The Helpful Gardeners

You can garden in any size space. It's true! Whether you have a balcony, a concrete slab, or a small space within your large garden, we can help you use that space effectively. On today's episode, the gardeners marry creativity with functionality to create beautiful small space gardens.    *************************  In this weeks episode .... 00:00 | Introduction 03:45 | A look into Brandi's 'smal...

The buzz is...It's World Pollinator Week! Yep, this is our opportunity to celebrate and learn more about the pollinators that frequent our gardens and communities. We're joined by Elise Watson from 'ABC Bees' who is a honey beekeeper and educator. She supports folks all across North America!  *************************  In this weeks episode .... 00:00 | Introduction 02:00 | Types of Pollinators 07...

Do you deadhead the flowers in your garden? Depending on the plant, deadheading can be massively beneficial! The gardeners are helping you navigate which ones to clean, which ones to leave, and which ones to throw at your coworkers.... just kidding ;) *************************  In this weeks episode .... 00:00 | Introduction 03:50 | What is deadheading? 07:40 | Choosing plants based on deadheading...

This week, the Helpful gardeners are in the weeds.... but not for long! Let's all agree that weeding isn't the most exciting garden chore, but it is essential and should be done regularly. The gardeners will talk about about what defines a weed, various techniques, and will explore our responsibility toward limiting noxious weeds in our local regions. *************************  In this weeks episo...

Fertilizer... what is it good for? Turns out, absolutely everything in your garden! Yep, you can give your flowers, veggies, and established plants a big old boost in production and overall health. It's a big topic and usually get it's own WALL in any local garden centre. The Helpful Gardeners are breaking it down to talk about how to buy fertilizer, use it, and store it over the winter.    ******...

Let's grow Canada! We're finally getting the green thumbs up to start planting. The helpful gardeners are diving into why we plant around the long weekend, how to climatize your annuals, garden safety, lawncare, and garden trends we've noticed around the greenhouse! *************************  In this weeks episode .... 00:00 | Introduction 02:45 | Why plant on May long weekend? 06:20 | Climatize y...

Need an easy splash a colour for your patio, entryway, or balcony? Annual Planters are versitile and a fun, family friendly, project. In this special Mother's Day episode, Colin and Brandi are diving into the design, planting, and maintenance of these popular garden additions.  *************************  In this weeks episode .... 00:00 | Introduction 02:00 | The Versitile Annual Planter  02:45 |...

After putting the work into your garden, how do you enjoy it? The Helpful Gardeners explore ways you can have fun and avoid garden burn out. Plus, it was World Naked Gardening Day this weekend! Learn more about this fun holiday in todays episode >>> *************************  In this weeks episode .... 00:00 | Introduction 05:00 | World Naked Gardening Day 05:45 | History of WNGD  11:50 | Tips for...

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...

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 & Cr...

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 t...

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 b...

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...

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! ************************* ...

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 | Medi...

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...

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...

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...

  In this weeks episode.... caterpillar poop, noisemakers, predator bugs, difficulty pronouncing hard words, and debunking a well known garden myth!   We're helping you with the various garden bugs and diseases you may encounter in your garden and home. Plants are just as susceptible to weakness as us humans are, so let's explore ways to identify, eliminate, and prevent the various challenges your...

Do starting plants from seed suit your lifestyle? The helpful gardeners explore the many considerations of seed starting, as well as alternatives that can help you save time, space and money.  Depending on what you're growing and where, you may need to start some plants indoors from seed. In places like Alberta, where frost can show up well into May, classic annual plants like geraniums, tomatoes...

Welcome to the Helpful Gardeners, a weekly podcast diving into the home and garden topics you want to learn more about. We hope to inform, inspire, and bring the fun as two friends who work together and go wild over gardening. Colin is a certified horticulturist with decades of experience working in landscaping, gardening and houseplants in various climactic zones. Brandi is a beginner with a pass...