Showing results by narrator "Mike McGrath" in All Categories

Mushroom expert Paul Stamets joins us to explain how seemingly humble fungi can be used to filter water, destroy pest insects like termites and fire ants, and create new medicines. Paul is the owner of the mushroom company Fungi Perfecti and his new book is Mycelium Running. During the Question of the Week, Mike will explain how gardeners can safely use wood ashes in their landscape.

Common Sense Pest Control expert Bill Quarles reveals a new insecticide that�s safe for people and pets but deadly to pest caterpillars, beetles, thrips, termites, and even fire ants! Bill is director of the Bio Integral resource Center in California. Later on the show, Mike McGrath reveals holiday tree tips! He'll explain how to prevent needle drop and how to keep the tree watered without bending over.

Do Ladybugs bite? It's hard to imagine that these pretty, beneficial insects could have an aggressive side! Mike will answer this puzzling question, and explain why ladybugs move into people�s houses every winter. He�ll also reveal how to handle these annual invasions.

Have you been told to use mothballs to repel pests? You Bet Your Garden host Mike McGrath reveals why those toxic-and ineffective-little cancer bombs are the worst way to deal with unwelcome invaders. Plus fabulous phone calls, tips and tricks - all chemical free, of course.

Can you create a landscape that's friendly to birds and butterflies? You Bet Your Garden host Mike McGrath will reveal the tricks that allow you to enjoy both kinds of winged wonders. Plus fabulous phone calls, tips and tricks --- all chemical free, of course.

Do you have insects that look like bees that are nesting in the ground? Watch out- they're probably yellow jackets. This week on You Bet Your Garden, host Mike McGrath will explain how to safely eradicate their dangerous underground nests. Plus your fabulous phone calls. And of course, chemical free answers to all your garden questions.

Are there specific trees or shrubs that can help dry up a soggy back yard or a wet spot in your landscape? Mike McGrath will discuss the realities of water-sucking plants, name the four best trees for wet areas, and give you a crash course on rain gardens. Rain gardens are a new trend in landscaping and represent perhaps the most ecologically sound way to handle wet spots in your landscape.

The terrible taste of store-bought tomatoes is enough to get even non-gardeners to put a few plants in the ground. Luckily, growing tomatoes is fun and easy, if you give them a few things they crave and require at planting time. Mike McGrath will help you achieve "love apple success" with his Top Ten Tips for Terrific Tomatoes!

Would you like to pick your own fresh apples and peaches, but worry about what you'd have to do to keep all those pests and disease at bay? Don't worry: organic fruit-growing is possible! Mike McGrath will reveal how you can enjoy a bounty of nice clean fruits with the help of compost, clay, clippers, and cleanliness!

Are you hoping to see lush, green grass in your landscape this year?

Noted Alaska gardener, garden writer, and radio host Jeff Lowenfels joins us to talk about how he created the "Plant a Row for the Hungry" program that allows gardeners to help feed people in need.

Do you have hundreds of ladybugs sitting on the outside walls of your house? Are box elder bugs crawling on your couch, or stink bugs meeting in your living room? Many bugs and beetles are invading homes all across the nation, looking for a nice warm place to spend the winter. Mike McGrath will explain how you can prevent these bugs from congregating on your house and how you can stop them from coming inside. He will also discuss ways to get bugs out once they have gotten in.

Are nasty pests planning to hitch a ride on your incoming houseplants? Mike McGrath will explain how to prepare plants that have spent the summer outside for overwintering in your house without bringing pests like aphids along. Plus, he'll offer specialized cures for fungus gnats and scale. We'll also hear about a new way for pipes and tree roots to peacefully coexist.

It's time for Fall planting, and Mike McGrath will explain which plants do best in the cooler months. Plant garlic cloves now and harvest big fat bulbs next Spring; plant pansies now and get months of cool-season color, and edible flowers that fight varicose veins. It's also the perfect time to plant trees and shrubs. You might find great deals at your local nursery!

The horrific hornworm is the number one pest of tomato plants; this gigantic caterpillar can consume a Big Boy almost overnight! Mike McGrath will reveal how to stop the pest in its pupa, he'll suggest companion plants that can protect your tomatoes, and reveal the organic control that dispatches the beast without any risk to you or the environment. We'll also hear about some good news for gardeners happening in Louisiana in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

Are bees buzzing around in your landscape, scaring you and your family? Or are they boring holes into your house and other structures? Mike McGrath will explain how to deal with wood-boring carpenter bees and scary Springtime ground nesting bees. He'll also explain why these native creatures are not only harmless, they are extremely beneficial to your garden!

This is not the time of year to sow a new lawn in the North; but what can you do for bare earth besmirched with little bits of green? And what should Southerners be doing to insure an attractive turf? Mike McGrath will reveal the secrets of springtime lawn care for all of you!

Legendary seed-seller Renee Shepherd joins us to reveal her favorite varieties of gourmet veggies and fragrant flowers. Renee's seed picks and growing advice are available at www.reneesgarden.com. During the Question of the Week, Mike McGrath will tackle the topic of azaleas and rhododendrons. These beautiful shrubs are popular additions to our landscapes, but many people don't see the flowers they should, because they ignore their special needs and shear them at the wrong time of year.

Groundhogs can eat a garden to the ground overnight, and their treacherous tunnels are a leg-breaking danger to people and livestock. Mike McGrath will reveal options for keeping them from coming into your garden, and explains how you can drive them away if they have already set up camp. Plus: A Kansas researcher has discovered that indoor pesticide use increases the number of dangerous spiders in your home.

Can bats control the population of pesky summertime mosquitoes? Mike McGrath will deliver an authoritative answer that will change everything you thought you knew about bats. He'll also explain how to attract these beneficial creatures to your landscape. Plus, the real story behind plants and global warming, and chemical-free answers to all your gardening questions.