Growing Together: A Gardening Podcast

Time for a thorough spring cleaning of the Growing Together mailbag. In this episode, Don and John answer listener questions about amaryllis bulbs, soil testing, starting marigolds from seed, and plenty more timely topics. If you have your own questions, email them to Don Kinzler at [email protected].

Another Easter is upon us, which means the lush array of Easter plants and the threat (and benefit) of wet, heavy late-season snow. In this episode, Don and John discuss the Easter season through beloved plants like lillies and Easter cactus. Plus, they chat about the effects of early spring storms on your garden.

It's that time of year, between the Spring of Deception and Third Winter, when you just simply can't trust nature. In this episode, Don and John look use the upcoming April Fool's Day as inspiration for a look at all the tomfoolery happening in and around your garden, like old wive's tales, plants that deceive, and pranks you can play on your favorite gardener.

It's officially spring, which means gardening season is just around the corner. In this episode, Don and John discuss how to get ahead of weeds before the growing season begins, from early planning to smart prevention strategies.

If you're a gardener, chances are that green is one of your favorite colors, and what's greener than St. Patrick's Day? In this episode, Don and John celebrate the greenest of holidays with a wee bit o' love for the flowers and plants that make Ireland beautiful.

Pruning has many benefits, like better yields and attractive shaping...but if you're not sure how best to approach it, you might fear doing serious damage to your beloved plants. In this episode, Don and John talk about the best way to approach pruning so you do no harm while reaping the significant benefits.

Did you know the average American eats 20 pounds of onions a year? In this episode, Don and John give you the lowdown on a true culinary staple that would be a welcome addition to any vegetable garden, from the best varieties for our region to the planting and harvesting techniques that set you up for mouthwatering success.

We're all excited for spring, but for a Master Gardener, spring is kinda like show time. In this episode, Don and John talk with Sandra Vigen, a Fargo, N.D.-based Master Gardener and business owner. Sandra has spent years working on her home garden and sharing her skills with the community, and she comes to the show with lots of great ideas and tips.

Chances are, with the days lengthening, you're already thinking about gardening this season. But are you actively planning it out? In this episode, Don and John discuss planning your garden and thinking about what you'll plant and where you'll plant it—planning that could save you time and effort once the season begins.

Nothing against a dozen red roses—we all love roses—but if you want to send an extra special message to your loved one this Valentine's Day, you might want to look somewhere else. In this episode, Don and John go over a few different floral options, what their colors mean and what message they send. Plus, they give you some helpful tips on making a dynamite arrangement, even if you're a complete beginner.

You might have seen terrariums all over your social media feed, but you might not know that there's a long history to these self-contained little tabletop worlds. In this episode, Don and John talk about the history of terrariums and how you might go about putting one together for yourself as a way to beat the winter cold. And speaking of winter, they also go into the cold-weather phenomenon of "exploding trees."

How long have seed catalogs been available in the U.S.? You'll have to listen to hear the answer...but it's a long time. In this episode, Don and John take a moment to talk about the history of seed catalogs while giving you some tips on their favorites and what to watch for in their pages brimming with spring promise.

Gardening is one of those human activities with a long history, deep symbolism and a lot of details, so it has a substantial vocabulary to accompany it. In this episode, Don and John go over some of the curious terms you may hear in gardening so you won't be left scratching your head.

Note: This episode of Growing Together: A Gardening Podcast was originally published on Jan. 9, 2025. Sure, your green thumbs have been busy the last few weeks thumbing through seed catalogs, but if anything, that's just making you more excited to get your hands dirty working with actual plants. In this episode, Don and John talk about repotting your houseplants as a way to ease your cabin fever, with plenty of tips on keeping your beloved plant homies healthy.

Chances are, you wanted some garden do-overs this year. You won't be able to do them over, unfortunately, but you do have the opportunity to do things differently next year. In this episode, Don and John discuss some new year's resolutions for your yard and garden, like planning your yard better and improved weeding and spraying. There's always room to improve, and now's the time to make those goals.

We're only guessing here, but the gardener on your gift list is probably one of the sweetest, loveliest people you know. Don't you want to get them the awesome gift they deserve? In this episode, Don and John go over some holiday gift ideas for the gardener you love the most (or for youself; we won't tell). They also answer a listener question about how to start a professional life in a garden center.

Our gardens are just a pleasant memory and spring is a long way off, which makes it an even better time to bring holiday cheer into your home with a tree and other festive indoor plants. In this episode, Don and John give you some facts and advice about putting up the Christmas tree and dispel a rumor about poinsettias being poisonous (they're not).

We may be quickly approaching winter, but Don and John are already looking ahead to spring as they discuss The Prairie Garden 2026, an annual publication dedicated to advancing horticulture on the Prairies. In this episode, Don and John dive into The Prairie Garden 2026: Shaping Spaces. From why you shouldn't plant anything under a tree to how to design a goth garden, this edition offers plenty of inspiration—and makes a perfect gift for any gardener in your life.

Prairie Petals has become a go-to location for innovative floral displays in the Fargo area thanks to the creativity and problem-solving of owner Kimberly Hess. In this episode, Don and John welcome Kimberly for a discussion of her career in floral decorating, a look at her approach to creating one-of-a-kind displays and arrangements, and some guidance on getting luscious-looking dried flowers. To learn more about Prairie Petals, visit their website: https://prairiepetalsfm.com/

You've worked diligently on your yard and garden this year. It would be a shame if it were all undone by a few hungry bunnies this winter. In this episode, Don and John go over some safe and humane tactics for protecting your perennials, shrubs and trees from rabbits, voles, deer and other critters. Plus, they go over a listener's approach to overwintering amaryllis that could have you enjoying their triumphant blooms next season.

If you have a flower bed that feels a little flat or a patch of yard in need of a refresh, ornamental grasses could be the lift they need. In this episode, Don and Jon go over some of the reasons you might consider adding ornamental grasses to your yard along with the usual helpful hints for care and recommendations for varieties that might suit your needs.

You might be a little sad to see the leaves drop in your yard, but there's a bright side: with the leaves gone it's a perfect time to give them a thorough check up. In this episode, Don and John go over some ways to check in on the health of your trees and shrubs that get much simpler once they've lost their leaves for the year.

When it comes to most plants in our yards, we can probably handle most of the maintenance ourselves with a little guidance. The big exception: our trees, which have needs that might require someone with a bit more knowhow, aka an arborist. In this episode, Don and John welcome guest Quincey Circo of Carr's Tree Service to talk about when and why you might need to bring in a pro to help with tree maintenance. You can learn more about Carr's Tree Service at https://www.carrstreeservice.com/

The days are getting shorter, quickly, and we're starting to see our breath when we go outside. That means it's time to put the garden to bed for another year. In this episode, Don and John talk through some tasks to put a wrap on this year's growing season. Plus, we hear from a North Dakota listener growing pineapple. (Yeah, you read that right.)

Mums (or chrysanthemums, if you're fancy) bring a big blast of color to your life in the fall, and you can find them just about anywhere, making them a perfect low-effort way to bring some cheer into the late growing season. In this episode, Don and John talk about buying and caring for mums. They also talk about "perennializing" them into a part of your landscape.

WDAY Chief Meteorologist Jesse Ritka had a busy summer, with turbulent storms and widespread tornado damage. And now, like the rest of us, she's reaping the gardening benefits of an unseasonably warm fall while waiting for sweater weather to finally arrive. In this episode, Jesse joins Don and John for a chat about recent weather and how the stormy summer affected her garden. Ever the scientist, she talks about spending time "experimenting" in the garden with her own family.

Just because summer is over and winter is on the horizon, it doesn't mean gardening has to be done for the year. In this episode, Don and John talk about how to keep geraniums, mandevilla and other plants growing through the winter so you can get a head start on summer color.

Nothing can be quite as breathtaking as fall color, and though there's a certain poetry to this last burst of natural beauty before we plunge into winter, there's some hard science there, too. In this episode, Don and John talk about the chemical changes that make fall color happen and talk about their favorite fall color plants, shrubs and trees. Don fields a listener question about late fall pruning and we all seem to agree that slugs are, indeed, super gross.

Crabgrass and quackgrass might sound a little funny, but they are such a common nuisance many homeowners simply throw up their hands and live with them. It doesn't have to be that way. In this episode, Don and John talk about two of the most common weeds in our lawns and give you strategies to help bring them under control.

A common refrain here at Growing Together is that there's usually something going on with your garden, no matter what time of year, and the same holds true for your local garden centers. In this episode, Don and John are joined by Luke Nygard, the owner of Nygard Nursery in Dilworth, Minn., for some reasons to give your local nursery a visit even though winter is coming fast. Luke also shares how he transitioned from professional drummer to full-time gardener to business owner. Learn more about Nygard Nursery on their website: https://www.nygaardnursery.com/

You might think of Labor Day as the time when you start closing down shop for the year, but it's also the time when you can start laying groundwork for next year. In this episode, Don and John go over some of the most fruitful tasks for your Labor Day/early September to-do list, like fertilizing your lawn, splitting geraniums and tackling your toughest weeds. Topics in this episode: 0:42 Don's vacation seeing gardens on Martha's Vineyard, Boston and Hyde Park 6:40 Are tomatoes late this year? 12:50 The transition time of the Labor Day holiday 13:52 The most important time of year to fertilize your lawn 15:45 This is the best time to control lawn weeds 16:58 What kind of fertilizer should we be using? 18:54 Overseeding your trouble spots 20:06 What to use for spot spraying 21:31 Making cuttings from your geraniums 23:34 Dig and divide peonies 24:38 Planting tulip, daffodil, hyacinth bulbs 26:15 Moving rhubarb 28:30 Planning your garden expansion 30:27 Harvesting vegetables and fruits

Your riding mower might make you feel like royalty as you leisurely cut the grass on a hot day...but, you're missing out on some much-needed exercise when you do. In this episode, Don and John welcome NDSU Extension Food and Nutrition Specialist Julie Garden-Robinson for a discussion about health and gardening, including why you should keep sweating behind your push mower. Julie also has some tips for how to get the most nutrition from your harvest bounty.

As you build out your yard and develop your garden, you'll inevitably find the need to put down some mulch to cover the ground and create pleasing areas around your growing spots. In this episode, Don and John go over a few key points on mulch, edging and maintenence, including things to consider when choosing rock or mulch and how to prevent weeds. Topics: 0:00 Intro 1:33 Today's topic: Mulching 2:12 Listener question: What is this powdery substance on my lilacs? 4:36 How ground cover has changed 9:42 Maitaining rock mulch 11:34 Preventing weeds with a pre-emergent herbicide 19:46 A disadvantage to rock mulch 21:07 Wood mulch; chips vs. shredded 23:52 The advantages and disadvantages of wood mulch 25:02 What to put underneath wood mulch 26:51 Tips for using cardboard under mulch 30:00 Wood vs. rock mulch 31:17 Rubber pellets 35:02 Edging

You have questions, Growing Together has answers. In this episode, Don and John open up the listener mailbag to hear what's vexing you in your garden. Plus, they share in a couple of listener successes. If you have a question for Don Kinzler, send an email (with a photo, if possible) to [email protected]. 2:29 What's eating my tomatoes? 9:52 What's the best product for post-emergent weed control? 14:54 What's wrong with my baby oak trees? 20:51 White poinsettia success 23:38 How do I care for an apple tree still in the pot? 26:49 Why are leaves falling off my crabapple tree? 32:15 What is this horned caterpillar in my purslane? 37:07 Why is my plum tree bleeding sap? 38:57 Bergenia flower success 40:47 Should I order bare-root day lillies? 42:35 Can I prevent further harm to my storm-damaged tree? 46:01 When is the best time to prune maple trees? 49:23 Is this apple fungus? 52:38 How do I revive a neglected lawn?

If there's a favorite gardening activity of yours, chances are you'll be able to do it during the month of August. In this episode, Don and John break down some of your main to-do items for the month of August, including fertilizing, weeding and dividing some perennials. You could likely start picking tomatoes or digging a few potatoes, too, and you might still be able to plant some radishes and greens. Topics in this show: 0:00 Intro 2:03 Listener question: Slime molds 4:09 Grinding stumps for mulch 5:54 Introducing Samantha, NDSU Extension intern 7:56 Fertilizing annuals in late summer 9:11 Water soluable fertilizers on leaves 11:06 Deadheading 12:53 Digging and dividing perennials 18:08 Fertilizing your lawn 21:36 Aerating and seeding your lawn 26:34 Weeding your lawn 29:39 Fall tree and shrub care and planting 32:41 Tomatoes 36:14 Early potato harvest 38:45 Things you can still plant 39:38 What to look for with squash 41:15 When to harvest onions 43:32 Checking in on your apples

As we enter the high summer season, you might be looking at your vegetables and wondering if they're coming along as well they should. In this episode, Don and John (and special guest Casey) take stock of midsummer vegetables and give you some tips on seeing them through to success.

Like the plants we love, conversations between gardeners often flower and flourish as we share knowledge and insight, and nowhere was this more apparent than this year's Red River Garden Tour. In this episode, Don and John relive the highlights of the 2025 Garden Tour and invite you along to participate next year when area gardeners invite you into their yards to share their love of growing. See more from this year's Red River Garden Tour here: https://www.inforum.com/lifestyle/red-river-valley-garden-tour-opens-yards-to-the-public

(The Growing Together crew is taking some time off to enjoy the summer, so in the meantime, please enjoy this republished episode from August 2024.) If you're excited by the idea of canning but feel unsure about where to start, this episode is made for you. In this episode, Don and John sit down with Rita Ussatis, Family and Community Wellness Extension Agent at NDSU. With years of experience both practicing and teaching canning, Rita shares her wealth of knowledge to help you take that first step.

If you're the kind of gardener who runs out of room in your gardening, climbing and vining plants are an intriguing prospect. In this episode, Don and John talk about growing up, not out, with vining and climbing plants.

Severe weather shook our region last weekend, with tornadoes, high winds and hail wreaking havoc on lives and property alike. In this episode, Don and John talk about steps you can take to protect your yard and garden from severe storm damage. Plus, they go over your "Independence Day for gardeners" checklist.

In this episode, Don and John learn something new from seasoned gardener Mary Holm as well as her favorite annuals and perennials and a beneficial reason to plant parsley.

You aren't the only one looking to get the most out of your plants and shrubs. Fungi, bacteria and pests are after them, too. In this episode, Don and John go over some common fungal diseases, like powdery mildew, and other blights that can strike your garden early in the season, along with strategies to keep them at bay.

If you want to level up your landscaping game, you might want to give a good thought to how you use shrubs in your yard. In this episode, Don and John discuss shrubs, the backbone of your landscaping. You'll learn how to choose varieties that work with your available space and give your yard some class.

It's the backdrop for your heated cornhole games and memory-making family barbeques, so it's nice to have a healthy, green lawn. In this episode, Don and John talk about seeding, fertilizing and other important steps to improving your lawn and making it the envy of your neighbors.

We all have big dreams when it comes to what we want to grow, but the hard truth is that we have to work with the space we have, and every space comes with different amounts of available sunshine. In this episode, Don and John go over some strategies for planning your garden to make the best use of your sun, with some considerations for container gardening. Plus, they take a listener question about apple tree care.

Fertilizing is an important part of a successful garden, and the spring is the most important time to fertilize, so it's important to get it right. In this episode, Don and John go over fertilizing the yard and garden, with special considerations for vegetables and containers, all to help your plants reach their full potential this season.