Valley Nursery Plantcast

After four years and 173 episodes, cohosts Erin and Justin are taking off their headphones and walking away from their mics. It what may well be the last episode, the enthusiastic gardeners chat about what they've learned creating the podcast and remind you of the tips and plants they hope you've absorbed over the course of the Plantcast's growing seasons. 

We sell a lot of baby plants here at Valley but if you take a look around, you'll see some old fogy's - including the Uncle Fogy Jack Pine (it's by the pond). We have legacy trees planted throughout the nursery that are perfect examples of what some of our inventory will grow into. This is the second episode we've dedicated to the specimens that thrive in our yard and can do the same in yours. 

Let's be real, nothing you want grows out of bad soil. Success in our gardens depends on nutrient rich soil and nutrient rich soil is made now by you, easily. A little resourcefulness, a little work and a lot of worms can turn lackluster soil into garden gold. Have a listen and find out how ... 

Since 2016, Valley has had the privilege of hosting Tacoma Glassblowing Studio's Pumpkin Patch for one day in the fall. This year's patch will be here on Oct. 4. Erin chats with the studio's co-owner Jeannine Sigafoos about the origins of the pumpkin and how they came to find themselves at Valley every year. 

It is the absolute perfect time to plant perennials in your garden. There's a very good chance you are seeing things in other people's yards you wish you had planted earlier this year. Don't fret friend! You can find fantastic vibrant perennials right now, plant them immediately and still enjoy them for a few weeks. Planting now allows the plants time to establish, and they will return next year,...

According to Erin, there is not a time of year more beautiful. Your favorite lil' podcaster doesn't want the season to end ... nope, it's just too glorious. In that spirit, we chat with someone who makes the vibrance of the season last throughout the year by creating stunning everlasting flower bouquets and wreaths. Local flower farmer Carolyn Thompson of Willow and Mable Garden Co. chats with Eri...

We aren't saying summer is over, but we are suggesting that planning now for fall color may be the right way to spend the last of your reward points you're hanging onto. As we enter the final week of rewards redemption, finding the perennials and shrubs that will liven up your landscape or porch pots with color during the changing season is a great idea (we think). So have a listen, hear a few sug...

As the heat ramps up and our lawns brown out - now doesn't feel like the time to do much beyond finding shade. So have a listen ... we'll tell you how to do just that. 

We are lucky to be surrounded by a variety of microclimates in Kitsap County. Coastal is a predominant one and that's a tricky one for plants. The constant onslaught of salt spray is not ideal for every plant but fear not! We have suggestions for plants that will thrive in your landscape should it be inundated with sea air. Justin and Erin chat about what plants are tolerant of salt spray and Batm...

Color is everywhere and very easy to add to your space right now. Late summer blooming perennials are perfect for both immediate gratification and long-term delights as they return every year with vibrancy. Shade-loving plants can also add tones to the darker spots of your landscape. Planted containers are an easy way to bring brightness to your home. Options are endless around here and we fill yo...

Miss us? We missed you too. Our extended absence is due to vacations and a fruitful journey Justin took to the Willamette Valley. He visited several different nurseries and garden centers that are our suppliers and or members of a consulting group that work to make each other better. In this episode, we chat about some of the surprises and lessons learned from that trip. Yes. There are robots. 

Roses are blooming every where. Curious about maintaining the health and vigor of your classic blooms? Have a listen! We're full of easy to follow tips and suggestions for prolonging the prettiness of your precious garden champions. 

Dads deserve so much more than ties and leaf blowers this Father's Day. We want to start a revolution and encourage you give Dad what he really needs this year ... plants. Naturally, we have some fantastic suggestions for gift ideas. We dive into the brief history of the holiday to justify our bold decision to stir up the traditional notion of what a Father's Day present should be. Have a listen a...

The unsung hero of the understory. The texture from which all things pop. That something that's not nothing. That is ornamental grass. Frequently not stand-alone plants simply because they enhance the look of almost all things, ornamental grasses have a place in almost all landscapes. They can be subtle or standouts and you better believe we have the full gamut. Have a listen to figure out which w...

Isn't it lovely - the fruits of your labor? Are you walking around and enjoying your garden or are you seeing all the things that you wish you had done? Fear not - it's not to late to start things! It's also not the wrong time to do a lot of things. There is lots of growing left to happen this season so you can fix your mistakes, make a few changes, add some beauty and enjoy your garden! 

Fall isn't the only season for orange plants. We have grasses, shrubs, trees and flowering perennials to chat about today - all of which have an orange element (and it's not just the color friends). Like those with orange personalities (it's a thing), these plants are charming. If you like to take gardening risks, at least one will provide a challenge and if you want pollinators to be drawn to you...

If we plant native plants in our gardens, we can bring back bugs. Why do we want you to bring back bugs? Because without bugs, we haven't got pollinators. Without pollinators, there is no food. Think about it as putting something back that was taken away ... let’s be honest, development of properties takes away the natural habitat of bugs and birds and animals so planting natives gives back a litt...

Mother's Day is the biggest weekend of the year at garden centers and Valley is no exception. Our selection is at its absolute peak with something special for every mom. In this episode, we chat about the origin of the holiday and the flowers that best represent gratitude for moms. And hosts Erin and Justin vehemently disagree about one. 

The internet is loaded with DIY hacks for your houseplants that seem too simple or bizarre to be true. As your trusted plant people, we look at a few of the claims that have popped into our social media feeds to see if they are actually true or false. 

It doesn't have to be elaborate nor exclusive. It doesn't have to be a lot. It certainly doesn't have to be hard. Growing food does take effort but the fruits (or vegetables or seasoning) of your efforts are always worth it. Whether you have a lot of space or just a couple of containers or even just a small spot on a windowsill, there is something here that you can plant to produce food. We suppor...

You're going to love the garden even more if you take a little time to create a plan.  Figure out what you want in regards to color, shape, size, blooms ... figure out if you have sun or shade ... figure out if you need to block your neighbor from view ... figure out how much time you want to spend doing the work to maintain the plants ... think of what will bring you the most joy. And if you can'...

We are in the midst of our annual Fuchsia Planting Event. You supply the basket and purchase the plants, we provide the soil and labor of planting them up. This episode is a mash-up of our original podcast (way back in 2022!) about fuchsias and new information - so have a listen to see how we've evolved and find out more about this year's event. 

There is no need for the only thing under your conifers to be pine needles. The understory is a perfect place to add texture and color to your landscape. Naturally occurring  acidic soil and dappled shade are prime conditions for a variety of plants including evergreen and deciduous options from mid-height to ground level. Your pals in gardening Erin and Justin list some of the options in this epi...

In the midst of the annual Spring Sale, Erin takes her coworkers away from their busy days to chat about what is happening throughout the nursery. In-store specials, surprise finds and one wounded man in a truck complete this collection of conversations on a sunny sale day. 

The 19th Annual Valley Nursery Spring sale begins on March 22 at 9 a.m. You've got the flyer with its 30% off coupon (and the cute faces of your favorite podcast hosts and their friends). Get some ideas on what to spend it on and find out about other specials within this episode.