You most likely have fond memories with trees and shrubs. They can be loved for generations and provide so many benefits including food and protection for our garden critters. There's a lot to know about trees and shrubs before you invest in one, so the Helpful Gardeners are joined by a special guest on today's episode >>> *************************  In this weeks episode .... 00:00 | Introduction 02:40 | Trees are awesome, but maybe not as a gift 04:00 | Oldest tree and talled tree Spoiler: It was  around the same time camels were domesticated in Egypt! 05:00 | Benefits of trees & a cringy shrub joke to pull out at parties 07:25 | Special Guest:  Jean-Mathieu Daoust of Let it Grow Horticulture 09:45 | Competitive Tree Climbing?! 12:30 | Flash Round - Jean's tree and shrub recommendations 14:40 | What to know when selecting a tree or shrub 17:30 | Suitable trees for shady spots 18:30 | How to care for newly planted trees 19:30 | How long to fertilize trees for  20:00 | How to care for trees throughout the years 21:00 | Pruning - DIY or Hire a professional.  24:00 | Consequences of pruning incorrectly 24:46 | Options for controling pests and disease 27:23 | How to know when the tree or shrub is too far gone to save 29:49 | Asking for help: What your local garden centre needs from you 31:20 | Question of the Week: Voles! 34:08 | Next Week....   *************************  GUEST | Jean-Mathieu Daoust Jean has been passionate about horticulture since early childhood. His family heritage is actually rooted in farming and forestry. Jean's first industry appearance was at 16 years old right here at Golden Acre in the late 90's. He went on to study arboriculture at Olds college in Alberta and graduated with a bachelor's degree in applied science with honours. In 2002, Jean started Tree Frog, and grew it into one of the most successful arbourist companies in Calgary, Alberta. A few years ago, he sold it and took a much need break. Since 2022, he's the owner operator of Let it Grow! When he's not servicing trees and shrubs, Jean is actively involved in the international society of arboriculture (ISA), in tree climbing championships, and has also served on the local chapter board of directors for many years. Contact Jean if you're in and around Calgary, AB for your tree servicing needs Let it Grow Horticulture | 587-574-4709   *************************   RESOURCES General Sherman in California | LINK   *************************  QUESTION OF THE WEEK  This question was sent to us by instagram user: @wildandcree  "Where should I plant my young 2ft lilacs?"   Do you have a question or a comment for the Helpful Gardeners? Send us an anonymous voice note HERE send us an email [email protected] or find our question of the week every Tuesday on our Instagram   NEXT WEEK  The gardeners are stripping down for World Naked Gardening Day! Just kidding... but they will be celebrating this AWESOME holiday with some tips on ways you can enjoy your garden and avoid garden burn out. Turn in Sunday's 8AM MST for more fun with the helpful gardeners!

What critters have you seen visiting your garden? They make homes in your trees, chow down on the bad bugs, and some come in to sample your veggies and bulbs. Nature is a balance, and we can find ways to protect our garden without harm. The Helpful Gardeners on talking garden critters on today's episode >>> *************************  In this weeks episode .... 00:00 | Introduction 02:00 | Bug & Critter PR 06:00 | When wildlife mixes with urban sprawl. 09:03 | Why you should remove the birdhouse peg.  11:30 | Control products may wipe out the good guys too. 13:20 | Deer resistent planting Barberry | LINK Norway Spruce | LINK Wildflowers | LINK  Aster Douglas | LINK Lemon Balm | LINK  15:00 | Predator bugs are trendy 16:40 | Physical Barriers for garden critters. 17:20 | A discussion  on Vegepod 18:50 | Double benefit! Using blood meal   19:30 | Companion Planting to deter critters 21:00 | Marigolds on Main Street - St. John,  NB 23:30 | Benefits of a clean and maintained garden 27:24 | Critters across the country    36:40 | Home Remedy 42:00 | Recap 42:50 | Question of the Week: Voles! 37:40 | Next Week....   *************************   RESOURCES Removing the Perch on your birdhouse | LINK *************************  QUESTION OF THE WEEK  This question was sent to us by email anonomously!  "What are voles and how do I prevent them from attacking my garden?" Learn more about fixing damaged lawn on the "Sodcast" Episode | LINK Plantskydd Repellant | LINK   Do you have a question or a comment for the Helpful Gardeners? Send us an anonymous voice note HERE send us an email [email protected] or find our question of the week every Tuesday on our Instagram   NEXT WEEK  The gardeners are going to explore trees and shrubs! Turn in Sunday's 8AM MST for more fun with the helpful gardeners!

Do you enjoy bulbs in your garden? Bulbs seem to raise a lot of question marks here in the greenhouse. We're hoping to demystify some of your more common Q's such as when to plant them, how to plant them, how to store them, and how to discourage destruction caused by some of our neighbourhood critters.... The Helpful Gardeners on talking bulbs on today's episode >>> *************************  In this weeks episode .... 00:00 | Introduction 05:00 | Types of bulbs and when to plant them 10:00 | Bulbs are low maintenance    10:55 | Companion planting  11:50 | Lifespan of a bulb 13:10 | How to plant a bulb  14:43 | Which way is up when planting?  17:20 | Benefits of bone meal 22:00 | Benefits of blood meal 23:50 | Fertilizer program 25:00 | Lighting requirements 26:00 | Moving bulbs outside 27:00 | Going Rogue: planting bulbs closer than suggested 27:45 | A special birthday shoutout 30:00 | Storing bulbs inside over winter  32:50 | Caution when using chicken wire...  34:10 | Question of the Week 37:40 | Next Week....   *************************    *************************  QUESTION OF THE WEEK  We had a question on Instagram from Holly Marisco this week! How do you store your more tender bulbs so they make it through the winter?   Do you have a question or a comment for the Helpful Gardeners? Send us an anonymous voice note HERE send us an email [email protected] or find our question of the week every Tuesday on our Instagram   NEXT WEEK  We're discussing ways to protect your garden from common neighbourhood critters! Turn in Sunday's 8AM MST for more fun with the helpful gardeners!

It's the Sodcast! What do you love about lawns? We know they can increase your home value, they're comfortable on hot summer days, it's the one plant we like to play sports on, and some folks even find joy in maintaining them. We love that your lawn can be personal to you and we want to help you get the most out of it. That's why the Helpful Gardeners are so honoured to be joined by Shelley Vance, of Scott's Canada, on today's episode >>> *************************  In this weeks episode.... 00:00 | Introduction 02:20 | Local Shoutout  05:15 | One size doesn't fit all - lawns are personal   08:50 | Things to consider when seeding your lawn 10:40 | Healthy Lawn = Less 12:00 | We put our lawns through a lot.... 14:30 | Special Guest: Shelley Vance from Scotts Canada 17:00 | How to wake up your lawn 21:20 | What is Winterkill? 22:50 | How to patch your lawn 29:10 | Considering grass seed 33:55 | Lawn fertilizer 35:40 | Can you over-water your lawn?   36:50 | Additional nuggets of experience 36:40 | Question of the Week 40:15 | Next Week....   *************************  GUEST | SHELLEY VANCE OF SCOTT'S CANADA   Shelley Vance has worked in the lawn and garden industry for over 30 years. She has worked for a variety of different companies based in Vancouver, Canada. Shelley has spent the majority of her career in business-to-business sales, supporting her customers to deliver high-quality products to their customers. In 2018, she was recognised by her peers and won ‘Sales Representative of the Year award’.    Shelley is passionate about the lawn and garden industry and is currently  enjoying a new role as Western IGC Sales Manager for Scott’s Canada.    Shelley lives in Coquitlam, BC, Canada with her husband, Jim, and has two adult daughters.  *************************  QUESTION OF THE WEEK  We had a few questions this week from excited gardeners on Instagram!   Do you have a question or a comment for the Helpful Gardeners? Send us an anonymous voice note HERE send us an email [email protected] or find our question of the week every Tuesday on our Instagram   NEXT WEEK  We've talked about seeds, but bulbs can be a whole other subject!  Turn in Sunday's 8AM MST for more fun with the helpful gardeners!

How do you like to be woken up? If you're like us, you like to be woken gently with soft sounds like chimes and soft gradual light from the sun. Doesn't that sound nice? We can apply this same thought process to your garden! There are things you can be doing in your garden right now to prepare it for the growing season ahead. Spoiler: None of these tips involve planting even a single plant! Colin and Brandi discuss how to prep you garden in today's episode >>> *************************  In this weeks episode.... 00:00 | Introduction 02:20 | Where to begin? 04:15 | Trees & Shrubs check up      05:00 | Dormant Spray Kit  08:00 | Wake up your garden gently    19:56 | Question: What to do with leaves on your lawn 11:30 | Leave some debris, save of a bug friend! 15:26 | Pace yourself 17:50 | Amending Soil  19:53 | Compost Tea 24:00 | When happens when you leave debris on garden beds? 25:40 | Mulch Tips  29:00 | Weeding & Dandelion Love 31:30 | Colin Transplanted a Dandelion.... 33:40 | Raking  38:05 | Using chemical straps in flower beds  40:00 | Checking your garden tools and what to buy   48:00 | Wrap up 36:40 | Question of the Week 40:15 | Next Week....   *************************  LINKS Colin's favourite amendment: Coconut Coir *************************  QUESTION OF THE WEEK  We had a few questions this week from excited gardeners on Instagram! See below... @Alex.paints.stuff | "Left leaves on my lawn in the fall. When should you rake them up and can I mulch them with a lawn mower?" A:  @Jennatabata | "When should we be planting seeds?" A: You can plant now depending on the seed! If you're in Alberta, see our free seed starting chart. If not, check you regional garden centres for resources, so following each individual seed packet information to determine if seeds need to be started indoors or direct sowed outside toward the end of May.   @miss_melly1 | "New to gardening and don't know where to start!" A: You came to the right place! Keep an ear on our podcast, attend our free webinars, or come into your local greenhouse for specialized advice :) Holly Marisco | "How do you amend soil in raised planters and is this needed annually?" A: Yes! This should be done annually because plants aren't getting regular nutrients from the Earth. Ideally, you want something lighter so the roots have room to grow. Use things like peatmoss, worm castings, etc.  Do you have a question or a comment for the Helpful Gardeners? Send us an anonymous voice note HERE send us an email [email protected] or find our question of the week every Tuesday on our Instagram   NEXT WEEK  It's the "SODCAST". We've been sitting on this pun for a while now... we're so excited to be joined by a representative of Scotts Canada, Shelly Vance, who is a lawncare expert! Send us your questions so we can ensure you get the most out of your lawn this season. Turn in Sunday's 8AM MST for more fun with the helpful gardeners!

Do your houseplants deserve a little spa day? In Canada, we experience pretty dramatic seasonal shifts. While we do love our gardens, you can only really enjoy it for a portion of the year. Houseplants can be enjoyed yearround, but they do require a bit of maintenance to keep them living their best life. Colin and Brandi discuss seasonal maintenance in today's episode! *************************  In this weeks episode.... 00:00 | Introduction 02:14 | Should I move my houseplants seasonally? 04:30 | Houseplant adversity   08:30 | Things to watch for before moving your plants.    10:30 | Choosing a designated houseplant maintenance day   12:30 | What happens if you can't move your plants? 13:52 | Challenge: Change your house lights to grow lights! 14:40 | Transplanting/ Repotting Houseplants - Foliage & Flowering 22:00 | Propagation - medium, methods and more. 26:20 | What did Colin gift Brandi?  32:50 | Houseplant soil - mixes & Colin's blend  33:30 | The benefits of worm castings  34:20 | What do worms like to eat? 35:00 | Types of houseplant soil 36:20 | 'Super Soil' by Bluesky Organics #NotSponsored 40:50 | Fertilizing - when and with what 43:05 | My flowering plant isn't flowering :( 44:56 | Watering tip: Try using rain water 48:00 | Wrap up 36:40 | Question of the Week 40:15 | Next Week....   *************************  COLIN'S SOIL RECIPE 3 parts potting soil 1 part charcoal 1 part worm casting CACTUS SOIL BLEND 3 Parts Dry Sand 2 Parts Perlite 2 Parts Heavy Garden Soil  1 Part Worm Castings GAKidsTV Cactus Soil Episode: LINK Avelida Worm Castings  Bluesky Organics 'Super Soil' *************************  WATERING LINKS Does Rainwater Contain Nitrogen? Green Calgary - Water conservation and rain barrels *************************  QUESTION OF THE WEEK  Our question of the week comes from Harry over on Instagram who asks "How do I grow hemp outside in my garden?" Do you have a question or a comment for the Helpful Gardeners? Send us an anonymous voice note HERE send us an email [email protected] or find our question of the week every Tuesday on our Instagram   NEXT WEEK  We're   Turn in Sunday's 8AM MST for more fun with the helpful gardeners!

Pack your bags! We're taking you on a trip around the globe to learn more about the diverse plants that call this plant home. *************************    In this weeks episode.... 01:00 | Mexico Geography 05:00 | How are plants used by humans and animals 06:50 | Replicating ideal growing conditions 08:15 | The big digression - Elevator Terror  11:30 | What kind of traveller are you?  14:20 | Medicinal benefits of worldly plants  15:15 | Beware of unknown plants  17:30 | Using plants to make tequila 19:50 | Working in a 'Sugar Shack' 28:20 | Diversity right at home 30:23 | Under the Sea  36:40 | Question of the Week 40:15 | Next Week....  *************************  THE GREAT CANADIAN MAPLE SYRUP HEIST Overview & Opinion Piece | LINK Results of the Heist from CTV | LINK *************************  QUESTION OF THE WEEK  Our question of the week comes from Danielle who asks "What size pot does an indeterminate tomato require to grow?" Do you have a question or a comment for the Helpful Gardeners? Send us an anonymous voice note HERE send us an email [email protected] or find our question of the week every Tuesday on our Instagram   NEXT WEEK  We're giving your houseplants some extra love and helping you through those big seasonal shifts. We'll talk about fertilizing, repotting, watering, and other maintenance practices! Turn in Sunday's 8AM MST for more fun with the helpful gardeners!

GARDEN PLANNING In this weeks episode.... 03:00 | Digital & Offline Garden Planning 05:00 | Creating a Garden Plan with Canva 10:00 | Garden Centre Tips: Come Prepared 17:50 | Consider your outdoor living arrangment 18:30 | Aesthetic & Function 20:00 | How thorough do I need to be? 22:20 | Garden Planning Record Keeping 24:50 | When garden planning doesn't go to plan... 27:20 | What obstacles can you plan ahead for? 32:40 | Mix & Mingle with Veggies for the pollinators 34:40 | Perennials: Spacing & Bloom time 36:20 | Staggering growth and what is your "why"? 38:20 | Question of the Week 41:50 | Next Week....  *************************  BRANDI'S GARDEN PLAN MADE WITH CANVA *************************  QUESTION OF THE WEEK  Our question of the week comes from Steve who asks, "Should I consider crop rotation?" Do you have a question or a comment for the Helpful Gardeners? Send us an anonymous voice note HERE send us an email [email protected] or find our question of the week every Tuesday on our Instagram   NEXT WEEK  Plants around the World

In this weeks episode.... selecting, planting, and caring for seeds 00:00 | In this Episode.... 03:00 | Seed Selection: Variety 05:00 | Heritage / Heirloom seeds  08:50 | Non GMO & Organic seeds 10:30 | Selecting what you're attracted to.  12:35 | Reading a seed packet: What's important? 20:30 | Research: Canadian Seed Starting Charts  21:50 | Equipment 27:30 | Fertilizer - When? 30:10 | Watering - Super Important 32:00 | Pets VS Seedlings 33:34 | Storing leftover seeds 36:50 | Question of the Week 40:00 | Next Week....  ************************* CANADIAN SEED STARTING CHARTS Golden Acre Seed Starting Guide | Click here  West Coast Seeds Regional Seed Starting Chart (Canada) | Click Here  ************************* QUESTION OF THE WEEK Our question of the week comes from Dawnbeat who asks, "How do you prevent damping off?" Listen in to learn what damping is, how to prevent it, and what to do if it's already found you.  Do you have a question or a comment for the Helpful Gardeners? Send us an anonymous voice note HERE send us an email [email protected]  or find our question of the week every Tuesday on our Instagram ************************* NEXT WEEK Here's an episode for the whole family! Get your crayons and paper ready because we're planning your garden next week!

In this weeks episode.... a brief history on houseplants, a fieldtrip,    00:00 | In this Episode.... 03:00 | History of Houseplants 06:30 | Lighting for Houseplants 09:00 | Social Pressure for Houseplants / Normalize Brown Leaves 12:20 | Poll: "Why do you keep Houseplants?" 16:20 | Southern Alberta Institute of Technology - Student Wellness 20:00 | Ode to a great starter plant: The Spider Plant! 23:10 | Gifting Houseplants 27:00 | Poll: "Foliage or Flowers?" 31:50 | Beware of Google 35:20 | Houseplants and Wellness: another tool in the toolbox 40:13 | Question of the Week 45:04 | Next Week....   A HISTORY OF HOUSEPLANTS Plants have a surprisingly long history inside our homes. People would take great pride in their houseplants, and would sometimes even rent them to feature in their parlour when visitors would come around. https://tenneyplants.com/history-of-houseplants/ https://www.britannica.com/science/houseplant#ref1262648    QUESTION OF THE WEEK Our question of the week comes from Holly Marisco who asks, "When do you re-pot, how do you divide them, when do you fertilize and how?" Listen in to find out what Colin recommends to help keep your houseplants healthy! Do you have a question or a comment for the Helpful Gardeners? Send us a voice note www.speakpipe.com/TheHelpfulGardeners,  send us an email [email protected]  or find our question of the week on our Instagram   NEXT WEEK We're bringing it back to seeds! Colin will get to nerd out on the science behind seeds, and we'll take you through the process of selection, preparation, planting and caring for them.  In the meantime, catch up on past episodes including Seed Starting: Is it for you? Also, partake in our Instagram polls and questionaire next Tuesday for funsies :)