Better Lawns and Gardens

Better Lawns and Gardens Hour 1 – Broadcasting live from the Summit Responsible Solutions Studios.  Things get a little spooky in the garden as Teresa Watkins and producer Lizzie Steele celebrate Halloween with their favorite candy, a not-so-scary weather forecast, deadheading tips, and the Top Five Zombie Plants that just won’t stay dead! Plus, Teresa digs up answers about collecting seeds, using herbicides, whether you can plant in an old palm stump, and more. No chainsaws required. https://rb.gy/0hzjxx 

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A new episode of Better Lawns and Gardens with host and garden expert, Teresa Watkins celebrates Halloween with Shelly Johnson, UF Director of the Natural Areas Training Academy discussing the benefits of bats and how to attract them to your yard. Teresa provides garlic trivia and how to grow it in Florida. Teresa's Dirty Word of the Day is Guano. Garden topics include: benefits of bats, the UF Bat House, attracting bats to your yard, and growing garlic in Florida. *The vampire plants can be heard in Hour 1, Oct 24, 2026. https://bit.ly/3c1f5x7

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Better Lawns and Gardens Hour 1 – Broadcasting live from the Summit Responsible Solutions Studios.  New episode ! Garden expert, Teresa Watkins is joined by Justin Hancock, Director of Plant Research and Development at Costa Farms to discuss Justin's new book: The New Complete Guide to Houseplants. Plus, Teresa’s Top Five Vampire Plants. Garden topics include what to do and plant in your landscape for October.  https://bit.ly/3c1f5x7

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Better Lawns and Gardens Hour 2 – Coming to you from the Summit Responsible Solutions Studios.  Host Emeritus Tom Maccubbin’s Dirty Word of the Day is dormancy. Tom interviews Jeff Herman, editor-in-chief of Lawnstarter, about Florida native plants. Topics include cutting back crinums, pruning palms, Spanish moss, life cycle of mint, cool-weather vegetables, and seasonal garden chores, what to do and plant in the landscape for October, and more!  https://rb.gy/0hzjxx
 
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Better Lawns and Gardens Hour 1 – Coming to you from the Summit Responsible Solutions Studios.  Host Emeritus Tom MacCubbin joins Better Lawns and Gardens producer Lizzie Steele for a lively look at fall gardening, from bean leaf rollers and persistent weeds to dividing perennials, cool-weather vegetables, and seasonal garden chores, what to do and plant in the landscape for October, plant hunting, and more!  https://rb.gy/0hzjxx
 
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Better Lawns and Gardens Hour 2 – Coming to you from the Summit Responsible Solutions Studios.  Rain’s gone, mosquitoes aren’t! Teresa Watkins welcomes Heather Stickney, Summit Responsible Solutions, to discuss dengue fever and post-Isaias mosquito concerns. Teresa’s “Dirty Word of the Day,” will help you understand fungicides better. and your questions! Garden questions about using fire to remove tree webworms, abutilon and hibiscus, what to do and plant in the landscape for October, plant hunting, and more!  https://rb.gy/0hzjxx
 
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Better Lawns and Gardens Hour 1 – Broadcasting live from the Summit Responsible Solutions Studios.  Garden expert, Teresa Watkins welcomes Dana Venrick of Quality Green Specialists to talk about Hurricane Isaias, why rainy weather can be a great time to plant trees, and best planting practices. Plus, Teresa’s Top Five Things to Know About Fungicides, favorite plants for sandy soils, and your garden questions: spraying for weeds, repotting avocado seedlings, whether it’s too late to prune evergreen shrubs, and more!  https://rb.gy/0hzjxx

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Better Lawns and Gardens Hour 2 – Coming to you from the Summit Responsible Solutions Studios.  Things get downright dirty when garden expert and host, Teresa Watkins welcomes guest Dr. Gary Bachman, proprietor of Heritage Garden Seeds, to talk raised beds, container gardening, and what makes a great potting soil. Gary provides a bonus for listeners who would like to purchase seeds with a discount code. Gary gets the honor of the Dirty Word of the Day, ‘perched water table.’ Callers and texters garden questions about viburnum fungus issues, what’s the best pink grapefruit variety, capers or peppercorns, and more. https://r...

Better Lawns and Gardens Hour 1 – Broadcasting live from the Summit Responsible Solutions Studios.  Garden expert, Teresa Watkins is joined by guest Dr. Gary Bachman live in the studio. Teresa and Gary expound on the upcoming El Ninõ winter, Heritage Cottage seeds, and fertilizing during wet weather. Teresa’s Top Five Ways to know when your pumpkin is ready to harvest. Garden topics and questions include Pequeno peppers, and more. https://rb.gy/0hzjxx 

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Better Lawns and Gardens Hour 2 – Coming to you from the Summit Responsible Solutions Studios. Garden expert, Teresa Watkins has full hour of gardening questions. Teresa’s explains the Dirty Word of the Day, Leonhardite. Callers and texters garden questions about tomatoes, when will my Key Lime produce fruit, Mexican Pequin peppers, fungus issues, should I keep my Gumbo limbo, herbicide for weeds in Asiatic jasmine, and more. https://rb.gy/0hzjxx
 
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Better Lawns and Gardens Hour 1 – Broadcasting live from the Summit Responsible Solutions Studios.  Garden expert, Teresa Watkins highlights National Public Lands Day with her visit to the Lake May Reserve. She answers call in and text questions on what to plant in October. Teresa’s Top Five Ways To Protect Your Citrus This Winter. Garden topics and questions include ground orchids, Mexican petunia disease, Daylight Saving Time, when to plant alyssum, fungus and fungicides, and more. https://rb.gy/0hzjxx 

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Better Lawns and Gardens Hour 2 – Coming to you from the Summit Responsible Solutions Studios. Garden expert and landscape designer, Teresa Watkins brings back Jenks Farmer, South Carolina grower and author to discuss how to take care of crinum lilies in the Fall. Teresa’s Dirty Word of the Day is Monomorphism. T Gardening questions include how to get poinsettia bracts to change colors,  and whether to make an olive tree a shrub or a tree, bitter melon experience, and more. https://rb.gy/0hzjxx

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From the Summit Responsible Solutions Studio, Better Lawns and Gardens host and landscape designer Teresa Watkins welcomes producer Lizzie Steele back from her family visit to Maine, complete with a unique souvenir: moose antlers! As Florida's annual love bug season returns, Teresa shares what gardeners and drivers can expect.  This week's featured topic is Teresa's Top Five Native Shrubs for Attracting Birds to Your Landscape, highlighting beautiful Florida-friendly plants that provide food, shelter, and year-round habitat for songbirds and other wildlife.
Garden questions include diagnosing a declining coleus, tips for successfully growing bitter melon, and important information about c...

Better Lawns and Gardens Hour 2 – Coming to you from the Summit Responsible Solutions Studios.  Garden expert and landscape designer, Teresa Watkins and producer Lizzie Steele get a sneak peek into the future of gardening with Katie Dubow, president of Garden Media Group, as she shares insights from the newly released Garden Trends 2027 Report. Discover the emerging plants, design styles, and consumer trends shaping gardens and landscapes in the years ahead.
In the second half of the program, UF/IFAS vegetable specialist Dr. Sara MacDonald discusses the secrets to successfully growing vegetables in Florida's unique climate. From seasonal planting sch...

Better Lawns and Gardens Hour 1 – Coming to you from the Summit Responsible Solutions Studios. Garden expert and landscape designer Teresa Watkins and producer Lizzie Steele discuss the show's Laurel Awards, GardenComm, rainy weather, and the importance of healthy plant roots. Teresa interviews Dan Heims, plant breeder and owner of Terra Nova Nurseries, about exciting new introductions, including the vibrant Fyre Wing™ Heuchera series. She also talks with Washington, D.C., gardening editor and author Kathy Jentz about growing beautiful water lilies in home gardens. Plus, Teresa shares her Top Five shrubs for outstanding fall color and reveals a simple tool...

Better Lawns and Gardens Hour 2 – Landscape designer and garden expert Teresa Watkins, host of the award‑winning Better Lawns and Gardens, presents her Dirty Word of the Day: “Totipotency.” She’s joined by Casey Hartt, Tourism Director for VisitSebring to discuss the new event “Garden Week in Sebring, Avon Park, and Lake Placid.” Teresa shares her weather updates, September “what to plant”, and answers gardening questions on red pineapple, getting rid of nutsedge, and more. https://rb.gy/0hzjxx
 
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Better Lawns and Gardens Hour 1 – Coming to you from the Summit Responsible Solutions Studios.  Garden expert and landscape designer, Teresa Watkins discusses her West Pacific coast conference, and celebrates the Labor Day holiday with Dana Venrick, sponsor and owner of Quality Green Specialists Nursery about reducing labor in the landscape with native trees, beautiful shrubs, and mulch. Teresa’s Top Five Proven Winners 2027 Plants of the Year for Florida gardens, and answers garden questions on mower thatching blades, sunflowers falling over, and more. https://rb.gy/0hzjxx 

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Award-winning Better Lawns and Gardens Hour 2 – Coming to you from the Summit Responsible Solutions Studios. Award-winning Better Lawns and Gardens host emeritus Tom MacCubbin, shares his Dirty Word of the Day “Bromeliad”. Tom is joined by Jim Hunter, owner of South Seminole Springs Nursery, to discuss what is available at his nursery, updates on camellias, Fall gardening and what to do in the landscape, and more. https://rb.gy/0hzjxx 

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Better Lawns and Gardens Hour 1 – Coming to you from the Summit Responsible Solutions Studios. Host Emeritus Tom MacCubbin and producer Lizzie Steele discuss how Tom is preparing his vegetable garden for the fall growing season. Tom shares his expert recommendations for achieving a productive harvest, including his Top Five favorite vegetables to plant this time of year. He also provides essential palm care tips and answers listener gardening questions, offering practical advice for gardeners. https://rb.gy/0hzjxx

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From the Summit Responsible Solutions Studios, Landscape designer and garden expert Teresa Watkins, host of the award‑winning Better Lawns and Gardens, presents her Dirty Word of the Day: “Holometabolism.” She’s joined by Heather Stickney, National Sales Marketing Director for Summit Responsible Solutions, to share smart strategies for a bug‑free Labor Day weekend—perfect for picnics, parties, hiking, and camping. Teresa also highlights what to plant in August during the hottest stretch of summer, along with additional listener questions and insights. https://rb.gy/0hzjxx

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Note: First segment had technical issues. 
Better Lawns and Gardens Hour 1 – Coming to you from the Summit Responsible Solutions Studios.  Landscape designer and garden expert Teresa Watkins, host of the award‑winning Better Lawns and Gardens, interviews Jeremy Rhoden, UF/IFAS Marion County Extension Urban and Horticultural Agent about The Great Southeast Pollinator Census. Teresa’s Top Five is good news for bees. Teresa answers caller’s garden questions on bees, tangerine issue, getting rid of nutgrass, and more. https://rb.gy/0hzjxx 

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Better Lawns and Gardens Hour 2 – Landscape designer and garden expert Teresa Watkins, host of the award‑winning Better Lawns and Gardens, presents her Dirty Word of the Day: “Monocarpy.” She’s joined by Lloyd Lightsey — The Pond Monster — owner of The Pond Monster water‑garden design and installation company, whose passion is “living the Pond Life” through creating stunning water gardens and koi ponds. Together, they dive into timely water garden design and maintenance advice. Teresa shares her August garden care, including what to do for fruits and vegetables during the hottest stretch of summer, plus more listener questions and insights. https...

Better Lawns and Gardens Hour 1 – Coming to you from the Summit Responsible Solutions Studios.  Landscape designer and garden expert Teresa Watkins, host of the award‑winning Better Lawns and Gardens, breaks down the Dog Days of Summer in the garden, highlights National Potato Day, shares Teresa’s Top Five vegetables to grow in water, and answers listeners’ gardening questions and texts.. Teresa answers caller’s garden questions and update on hanging watermelon, when to grow tomatoes, delicious “Wild Cherry” tomatoes, pigweed, tropical plants, and more. https://rb.gy/0hzjxx 

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Better Lawns and Gardens Hour 2 – Coming to you from the Summit Responsible Solutions Studios. Landscape designer, garden expert, and Better Lawns and Gardens host Teresa Watkins explains how Saharan Desert Dust is influencing Florida’s weather patterns and highlights the state’s most destructive vegetable‑garden pest. She also introduces the Dirty Word of the Day, “heterodichogamous,” and answers listeners’ gardening questions. Topics include trimming winter-recovering mango trees, an update on a night‑blooming cereus, growing avocados, using bamboo as a screening wall, choosing the right soil for container roses, and additional timely garden advice.

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Better Lawns and Gardens Hour 1 – Coming to you from the Summit Responsible Solutions Studios.  Landscape designer and garden expert Teresa Watkins discusses the upcoming weather and what to do in your landscape during August. Teresa shares how to grow carrots and her Top Five Purple Carrots to grow. Teresa answers caller’s garden questions about different varieties of figs to try, queen palms, substitute for Italian Cypress, thirty-year old azalea beds, fertilizing peach trees, gets an update on the recent declining ‘Phenomenal’ lavender, and more. https://rb.gy/0hzjxx 

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Better Lawns and Gardens Hour 2 – Coming to you from the Summit Responsible Solutions Studios. It’s tomato season, and landscape designer, garden expert and host Teresa Watkins shares practical guidance on health benefits, how-to’s on growing tomatoes, and drying them for delicious use in the kitchen. The Dirty Word of the Day pertains to tomatoes:  “Locules.” Tereas responds to listeners’ gardening questions. Garden topics and listener questions include what to do in your landscape in August, oak branches dying, how to propagate a cordyline, why do marigolds in pots get spider mites, how to shape a tibouchina shrub into a tree, and m...

Better Lawns and Gardens Hour 1 – Coming to you from the Summit Responsible Solutions Studios.  Landscape designer and garden expert Teresa Watkins welcomes Dana Venrick of Quality Green Specialist Nursery for a discussion on planting edible shrubs and fruit trees to plant in August. Teresa’s Top Five (But Not Favorite) common tomato issues. Teresa answers caller’s garden questions about amaryllis, getting rid of Bahiagrass, and more. https://rb.gy/0hzjxx 

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Better Lawns and Gardens Hour 2 – Coming to you from the Summit Responsible Solutions Studios. It’s hot, hot, hot! Landscape designer, garden author, and host Teresa Watkins provides her best advice on rainfall, irrigation amounts, and reducing stress for your established turf, new plants, new sod. Teresa’s Dirty Word of the Day is “Glomalin.” Garden topics and listener questions include what to do in your landscape in August, tropical spinaches, dying Norfolk Island Pine trees, and more. https://rb.gy/0hzjxx
 
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Better Lawns and Gardens Hour 1 – Coming to you from the Summit Responsible Solutions Studios.  Host Teresa Watkins and producer Lizzie Steele announce that Better Lawns and Gardens has won two Silver Laurel Awards by Garden Communicators International organization. Florida Full Bat Moon occurs on July 29th at 10:36am EST. Teresa’s Top Five is Off Beat and Wacky Art I Saw This Week on the Art in Bloom Garden Tour. Teresa’s topics include tropical spinaches and what to do in your landscape in August. Teresa answers listener’s garden questions about lavender, removing cactus prickly pear, and more. https://rb.gy/0hz...

Better Lawns and Gardens Hour 2 – Coming to you from the Summit Responsible Solutions Studios.   Guest host Tom MacCubbin interviews Roi Levin, Vice President of Environmental Pest & Lawn Services, who provides and update on summer pests, including chinch bugs. Tom’s Dirty Word of the Day is "Nitrogen".  Garden topics and listener questions include moths, when are watermelons ripe, how to get rid of nutsedge and spurge, tomatoes, billbugs in zoysia, and more. https://rb.gy/0hzjxx
 
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Better Lawns and Gardens Hour 1 – Coming to you from the Summit Responsible Solutions Studios. Guest host Tom MacCubbin and producer Lizzie Steele guide listeners through a lively, information‑packed gardening hour focused on navigating Florida’s summer conditions and preparing for the upcoming fall season. Tom shares his Top Five vegetables to plant and answers listener’s garden questions about declining petunias, blackberry pruning, lubber grasshoppers, leggy plants under grow lights, getting rid of wasps, and more. https://rb.gy/0hzjxx

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Better Lawns and Gardens Hour 2 – Coming to you from the Summit Responsible Solutions Studios.   Better Lawns and Gardens host Teresa shares the unexpected benefits of the Saharan Desert Dust to Florida’s coral reefs. Teresa explains the Dirty Word of the Day – Oligotrophic. Garden topics and listener questions include can gourds be planted in Florida, bountiful Seminole pumpkins, lawn sweepers, and more. https://rb.gy/0hzjxx 

Saharan Desert Dust and Coral Reefs

Landscape designer Teresa Watkins, host of Florida’s most popular garden radio show, Better Lawns and Gardens, leads exciting garden tours visiting beloved public and...

Better Lawns and Gardens Hour 1 – Coming to you from the Summit Responsible Solutions Studios. Landscape designer and garden expert Teresa Watkins welcomes Dana Venrick, owner of Quality Green Specialists Nursery, for a conversation about summer landscape tasks, the importance of trace minerals for plant health, and common gardening “don’ts.” Teresa’s Top Five zinnia varieties from Burpee that beat the heat! Teresa highlights what to plant and tackle in your July landscape. Garden questions and topics include soil tests, Azomite, proper pruning of deadwood, sunflowers, watermelon, re-braiding Bougainvillea and not blooming, thin ixora bush, and more. https://rb.gy/0hzjxx 

Better Lawns and Gardens Hour 2 – Coming to you from Summit Responsible Solutions Studios, Garden expert Teresa Watkins is joined by Dr. Bryan Unruh, UF/IFAS West Florida Research and Education Center.  Dr. Unruh announces a new and easier soil test kit for homeowners.  Available at every UF/IFAS County Extension office, Amazon, and on SoilTest website.  Dirty Word of the Day is naturalized. Teresa answers gardening questions on timing of apple trees, propagating Dracaena arboreas, Gerbera daisy not blooming, pruning leggy azaleas, and more.  https://bit.ly/3c1f5x7

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Better Lawns and Gardens Hour 1 – Coming to you from Summit Responsible Solutions Studios. Garden expert, Teresa Watkins discusses June maintenance for citrus with Dana Venrick,  Quality Green Specialist Nursery. including foliar feeding to help citrus trees resist citrus greening. Teresa discusses her recent garden tour of the Best of English gardens and the Chelsea Flower Show, reblooming daylilies, repotting Australian Tree Fern or plant it, Dracena pups, and oyster plant decline, and more. https://bit.ly/3c1f5x7

Citrus greening solutions

Graphic credit:  Teresa Watkins

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Better Lawns and Gardens Hour 2 – Coming to you from the Summit Responsible Solutions Studios.   Better Lawns and Gardens host Teresa celebrates early the Fourth of July holiday playing with producer Lizzie Steele, “Independence Day Gardening Trivia.” Teresa explains the Dirty Word of the Day Solarization vs Occultation. Garden topics and questions include watermelon vines, variety of Yaupon Holly known as ‘Liberty Tea’, reasons for crape myrtle not blooming, avocado tree, and more. https://rb.gy/0hzjxx

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Better Lawns and Gardens Hour 1 – Coming to you from the Summit Responsible Solutions Studios. Garden expert Teresa Watkins discusses summer gardening, including intense heat, expanded SJRWMD watering restrictions, the upcoming second full Gator Moon, and much-needed rainfall. Teresa's Top Five Patriot Gardeners. She shares July planting tips and answers questions about lava rock mulch, avocado tree recovery, potted elderberry, weeds in planter soil, privacy hedge options, tomato disease, and more. https://rb.gy/0hzjxx 

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Better Lawns and Gardens Hour 2 – Coming to you from the Summit Responsible Solutions Studios.   Better Lawns and Gardens host emeritus Tom MacCubbin talks with garden writer and landscape expert, Lance Walheim, about his newly revised Citrus: A Gardeners’ & Fruit Lovers’ Guide. Lance has great news for homeowners who want to grow citrus. Tom’s Dirty Word of the Day is “aphid,” and answers a garden variety of questions. Garden topics and questions include colorful red, white, and blue, patriotic annuals, tomatoes, mangos, when to harvest pineapples, citrus, Bismarck palm winter damage, and more. https://rb.gy/0hzjxx
 
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Better Lawns and Gardens Hour 1 – Coming to you from the Summit Responsible Solutions Studios. Better Lawns and Gardens host emeritus, Tom MacCubbin and producer Lizzie Steele discuss weather, first day of summer, Father’s Day, and share the pros and cons of chickens vs. turkeys.  Tom lists the Best Cities for Urban gardening and his Top Five shrubs that survived the winter freeze. Garden topics and questions include staking tomatoes, building an arbor, new variety of dark purple caladium, what Tom is doing in his garden this month, how often to mow grass, hibiscus, tropical fruit trees, frost blankets, mealy...

Better Lawns and Gardens Hour 2 – Broadcasting live from the Summit Responsible Solutions Studios.  Landscape designer and garden expert, Teresa Watkins interviews Heather Stickney, Summit Responsible Solutions National Sales Manager on the science behind Mosquito Bits™ and Mosquito Dunks™.  Lizzie updates on her turkeys. The Dirty Word of the Day is helpful in making organic and synthetic pesticides more efficient. Gardening questions include decline of a frozen Frangipani; struggling Bismarck; ants in container pots; dealing with different types of Bahiagrass, and more.  https://rb.gy/0hzjxx

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