep the soil in your raised beds healthy and strong, including the best ways to recharge and re-energize the soil to grow bigger and better plants!
Raised beds are one of the easiest and most effective ways to grow vegetables, flowers and herbs - especially for those who may not have the space for a traditional garden, or who might have physical limitations that can make gardening in big spaces difficult.
When created with good drainage and filled with great soil, they can grow amazing plants. But if that soil isn't properly cared for, it can become tires and poor, leading to far less production and more disease in your plants.
See how to keep your beds supercharged for big growth this spring and beyond!

How To Prune Tomatoes - And Why Its So Important! Episode 210 Jun 14, 2022

Jim and Mary talk about how to prune tomato plants - and why it's so important for their success! See how to prune your plants to allow air and light in, and why it helps keep your plants disease and pest free.

How To Fertilize Tomato Plants For Big Success! Episode 209 May 17, 2022

Jim and Mary discuss how to best fertilize your tomato plants, including when to fertilize, how often, and a few of the best types of fertilizer to use on your plants. Tomato plants are heavy feeders from the soil and can benefit greatly from perfectly timed nutrient boosts. See how to power up your tomato plants this year for healthy plants and a big harvest!

The Amazing Benefits Of Growing Marigolds In Your Garden & Flowerbeds May 03, 2022

Jim and Mary discuss the benefits of planting marigolds in your garden, flowerbeds and landscape. Listen in and see how marigolds can bring important pollinators to your yard, as well as keep pests such as aphids, hornworms and nematodes at bay. See how to grow better by planting the mighty marigold this year!

How To Harden Off Vegetable & Flower Plants - Episode 207 Apr 19, 2022

Jim and Mary cover the topic of hardening off vegetable and flower transplants in the spring. Hardening off tender young plants is seedlings is vital getting them off to a healthy strong start outdoors. Learn how to harden off your plants safely, and why it is so important for a great garden season.

Growing Vegetables In Straw Bales - How To Grow Vegetables Anywhere Apr 05, 2022

See how easy growing vegetables in straw bales can be! Jim and Mary take you through the steps of setting up a straw bale planter, all while covering how to set your bales up for success with a simple approach that makes it easy and uncomplicated to grow.

How To Grow Strawberries - The Simple Secrets To A Great Harvest! Mar 08, 2022

Jim and Mary walk listeners through the process of planting, growing and maintaining a strawberry crop. From June bearing to everbearing varieties, strawberries are a great perennial crop to plant to enjoy for years of fresh berries!

How To Collect & Use Rain Water - And Why It's Better For Your Plants! Feb 22, 2022

See the best methods for collecting and using rain water for your garden, flowerbeds & landscape - and why it's one of the best ways to water your plants! Using rain water for your landscape is not only a great way to conserve on your city, well or community water supplies, it also has huge benefits for your plants. In fact, more advantages than you might ever imagine!

How To Use Compost In Your Garden & Flowerbeds! 5 Great Uses For Compost Feb 08, 2022

Jim and Mary discuss the 5 best ways to use compost in your garden and flowerbeds. Compost is the key to adding healthy nutrients to your soil naturally. It’s full of life and teeming with beneficial bacteria and organisms. All of which work to rejuvenate and re-energize tired soil and help keep it productive.
But how effective it is at helping your soil and plants really depends on how you use it. And some uses are certainly better and more productive than others. Check out these 5 great uses for compost!

How To Plant & Grow Asparagus - The Simple Steps To Delicious Asparagus! Jan 24, 2022

Jim and Mary take a look at how to plant and maintain a perennial crop of asparagus. Asparagus can grow and produce for 20 years or more, but the key to success is planting it right from the start! See where to locate your crop, select the right varieties, how to prepare the soil, and when and how to harvest for best results.

How To Use Coffee Grounds & Egg Shells In Your Garden - And Why To Start Saving Them Now! Jan 10, 2022

Jim and Mary are back for Season 2 of the Simple Garden Life Podcast. Listen as they talk about the benefits of saving egg shells and coffee grounds in the winter, and how to use them to power your soil and plants this spring and summer!

Dividing Perennials In The Fall - Fall Flowerbed Maintenance Sep 30, 2021

Jim and Mary take a look at dividing perennials in the fall, including when and how to divide, and why it is so important for keeping your flowerbeds healthy and weed free.

How To Plant A Cover Crop Sep 23, 2021

Jim and Mary take you through the process of how to plant a fall cover crop in your garden, and why it is so important. Cover crops not only protect your garden's soil through winter, they also help keep weeds at bay, all while recharging your garden's soil.

How And Why To Deadhead Your Annuals & Perennial Flowers Jul 27, 2021

A look at how to deadhead flowers to keep both your annuals and perennials strong and vibrant. Jim and Mary talk about the age-old practice of deadheading flowers.

How To Fertilize Your Vegetable Garden For Success - Simple Secrets That Work Jun 07, 2021

Jim and Mary discuss when and how to fertilize a garden to get the most from your crops. See when you should start to power up young transplants and seedlings, and what the best fertilizers for vegetable crops are.

Succession Planting - Getting The Most From Your Garden Space Jun 02, 2021

Jim and Mary discuss succession planting in the garden, and how to get the most from your space with multiple plantings.

How To Create Gorgeous Container Plants From Perennials - For Free! May 25, 2021

Jim and Mary discuss how to create gorgeous container plants by using perennial plants instead of annuals. Learn how to create beautiful potted plants year after year without spending a dime!

8 Simple Garden Tools Every Gardener Should Own For A Better Garden - Episode 115 May 03, 2021

Jim and Mary discuss 8 simple but effective garden tools that should be in every gardener's tool shed. These 8 tools are not only inexpensive, they can also help you to a stronger, healthier garden - and a happier you!

The Best Heirloom Tomatoes To Grow For Eating, Canning & More! - Episode 114 Apr 26, 2021

Jim and Mary discuss their favorite heirloom tomatoes to grow in the garden. From fresh eating, to making sauce, pasta, juice and more - listen in to find out which tomato varieties are best to grow, and why.

How To Keep Your Hanging Baskets Gorgeous From Spring Til Fall! Episode 113 Apr 19, 2021

Jim and Mary discuss their best secrets to keep your hanging baskets looking great from spring until fall. From selecting the right plants, to proper watering and fertilizing, see how to have the best hanging baskets on the block!

How To Grow Vegetables In 5 Gallon Buckets - Episode 112 Apr 12, 2021

Jim and Mary discuss growing vegetable in 5 gallon buckets, and how easy it is to grow nearly any type of vegetables you can dream of in containers. See their top tips and hints for growing in 5 gallon buckets - and how to make it look beautiful too!

How To Keep Flowerbeds Weed-Free! - Episode 111 Apr 05, 2021

Jim and Mary take a look at the secrets behind keeping your flowerbeds weed free, and how to do it without working hours every day at it!

How To Plant Your Garden For Success - 7 Big Planting Day Secrets! 110 Mar 29, 2021

Jim and Mary cover how to get your vegetable garden off to the best start possible with 7 key planting day secrets! How you plant on planting day can have a big impact on your garden's success.

How To Grow An Amazing Crop Of Cucumbers - Episode 109 Mar 22, 2021

Jim and Mary discuss their top tips for how to grow your best crop of cucumbers. Whether growing in a garden, in raised beds, or containers, see how to get the most from your cucumber plants

How To Make And Use Compost Tea, The Ultimate Fertilizer! - Episode 108 Mar 15, 2021

Jim and Mary discuss how to make compost tea, and its many uses in the vegetable garden, flower beds, and for fertilizing hanging baskets, container plants, herbs and more. Compost tea is easy to make, 100 % organic, and best of all free!

How To Create A Raised Row Garden With Ease - Episode 107 Mar 08, 2021

Jim and Mary cover how to create a Raised Row Garden this spring, and how to maintain it year round! The Raised Row garden method continues to grow bigger every year, and it’s easy to see why. It makes gardening fun, all with a simple, low-maintenance and entirely organic approach. Even better, it doesn’t require anything more than the most basic of tools. There is no need for a rototiller. Nor will you have endless weeding, hoeing, and many of the other tedious tasks often associated with tending to a backyard vegetable garden.

How To Use Worm Castings To Power Your Vegetables & Flowers - Episode 106 Mar 01, 2021

Worm castings are quite simply one of the most powerful, incredible, plant-energizing & soil fertilizing ingredients you can use. And, they are 100% organic! Learn how to use worm castings to power all of your flower and vegetable plants to new heights this year!

Eliminating Weeds From Your Garden, The Secrets To Success! - Episode 105 Feb 22, 2021

Weeds can turn a gorgeous garden into an eyesore in just a few weeks. In addition, they can also choke the life out of your plants, competing for the same vital resources (water, nutrients, light and oxygen) that your vegetable plants do. Learn how to stop weeds in your garden for good as Jim and Mary go through the 4 simple secrets to eliminating weeds from a vegetable garden.

How To Make Great Compost For A Great Garden - Episode 104 Feb 15, 2021

Jim and Mary take a look at the secrets to creating and maintaining a great compost pile. Compost is an amazing organic powerhouse of nutrients. Nutrients that help to keep soil loose, workable, and most importantly, completely energized. When it comes to growing healthy plants, compost is a must-add ingredient to your soil!

How To Start Seeds Indoors With Ease - Episode 103 Feb 08, 2021

A look at how to easily start your vegetable and flower seeds indoors before planting season. Jim and Mary take a look at the basic supplies needed, and the entire seed starting process, from start to finish.

How To Grow The Best Tomatoes On The Block - Episode 102 Feb 02, 2021

Jim and Mary give their best tips and advice for growing an incredible crop of tomatoes. From planting, mulching and fertilizing, to the importance of pruning and picking your tomatoes at the right time, see how to get the most from your tomato plants. Make this the year you grow the biggest and best tomatoes on the block!

An Introduction To The Simple Garden Life - Episode 101 Feb 01, 2021

The introductory episode of Simple Garden Life. Hosts Jim and Mary Competti discuss their new gardening podcast, and their unique approach to keep gardening fun, simple and rewarding - all at the same time. Join them for the first of many episodes to come!

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