Shows
Good GrowingEp. 208 IPM: Techniques, Tools, and Tips for a Healthier Garden | #GoodGrowingJoin Chris Enroth and Ken Johnson on the Good Growing podcast as they dive into the world of Integrated Pest Management (IPM). In this episode, they explore the foundational principles of IPM, including cultural, mechanical, biological, and chemical controls. Learn how to identify and manage pests effectively while promoting a healthy and sustainable garden environment. Discover practical tips for scouting, diagnosing plant problems, and using pesticides responsibly. Plus, hear fascinating insights about lightning-resistant trees and the role of beneficial insects in your garden. Whether you're a seasoned gardener or just starting out, this episode is packed with valuable information...2025-04-181h 09
Good GrowingEp. 205 Spring Ephemerals: Discovering Hidden Woodland Treasures | #GoodGrowingWelcome to another episode of the Good Growing podcast! Join horticulture educators Chris Enroth and Ken Johnson as they dive into the fascinating world of spring ephemerals. These early bloomers emerge before trees leaf out, adding blooms to the landscape after winter's dormancy. In this episode, Ken and Chris discuss these unique plants and their lifecycles, give tips on growing spring ephemerals in your garden, and describe detailed insights into common Illinois spring ephemerals. Skip to what you want to know:00:36 Hey Ken!00:45 Are the spring ephemerals emerging in our yards and around us?02:52 W...2025-03-2855 min
Good GrowingEp. 204 Decoding Soil Test Results: What those numbers really mean | #GoodGrowingWelcome to the Good Growing Podcast! In this episode, horticulture educators Chris Enroth and Ken Johnson dive deep into the world of soil testing. Whether you're a seasoned gardener or just starting out, understand how to unlock the secrets of your soil and boost your garden's productivity.Watch us on YouTube https://youtu.be/vJKpTfJabKkSkip to what you want to know:0:27 Hey Ken! Soil test reports have lots of numbers, what do they all mean?01:13 How do you collect a soil sample for testing? Do many gardeners test their soil in Illinois?2025-03-2136 min
Good GrowingEp. 201 Chamomile: Discover 2025's herb of the year | #GoodGrowingJoin horticulture educators Chris Enroth and Ken Johnson from the University of Illinois Extension as they delve into the fascinating world of chamomile, the 2025 Herb of the Year. In this episode, Chris and Ken discuss the different types of chamomile, including Roman and German chamomile, and their unique characteristics. Learn about the benefits of chamomile, from its use in herbal teas to its role in beauty products and even baby diapers. Discover the best practices for growing, harvesting, and using chamomile in your garden and home. Whether you're a seasoned gardener or just curious about this versatile herb, this...2025-02-2832 min
Good GrowingGardenbite: Tree Topping - A result of chainsaws and bad decisions | #GoodGrowingIn this episode of the Good Growing podcast, horticulture educator Chris Enroth with University of Illinois Extension takes us on a deep dive into the controversial practice of tree topping. Often referred to as stubbing or hat-racking, tree topping involves cutting the canopy of a tree back to a uniform height, which can have disastrous consequences for the tree's health and safety. Chris rants, er...explains why this outdated method is harmful, detailing the science behind tree growth and the negative impacts of removing significant leaf cover. He also discusses the legal liabilities homeowners face with poorly managed trees...2025-02-1409 min
Good GrowingEp. 198 Clustered Mountain Mint Perennial Plant of the Year | #GoodGrowingWelcome to the Good Growing podcast! In this episode, horticulture educators Chris Enroth and Ken Johnson from the University of Illinois Extension delve into the 2025 Perennial Plant of the Year: Clustered Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum muticum). Join us as we explore the unique characteristics, growing tips, and ecological benefits of this native plant.Skip to what you want to know:00:35 Hey Ken! It is very cold outside.03:01 Does the cold affect Japanese beetle grubs?05:22 The 2025 Perennial Plant of the Year is Clustered Mountain Mint07:04 Native range09:15 What does clustered mountain mint look like?1...2025-01-2432 min
Good GrowingEp. 197 Discovering Dogwoods: From trees to shrubs and even groundcovers!In this episode, horticulture educators Chris Enroth, Ken Johnson, and Emily Swihart dive deep into the fascinating world of dogwoods (genus Cornus). Whether you're a seasoned gardener or just starting out, you'll discover the diverse beauty and versatility of dogwoods, from majestic trees to charming shrubs and even groundcovers.Watch us on YouTube https://youtu.be/_eCVKqEyFm8Skip to what you want to know:00:35 Hey Ken!01:02 Hey Emily! Dogwood Shrubs02:45 Gray Dogwood (Cornus racemosa)08:19 Redosier Dogwood (Cornus sericea)14:07 Bloodtwig Dogwood (Cornus sanguinea)15:15 Tatarian dogwood (Cornus alba)16:02 H...2025-01-1854 min
Good GrowingEp. 195 Community Tree Care Series: Online learning for those who care for and about trees | #GoodGrowingIllinois Extension's core mission is to be a source of research-based knowledge that helps community members solve challenges and improve their lives. On this week’s Good Growing podcast, Chris and Emily are joined by horticulture educators Sarah Vogel and Ryan Pankau to discuss the upcoming Community Tree Care series. This only learning opportunity is open to anyone who cares about trees or does the work of caring for trees. Listen to the end for a fun lightning round of tree questions with our guests. Watch us on YouTube: https://youtu.be/C01ODX3-7u82025-01-0348 min
Good GrowingGardenbite - Going Nuts Over Chestnuts: History, Growing Tips, and Culinary Uses | #GoodGrowingWelcome to the Good Growing podcast! In this special gardenbite episode, horticulture educator Chris Enroth from the University of Illinois Extension revisits a fascinating 2021 webinar where the team delved into the world of tree nuts. This episode focuses on the beloved chestnut, featuring insights from horticulture educator Ken Johnson.Highlights:History and Significance: Discover the rich history of the American chestnut, once a keystone species in the eastern United States, and learn about its tragic downfall due to the chestnut blight.Chestnut Varieties: Explore different types of chestnuts, including American, Chinese, Japanese, and...2024-12-2026 min
Good GrowingGardenbite: Voles in the landscape & mice in the house | #GoodGrowingThis week, we have a Gardenbite excerpt from our webinar, in which we discussed wildlife damage in the home landscape. In this clip, Chris details two common rodents in Illinois that tend to pop up in the winter months around the outside and inside of our homes: the vole and the mouse. While the vole is an active pest outside during the winter, many Illinoisians also deal with mice in the home this time of year. Chris gives some tips and tricks for dealing with these two rodents and preventing their damage this winter.Watch on YouTube...2024-11-2215 min
Good GrowingEp. 191 Late Season Garden Updates & Fall Horticultural Questions Answered | #GoodGrowingThis week on the Good Growing podcast Ken and Chris marvel at all the stuff they are still harvesting in their gardens. A touch of frost hasn't seemed to stop the tomatoes and peppers. When will the gardening season end!? Plus we look at the NOAA predictions for the coming month and answer your horticultural questions on black cherry aphid, lawn grub explosions across northern Illinois, and more. Plus if you've ever dealt with peach leaf curl, right now is a great time to considered treating your peach tree. Check out the recommendations in this week's podcast....2024-11-0833 min
Good GrowingEp. 188 Fall Cleanup in the Yard and Garden | #GoodGrowingThis week on the Good Growing podcast Ken and Chris discuss why we clean up our gardens in the fall. Cutting down perennials, raking leaves, and pulling out spent vegetable plants is a common job for the gardener in the fall. As the autumn days get shorter our time is precious outdoors. What needs to be done now and what can wait until next year?Watch us on YouTube https://youtu.be/scU_YKv_gFESkip to what you want to know:00:29 Hey Ken! It rained!02:33 Fall clean up. Why do we do...2024-10-1136 min
Good GrowingGardenbite: Fall Flavors - Apple vs Pumpkin | #goodgrowingThis week on the Good Growing Podcast, Chris compares the essential fall flavors of apple and pumpkin. If you had to choose, what side would you fall on? Team Apple? Or Team Pumpkin?Contact us! Chris Enroth: cenroth@illinois.eduKen Johnson: kjohnso@illinois.edu Check out the Good Growing Blog: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowingSubscribe to the weekly Good Growing email: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowingsubscribeAny products or companies mentioned during the podcast are in no way a promotion or endorsement of these products or companies....2024-09-2806 min
Good GrowingGardenbite: The Science Behind Fall Color | #GoodGrowingHave you ever wondered what causes the reds, yellows, oranges, and maroons of autumn? There are lots of different plant pigments beyond the green color of chloroplast. In this episode horticulture educator Chris Enroth peers inside the processes of a leaf in the fall and how we get those spectacular autumn leaf displays.Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/2puA2uMoXEgSkip to what you want to know:00:18 Fall color lore00:33 What we thought was happening in leaves to produce fall color.01:06 What triggers fall color to begin?01:19 Senescence 01:32 Resorption2024-09-1310 min
Good GrowingEp. 185 Growing Hazelnuts in Illinois | #GoodGrowingThis week on the Good Growing podcast Ken and Chris talk about hazelnuts. Chris remembers hazelnut shrubs growing in the woods from his childhood, we compare European and American hazelnut species, talk about pests, what you might find if you go looking to buy hazelnut plants, and more! Watch us on YouTube https://youtu.be/tWgbcfiYIKgSkip to what you want to know:00:32 Hey Ken! The messy consumption of chocolate hazelnut spread in our houses.01:47 RIP Roger Cook02:56 Correction from a previous episode on calcium in fertilizer04:03 Our initial experiences w...2024-08-3037 min
Good GrowingEp. 183 Old-time garden remedies | #GoodGrowingThere are a lot of garden remedies that have been used throughout the years, and some of them are still recommended today. Do they work? Should we still be using them? On this week’s Good Growing Podcast, we discuss some of these old-time remedies like vinegar, pruning paint, dynamite, pesticide concoctions, and more. Watch us on YouTube: https://youtu.be/v64wU2PINS8 Skip to what you want to know: 00:45 – Welcome, Ken! Pest control in the past. 03:10 – Vinegar 06:22 – Pruning tars and paints 08:12 – Epsom salt 1...2024-08-1643 minGood GrowingEp. 182 What’s Bugging Our Gardens and Trees in 2024 | #GoodGrowingIn this episode, we dive into the latest challenges facing gardeners and landscapers. From toppling trees to the potential for itchy mites dropping from the sky, Ken and Chris have a list of things that might be bugging your garden and landscape!Watch us on YouTube https://youtu.be/r3od_YL19_sSkip to what you want to know:00:38 Hey Ken!01:57 Chris found a pretty bug! A dog-day cicada.03:47 Updates from Ken and Chris' yards.07:06 What is this green bug eating my flowers?10:53 Issues with a pin oak tree...2024-08-0939 min
Good GrowingGood Growing Grow Along second check-inIt’s time for another Grow Along check-in. Each year we at Good Growing decide to try growing some new (to us) vegetables. This year we invited you to grow along with us. This video is for those who signed up to receive seed for our Grow Along. In this video, we check in and share how our Grow Along crops are progressing in our gardens, answer some of your questions, and share some of our plans for the produce we harvest.We want to hear back from you! You should have gotten an email with a su...2024-08-0637 min
Good GrowingEp. 181 Plant problems we are seeing in 2024 | #GoodGrowingHave you been having problems in your garden this year? We certainly have! On this week’s Good Growing Podcast, we discuss some of the most common problems we’ve been seeing in gardens so far this year, including problems with coneflowers, oak wilt, fire blight, and blossom end rot. Plus, where have all the Japanese beetles gone? Watch us on YouTube: https://youtu.be/7O96jjEbZ3o Skip to what you want to know: 00:40 – Welcome, Ken! Garden updates and purple tomatoes! 07:40 – Coneflower rosette mite damage vs aster yellows...2024-07-2642 min
Good GrowingEp. 180 Navigating Water-saving Products for the Yard & Garden | #GoodGrowingThis week on the Good Growing podcast, Ken and Chris sift through a survey that asks homeowners about water-saving products that can be used during water restrictions. The duo go down the list of products suggested by the survey and discuss whether these items would truly help save water and benefit your plants during a severe drought. After debating the merits of the survey’s products, Ken and Chris provide some horticulturally sound water-saving tips for our Midwest yards and gardens.Watch us on YouTube https://youtu.be/oO3BYDiOzww Skip to what you want to...2024-07-191h 04
Good GrowingEp. 179 Plants we wouldn’t plant or would think twice about before planting again| #GoodGrowingWhile we tend to focus on the positives of plants, not all plants work well in all gardens or for all gardens. Whether they are too aggressive, require too much time and maintenance, or we just don’t like them, there are a variety of reasons we may not want to grow certain plants. On this week’s Good Growing Podcast, we discuss some of the plants we’ve grown in our gardens that we wouldn’t plant again and some that we would think twice about planting. It’s not all bad, though; we also discuss some plants we will al...2024-07-121h 05Good GrowingGardenbite: Harvesting Sweet Corn & Two Common Sweet Corn Pests | #GoodGrowingOur Gardenbite for this week goes back to 2021 where Ken and Katie answered all of Chris' sweet corn growing questions. Right now we are starting to see sweet corn getting ready to pick in Illinois. How do we know when sweet corn should be harvested? Plus, what about some common sweet corn pests that tend to show up in July like raccoons and corn earworms?Contact us! Chris Enroth: cenroth@illinois.eduKen Johnson: kjohnso@illinois.edu Check out the Good Growing Blog: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowingSubscribe to the we...2024-07-0509 min
Good GrowingGood Growing Grow Along 1st Check-inEach year we at Good Growing decide to try growing some new (to us) vegetables. This year we want to invite you to grow along with us. This video is for those who signed up to receive seed for our Grow Along. In this video Emily, Ken, and Chris check in and share how this year's crops are doing in their gardens and our plans for culturing these plants through the summer. We want to hear back from you! You should have gotten an email with a survey link if you received Grow Along seed from us. D...2024-07-0117 min
Good GrowingEp. 178 Tomatoes to Ticks and Beyond: Early Summer Garden Q & A | #GoodGrowingThis week on the Good Growing podcast Ken and Chris answer early summer gardening questions. From landscapes and lawns to tomatoes and ticks, we share recent questions we have been getting into our local Extension offices. Watch us on YouTube: https://youtu.be/CFPmxJvc_kkSkip to what you want to know:00:31 Hey Ken!01:12 It's a hot one out there for only being June.02:55 What is causing all the tips of my branches to fall off or hang in the tree?06:52 Can you take the protective netting off your trees and s...2024-06-2132 min
Good GrowingEp. 177 Getting your garden ready for vacation | #GoodGrowingHave you ever gone on vacation only to come back to an out-of-control landscape or, even worse, dead plants? Check out this week’s Good Growing Podcast to learn about some steps we can take to get our landscapes ready for when we’re on vacation. Watch us on YouTube: https://youtu.be/JiC1RavU3kk Skip to what you want to know: 00:30 – Welcome, Ken and Emily! 01:45 – What kind of gardens do we have? 04:30 – What should we be thinking about when planning our gardens and vacations? ...2024-06-1440 min
Good GrowingGardenbite: Blossom End Rot in Tomatoes, Cause and PREVENTION | #GoodGrowingThis week on the Good Growing podcast we bring you a short gardenbite explaining what causes blossom end rot and why throwing eggshells in the planting hole at the beginning of the growing season might not be doing anything to help. Nick Frillman talks about calcium, tomatoes, and the best advice to prevent blossom end rot.Contact us! Chris Enroth: cenroth@illinois.eduKen Johnson: kjohnso@illinois.edu Check out the Good Growing Blog: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowingSubscribe to the weekly Good Growing email: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowingsubscribe...2024-06-0706 min
Good GrowingEp. 176 Native Grasses in the Prairie and Your Yard | #GoodGrowingThis week on the Good Growing podcast Ken and Chris chat with Erin Garrett about native grasses and how to use them in our landscapes. Erin is a Natural Resources, Energy, and Environment educator with University of Illinois Extension who is a wealth of knowledge on native grasses and all things native plants! We dive into how these grasses function in a prairie and how that translates to your yard. Plus suggestions for what native grasses might work best to transform your landscape!Watch us on YouTube https://youtu.be/EaFf5zziNiQSkip to what...2024-05-3148 min
Good GrowingEp. 175 Eating periodical cicadas | #GoodGrowingAre you an adventurous eater or interested in eating insects? You’re in luck! Many places in Illinois are awash in periodical cicadas, and while we usually think of them as food for birds and small mammals, humans can eat them too. Check out this week’s Good Growing Podcast to learn how you can get in on the cicada-eating action. From Pesto Pizza to Cicada Sundaes, we’ve got you covered on how to collect, prepare, and enjoy periodical cicadas. Watch us on YouTube: https://youtu.be/U_0K70ajACM Skip to w...2024-05-2440 min
Good GrowingEp. 174 Monarch Butterfly Science w/ Dr. Andy Davis | #GoodGrowingThis week on the Good Growing podcast we learn about monarch butterfly science from a leading scientist in the field of monarch butterflies, Dr. Andy Davis from University of Georgia. We learn some hard truths and ask do the monarch butterflies really need to be saved? What roles should humans have in monarch butterfly protection? All this and more (like cicadas and Joro spiders) in this week’s Good Growing podcast. Plus check out Brodie Dunn’s newest podcast Voice of the Wild. Brodie plays us short clips of recorded wildlife sounds and talks about what we are h...2024-05-1757 min
Good GrowingEp. 173 Answering Common Lawn Questions | #GoodGrowingThis week on the Good Growing podcast Ken and Chris look at some common lawncare questions. What can you do about growing grass in the shade? Does crabgrass preventer go down when the forsythia bloom? And more!Watch us on YouTube https://youtu.be/ZM0sWiPKlTsSkip to what you want to know:0:50 Hey Ken! What's bocce ball?1:54 Weather and garden updates5:57 Good Growing Grow Along update. Seeds are on the way!6:44 Time to talk about lawns7:07 If you mow lower, does that mean you mow less often?8:28 How...2024-05-1037 min
Good GrowingEp. 172 Growing fruit in containers | #GoodGrowingDo you want to grow your own fruit but have limited space? Growing fruit in a container may be the solution for you! On this week’s Good Growing Podcast, we welcome back Bruce Black to talk about how we can grow fruit in containers, what fruit works best in containers, and more. Watch us on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Khh6gbA5-yM Skip to what you want to know: 00:32 – Welcome, Ken! Update on Cicada Watch 2024. 02:30 – Welcome, Bruce! Sauk Valley Community College partnership and Gardening in the Air ...2024-05-0349 min
Good GrowingEp. 171 Periodical Cicada Preparation, Protecting our baby trees! | #GoodGrowingThis week on the Good Growing Podcast Ken has to work hard to contain his excitement for the upcoming periodical cicada emergence. Meanwhile, Chris has been building defenses to protect his newly planted baby trees. What do you need to know about the upcoming emergence of periodical cicadas? While our established trees will be okay, Ken and Chris will talk about how to protect our smaller newly planted trees from cicada egg laying. Plus, everyone seems to highlight the potential damage to woody plants, but a periodical cicada emergence is truly a sight to behold. Ken tells us the...2024-04-2633 min
Good GrowingEp. 170 Gardening at night: Creating gardens to enjoy at night | #GoodGrowingDo you enjoy spending your evenings outdoors? On this week’s Good Growing Podcast, we talk about how you can create a garden to be enjoyed at night. Learn about night-blooming plants that can be incorporated into a ‘night/moon’ garden, landscape lighting, insects that come out at night, and more! Watch us on YouTube: https://youtu.be/xWbZlTZbgPI Skip to what you want to know: 00:28 – Welcome, Ken! Enjoying the unseasonably warm weather? 03:15 – Gardening by the moon, does it work? 06:55 – What are some plants can be grown for ‘night’...2024-04-1936 min
Good GrowingEp. 169 Growing Perennial Vegetables, Asparagus, Rhubarb & More | #GoodGrowingThis week on the Good Growing Podcast Ken and Chris talk about perennial vegetables that we can grow here in Illinois. Many of the preparation and care instructions match with each crop and we describe those during our first crop, asparagus! We also chat about rhubarb, artichoke, chives, and horseradish. Are there others? What perennial veggies do you grow?Learn more about growing veggies at our website: https://extension.illinois.edu/gardeningPrevious episode on growing horseradish: https://youtu.be/PXKp-MLkHAk Watch us on YouTube https://youtu.be/Q9PYXesCPXESkip to w...2024-03-2947 min