Valley Nursery Plantcast

After four years and 173 episodes, cohosts Erin and Justin are taking off their headphones and walking away from their mics. It what may well be the last episode, the enthusiastic gardeners chat about what they've learned creating the podcast and remind you of the tips and plants they hope you've absorbed over the course of the Plantcast's growing seasons.

Let's be real, nothing you want grows out of bad soil. Success in our gardens depends on nutrient rich soil and nutrient rich soil is made now by you, easily. A little resourcefulness, a little work and a lot of worms can turn lackluster soil into garden gold. Have a listen and find out how ...

It is the absolute perfect time to plant perennials in your garden. There's a very good chance you are seeing things in other people's yards you wish you had planted earlier this year. Don't fret friend! You can find fantastic vibrant perennials right now, plant them immediately and still enjoy them for a few weeks. Planting now allows the plants time to establish, and they will return next year, right where you planted - in that spot you stared at and wished you had done something about sooner. C'mon down - find that spot filler. Bring in the plant, bring in the color. Be a garden winner!

We aren't saying summer is over, but we are suggesting that planning now for fall color may be the right way to spend the last of your reward points you're hanging onto. As we enter the final week of rewards redemption, finding the perennials and shrubs that will liven up your landscape or porch pots with color during the changing season is a great idea (we think). So have a listen, hear a few suggestions, come on in and get those plants that show off exceptional hues in autumn.

We are lucky to be surrounded by a variety of microclimates in Kitsap County. Coastal is a predominant one and that's a tricky one for plants. The constant onslaught of salt spray is not ideal for every plant but fear not! We have suggestions for plants that will thrive in your landscape should it be inundated with sea air. Justin and Erin chat about what plants are tolerant of salt spray and Batman. It only makes sense if you listen.

Miss us? We missed you too. Our extended absence is due to vacations and a fruitful journey Justin took to the Willamette Valley. He visited several different nurseries and garden centers that are our suppliers and or members of a consulting group that work to make each other better. In this episode, we chat about some of the surprises and lessons learned from that trip. Yes. There are robots.

Dads deserve so much more than ties and leaf blowers this Father's Day. We want to start a revolution and encourage you give Dad what he really needs this year ... plants. Naturally, we have some fantastic suggestions for gift ideas. We dive into the brief history of the holiday to justify our bold decision to stir up the traditional notion of what a Father's Day present should be. Have a listen and join our movement!

Isn't it lovely - the fruits of your labor? Are you walking around and enjoying your garden or are you seeing all the things that you wish you had done? Fear not - it's not to late to start things! It's also not the wrong time to do a lot of things. There is lots of growing left to happen this season so you can fix your mistakes, make a few changes, add some beauty and enjoy your garden!

If we plant native plants in our gardens, we can bring back bugs. Why do we want you to bring back bugs? Because without bugs, we haven't got pollinators. Without pollinators, there is no food. Think about it as putting something back that was taken away ... let’s be honest, development of properties takes away the natural habitat of bugs and birds and animals so planting natives gives back a little of what was taken away. Most fun fact of all - once established - they are the lowest maintenance plants in your garden. they're from here - they can thrive without your help.

The internet is loaded with DIY hacks for your houseplants that seem too simple or bizarre to be true. As your trusted plant people, we look at a few of the claims that have popped into our social media feeds to see if they are actually true or false.

You're going to love the garden even more if you take a little time to create a plan. Figure out what you want in regards to color, shape, size, blooms ... figure out if you have sun or shade ... figure out if you need to block your neighbor from view ... figure out how much time you want to spend doing the work to maintain the plants ... think of what will bring you the most joy. And if you can't think of what you need to think about - have a listen, we tell you.

There is no need for the only thing under your conifers to be pine needles. The understory is a perfect place to add texture and color to your landscape. Naturally occurring acidic soil and dappled shade are prime conditions for a variety of plants including evergreen and deciduous options from mid-height to ground level. Your pals in gardening Erin and Justin list some of the options in this episode.

The 19th Annual Valley Nursery Spring sale begins on March 22 at 9 a.m. You've got the flyer with its 30% off coupon (and the cute faces of your favorite podcast hosts and their friends). Get some ideas on what to spend it on and find out about other specials within this episode.