Mike McGrath loves radio, but he’s always down to show off in front of a crowd. This week’s You Bet Your Garden is a very special treat: excerpts from Mike’s talk at Meadowbrook Farm in Abington, PA earlier this summer. Subjects include tomato pollination, diversity of native bees, rosemary vs St. John’s wart, and so much more!…

Your tomatoes and peppers are under attack; big chunks are missing! On the latest You Bet Your Garden, host Mike McGrath identifies the most likely suspects and reveals if the leftovers are safe to eat. Plus, your fabulous phone calls! Question of the Week: I believe that my garden has recently been visited by these pests. The question is: do I ...…

Got lots of ripe tomatoes coming in? More than you can eat? On the latest You Bet Your Garden, host Mike McGrath walks you through the cooking and processing of superior tomato sauce, with an emphasis on using the fewest garden fresh ingredients. Plus, your fabulous phone calls! Question of the Week: I’m in tomato heaven; and I just got a Vitam ...…

In fall, a young man’s fancy turns to…killing greasy grubs! On the latest You Bet Your Garden, Mike McGrath lays out your organic grub control options and explains why this is the time of year to strike. Plus, your fabulous phone calls! Question of the Week: When is the best time to apply milky spore to control Japanese beetle grubs in the lawn ...…

If you’ve been to a home show, you’ve seen the rival franchises selling mosquito spray packages to homeowners. On the latest You Bet Your Garden, host Mike McGrath responds to a listener concerned about her neighbor’s use of such a service, and does a bit of sleuthing to figure out exactly what’s in those sprays. Plus, your fabulous phone calls!…

Nobody wants to work hard outside. On the latest You Bet Your Garden, host Mike McGrath reveals that cheaters always win—especially when they perfect the lawn care and pruning practices that minimize hard work in the summertime. Also, Jenny Rose Carey, senior director at the Philadelphia Horticultural Society’s Meadowbrook Farm, joins the show ...…

Your garlic harvest is in…now what? Use it fresh before it sprouts? On the latest You Bet Your Garden, host Mike McGrath will expose the secret to getting a season of good seasoning from your harvest—or from the great garlic you’ll find at local farmer’s markets. Plus, your fabulous phone calls!

Mosquito prevention time is over; now is the time to switch tactics to protection. On the latest You Bet Your Garden, Mike McGrath reveals how to attract dragonflies and explains why white is the color to wear this mosquito season. Plus, your fabulous phone calls! Question of the Week: I’m a 13-year-old boy and live with my grandparents on seve ...…

A listener wants to attract beneficial insects, but instead is beset by flies! On the latest You Bet Your Garden, Mike McGrath discusses how this might not be the worst thing to happen to an urban gardener. Plus, your fabulous phone calls!

Is it ever right to use your grass clippings as a garden mulch?? On the latest You Bet Your Garden, we’ll bend–but not break–the rules as Mike McGrath looks at the pros and cons of collecting those clips. Plus, your fabulous phone calls! Question of the Week: My son has been trying to make compost out of three large piles of grass contained by ...…

Plants under glass, mushroom hunting, permaculture, and copper plugs. On this week’s You Bet Your Garden, host Mike McGrath talks terrariums, ‘shrooming, piling stuff up on top of old wood and much more in a series of our favorite interviews. Question of the Week: I’ve been looking into the different design systems I could use in establishing a ...…

It’s often a bad idea to take plants across state lines with the intent to commit horticulture. On the latest You Bet Your Garden, Mike McGrath discusses what’s at stake if you’re thinking of crossing The Pond with your plants! Plus, gardening for the curious with Dr. Lee Reich. Question of the Week: I teach high school German & Spanish and run ...…

Radioactive roses; peerless pollinators; the famed “Banana of the North;” and puckering persimmons. On the next You Bet Your Garden, we gather some of our favorite interviews to cool down your summer with a wilder blend of topics than the ingredients in a Singapore Sling!

A British gardening magazine recommends pouring grass clippings on top of shredded paper to make “quick compost.” On You Bet Your Garden, Mike McGrath reveals what’s wrong with this picture and re-iterates the rules of non-bogus black gold brewing. Plus, your fabulous phone calls! Question of the Week: I was just watching a “Florabest Lawnmower ...…

What’s eating your roses? On the latest You Bet Your Garden, Mike McGrath dons his detective’s cap to pinpoint the perpetrator chewing on them now…and details how to stop Japanese beetles from finishing the job later. Plus, your fabulous phone calls! Question of the Week: I’m fairly new to roses, so I planted three ‘Knockout’ variety roses I’ve ...…

Gardening for the disabled includes plantings for those with little to no sight. On the next You Bet Your Garden, host Mike McGrath discusses gardens that appeal to the other four senses. Plus, your fabulous phone calls! Question of the week: I’d like to hear Mike talk about handicapped gardeners. I went completely blind several years ago and I ...…

How can you grow tomatoes in a short season…at high altitude…and with no water? On the latest You Bet Your Garden, Mike McGrath reveals just how they do it in Southwest Colorado! Plus, the wild and wonderful world of succulents and cacti…and your fabulous phone calls. Learn all about gardening in a hostile climate »…

Do trees really NEED mulch? And can their roots be safely severed during construction? On the latest You Bet Your Garden, host Mike McGrath reveals some surprising truths about trees. Plus: Square Foot Gardening legend Mel Bartholomew, and your fabulous phone calls! Question of the Week: I’m about to put an addition on my house that will requir ...…

On this week’s You Bet Your Garden, host Mike McGrath speaks with Dr. Dina Fonseca, professor of entomology in the school of public health at Rutgers University, about ways to prevent mosquito’s from thriving in your landscape and ways to protect yourself from being bit. This way for tips to banish bloodsuckers »…

You say tomato, I say tomahto…but the soil sprouts potatoes! On the latest You Bet Your Garden, Mike McGrath discusses what you can do when Yukon Golds emerge right next to your Cherokee Purples. Plus: helping HOAs become more sustainable, and your fabulous phone calls. Question of the Week: Is it true that you shouldn’t plant tomatoes and pota ...…

The linden tree is slow-growing, has great fall color and produces beautiful, scented flowers in the Summer. On the latest You Bet Your Garden¸ Mike McGrath discusses the linden and why it isn’t used more often in the American landscape. Plus, your fabulous phone calls. Question of the Week: The Linden is a beautiful tree. (Berliners in Germany ...…

Summer sun is good for our plants–up to a point. On the next You Bet Your Garden, Mike McGrath gives the lowdown on where and when your tomatoes might like you to throw them some shade. Plus: your fabulous phone calls! Question of the Week: “Greetings! I used to garden when I was much younger and I’m ready to try again now that I understand mor ...…

This is the time of year you can ensure that your Spring bulbs return…or get nothing but leaves next season. On the latest You Bet Your Garden, Mike McGrath reviews the rules of Spring bulb rebloom. Plus: your fabulous phone calls! Question of the Week: I bought tulip bulbs, refrigerated them for a few months, planted them last fall, and now th ...…

Soil solarization is a powerful tool in the organic arsenal—but can you solarize a bed that has a tree in the middle?! On the latest You Bet Your Garden, Mike McGrath discusses how you can—and can’t—use the rays of the sun to wipe out wicked weeds and defeat dread disease. Plus, your fabulous phone calls! Question of the Week: I recently bought ...…

Tomato season will soon be here! On the latest You Bet Your Garden, host Mike McGrath discusses ‘pruning suckers’ from your plants, and considers the curious case of the suddenly unproductive bed. Plus, your fabulous phone calls! Question of the Week: I’m getting my garden plans together and was wondering if you recommend pruning the shoots tha ...…

What can you do with the stump that’s left behind after a dead tree is cut down? On this week’s You Bet Your Garden we’ll discuss whether the best answer involves Hügelkultur—or oysters! Plus your fabulous phone calls. Question of the Week: We moved into a new home last April and, as you often suggest, just took the first year to see what was g ...…

What can you grow in a sopping wet spot? Are non-native plants ever OK? In a very special edition of You Bet Your Garden, Mike McGrath answers those questions and many more—recorded live on the floor of the famed Philadelphia Flower Show! Question of the Week: I planted running bamboo in my landscape that ‘they’ said wouldn’t run; but it’s run ...…

Ornamental grasses make for great privacy screens. On the latest You Bet Your Garden, host Mike McGrath discusses which big grasses work best, and how and when to safely prune them. Plus, your fabulous phone calls! Question of the Week: I checked the “A to Z Garden Answer” section of your website under “grass,” “ornamental grass” and “tall gras ...…

Do you burn wood for heat and thus have lots of wood ash that you want to use on your landscape? On the latest You Bet Your Garden, Mike McGrath discusses the best and worst ways to use your ash. Plus, your fabulous phone calls! Question of the Week: I’ve got a lot of wood ashes and wonder if I can use them in the garden; and if so, where? —Bob ...…

Recycling your kitchen waste into compost is the responsible thing to do, right? On the latest You Bet Your Garden, Mike McGrath reveals the surprising problems you can encounter when you make garbage to go. Plus, your fabulous phone calls! Question of the Week: I have filled three large black sealed composting bins with fruit and vegetable was ...…

Removing plugs of sod and soil can work wonders for a struggling turf–if you do it at the right time of year. On the latest You Bet Your Garden, Mike McGrath discusses what to do when compacted soil needs to be aerated at the wrong time in the season. Question of the Week: Last summer my neighbor’s 85-foot-tall oak tree fell into our yard, crus ...…

Lowbush blueberries may be the tastiest little fruits—but are you cold enough to grow them? On the next You Bet Your Garden, Mike McGrath lays out your options in growing these low-to-the-ground native fruits. Plus, the meaning of “chilling hours.” Question of the Week: Back in college I was spoiled by the taste of the delicious wild blueberrie ...…

Pitchers and catchers report is here! That means it must be time to think about tomatoes! On the latest You Bet Your Garden, Mike McGrath reviews the rules of raised beds and takes bets on perlite versus vermiculite. Plus, your fabulous phone calls! Question of the Week: I’m in the process of resizing a majority of our raised beds from four fee ...…

A listener wants to know how to stay safe from ticks–in her native Australia! On the latest You Bet Your Garden, Mike McGrath discusses tick control strategies that are common to both Australia and North America. Plus, your fabulous phone calls! Question of the Week: I have a phobia of ticks. The little suckers totally freak me out! I’ve read y ...…

Thinking of starting your own plants from seed this season? Success begins with a soil-free mix! On the latest You Bet Your Garden, Mike McGrath reveals what to include in a seed-starting mix and what to leave out. Plus, your fabulous phone calls! Question of the Week: I’m really interested in starting my own vegetables from seed this year usin ...…

What is ‘muriate of potash’—and is it safe? On the latest episode of You Bet Your Garden, host Mike McGrath discusses the many ways you can add the ‘K’ in ‘N-P-K’ to your landscape! Plus, your fabulous phone calls! Question of the Week: “Is ‘muriate of potash’ safe to use as an additive in the raised bed gardens I’ll be planting next spring? An ...…

What’s grey and black and red and black and yellow with black stripes? On the latest You Bet Your Garden, host Mike McGrath reveals the disturbing answer when he takes a close look at the newest pest in town–the Spotted Lantern Fly. Plus, your fabulous phone calls!

Who’s eating homegrown greens right now–in places where winter really means winter? On the latest You Bet Your Garden, host Mike McGrath discusses how to extend your season with a French hot bed! Plus, your fabulous phone calls! Question of the Week: Last year I had some success constructing cold frame boxes to keep my greens going into winter. ...…

There’s a new pest in town—and it wants to ruin your raspberries! On the latest episode of You Bet Your Garden, host Mike McGrath will teach you how to protect your precious plants from the dreaded Spotted Wing Drosophila. Plus, your fabulous phone calls! Question of the Week: “I know that you’re a fellow raspberry fan and hope you can help me. ...…

Are you imperiled by poison ivy? Sucked dry by mosquitoes? On this very special edition of You Bet Your Garden, host Mike McGrath will help negate these nasty nuisances—and reveal the best small fruits to grow, build a rain garden and more! Question of the Week: Last year, we started having problems with poison ivy around our vegetable garden. ...…

You are cordially invited to the You Bet Your Garden Christmas Spectacular! Host Mike McGrath will be unwrapping fascinating facts about poinsettia, Christmas cactus, and mistletoe. Plus: holiday tunes from Kenn Kweder and Nalani and Sarina! Question of the Week: “You once offered a solution to the problem of paperwhites drooping on your show. ...…

There’s been a lot of discussion about collecting black walnuts on the show lately, but so far, it’s been all talk. On the latest episode of You Bet Your Garden, host Mike McGrath gets into the nitty gritty details on how to husk, wash, cure, crack, and yes, eventually eat, the most controversial food of the forest. Plus, your fabulous phone ca ...…

They’re causing mayhem in the roads, eating our azaleas, and attacking the arborvitae. On the latest episode of You Bet Your Garden, host Mike McGrath tries to deal with what seems to be a deluge of dangerous deer. Plus, your fabulous phone calls! Question of the Week: I love your show and am hoping you can help my ‘de-barked’ pine trees. The t ...…

Are warm-weather grasses taking over our turf? On the latest edition of You Bet Your Garden, host Mike McGrath will help you decide: Favor the fescue or succumb to the charms of Bermuda? Plus: turning abandoned lots into drive-by flower shows, and your fabulous phone calls! Question of the Week: “Is there any sure way to kill the Bermuda grass ...…

You’re moving; can you take your priceless plants with you? On the latest episode of You Bet Your Garden, host Mike McGrath helps you hold on to your heirlooms and get a good price for your old house. Plus: a sneak peek at the 2018 edition of The Flower Show, and your fabulous phone calls! Question of the Week: We’re in the process of building ...…

Raspberries are delicious, super-nutritious and incredibly easy to grow. There are only TWO things you must supply in order to bag buckets of berries. On this week’s You Bet Your Garden, host Mike McGrath reveals just what those two things are. Question of the Week: “Can raspberries be grown successfully in central Florida? If so, when should t ...…

It’s time to put your raised beds TO bed for the winter. On the latest episode of You Bet Your Garden, host Mike McGrath explains how to renew their vigor, protect their nutrients and avoid turning them into a sea of weeds. Plus, some handy tricks for avoiding basil blight, and your fabulous phone calls! Question of the Week: I’ve heard you tal ...…

What’s the best way to protect your plants from deer, rabbits, mice and voles–and what’s so bad about ‘cleaning things up’ for winter? On the latest episode of You Bet Your Garden, host Mike McGrath covers the best ways to protect your plants from herbivores…and YOU! Plus, your fabulous phone calls! Questions of the Week: I have a huge butterfl ...…

What’s the best way to protect figs in climes where winter gets too cold? On the latest episode of You Bet Your Garden, host Mike McGrath reviews your options—from building a little house to burying them alive! Plus, your fabulous phone calls! Question of the Week: I’m exploring methods of fig tree protection as we head toward winter. As my fig ...…

This is the time of year many people feel compelled to “clean up the landscape.” On the latest episode of You Bet Your Garden, host Mike McGrath counts the many reasons you should NOT be cutting back roses, figs, or any other plants in the fall. Plus, your fabulous phone calls! Question of the Week: I have two butterfly bushes—one of which is a ...…