In the Garden with UC Master Gardeners

Orange County
  • 5.0 (4)
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An informative garden podcast and weekly radio show on 88.9 FM KUCI Irvine, California, hosted by University of California Master Gardeners of Orange County, California.  Podcasts cover home horticulture, pest management and sustainable landscape practices.  Listen to researched based information on all things gardening.  "In the Garden with UC Master Gardeners" airs Thursday mornings on 88.9 FM KUCI from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m.  

  1. Turfgrass and Lawn

    4D AGO

    Turfgrass and Lawn

    Send us Fan Mail  Today on “In the Garden with UC Master Gardeners”, Master Gardener and KUCI Staff host Bill Brooks talks with an expert on one of the most ubiquitous features of Southern California landscapes. The topic this week is TURF! We’re talkin’ Lawn, Grass, Turf, Turfgrass, and Sod which all mean the same! Bill talks with Mike Henry, former Turf Advisor in Orange County and one of the originators of the Master Gardener program in this county. Mike’s vast research over the last 40 plus years has made him an expert in all things turf-related. Just about every aspect is covered in this short one-hour show such as decisions: seasonal (cool/warm), seed/sod, meadow/manicured; what fertilizers to use and when; maintenance (mowing, weeding, watering). How about Artificial ? Join us to find out the ins and outs, and pluses and minuses of growing turf.

    56 min
  2. Low Effort Flower Gardens - The Lazy Gardener

    6D AGO

    Low Effort Flower Gardens - The Lazy Gardener

    Send us Fan Mail Join us for another episode of “In The Garden with UC Master Gardeners”.   Master Gardeners Teena Spindler and Katrina Kirkeby expound on the meaning of lazy gardening! Or, as we call today’s show, Low Effort Flower Gardens. These two Master Gardeners often talk about leaving on vacation and coming back to see PRESENTS all over their gardens! Well, eventually, after some diligence and maybe hard work initially, everyone can aim for a relatively easy flower garden that basically grows itself. Eventually! You may even want to take notes as you listen. Teena lists all of the possibilities and closes the show with her favorites when it comes to perennial, annual, shady, and sunny garden options. Teena tells about her design for a small plot if you don’t have a vast amount of space. You CAN do it!

    57 min
  3. Fall Planted Bulbs for a Spring Bloom

    MAR 31

    Fall Planted Bulbs for a Spring Bloom

    Send us Fan Mail  Discover the beauty and anticipation of spring gardening in the new podcast episode, Fall Planted Bulbs for a Spring Bloom, hosted by UC Master Gardeners Marilyn Johnson and Teena Spindler. This delightful episode explores how bulbs produce some of the garden’s most beautiful blooms and why planting times vary across different parts of the world. Listeners will learn that in California, fall is the ideal time to plant bulbs for a vibrant and joyous spring display. Tune in for expert gardening tips and inspiration to bring color and life to your garden.

    56 min
  4. This Month in the Garden - April

    MAR 30

    This Month in the Garden - April

    Send us Fan Mail  Once again, it is time for another This Month In The Garden – our regular In The Garden with UC Master Gardeners show for what to do in the garden for a given month. It’s April so there is so much to focus on this month. It’s the “bloomiest time of the year”! Perennials from last year are taking off again! Vegetable gardening is always the big consideration right now so we’ll open the show with lots about everyone’s favorite veggie/fruit/veggie ... what have you – the Tomatoes! We’ll say tomatoes, plural, because you won’t believe the variety that is available. You’ll have a lot to decide in terms of color and size of fruit, ultimate size of plant, how you will support each plant. And of course, is the plant Determinate (D) or Indeterminate (I)? Learn what that means. Enough for an entire show on Tomatoes? Stay tuned for that coming soon! The second half of the show is on Flowers! Our co-host Teena Spindler is the expert on that! She and Katrina Kirkeby have been doing these shows for around 12 years now and they play off each other wonderfully. Join us!

    55 min
  5. Landscapes as Nature

    MAR 21

    Landscapes as Nature

    Send us Fan Mail  “In the Garden with UC Master Gardeners” Explores “Landscapes as Nature” on KUCI 88.9 FM.  Reimagine your outdoor spaces with an inspiring new episode titled “Landscapes as Nature.” Host Teena Spindler welcomes special guest Ron Vanderhoff of Roger's Gardens in Newport Beach for an engaging conversation on the growing movement toward naturalistic landscape design. This episode highlights how landscapes can function as living ecosystems. Known as “landscapes as nature,” these designs mimic native environments by incorporating layered plantings, diverse species, and regionally appropriate vegetation. By prioritizing native plants, gardeners can create outdoor spaces that are not only beautiful, but also sustainable and supportive of local wildlife. Listeners will learn how to design with layers, variety, and texture—combining groundcovers, shrubs, and trees to reflect the structure of natural habitats. “Landscapes as nature blend human creativity with ecological function,” says Spindler. “This approach helps gardeners create spaces that are both resilient and deeply connected to the environment.”.

    53 min
  6. Bromeliads

    MAR 18

    Bromeliads

    Send us Fan Mail  This week “In the Garden with UC Master Gardeners” on 88.9 FM KUCI Irvine explores the captivating world of bromeliads.  In this episode, Master Gardener Bill Brooks sits down with Cristy Brenner, President of the Saddleback Valley Bromeliad Society, who shares her deep passion and decades of experience with these unique and eye-catching plants. Brenner, who has been “addicted” to bromeliads since 1995, offers listeners an engaging look at why these plants are gaining popularity—especially among California gardeners. Bromeliads are exceptionally well-suited for California’s climate. As waterwise plants, they thrive with minimal irrigation, making them an excellent choice for sustainable landscapes. Their long-lasting blooms provide extended color, but it is often their striking foliage—featuring bold patterns, textures, and colors—that truly steals the show. Listeners will learn about the remarkable epiphytic nature of many bromeliads, meaning they can grow without soil by attaching themselves to surfaces like trees, walls, or mounts. Whether displayed in pots, nestled in rock gardens, or artistically mounted, bromeliads offer versatile design possibilities for any garden space. Beyond their beauty, bromeliads are also incredibly easy to care for. They are low maintenance, have few pest problems, and require little to no fertilizer, as they absorb nutrients directly from the air. Even more appealing, bromeliads “keep on giving” by producing offsets, or “pups,” allowing gardeners to expand their collection over time. Discover how bromeliads can transform your garden into a low-water, high-impact oasis.

    50 min
  7. Square Foot Gardening - Part Two

    MAR 17

    Square Foot Gardening - Part Two

    Send us Fan Mail  Part Two of Two of Master Gardener Mark Fierle’s interview with the founder of Square Foot Gardening - Mel Bartholomew.  An engineer by training, Mel researched and developed the Square Foot Gardening method and first published his ideas in 1981.  His book “Square Foot Gardening" went on to become the best selling gardening book in America.  Currently, most home gardeners grow fruits and vegetables in raised beds, and it was Mel ideas that got this method started.  The second part includes some of Mel’s seldom heard stories, tips, and wisdom.  Learn how Square Foot Gardening works so you can get your warm season and cool season gardens growing!

    53 min
  8. Hydroponics - Growing Made Easy

    MAR 16

    Hydroponics - Growing Made Easy

    Send us Fan Mail  Sally Richards, Hydroponics Master Gardener expert, joins us today and gives us the story of the team she was instrumental in creating within our local county Master Gardener organization. Year-round venues featuring hydroponic systems to view by the public are few and far between, so listen and learn how easy it is to grow the hydroponic way.  Learn how to have year-round vegetables and fruit grown indoors or out. The Team has been active in updating the Great Park Farm and Food Lab’s system to a “wicking” system which you can duplicate at home.   Like the hungry roots of that lettuce plant, get your feet wet here with hydroponics for both the home or apartment gardener.

    47 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

An informative garden podcast and weekly radio show on 88.9 FM KUCI Irvine, California, hosted by University of California Master Gardeners of Orange County, California.  Podcasts cover home horticulture, pest management and sustainable landscape practices.  Listen to researched based information on all things gardening.  "In the Garden with UC Master Gardeners" airs Thursday mornings on 88.9 FM KUCI from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m.  

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