Podcast

Gardening Simplified

Home & Garden, Leisure, Nature, Science

Introducing Gardening Simplified, a new radio show and podcast from Proven Winners ColorChoice Shrubs.

Hosted by life-long gardeners Rick Vuyst and Stacey Hirvela, the Gardening Simplified show is designed to share our love of plants and gardening. Whatever your skill or experience level, you’ll find something interesting, useful, and just plain fascinating in every episode.

Home & Garden chart
#22
Episodes
218
Releases
Weekly
Typical length
47 min
On air since
2022
Latest episode
3 days ago

Episodes

218 episodes, newest first

  1. The Horrors of AI | Garden Misinformation to Watch For | 217

    Show notes

    Garden misinformation has been around as long as well, gardening. With rise of AI, misinformation and scams are more prevalent than ever. Learn about some of the most common myths and how you can avoid falling for plant scams.

    1 hr 3 min
  2. Let’s Talk About Leaves! | 216

    Show notes

    Leaves don’t always get the recognition they deserve. Not only are they the literal foundation of life on earth, but they are so much more interesting and versatile than we tend to give them credit for. Learn all about basics and complexities of leaves in this episode.

    58 min
  3. Impulse Control | 215

    Show notes

    Sometimes the best purchases aren’t planned, they're discovered. Impulsively buying a plant isn’t a bad thing, it’s fueled by genuine admiration for a plant, and isn’t that what gardening is all about? Hear about plants that gardeners often buy impulsively and what to do with your unexpected new garden addition.

    52 min
  4. Breaking Down Bulbs | 214

    Show notes

    You can never have too many bulbs! Learn all about the numerous types of bulbs, when and how to plant them for the best success, and how to combine them with other plants for a showstopping display.

    1 hr
  5. The Rose Family | All About Rosaceae | 213

    Show notes

    The Rosaceae family includes some of the most economically important fruit and nut crops worldwide, such as apples, strawberries, and almonds. Not to mention, some extraordinarily beautiful and wildlife benefitting plants! Learn all about this vast and unique plant family in this episode.

    56 min
  6. Rocking the Landscape | All About Rock Gardens | 212

    Episode 212

    Show notes

    In today’s episode, Rick and Stacey talk about the fascinating history behind rock gardens, explain the difference between a rock garden and an alpine garden, and of course, tell all about the plants that thrive in this type of landscape.

    1 hr
  7. Berry-d Treasure! | All About Plants With Berries | 211

    Episode 211

    Show notes

    What even is a berry? Well, watch this episode and you’ll find out! Stacey and Rick deep-dive into what really classifies as a berry and talk about a variety of berry-laden beauties. Whether they are edible, or just for ornamental purposes, berries add so much to the landscape, not to mention they’re fantastic for wildlife!

    59 min
  8. I Give Up! | Top Reasons People Give Up on Plants & Gardening | 210

    Episode 210

    Show notes

    It’s human nature to get disheartened when something doesn’t work out, and when it comes to plants and gardening, things don’t always work out the way we hoped. Weeds, water, and work are the three main reasons people tend to give up on gardening and we’re here to help! Learn about the plants people tend to give up on the most and how to avoid common mistakes.

    57 min
  9. Fall is Full of Opportunities, Seize the Day! | 209

    Episode 209

    Show notes

    Carpe diem! Fall is a fantastic time to be in the garden. Whether you’re tending to your plants or getting your lawn in order, we’ve got tips and tasks for you to work on. Plus learn about plants that you should get in the ground now, and ones you want to hold off until spring to plant.

    1 hr 3 min
  10. Low-Maintenance Plants & What to Expect | 208

    Episode 208

    Show notes

    The way people define low-maintenance plants varies from gardener to gardener. At its core, the basic low-maintenance plant is one that is well-suited for the conditions where you want to plant. Hear all about low-maintenance plants and how you can incorporate them into your garden to gain both beauty and time.

    45 min
  11. Well-Rounded | Spherical Plants for the Garden | 207

    Episode 207

    Show notes

    People love round plants, or as we like to say, meatballs. Whether you’re the type of gardener that likes to have all your plants perfectly shaped in an appealing circle, or you lean more towards chaotic gardening, plants with rounded habits or globe shaped flowers help to make a dynamic garden. Learn all about them in this episode!

    48 min
  12. The Magic of Moon Gardens | 206

    Episode 206

    Show notes

    Sitting in your yard or garden on a summer night isn’t just a romantic notion – for many of us, nighttime is the only time that we can comfortably spend in the garden due to high heat and humidity. And it’s a pretty well-understood fact that if you are the type to enjoy your garden in the evening and night that white flowers are a way to make plants stand out and make your garden more atmospheric. Learn about the history of moon gardening and plants that help illuminate the garden.

    46 min
  13. The Importance of Texture in the Garden | 205

    Episode 205

    Show notes

    Color is usually at the front of mind when it comes to designing a garden, but to really elevate a landscape, texture is crucial. In this episode, Stacey and Rick talk about plants that have fine, medium, or coarse texture, and how to combine these plants in your garden.

    45 min
  14. What If You Could Only Use One Color in the Garden? | 204

    Episode 204

    Show notes

    If you had to design a garden bed using only ONE flower color, which color would you choose to create your monochromatic masterpiece? Hear about the most popular colors, and plants that can be used to achieve unicolor design.

    44 min
  15. How to Make a Meadow Garden | 203

    Episode 203

    Show notes

    Meadow gardening has been gaining popularity, and rightfully so! They’re fantastic for wildlife, plant diversity, and not to mention, they’re beautiful! Learn about ways you can create your own meadow garden and plants that Stacey and Rick recommend for these types of landscapes.

    47 min
  16. Gardens That Shaped the US | Part 4 | Middle of Summer Garden Check | 202

    Episode 202

    Show notes

    We’re getting back to our usual routine, but before we do, we’re going to highlight Stacey’s number 1 bucket list garden to visit! On top of that we discuss a few other fantastic gardens along the west coast. In segments three and four, hear about things you may notice in your garden this time of year and how to help your plants get through the dog days of summer.

    46 min
  17. Gardens That Shaped the US | Part 3 – Chicago to California | 201

    Episode 201

    Show notes

    We’re breaking away from our usual routine to talk about notable gardens across the United States that were pivotal in shaping the country into what it is today. Learn about fascinating history, groundbreaking landscape design, and of course, plants! This is part three of this series where we talk about gardens from Chicago and make our way to California. Stay tuned for upcoming episodes to learn about more fantastic gardens!

    45 min
  18. Gardens That Shaped the US | Part 2 – South & Midwest | 200

    Episode 200

    Show notes

    We’re breaking away from our usual routine to talk about notable gardens across the United States that were pivotal in shaping the country into what it is today. Learn about fascinating history, groundbreaking landscape design, and of course, plants! This is part two of this series where the focus is on gardens throughout the South and some of the Midwest. Stay tuned for upcoming episodes to learn about more fantastic gardens!

    48 min
  19. Gardens That Shaped the US | Part 1 - Northeast | 199

    Episode 199

    Show notes

    We’re breaking away from our usual routine to talk about notable gardens across the United States that were pivotal in shaping the country into what it is today. Learn about fascinating history, groundbreaking landscape design, and of course, plants! This is part one of this series where the focus is on gardens throughout the northeast. Stay tuned for upcoming episodes to learn about more fantastic gardens!

    45 min
  20. Surviving Heat and Humidity | Best Plants and Practices | 198

    Episode 198

    Show notes

    Sometimes the weather can feel too hot to handle! Luckily, these plants won’t break a sweat under these tough conditions. Learn all about plants that grow well in hot and humid landscapes and ways to help your garden beat the heat.

    44 min