Recent Volunteer Gardener Clips

Thornless Blackberry

August 24, 2023

Marty DeHart recommends Prime-Ark Freedom Primo cane blackberry plants for homeowners that want to try growing fruit. The attributes of this hybrid are many: the fruit is large, firm and sweet, the canes are upright and thornless, and it is ever-bearing.

Fall Greens

August 24, 2023

In autumn, the display garden beds at the entrance to Andrew Jackson's Hermitage are planted in heirloom varieties of greens. These tasty greens are plants that you can cut continually until first frost, and beyond.

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Getting a Garden with the house

August 24, 2023

Annette Shrader visits with a new gardener who got the bonus of a sloped backyard with terraced garden beds at the home she purchased. The space had been lovingly designed, complete with stone walls and a collection of trees, by a gardener who lived there for decades. The beauty of it is appreciated by the current owner as she maintains it and adds new interest.

Herbs beyond the typical

August 03, 2023

Growing herbs can be fun, rewarding, and a taste sensation. Tammy Algood discusses herbs that are easy to grow, and worthy of a spot in the garden.

20 years of a backyard: from bare land to awe-inspiring garden

August 03, 2023

Twenty years ago, this backyard space was bare land. The homeowners planted trees, laid out garden beds, and accentuated the ravine. Now this backyard is a breathtaking landscape with sweeping, gorgeous garden beds. Troy Marden discusses the plant palette and the design elements that make this a jewel of a garden.

Monoculture

July 27, 2023

Diversity in an ecosystem such as a farm is a sign of health. Fields of only one crop create many problems, but there are positive and negative aspects to everything. That is defiitely true in farming. Jeff Poppen grows a wide variety of crops, but also identifies good reasons to fill a field with just one. We explore the benefits and detriments of monoculture.

Freshening garden containers mid-summer

July 27, 2023

It's the middle of summer, and those garden containers that were lovely and full in the spring are showing signs of fatigue and stress. Good news! You don't have to completely start over to get it through the remainder of the growing season. Annette Shrader guides us through several examples of how to go about rejuvenating the plants, and the overall look.

Birds Welcomed in this Garden

July 27, 2023

A backyard can come to life, just like you've envisioned. Sheri Gramer visits with homeowners who made their plan a reality. They always wanted a pond, so they built one. They installed attractive border beds, raised beds, and have provided a supportive space for birds, bees, and butterflies.

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Seed Collection/Storage

July 20, 2023

Seed collecting costs nothing, and you'll find you have plenty to share. April Moore explains what plants are suitable, the best time to harvest, how to separate the seed from plant debris, and also how to store seeds to keep them viable.

The allure of daylilies

July 20, 2023

Since the early 1930s, hybridizers have made great improvements in daylilies. From the color range, to the patterns, to the form, there's a lot to love. Annette Shrader visits Bluebird Springs Farm where the daylilies are blooming, and taking center stage.

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Color Garden Inspiration

July 13, 2023

If you are looking for a big impact in the landscape, it's hard to beat the eye-catching color that annuals provide. Tammy Algood gets inspired by the great combination of annuals featured in the color garden at the Botanical Garden of Tennessee - Knoxville.

Cost of a nursery plant

July 13, 2023

What determines the price of a potted perennial, or a mature field-grown tree? Troy Marden visits with Matt Dawson, the owner of Samara Farms wholesale plant nursery, to gain insight into what costs are incurred from acquisition to consumer. It goes beyond the nursery pot, media, fertilizer, and infrastucture.