Showing results by author "Mike McGrath" in All Categories

Are you tired of losing your plants to garden-devouring pests? Insect expert Linda Gilkeson joins us to reveal easy organic ways to keep bad bugs out of your beds. Her new book is West Coast Gardening: Natural Insect, Weed & Disease Control. Then, are chipmunks cute little critters or are they just as pesky as squirrels? Mike McGrath will reveal what kind of damage chipmunks do in gardens, and suggest non-lethal ways to keep them at bay.

Are you going on vacation? Prepare your plants, lawn, and garden so they don't suffer while you're away. Mike McGrath will explain what to do to cover watering needs, prevent weeds, and harvest your precious crops so nothing spoils during your time off. We'll also answer lots of gardening questions from around the country.

Many gardeners mulch badly; using the wrong materials in the wrong way. Bad mulch can harm or kill plants and even ruin the paint job on a house or car! Mike McGrath will discuss the downsides of wood and rubber mulches, and reveal the best options for preventing weeds and improving the look of your landscape. Plus: How Australians are turning toads into beer!

Have you received the email warning about termite-infested mulch heading our way from Katrina damaged trees? Mike McGrath will reveal the truth behind those rumors, and explain how your current mulch may already be inviting local termites to dine on your domain. Plus: Mark Tebbitt from the Brooklyn Botanic Garden joins us to discuss the amazing diversity in the surprisingly wide world of begonias. Tebbitt has written Begonias; Cultivation, Identification and Natural History.

The legendary Mel Bartholomew, creator of the wildly popular "Square Foot Garden", joins us to discuss his new guide to growing the most possible plants in the smallest possible space. Mel�s new book, All New Square Foot Gardening, adds 10 improvements to the original 25-year-old SFG method. Later on the show, Mike will reveal how people without any ground of their own can still get growing by joining a community garden.

Are you ready to start your seeds? Howard Shapiro from Seeds of Change joins us to discuss the all-organic offerings their new catalog. During the Question of the Week, Mike tackles a potentially stinky topic: Skunks can tear up lawns in their search for food, and they're very fond of sub-letting spaces underneath unsuspecting homeowners. Mike will explain how to safely evict them without unwanted incident; and how to erase that smell if you or your pets do get sprayed.

Corn Gluten Meal is an organic lawn-owner's dream. It prevents dormant weeds seeds from sprouting while giving your turf an all-natural, high-nitrogen feeding. Mike McGrath will explain how and when to use corn gluten meal, and what other areas of your landscape it will work on. He'll also discuss why some cheap products sold as Corn Gluten Meal in animal feed stores won't work!

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.