The Garden Show with Charlie Dobbin

Save water, butterflies and bees with simple tricks. Controlling Magnolia scale, spots on beans and honeysuckle as both a groundcover and a climbing vine - all covered this week on the Garden Show. Listen live every Saturday at 9am on Zoomer Radio

Callers have issues with a few pests, pruning to rejuvenate the garden, and what about slowing down all those cantaloupe and melon flowers? Listen live every Saturday at 9am on Zoomer Radio

Terry Kennedy from the Southern Ontario Orchid Society joins us to chat about all things orchid - including her feelings about ice cubes on the roots of tropical plants! We discuss vines for privacy, amaryllis and issues with tomatoes, cucumbers and green beans.

Tomatoes not producing fruit, propagating an old orange tree, bugs and the debate continues whether sheep or cattle manure is best! Listen live every Saturday at 9am on Zoomer Radio

Dean shares his grandmother's recipe - next week. Meanwhile callers have questions about pests, invasive violets, too much or not enough water for geraniums, and how can you possibly tell tomatoes apart until they set fruit? Listen live every Saturday at 9am on Zoomer Radio

Pests on beans, honey locust trees, brussels sprouts and rhubarb. But then a final call from Monica brings up a great book by Douglas Tallamy, "Bringing Nature Home". All about growing native plants to support local fauna. He and Charlie are huge fans of biodiversity! Listen live every Saturday at 9am on Zoomer Radio

Potato beetles, Elder borers, chipmunks and squirrels dominate the show today. Meanwhile why do some garlic plants have scapes and others don't? Yellow leaves on Hibiscus, Basil with spots and just how often should we fertilize tomatoes? Listen live every Saturday at 9am on Zoomer Radio

Callers have issues with: brown spots on sage, Red Lily Leaf Beetles, Aphids and even Fungus Gnats on indoor plants. And when is the best time to transplant a peony? Listen live every Saturday at 9am on Zoomer Radio

Several callers have issues with their rhubarb. Dean absolutely loves rhubarb and waxes on poetically about desserts from the past and present. Rabbits are eating roses, dogs are peeing on lawns, and everyone wants Trilliums close to home in their gardens. Listen live every Saturday at 9am on Zoomer Radio

Callers want to control aphids on Lupins, transplant milkweed, and eliminate weeds growing in a walkway. Plus feed tomatoes, plant honeysuckle in a pot and rejuvenate rhubarb. All in a day on the Garden Show! Listen live every Saturday at 9am on Zoomer Radio

Sheep manure, like other animal manures, is a natural slow-release fertilizer. Any composted manure provides important organic matter and will benefit your garden. Charlie believes sheep manure is slightly better than cattle manure for the home gardener. Callers also want ideas for fast growing, hummingbird attracting vines, orchid care, wisteria pruning and boxwood replacement ideas once the Box Tree Moth has invaded. Listen live every Saturday at 9am on Zoomer Radio

Callers want to know more about lawn issues including: over-seeding, grubs, bent grass and clover. Ornamental onions (Allium) is discussed along with yummy cherry tomatoes! Listen live every Saturday at 9am on Zoomer Radio

Callers want to know about: tomatoes in pots, tulips growing inside a rose bush (!), whether to late to dormant spray apples, weeds in the lawn and paving stones (of course), Dahlias and when to plant outside, colour control of Hydrangeas, and what to do about shrubs that grow under the fence from next door?

No, Charlie is not on holiday. She's there with a crew taping another episode of doc series Healing Gardens, premiering on Vision TV May 23rd at 9pm EDT. Meanwhile callers in Ontario want to know more about: ants, tree trimming, planting yews on a steep slope, pruning Mandevilla, deadheading bulbs and waking up a trumpet vine. And when can we plant our tomatoes outside? Listen live every Saturday at 9am on Zoomer Radio

Charlie and Dean Hollin do the entire show with no live call-in, just email questions that have been piling up. Lawn care, soil amending with organic matter, bird seed debris, rubber tree care, aphid infestation prevention and some suggested vines to replace a raspberry patch. Listen live every Saturday at 9am on Zoomer Radio

Callers from all over, with questions from all over too! Transplanting pussy willow, soil issues, crabgrass control, orchids, Amaryllis, butterfly bush, white clover and Stephanotis. You name it we cover it this week on the Garden Show! Listen live every Saturday at 9am on Zoomer Radio

Lots of calls today about pruning; hedges, roses and overwintering geraniums. Plus whether to replace container soil every year, when to dormant spray and how to eliminate thistles. Spring is clearly in the air! Listen live every Saturday at 9am on Zoomer Radio

Callers are keen to get out into their gardens and do some maintenance. Saskatoon/Serviceberry shrubs, Butterfly bush, Pee Gee Hydrangeas, (herbaceous) perennial Hibiscus, Bougainvillea and climbing roses are on people's to do lists. Soil testing, planting wild flower seeds and more! Listen live every Saturday at 9am on Zoomer Radio

Callers want to know about Ninebark, Elder, Hydrangea and Quince. When to prune to promote flowers and fruit comes up. Along with Amaryllis, and other tropical plant care tips feature this week on the Garden Show. Listen live every Saturday at 9am on Zoomer Radio

Listeners want to know more about pruning clematis, transplanting strawberries, keeping Poinsettias alive and tapping sugar maples.

The new common name for 'Gypsy' moth (Lymantria dispar) is Spongy moth. It refers to the little brown fuzzy egg masses that resemble sponges. Be on the lookout in tree bark, walls and fences now. Scrape out and destroy! We chat about roses, gro lights, catmint, and best blends of grass seed to use on your lawn. Listen live every Saturday at 9am on Zoomer Radio

Caller Rita, suggests everyone plants yellow sunflowers this year in support for Ukraine. Included this week we talk Hibiscus and aphids, poison ivy, pruning and propagating lilacs, jade plants and snake plants. A bit of garden design sneaks into the show too. Listen live every Saturday at 9am on Zoomer Radio

Calls and emails from listeners who want to know pruning, fertilizing, propagating and transplanting tips for Hibiscus - even hardy Hibiscus (Rose of Sharon). Cacti, succulents, geraniums and Junipers are also discussed this week on the Garden Show. Listen live every Saturday at 9am on Zoomer Radio

Weeds in lawns and vegetable gardens, emerald cedars that keep dying, planting into sandy soil, choosing vines for a sunny fence, and rejuvenating a rose hedge. All are covered on the Garden Show this week. Listen live every Saturday at 9am on Zoomer Radio

An email and call prompts Charlie to share the best way to deal with spring bulbs that never made it into the garden. Overgrown cedars, seed starting, lime trees and gypsy moth control are just a few more examples of what's covered on the Garden Show this week. Listen live every Saturday at 9am on Zoomer Radio

Terry Kennedy owner of Orchids in Our Tropics joins the garden show to share tips and techniques on how to be successful with orchids. Watering, fertilizing, and pruning are just some of the topics covered today. Listen live every Saturday at 9am on Zoomer Radio

Special guest Paul Oliver from The Urban Nature Store discusses all about supporting the wild birds in winter. Frank Proctor calls in and goads Charlie into sharing her story about randy foxes in her backyard. And callers want to know about Christmas cactus' and garden rejuvenation. Listen live every Saturday at 9am on Zoomer Radio

Questions about fungus gnats, Helleborus, mini roses, geraniums, tulips, Bromeliads, mulch and orchids planted into pots with no drainage are all connected to: when and what kind of fertilizer to use. Listen live every Saturday at 9am on Zoomer Radio

Dean Hollin (co-host) was warned - it's all about Amaryllis this month. He's even sending me pictures of his flowering bulb! When to prune Hibiscus, fertilize orchids and is hen manure appropriate for indoor plants? All covered on the Garden Show this week! Listen live every Saturday at 9am on Zoomer Radio

Callers and email questions continue on the care and maintenance of Amaryllis. Fungus gnats, Bromeliads and wrapping evergreens for winter protection are also covered this week on the Garden Show. Listen live every Saturday at 9am on Zoomer Radio

Callers want to know how to cure powdery mildew on African violets, transplant big old Aloe vera, crown of thorns and Ficus plants, and get some blooms on an Epiphyllum. Pharoah ants and Japanese maple pruning are also addressed this week on the Garden Show. Listen live every Saturday at 9am on Zoomer Radio

Houseplants like Hoya, Amaryllis, Christmas cactus and geraniums are covered this week. Plus we talk about how to control lilac suckers coming up near a foundation. Listen live every Saturday at 9am on Zoomer Radio

It's better to plant any found bulbs under the ground before it freezes, rather than trying to save them until spring. Propagating Osage oranges, dealing with coneflower rosette mites and window decals to protect birds from crashing. All on the Garden Show this week. Listen live every Saturday at 9am on Zoomer Radio

Callers and emailers want to know why their Christmas cactus have dropped their buds (likely too much water, or not enough, or they were moved), or they haven't set any buds. Poinsettias dropping leaves, Bougainvillea doing the same, and is it too late to plant garlic? All this and more on the Garden Show this week! Listen live every Saturday at 9am on Zoomer Radio

We answer the question above plus lots more on the the Garden Show this week. How late is it ok to fertilize the lawn, why is it so hard to get Wisteria to bloom, and how come Gardenias never thrive indoors in the winter? By the way, sow bugs eat decaying organic matter, not live plants! Listen live every Saturday at 9am on Zoomer Radio

Callers want to know how to keep mini roses and butterfly bushes alive overwinter in pots. And is it too late to fertilize the lawn? What about tulips - can we still plant them? And is it possible to grow vegetables indoors over the winter? Listen live every Saturday at 9am on Zoomer Radio

Dean Hollin co-hosts again. He's a keen gardener with lots of his own questions. Meanwhile listeners have questions about Anthurium, Amaryllis, winter rose care and catmint that's taking over the driveway. Listen live every Saturday at 9am on Zoomer Radio!

New co-host Dean Hollin, steps up big time on the Garden Show. He brings plant cuttings, questions from his own garden, and lots of energy and fun. Meanwhile callers want info about: composting, pruning evergreens, choosing a ninebark variety and what to do when garlic starts growing early. Listen live every Saturday at 9am on Zoomer Radio!

First hard frost means all the plants know it's time to go dormant. The last mow for lawns and fall fertilizer application is now. Lower your mower since this is the also the shortest cut of the year - somewhere between 2 - 4 inches (5-10cm). Callers are putting away Dahlias, sticking Amaryllis into the dark, and wondering about overwintering fig trees.

Can mini roses survive outside overwinter? Can Hosta plants survive in pots? And how come my Plum tree never has any plums?

Callers want to know more about winter preparation for their gardens - composting (including infested apples), to prune or not Butterfly Bush, overwintering geraniums and Calla lilies, removing stumps and making Poinsettias turn into Christmas plants!

Multi questions this week about (a) how to bring tender tropical plants indoors and (b) overwintering hardy potted plants outdoors. Overgrown pussy willows, boxwood hedges, Aloe vera and Amaryllis care all covered this week on the Garden Show!

After a lengthy absence Frank Proctor joined the Garden Show for the last time. He has been struggling with anxiety and depression, but with appropriate medication hopefully he will feel a lot better soon. Callers into the show were very supportive, and wanted to know about: pruning roses when, puppies and yew (Taxus) bushes, transplanting Anthurium and fall fertilizing newly laid sod. All in an hour on the Garden Show!

Suzanne Graab (of Graab Designs) joins the Garden Show for the first time. Callers are thinking about Amaryllis bulbs, grubs and toadstools in their lawns, overwatered orchids and tender perennials like Calla lilies.

Paul DeGroot from NVK Nurseries joins us to help solve puzzles poised by callers and email. Whether Japanese maples, Japanese snowbell trees or red delicious apples we do our best to help with solutions. Clematis, gardens full of roots, and plants that don't (but should) flower are covered.

Lori Dimonte of 'Who Does Your Garden' joins Charlie on the Garden Show. Callers want to know about powdery mildew, pruning, when to plant tulips, and (for the first time) how to care for Air Plants (Tillandsia).

Computer issues at the studio mean we don't take any calls during this episode. Instead Charlie answers email and shares information about upcoming events. When to prune Hydrangea and Apple trees, eliminating mealy bugs and information about Aster Yellows vs Mites in coneflowers are all covered.

Callers report on blossom end rot of tomatoes, maggots in onions, and homemade herbicide recipes. We talk pruning of Magnolia, Rose of Sharon and how to best propagate Datura.

Callers are wondering when to dig and divide overgrown mums and Iris'. Non-blooming Wisteria, Raspberries with black spots and pruning lilies are all topics covered this week. One caller wants to know more about milkweed, and whether she should give it room in her garden.

Emma Biggs (16 yr old tomato grower), and her dad Steve (the "fig pig") are in studio to share some tips and tricks from their intensively planted North York home garden. Listen in for Emma's favourite tomato varieties and learn more at foodgardenlife.com. Callers are struggling with lack of water, but bumper crops!