WCCO's Smart Gardens - TopPodcast.com

Latest Episodes:

Pepper and Tomato Planting, Protecting Apple Trees, Lawn Mowing Tips May 09, 2026

Show notes

How to handle a lawn with high phosphorous. When to start planting peppers and tomatoes. Keeping bugs off of apple trees. Low maintenance plants. Start spraying for creeping Charlie. Why grass may be a different color. Maintaining grass when mowing the lawn. Adding compost to raised beds. What to after grubs are found in your lawn. Frost is still a factor with planting. Learn more from Master Gardener Teresa Rooney at extension.umn.edu.

Planting Perennials, Getting Ahead of Grubs, Fixing a Bumpy Lawn May 02, 2026

Show notes

Why grass may have difficulty growing. Preparing to plant perennials. How long tulips last. Restoring asparagus. What to do if your lawn has grub damage. Why a lawn may be bumpy. Keeping moss away from your yard. When its fine to apply lawn fertilizer. Growing grass in sandy soil. Learn more from horticulturalist Julie Weisenhorn at extension.umn.edu.

Keeping Bugs Away, Relocating Rhubarb, Planting Perennials Apr 25, 2026

Show notes

Keeping bugs away from your plants. Getting rid of moss on your outdoor spaces. When to start planting spring flower trees. What to do if you need to relocate your rhubarb. Maintaining an amaryllis. When tulips will be in bloom. Phone apps for gardeners. Pruning a rose bush. Learn more from horticulturalist Laura Irish Hanson extension.umn.edu.

Controlling Crabgrass, Protecting Pollinators, Pruning Peonies Apr 18, 2026

Show notes

When to apply crabgrass killer. How often do trees need to be watered? When plants are okay to be left uncovered. Will tulips grow back after animal damage? When will hummingbirds arrive? Protecting pollinators during spring yard cleanup. When grass seed can be planted after applying crabgrass killer. How to best prune peonies. Repotting a Christmas Cactus. Signs of Emerald Ash Borer damage. Learn more from horticulturalist Mary Meyer at extension.umn.edu.

Time to Start Fertilizing, Getting the Right Grass Seed, Weed Treating Strategies Apr 11, 2026

Show notes

How to grow plants in a stock tank. Time to find some fertilizer for your lawn. When to prune oak trees. When to start uncovering perennials. Where to find the best grass seed for your lawn and its needs. When to start raking your lawn. How to utilize a grow bag. How to best treat weeds in your yard. Defending against crabgrass. Learn more from horticulturalist Julie Weisenhorn and Lawn and Turf expert Jon Trappe at extension.umn.edu.

Getting a Soil Test, Keeping Rabbits Away, Getting Insects off Houseplants Apr 04, 2026

Show notes

All the outside plants are loving this wet weather. How vinegar can be used to help plants. Controlling chives. When to do a soil test. When hostas will start to sprout. When to uncover strawberries. Do perennials need to be fertilized? What is the best way to get insects off houseplants? Getting rid of moss. Stopping buckthorn from growing back. Learn more from Master Gardener Teresa Rooney at extension.umn.edu.

Getting to Work on the Lawn, Fertilizer Facts, Putting Labor into Lilacs Mar 28, 2026

Show notes

Now that the snow is melting, what can we start to do in our lawns and gardens? Is it time to remove burlap from trees? Treating for grubs. What goes into strategic root pruning? Is dethatching necessary? It is time to finish up your pruning. Fertilizer that cannot be used in Minnesota. What to do with overgrown lilacs? When to start splitting hostas. Creeping Charlie questions. Learn more from horticulturalist Laura Irish Hanson and Lawn and Turf expert Jon Trappe at extension.umn.edu.

Preparing to Prune, Treating Tree Scale, When its Time to Transplant Mar 21, 2026

Show notes

Seed starting season is in full swing. What trees can be pruned right now? What to know when transplanting peonies. Is dethatching necessary in Minnesota? What to do if there is scale on a tree? Should we start uncovering outdoor plants? Preventing voles from damaging your lawn. Protecting plants from rabbits. Learn more from horticulturalist Julie Weisenhorn at extension.umn.edu.

Winter Seeding Ahead of Heavy Snow, Seed Starting Basics, Preparing For Pruning Mar 14, 2026

Show notes

As a big snow storm is expected to hit Minnesota, is it okay to winter seed before it comes? Putting down grass seed before snow falls. Why buying good grass seed goes a long way. Minimizing lawn and damage done by dogs. Will the wild weather swings have an impact on perennials. Plants to prevent deer. Where and when to prune hydrangeas. Learn more from horticulturalist Mary Meyer at extension.umn.edu.

Planning a Vegetable Garden, Planting a Rain Garden, Growing Oak Trees from Acorns Mar 07, 2026

Show notes

What to know if you are preparing to plant a vegetable garden. How to protect your plants from critters. Maple Fest is coming to the arboretum. Are buds growing on lilac bushes already? The best plants for a rain garden. Is it too late to prune an apple tree? What is the best way to get rid of used potting soil? How to grow oak trees from acorns. Is it too late for tulips? Learn more from Master Gardener Teresa Rooney at extension.umn.edu.

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