Urban Gardener Podcast

On this water-wise episode, Andrew, Julia, and Mason celebrate Smart Irrigation Month and discuss some basic was people can improve their irrigation efficiency without breaking the bank. Resources: HLA-6445: Smart Irrigation Technology BAE-1543: Soil Moisture-Sensing Systems for Improving Irrigation Scheduling PSS-2417: Using trend values from soil moisture sensors for irrigation decisions HLA-661...

On this special episode, Andrew, Julia, and Mason are joined by Alex Cox from the Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry to discuss her work as a Farm to School Coordinator and the upcoming School and Community Garden Conference. If you have questions about the Farm to School Program, you can contact Alex at alex.cox@ag.ok.gov Resources: Conference Registration Oklahoma Farm to School Progr...

On this episode, Julia, Andrew, and Mason sit down with OKC Beautiful's Executive Director: Natalie Evans. Learn about OSU Extension and OKC Beautiful's partnership to bring another Sustainable Urban Landscape Conference to OKC, and learn about some of the other fabulous work that OKC Beautiful does in this great city. OKC Beautiful's Site Sustainable Urban Landscape Conference OKC Bea...

On this episode, Julia, Andrew, and Mason sit down with the current host of Oklahoma Gardening: Casey Hentges! Last year, Oklahoma Gardening celebrated 50 years on the air. Casey talks about this history of the show and how her own past led her to be the show's host. Oklahoma Gardening (PBS) Oklahoma Gardening (YouTube) Oklahoma Gardening (Facebook) Casey Hengtes (Bio and Scholarly Works)

Today's episode is a special one! Julia, Andrew, and Mason are joined by their very first (out of office) special guest: Marcus Long, Urban Soil Conservationist for the Oklahoma Conservation Commission. Marcus and the Dream Team discuss why the Conservation Commission formed and some of the services and programs run by the Commission. One of these programs is the incredible Yard-By-Yard progra...

On today's episode, Julia, Andrew, and special guest Lili LeClaire dive into the language of flowers and how they have been used to communicate throughout history. So grab your Valentine and curl up for this special Valentine's Day episode. Sources Discussed: HLA-6425: Annual Flowers for Specific Uses in Oklahoma HLA-6426: The Handling and Care of Cut Flowers " Valentine's Day and...

On today's special episode, Andrew, Julia, and Mason discuss the Oklahoma Mesonet and its importance to Oklahoman's daily life, whether you're in agriculture or not! Oklahoma Mesonet Site Mesonet Irrigation Planner How to Use the Irrigation Planner History of the Mesonet

On today's festive episode, Julia, Mason, and Andrew discuss the mysteries of mistletoe. What is its significance in Oklahoma? Why was it important in various points in history? How do you get it off your backyard tree? Tune in to find out! Related Articles and Fact Sheets: Mistletoe Science and Folklore Drualus (Mistletoe): The Sacred Plant of Druids Mystical Mistletoe (Norfolk Botanical Gard...

On today’s special episode, Julia, Andrew, and Mason discussed algae and blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) and how they impact local water quality. They explained what causes harmful algal blooms and shared practical best management practices including reducing excess fertilizer, managing runoff, and protecting vegetated buffers.. The team emphasized how simple, research-based actions can make a bi...

In this creepy and crawly episode, Julia, Andrew, and Mason dig into the world of common garden pests. From insects that nibble on leaves to critters that sneak into houseplants, they share practical, research-based strategies for identifying problems early and managing pests in ways that protect both your plants and the environment. Whether it’s preventing infestations, encouraging beneficial ins...

In this episode, Julia, Andrew, and Mason sit down to share practical tips and tricks for helping plants make the seasonal transition from outdoors to indoors. They discuss the importance of timing, such as bringing plants in not too early and not too late, and offer guidance on keeping them healthy through shorter days, lower humidity, cooler temperatures, and watering adjustments. Related Fact S...

On the first-ever two-part episode for the podcast, Andrew, Julia, and Mason continue their conversation on helping your lawn beat the heat. In this installment, they focus on turfgrass. They share some tips on how to keep your yard healthy and resilient while staying mindful of water conservation. Related Fact Sheets: HLA-6476: Preparing Your Lawn for Drought CCR-6609: Commercial Source of Buffal...

The 50th episode of the Urban Gardener Podcast is here, and we’ve got a special treat to celebrate! Julia, Andrew, and Mason are marking this milestone with a two-part series you won’t want to miss. In part one, the trio dives into the colorful world of drought-tolerant ornamentals. These plants bring beauty, texture, and year-round interest to your landscape while sipping far less water than trad...

In this episode of The Urban Gardener Podcast , Julia, Andrew, and Mason dig into the critical role that water pressure plays in irrigation systems. From uneven watering to system damage, the trio explains how too much, or too little, pressure can spell trouble for your landscape. Tune in to learn how to identify pressure problems, adjust your system, and keep your garden thriving with efficient,...

Don’t get lost in the weeds! On today’s episode, Julia, Mason, and Andrew dive into the fascinating (and sometimes frustrating!) world of common weeds in Oklahoma. They’ll explore which weeds you’re most likely to encounter in your lawn, garden, or pasture. From stubborn invaders like thistles and crabgrass to thorny troublemakers like sandburs and sticker weeds. Additional Information: PSS-2750:...

From bird to bees to bats! On this episode, Julia, Andrew, and Mason discuss pollinators found in Oklahoma, their importance in our daily lives, and how we can encourage their presence in our landscapes. Additional Resources: Video - How to Design a Pollinator Garden Video- Pollinators in a Native Garden HLA-6464: Wildflower Gardening in Oklahoma HLA-6454: Designing a Rain Garden for a Residential...

In this episode of The Urban Gardener Podcast , Julia, Andrew, and Mason dive into practical and science-backed best management practices to improve soil health and conserve water across a variety of landscapes. Whether you're tending a backyard lawn, cultivating a community garden, or managing a small-acreage farm. From boosting organic matter and using compost to mulching techniques and mois...

On this episode, Julia, Andrew, and Mason discuss tips & tricks to prepare your lawn and garden for springtime. Feature Fact Sheets: Soil Testing Understanding Your Irrigation Sample Results Backyard Composting

In this episode, Julia, Mason, and the former program assistant, now Water Conservation Educator, Andrew discuss the future of water conservation education with OK County OSU Extension. They also discuss how the Oklahoma City Water Utilities Trust (OCWUT), Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (OK-DEQ), and the Oklahoma Water Resource Board (OWRB) manage water. Related Fact Sheets: AGEC-101...

On this special holiday episode, Julia, Andrew, and Mason discuss the history, care, and legends on the poinsettia. Related fact sheets and articles: HLA-6413: Poinsettia Care Poinsettias are a long-time holiday favorite Care for poinsettias during the holiday season

On today's spooky episode, Julia and Andrew welcome a new addition to The Urban Gardener Podcast: Mason Huddleston, the new Urban Agriculture and Natural Resources Educator at OK County OSU Extension. Julia, Andrew, and Mason discuss their favorite wicked plants and how the difference between medicine and poison is all in the dose.

On this episode we have a special guest: Ms. Sophia Darrow! Sophia is a student at Oklahoma State working towards her Masters in Horticulture. She is the manager of the Giving Garden at the OK County OSU Extension Office. Her, Julia, and Andrew discuss the benefits of community gardens. Related Fact Sheets: Raised Bed Gardening Oklahoma Garden Planning Guide

On this episode, Julia, Lili, and Andrew discuss the tricks to growing herbs in Oklahoma. Featured Fact Sheets: HLA: 6037---Culinary Herbs for Oklahoma Gardens HLA: 6004---Oklahoma Garden Planning Guide HLA: 6009---Fall Gardening

Julia, Lili, and Andrew discuss the art of harvesting vegetables and other expert tips on how to bring your vegetables to the table. Featured Oklahoma State University Fact Sheets: HLA-6004: Oklahoma Garden Planning Guide HLA-6012: Growing Tomatoes in the Home Garden HLA-6026: Squash and Pumpkin Production HLA-6028: Potato Production

In this episode, Julia, Lili, and Andrew discuss the secrets of how to create flourishing combo pots and how to incorporate a thriller, filler, and spiller plant. Fact sheets for this episode: HLA-6458: Container Gardening HLA-6451: Dish Gardening