Growing Together: A Gardening Podcast · Forum Communications Co.

Resolutions to prepare you for next year's garden

·52 min·2 clips

Get mulch down earlier in the season when prices are low and you get weed suppression benefits.

Growing Together explores New Year gardening resolutions in Northern climate context. Opens with cold weather survival tips (iris protection under snow crust). Addresses listener letter about houseplant propagation: rooting cuttings in vermiculite vs water, creating ice cream bucket greenhouses for prayer plants. Don's resolution: 10 minutes daily weeding during growing season prevents seedling trees in perennials. John's resolution: mulch application earlier in season (saves money, suppresses weeds, improves aesthetics naturally). Discusses persistent perennial weed control (Canada thistle, quack grass) using cardboard underlayment and spot-spraying. Heavy Red River Valley clay soil requires yearly organic amendment (leaves, peat, compost). Mulch decomposition feeds soil microbes; requires periodic replenishment.

As heard by us

Steady winter gardening advice that turns New Year plans into something practical.

The episode turns holiday-season gardening talk into something more grounded than a resolution list. John Lamb and Don Kinsler move from winter survival to the work of planning ahead, with plain advice on soil improvement, mulch, and making room for a few new plant combinations…

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Why you'd press play

You want to use the cold, snowy season to get your garden plans moving.

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