The Simple Garden Life

When it comes to maintaining healthy plants and weed-free flowerbeds, mulch is the answer. There is little doubt that it has tremendous benefits for the flowers growing in your flowerbeds – especially when it put down correctly.

But let’s face it, the number one reason gardeners put down mulch is to stop weeds. And unfortunately, for many who go through the expense and effort of mulching their beds each year in hopes to finally put an end to their weeding chores – their mulching process actually only helps their weed problems multiply!

So how can you avoid all of...

Are you using egg shells correctly in your garden and flowerbeds?
Egg shells are one of the most commonly recommended organic ingredients for powering up garden soil and plants. And for good reason! Egg shells are rich in calcium, which happens to be a critical nutrient for strong plant cell walls. Calcium is also vital for overall plant health.

Calcium also plays a critical role in the formation of fruit. In fact, when there is a lack of available calcium, common garden ailments like blossom end rot on tomatoes and peppers can be a big issue.
...

Jim & Mary discuss early spring daylily care - and how to best fertilize them for bigger blooms! The best time to fertilize daylilies is in early spring – and with one simple and easy application, you can set your daylilies up for bigger and better blooms than ever this year!
Daylilies are one of the most popular of all perennial plants for home gardeners. Not only are they easy to grow and establish, they also happen to be extremely drought tolerant as well. Even more, they require little in the way of yearly maintenance to keep them growing strong and he...

If you are looking for the best way to support your tomato plants this year without spending a fortune - today's episode covers how to create the perfect DIY solution that can hold the biggest of plants without worry!

Tomato cages have been around for years, but they can be expensive. Not only that, many cages simply grow out of the ground when plants get too big.

Tomato stakes are another option, but they too have issues. Not only are they hard to tie tomato plants to, they easily snap if plants get too big and...

In this season's first episode, Jim and Mary walk listeners through the four simple steps to planting and growing cucumbers. See how with just a few simple tips and tricks, you can grow your best crop of cucumbers ever!

There is no harder time for birds than trying to survive in the harsh, bleak and cold conditions winter can bring - and there is no better way to help them through it than by feeding them on a regular basis!

Winter is extremely tough on birds that do not migrate to warmer areas. Not only can it be hard to find adequate shelter from the cold and precipitation, they have to be wary of predators that are hungry for food sources as well.

Today's podcast from Jim and Mary centers on the best way to...

Did you know that how you water your poinsettias during the holiday season is one of the biggest factors of all in determining just how long your plant will keep it’s gorgeous colorful leaves in place throughout the holiday season – and that misting your poinsettia regularly can play a huge role in that too?
Jim and Mary walk listeners through how to best water their poinsettias to keep them blooming right on past the New Year - including a few tips and tricks that can really make a huge difference in just bright and beautiful they stay!

Looking for a few low-maintenance, drought resistant perennials to add big interest and color to your landscape – all without the worry of having to constantly water?
One of the most difficult and time consuming chores for a gardener to perform is having to continually water their plants. Especially if that water is difficult to come by, or even restricted as it is in many drought plagued parts of the country and world.
But that is exactly where planting smart from the start with drought resistant perennials can be a huge help. Drought resistant plants require far less water to...

See how to fertilize your hanging baslets like a pro! Jim and Mary walk listeners through how to fertilize their baskets low and slow - and how it can help keep flowering baskets blooming big all summer long!

There is little doubt about it - how, when and what you use to fertilize your hanging baskets can make a huge difference in just how well they bloom this year. And perhaps even more importantly - for just how long into summer or fall you can keep your baskets flowering big.

If there is one thing that...

Jim and Mary walk listeners through how to stop carpenter bees from damaging the wood around their home, without having to kill of these important pollinators.

When it comes to stopping carpenter bees and the damage they cause to the wood surfaces around your exterior of your home, one thing is for sure, it takes a persistent approach to win the battle!

Carpenter bees can cause extensive damage to the exterior wood surfaces all over your property. Not just to the wood siding and eaves on your house, but any wood surface that is exposed. That...

Want to give your young tomato plants a jump start and get them growing fast? Jim and Mary walk listeners through how to power up tomato plants after they have been planted to get them growing strong, healthy and faster than ever!
As garden season gets into full swing, many gardeners are planting their tomatoes and already dreaming of the big, juicy harvests they hope will come from their plants this summer.
But to get those big yields, it's vital to get young transplants growing fast - and right from the start. After all, getting your plants to...

Jim and Mary walk listeners through how to recycle, recharge and reuse old potting soil.

Potting soil can be one of the biggest annual expenses of all for those who like to plant flowers and vegetables in pots, containers and hanging baskets. In fact, quite often, it can cost a gardener more for the soil filling their containers than the plants being potted in it!

Old potting soil can be lifeless and nutrient poor. Without amending it, you simply can't grow new plants well. See how to recharge your soil in the spring or fall with...

Listen in as Jim and Mary walk you through getting your garden growing early in the season with seed crops! From sugar snap peas, to spinach, radishes and more, they cover some of the best crops that can handle cooler season temperatures with ease. Don't wait for late spring and summer to plant, get growing now!

Jim and Mary talk about dividing perennials in the spring, and how to transplant them into your flowerbeds to help add more color and stop weeds in the process!

One of the easiest, best and least expensive ways to fill your flowerbeds with life and color is to divide the perennials you already have this spring into even more plants! Not only is it simple to do, it can save you hundreds of dollars on plants. And, of course, on mulch too!

For podcast article & notes on Dividing Perennials In The Spring, see : https://simplegardenlife.com...

In today's episode, Jim and Mary walk listeners through the simple steps for how to create their own powerful and amazing potting soil - without the need for peat moss! Using just 5 natural ingredients, they have been making this potting soil on their farm for the last 10+ years - and with stunning results for their hanging baskets, pots and container plantings. Listen in and grow your best container plants ever this year with your own homemade potting soil mix!

Jim & Mary take listeners through the process of ornamental grass care, inlcuding when to cut them back and how to divide and transplant overgrown grasses.
There is no better time to cut back and divide ornamental grasses than in late winter and early spring. Not only can it keep your grasses manageable, it can also create all kinds of new grass transplants to use all over your yard.

Looking for a few simple and safe methods to control and repel ticks in your backyard this spring, summer and fall?
Jim and Mary take you through 3 natural methods to control the tick population in your yard, and highlight a few simple and natural methods to help deter them from finding you no matter where you are!
Ticks are one insect that can create a long list of issues for the health and well being of humans and pets. The tiny insect with a unique look all to its own can be infected with bacterial disease as well...

Jim and Mary discuss how to keep the soil in your raised beds healthy and strong, including the best ways to recharge and re-energize the soil to grow bigger and better plants!
Raised beds are one of the easiest and most effective ways to grow vegetables, flowers and herbs - especially for those who may not have the space for a traditional garden, or who might have physical limitations that can make gardening in big spaces difficult.
When created with good drainage and filled with great soil, they can grow amazing plants. But if that soil isn't properly...

Jim and Mary talk about how to prune tomato plants - and why it's so important for their success! See how to prune your plants to allow air and light in, and why it helps keep your plants disease and pest free.

Jim and Mary discuss how to best fertilize your tomato plants, including when to fertilize, how often, and a few of the best types of fertilizer to use on your plants. Tomato plants are heavy feeders from the soil and can benefit greatly from perfectly timed nutrient boosts. See how to power up your tomato plants this year for healthy plants and a big harvest!

Jim and Mary discuss the benefits of planting marigolds in your garden, flowerbeds and landscape. Listen in and see how marigolds can bring important pollinators to your yard, as well as keep pests such as aphids, hornworms and nematodes at bay. See how to grow better by planting the mighty marigold this year!

Jim and Mary cover the topic of hardening off vegetable and flower transplants in the spring. Hardening off tender young plants is seedlings is vital getting them off to a healthy strong start outdoors. Learn how to harden off your plants safely, and why it is so important for a great garden season.

See how easy growing vegetables in straw bales can be! Jim and Mary take you through the steps of setting up a straw bale planter, all while covering how to set your bales up for success with a simple approach that makes it easy and uncomplicated to grow.

Jim and Mary walk listeners through the process of planting, growing and maintaining a strawberry crop. From June bearing to everbearing varieties, strawberries are a great perennial crop to plant to enjoy for years of fresh berries!

See the best methods for collecting and using rain water for your garden, flowerbeds & landscape - and why it's one of the best ways to water your plants! Using rain water for your landscape is not only a great way to conserve on your city, well or community water supplies, it also has huge benefits for your plants. In fact, more advantages than you might ever imagine!

Jim and Mary discuss the 5 best ways to use compost in your garden and flowerbeds. Compost is the key to adding healthy nutrients to your soil naturally. It’s full of life and teeming with beneficial bacteria and organisms. All of which work to rejuvenate and re-energize tired soil and help keep it productive.

But how effective it is at helping your soil and plants really depends on how you use it. And some uses are certainly better and more productive than others. Check out these 5 great uses for compost!

Jim and Mary take a look at how to plant and maintain a perennial crop of asparagus. Asparagus can grow and produce for 20 years or more, but the key to success is planting it right from the start! See where to locate your crop, select the right varieties, how to prepare the soil, and when and how to harvest for best results.

Jim and Mary are back for Season 2 of the Simple Garden Life Podcast. Listen as they talk about the benefits of saving egg shells and coffee grounds in the winter, and how to use them to power your soil and plants this spring and summer!

Jim and Mary take a look at dividing perennials in the fall, including when and how to divide, and why it is so important for keeping your flowerbeds healthy and weed free.

Jim and Mary take you through the process of how to plant a fall cover crop in your garden, and why it is so important. Cover crops not only protect your garden's soil through winter, they also help keep weeds at bay, all while recharging your garden's soil.

A look at how to deadhead flowers to keep both your annuals and perennials strong and vibrant. Jim and Mary talk about the age-old practice of deadheading flowers.

Jim and Mary discuss when and how to fertilize a garden to get the most from your crops. See when you should start to power up young transplants and seedlings, and what the best fertilizers for vegetable crops are.

Jim and Mary discuss succession planting in the garden, and how to get the most from your space with multiple plantings.

Jim and Mary discuss how to create gorgeous container plants by using perennial plants instead of annuals. Learn how to create beautiful potted plants year after year without spending a dime!

Jim and Mary discuss 8 simple but effective garden tools that should be in every gardener's tool shed. These 8 tools are not only inexpensive, they can also help you to a stronger, healthier garden - and a happier you!

Jim and Mary discuss their favorite heirloom tomatoes to grow in the garden. From fresh eating, to making sauce, pasta, juice and more - listen in to find out which tomato varieties are best to grow, and why.

Jim and Mary discuss their best secrets to keep your hanging baskets looking great from spring until fall. From selecting the right plants, to proper watering and fertilizing, see how to have the best hanging baskets on the block!

Jim and Mary discuss growing vegetable in 5 gallon buckets, and how easy it is to grow nearly any type of vegetables you can dream of in containers. See their top tips and hints for growing in 5 gallon buckets - and how to make it look beautiful too!

Jim and Mary take a look at the secrets behind keeping your flowerbeds weed free, and how to do it without working hours every day at it!

Jim and Mary cover how to get your vegetable garden off to the best start possible with 7 key planting day secrets! How you plant on planting day can have a big impact on your garden's success.