Down The Garden Path Podcast

Before Down the Garden Path became a podcast, it was a weekly radio show on RealityRadio101.com ! In this "vintage" episode from February 2016, Joanne Shaw discusses orchid growing tips and tricks with Bruce Rogers, owner of  Bruce Rogers Orchids and author of The Orchid Whisperer . They also discuss tips for beginners, as well as a few of Bruce's favourite tricks. Listen and enjoy! Find Down the...

In this episode of Down the Garden Path, Joanne Shaw and Matthew Dressing discuss bushes with berries for the birds that you can add to your landscape. These bushes are different than other fruit bushes like blueberry and raspberry, etc.  They came up with five different ones for you to consider and a few honourable mentions. Five shrubs to attract, feed, and help shelter birds in your yard in the...

In this episode of Down the Garden Path, Joanne Shaw and Matthew Dressing discuss the three types of holly and their popularity as a replacement for boxwoods. Here are some of the topics covered in this episode: Two notable holly species to add for winter interest in your garden. Ilex aquifolium, Common or Christmas Holly: evergreen with slightly sharp leaves and red berries on the female plants I...

Just when we think we have seen it all regarding our garden and pest issues, we learn about another pest we need to educate ourselves about. This week on Down the Garden Path, Joanne welcomes Sean James to discuss jumping worms, what they are and why we need to be on the lookout for them in our gardens. Sean James, owner of  Sean James Consulting & Design , has been gardening professionally since...

In this episode of Down the Garden Path, Joanne Shaw and Matthew Dressing discuss the rarely talked about spring ephemerals, what they are, their importance, and how you can use them in your garden. Here are some of the topics covered in this episode: What are spring ephemerals? Why are they important? How can you use them in your garden? Where can you find them? Find Down the Garden Path on  Inst...

In this episode of Down the Garden Path, Joanne Shaw and Matthew Dressing welcome back author Susan Poizner, this time to discuss her new book Gro w Fruit Trees Fast: A Beginner's Guide . Susan is an urban orchardist, the creator of the fruit tree care training website OrchardPeople.com, and the author of the fruit tree care book Growing Urban Orchards . She has trained thousands of new growers wo...

In this episode of Down the Garden Path, Joanne Shaw and Matthew Dressing provide some tips and tricks and do's and don'ts for your November garden. Here are some of the topics covered in this episode: Planting bulbs Cleaning up your vegetable garden in time for winter Why you should not cut back your perennials Check out our Five Fall Lawn Care Tips for November lawn care. How to protect your tre...

In this episode of Down the Garden Path, Joanne Shaw and Matthew Dressing discuss Joanne's experience at the Garden Bloggers Fling in Philadelphia this September. The Garden Bloggers Fling began in Spring 2008 as a meet-up for garden bloggers across the U.S. It soon became a must-attend, blogger-run annual event (paused only by the pandemic) hosted by organizers in a different city each year. Toda...

In this episode of Down the Garden Path, landscape designers Joanne Shaw and Matthew Dressing discuss lasagna gardening, also known as no-till gardening. Here are some of the topics covered in this episode: What is lasagna gardening? Where can you build a lasagna garden? The steps you need to follow to build your own lasagna garden. Find Down the Garden Path on  Instagram , Facebook , and YouTube...

In this episode of Down the Garden Path, landscape designers Joanne Shaw and Matthew Dressing review their top five lawn care tips for fall. Here are some of the topics covered in this episode: When to aerate and/or dethatch Top dress with a high-quality compost Why it's too late to put down seed Applying corn gluten Using fertilizer  Find Down the Garden Path on  Instagram , Facebook , and YouTub...

In this episode of Down the Garden Path, landscape designers Joanne Shaw and Matthew Dressing provide some tips and tricks and do's and don'ts for your October garden. Here are some of the topics covered in this episode: How to plant your fall bulbs and garlic. Bringing in the annuals and tropicals you'd like to keep for next year or over winter. Why not prune and clean up your perennials, trees,...

In this episode of Down the Garden Path, landscape designers Joanne Shaw and Matthew Dressing discuss some of the pest, disease, and environmental issues which may be causing your fall garden to be a little lacklustre this year. Here are some of the topics covered in this episode: How to identify and treat powdery mildew on susceptible plant, like phlox and ninebark. Why leaves and flowers in the...

In this episode of Down the Garden Path, landscape designers Joanne Shaw and Matthew Dressing provide some tips and tricks and do's and don'ts for your September garden. Here are some of the topics covered in this episode: Plan your fall bulb display. Buy now for the best selection. Continue deadheading your summer bulbs. Plant cool and cold-tolerant vegetables. What to look for at perennial plant...

In this episode of Down the Garden Path, Joanne Shaw and Matthew Dressing discuss a popular and sometimes controversial topic in the garden: mulch. To mulch or not to mulch, that is the question! Here are some of the questions and topics covered in this episode: What is mulch? The different kinds of mulch What are the benefits of adding mulch to your garden? Ways to use mulch correctly Ditching th...

In this episode of Down the Garden Path, Joanne Shaw and Matthew Dressing show you how to keep your garden and landscape thriving during the August heat with tips and tricks and do's and don'ts for your August garden. Here are some of the questions and topics covered in this episode: Plan what fall bulbs you'd like to plant for your spring garden. Order now and buy early for the best varieties. So...

Summer has just begun, and forecasters predict it will be one of the hottest summers in recorded history. In this episode of Down the Garden Path, Joanne Shaw and Matthew Dressing show you how to keep your garden and landscape cool and colourful in the summer heat with tips and tricks and do's and don'ts for your July garden. Here are some of the questions and topics covered in this episode: Pros...

After nine seasons and over 340 episodes, Down the Garden Path Podcast is ending its live broadcast on Reality Radio 101. In this episode, Joanne Shaw and Matthew Dressing look back at Down the Garden Path through the years and recount some of their favourite episodes, topics, guests, and moments since the show first aired on Monday, November 17th, 2014. What are Joanne and Matthew's future plans...

In this episode of Down the Garden Path, Joanne Shaw and Matthew Dressing are joined by Tamara Urben-Imbeault from Plantzza Hut to discuss how to select, care for, and grow carnivorous plants. Here are some of the questions and topics covered in this episode: Tell us what inspired you to found Plantzza Hut.  How are carnivorous plants different from what we might consider a traditional plant? What...

Cannabis and its use have historically been a hot topic in North America. But on October 17th, 2018, subject to provincial and territorial restrictions, the Canadian government legalized its use across the country. In this episode of Down the Garden Path, Joanne Shaw and Matthew Dressing welcome Sarah Osterlee of Empress Gardens to share her knowledge on the art of cultivating cannabis. About Sara...

With the hustle and bustle of May behind us, the month of June promises warmer weather and time to relax. But don't let that keep you out of the garden; there's plenty to be done. In this episode of Down the Garden Path, landscape designers Joanne Shaw and Matthew Dressing share their do's and don'ts for your June garden so you can spend less time working on it and more time enjoying it. Here are...

When people think about native plants, they often think of a wild meadow or an unkept urban lot. But natives offer many design opportunities and benefits to our gardens and landscapes. On this episode of Down the Garden Path, Joanne Shaw and Matthew Dressing discuss how to design with native plants and strike a balance in your garden between natives and the foreign ornamentals we love so much. Her...

In this encore episode of Down the Garden Path, Joanne Shaw and Matthew Dressing wrap up their month-long discussion about shrubs with a look at nativars. Here are some of the topics covered in this episode: What is a nativar? How are nativars produced? Substantial differences between cultivars and nativars and what to avoid: Some attract and sustain the same populations as their native parent Oth...

The traditional lawn has received a lot of heat over the last few years with many recommending alternatives such as micro-clovers and specialized lawn blends. In this episode of Down the Garden Path, Joanne Shaw and Matthew Dressing are joined by Kathy Jentz, author of Groundcover Revolution , to discuss the groundcover plants you can use to create a beautiful lawn alternative of your own. About K...

In this episode of Down the Garden Path podcast, landscape designers Joanne Shaw and Matthew Dressing welcome Katie Tamony of Monrovia to discuss Monrovia's design trends and new plants for 2023.  About Katie Tamony Katie's official title is Chief Marketing Officer, but she really is Monrovia's chief storyteller and trendspotter. She has more than 25 years of expertise in the lifestyle and leisure...

This week on the Down the Garden Path podcast, landscape designers Joanne Shaw and Matthew Dressing discuss the do's and don'ts for your May garden. Here are some of the questions and topics covered in this episode: Spring lawn care What can you do now? Can you rake and feed? Harden off your seedlings before planting. Harden off your houseplants Adapt to higher light levels or direct sun; most pre...