The Organic Gardener

It's a great time of year to start a compost pile. Doug and Jess share their tips for composting and what to do with all the fall foliage. Doug and Jess also talk about how there are bulbs, bulbs, bulbs everywhere just waiting to be planted. They answer questions from callers regarding proper lawn care, garlic bulbs and bleeding-hearts.

Everything is done for the fall growing season. Doug and Jess share the success of their gardens and their tips for closing up for winter. Learn with the callers as Doug and Jess answer questions on small trees in pots, zinnias, ornamental sweet potato, butterfly bushes, perennials, geraniums and Lamb's ears.

It's the official end of the growing season for tender plants with the frost coming in, but there is always work do be done! Doug shares the wonderful weekend he's had in his garden and how excited he is to plant more bulbs. Learn along with the callers as Doug answers questions on shaping holly bushes, best time to prune lilacs, when to separate planted bulbs, how to keep an indoor, potted lilac...

Doug and Jess talk about preparing your garden for the chilly weather on the horizon. They take calls from listeners concerning a variety of subjects, including peat moss and blue bananas. Ms. Know-It-All joins in on the conversation to share some of her insight. 

It's slowly getting colder and it is time to prepare your plants for winter.  Learn along with the callers as Doug gives tips on how to overwinter potted asparagus and Boston ferns, how to keep a garden fertilized over winter and how to eliminate Hosta roots.  Doug also shared highlights from his recent trip to Isle of Man and shared how to keep bulbs safe from critters. 

It's time to harvest your squash and pumpkin! Jess shares how she celebrated the fall season at Soergel's Pumpkin Patch & how crucial it is to prepare your plants for the upcoming frost and winter. She answers questions from callers on how to prune a willow tree, trees losing their leaves, how to winter over a hibiscus and more!

Fall just arrived, but winter is just around the corner! Doug and Jess open the show talking about Epimedium growth and great bulbs. They also talk about how it has been a great growing year for plants with berries and a great use for button bushes. Dick Till of DaveyTree joins Doug and Jess to share essential tips for winter tree care. Learn with the callers as Jess and Doug answer questions on g...

It's the perfect time for planting perennials and other garden plants that will come back year after year. Doug has all the details you need to know. Chad Whepley of the Pittsburgh Agway stores joins Doug to discuss the organic products they sell and the pride Whepley feels in running a family-owned business. Learn along with their callers as Doug answers questions about gladiolas, burning bushes,...

Doug and Jess have trees on their minds - they open the show talking about the different varieties of trees they would like to plant and how to protect the ones they currently have. Of course, the garden gets some love as well - Jess shares her plans for kale and oat cover crops. Miles Stephens with Davey Tree joins in to discuss this warm, dry tree planting season. Learn along with their callers...

Fall has arrived and there is so much to do! Doug and Jess talk about cold weather crops, using a cold frame, cover crops, weed management and the joy of starting a garden for the first time. Learn how to transplant a redbud tree, replant and divide houseplants like Swedish ivy and peace lilies, identify wild garlic, caring for a gerbera daisy over winter and why a winter pear tree might lose leav...

It's your last chance to plant vegetable crops for the fall, and Jess breaks down if and when you should plant your trees and shrubs. Jess explains the history of plant patents to Rob Pratte and Mrs. Know It All calls in to talk knockout roses. Jess answers questions from callers on a phalaenopsis orchid during dormancy, bagworms on a pine tree, pruning pumpkins and a diseased dogwood tree.

Dick Till from Davey Tree joins Doug and Jess this week to talk fall care for trees. Callers ask about Juniper tip blight, early leaf drop, and more. Mrs. Know-It-All joins the program to talk about the proper pruning of trees. 

It's not fall just yet! Doug tells Rob Pratte all about plants that will grow well in the late summer. Doug has suggestions for greens, like the tatosi he's growing, that will thrive heading into colder weather. Mrs. Know It All shares her love for Detroit Dark Red beets and the importance of soil testing. Doug answers questions from callers on shaping rose bushes, when to plant fall seeds, transp...

Jess is joined in-studio by horticulturist and fig and lemon growing expert Steve Biggs. His daughter and published author, 14-year-old Emma, tells Jess about over 130 varieties of tomatoes she grows alongside other unusual plant varieties. Eric Countryman from Davey Tree joins Jess to discuss tree health during the recent dry spell. Mrs. Know It All calls in about canning. They answer questions f...

Doug and Jessica answer questions and talk about hydrangeas that refuse to bloom this growing season. Doug is having an issue with squirrels and shares his experience with the Van Gogh exhibit at Phipps Conservatory. They also answer questions from callers about yellow oxheart tomato seeds, a tree covered in scale, how to bug proof plants coming inside, brown rot on a peach tree and a cucumber pla...

Doug joins Rob Pratte to talk about the importance of deadheading to keep plants blooming, what kind of plants to look for during bargain hunting this late in the season, the return of his rabbit "visitor" and the delightful peaches at Janoski's. Miles Stephens from Davey Tree talks with Doug about when and why you should consider hiring a certified arborist.

The Organic Gardeners & Jess' blog won national awards at the 2019 GardenComm Annual Conference & Expo! Doug and Jess talk about what cicada damage looks like, wrens eating cabbage worms in Jess' garden and how Doug's tomato plants have avoided blight this season. Mrs. Know It All calls to discuss her tall tomato plants. They also answer questions from callers on Japanese beetles, stink bu...

Jess talks about powdery mildew and other diseases that are popping up from the rain. She also shares a tip on keeping Japanese beetles away from her blueberries. Dick Till from Davey Tree joins Jess to talk about insects and diseases that can impact trees. They answer questions from callers on Siberian irises, stripped cucumber beetles, a split tree branch and when to trim a weeping cherry.

Doug shares the details of his next international trip to Portugal. Luke Werner with Davey Tree talks with Doug about how the increased rainfall impacts trees, mulching, and more. Mrs. Know It All talks glass gem ornamental corn, silk road lilies and shares a funny zucchini story. Doug and Luke answer questions from callers on hot pepper wax, dogwood trees and limelight hydrangeas.

Doug and Jess are off on vacation, which means Rob Pratte was joined in studio this week with two special guests! EAS Master Beekeeper, Author and Consultant Stephen Repasky with Meadow Sweet Apiaries shares his knowledge on bees. State Master Gardener Coordinator Nancy Knauss shares information on the Master Gardener Program through Penn State University. 

Doug and Jess start the show by talking about fungal diseases and Jess' appearance at the International Master Gardener Conference. Doug is planting chartreuse colored ornamental millet as a thriller plant and Jess shares a good trap crop for Japanese beetles. Micah Tribou from Plumline Nursery joined Doug and Jess to talk about trees and shrubs. They also answered questions from callers about wil...

Happy Father's Day from Doug & Jess! Doug and Jess talk about 3945 tomato seeds, four line plant bugs and how to control weeds in the rain. Matt from Davey Tree joined Doug and Jess to talk about blue spruce trees loosing needles and maple tar spots. They also answered questions from callers on removing spent flower heads, the difference between rhododendrons and mountain-laurels and relocatin...

Doug provides an update on the rabbit “visitor” in his garden. Doug and Jess talk about Jess’ new book, “Gardener's Guide to Compact Plants,” that is officially released on Tuesday & how Jess planted compact cucumbers. Mrs. Know It All provides advice on handling ornamental grasses and shares details about her ornamental eggplant. They also answer questions from c...

It’s raining...again. Doug and Jess talk about the implications for your garden. Jess’ new book, “Gardener’s Guide to Compact Plants,” comes out on June 11th! Matt from Davey Tree joins Doug and Jess to talk about how to identify and treat girdling roots and the impact of hatching cicadas on trees. They also answer questions from callers about using liquid fertilizer...

Jess shares what you need to know about cicadas and how to keep them away from your trees. Mrs. Know It All joins Jess to talk about frivolous pruning and how to properly trim tall plants. Jess answers questions from callers about carpenter bees, getting rid of poke weed and good cover crops for heavy clay soil.