Being both a gardener and a farmer, Jeff Poppen has a wealth of tools to work the land. He showcases a wide range of hand held manual tools, as he explains how to use them efficiently and effectively. He also compares the function of those tools with their counterparts - heavy duty tractor implements.
Dividing perennials is an effective way to revitalize overcrowded plants, encourage more blooming, and get new plants to keep or give away. Fall is the time to divide a lot of those spring and summer blooming perennials. Annette Shrader invites us to her garden where she has a wide variety of these reliable perennials and shows us how to divide them for the best chance of success once they are re-planted.
Winter sowing of cold-hardy perennial or native seeds is a great way to let nature do the work, and save money. Julie Berbiglia is with an experienced grower who shares a space-saving method to germinate seeds outdoors over winter. Along with the seeds, this method requires gallon-size freezer bags, potting soil, and clothespins.
Where does a gardener's passion for plants come from? Well, for this flower farmer in Clarksville Tennessee, it came from her grandmother. Dahlias, zinnias, marigolds and amaranth are just some of the pretty flowers she has available for purchase at her flower stand at the end of her driveway. She plants and harvests throughout each growing season.
Rock crevice gardens are architecturally striking, and the growing environment allows for a more varied plant palette than a typical garden bed. Phillipe Chadwick gets inspiration from the garden designer / plantsman who created these long stacked stone walls featuring a crevice garden, and circular rock beds that add an even greater interest to a beautiful mixed garden bed with 4 seasons of interest.
Because weather conditions can get extreme, farmers employ practical methods to buffer those extremes so damage done to the crops is minimized. Using various mulches such as hay, leaves, and wood chips is helpful. Hilling the soil around plant rows is also beneficial to retain moisture. The change in climate can also provide opportunities to grow things successfully that weren't possible before.
Troy Marden is in the home landscape of a young, accomplished designer who has partnered with his father in developing a breathtaking landscape over 15 years that coincided with training as a horticulturist and a designer. The long, sloped area of the backyard is densely planted with trees, shrubs, perennials and annuals that carry the entire growing season, from early spring into autumn.
Strawberries are the primary crop at Lester Farms in Lebanon TN. They are considered an 11 month crop that requires work to be done by hand: planting, weeding, harvesting. Each year brings its challenges because that large time frame encompasses a wide range of weather conditions. The main variety grown is 'Ruby June' as it produces consistently sweet, large, tasty berries. An optimal growing year in middle Tennessee will have strawberries ripening well into June.
Come along on a visit to the home gardens of a horticulture power couple who have planted and now enjoy an extensive daffodil collection. They share their insights into growing and dividing these long-time garden favorites. Host April Moore highlights 10 varieties that are true standouts.
Autumn should be a busy time in ornamental garden beds. Tasks are necessary to get plants ready for colder weather, but also looking toward what improvements are needed by next spring. We visit Andrew Jackson's Hermitage to see what activities are underway in their extensive historic garden beds to ensure healthy plants and tidy beds.
Host Jeff Poppen, a biodynamic farmer, uses a lot of compost. By doing that, he is rewarded with a plentiful amount of earthworms that aerate the soil and leave nutrients behind. However, not all worms are beneficial. Jeff meets up with an entomologist to learn about a destructive species known as the crazy jumping worm.
