Master Gardener, Emily Clem, and Extension Agent, Kathy Terry-Warner, dig deep on the subject of invasive plants. Many of the invasives were originally planted for their ornamental look (think Wisteria, Nandina, Bradford Pear, English Ivy, etc.) but have since taken over and now threaten our native plants and wildlife. ACES (Alabama Cooperative Extension System) has designated 2026 as the Year of Invasive Plants! They encourage both education and eradication and are hosting a number of events for the public to participate in getting rid of these unruly plants in communities and backyard landscapes.

Links:
https://www.aces.edu/
https://mastergardeners-limestonecountyalabama.org/
https://www.alcpl.org/

https://www.aces.edu/blog/topics/forestry-wildlife/2026-year-of-invasive-plants/
https://www.weedwrangle.org/
https://northalabama.wildones.org/events/

Have questions about this episode? Email askalibrarian@alcpl.org
Music by Pixabay

Master Gardener Emily Clem talks with County Extension Agent, Lilly Oaks, about sun and shade mapping your garden. Proper planning is the key to a thriving yard and mapping is the first step. Identifying which spaces have the most sun, shade, drainage, and wind exposure is essential to know which plants will work in your landscape. Lilly highlights tools like the ShadeMap app to track the sun at your location. She also recommends North Carolina State Extension's plant tool to identify plants for specific conditions. Bottom line: knowing your yard's sun and shade positions can save you time, money, and effort in gardening.

Links:
https://www.aces.edu/ (Alabama Cooperative Extension)
https://mastergardeners-limestonecountyalabama.org/
https://www.alcpl.org/

https://shademap.app/
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/

Have questions about this episode? Email askalibrarian@alcpl.org
Music by Pixabay

Master Gardener Emily Clem welcomes MG Anita Reeves to talk about houseplants. With over 100 plants in her collection, Anita shares her tips on soil, lighting, potting, fertilizing and more. She talks about the benefits of using LED lights and cautions against overwatering. She advises researching plants before you buy and then give them time to adapt to their new surroundings. Indoor houseplant gardening is rewarding and less physically demanding than outdoor gardening, boosting both mood and air quality.

Links:
https://www.aces.edu/ (Alabama Cooperative Extension)
https://mastergardeners-limestonecountyalabama.org/
https://www.alcpl.org/

Have questions about this episode? Email askalibrarian@alcpl.org
Music by Pixabay

Master Gardener Emily Clem talks with Urban Regional Extension Agent, Marcus Garner, about how to winterize your garden. Topics include pruning, mulching, and frost protection covers for plants during hard freezes. He also stresses the importance of tool maintenance and storage during the winter and suggests using the cold months to take inventory and plan for next year's garden. Other information includes wildlife deterrent, weather monitoring, and soil testing.

Links:
https://www.aces.edu/ (Alabama Cooperative Extension)
https://mastergardeners-limestonecountyalabama.org/
https://www.alcpl.org/

Have questions about this episode? Email askalibrarian@alcpl.org
Music by Pixabay

Master Gardener, Emily Clem, talks with fellow Master Gardener and rose expert, Barbara McFarlen, about the selection and care of roses. Topics include watering, pruning, mulching, and fertilizing. She also gives details on specific fungicides and their proper use to treat black spot, rose rosette, anthracnose, and rose rust disease. Caring for over 100 rose plants in her garden, Barbara gives a master class in tending to these beautiful flowers.

Links:
https://www.aces.edu/ (Alabama Cooperative Extension)
https://mastergerdeners-limestonecountyalabama.org/
https://www.alpl.org/

Have questions about this episode? Email: askalibrarian@alcpl.org
Music by Pixabay

Master Gardener Emily Clem talks with Jesse Akozbek who has both a passion and encyclopedic knowledge of food foraging. He introduces the concept of eco-culture, a blend of foraging and gardening. From acorns, hickory nuts, cone-flowers, American lotus and more, Jesse gives a step-by-step guide for gathering and preparing good (and good for you) food from nature. He mentions his new foraging app - Gather - to help identify and safely forage plants. Besides being a fun and healthy practice, Jesse talks about the detachment many people feel with nature and how foraging helps reconnect them to their ecological roots. This podcast highlights many plants, recipes, and tips on when and where it is legal to forage.

Links:
https://feralforaging.com/
https://www.aces.edu/ (Alabama Cooperative Extension)
https://mastergerdeners-limestonecountyalabama.org/
https://www.alpl.org/

Have questions about this episode? Email: askalibrarian@alcpl.org
Music by Pixabay

Master Gardener Emily Clem talks with ACES Extension Agent, Brian Brown, about beneficial and non-beneficial weeds. He stresses that many weeds, often seen as nuisances, are actually beneficial. Clover, for example, adds vital nitrogen to the soil and attracts pollinators. In controlling invasive weeds, Brown recommends planting resistant varieties and modifying environmental conditions before resorting to chemical control. He suggests using pre-emergent herbicides for winter weeds and creating physical barriers for invasive species like bamboo. Kudzu, Bradford Pear trees, and Mimosa trees are some of the more invasive species, but the number one weed in our area is Chinese privet, and Brown offers several methods to remove it.

Links:
https://www.aces.edu/ (Alabama Cooperative Extension)
https://mastergardeners-limestonecountyalabama.org/
https://www.alcpl.org/

Have questions about this episode? Email askalibrarian@alcpl.org
Music by Pixabay

Master Gardener Emily Clem talks with Urban Regional Extension Agent, Marcus Garner, about garden pest management. He talks about specific pests (aphids, hornworms, fire ants, Japanese beetles, deer) and how to control them using organic methods. From soap and water, oils, hand picking methods, even using strong smelling plants, there are natural ways to control pests. If insecticides are used, Marcus stresses the importance of Personal Protective Equipment and following directions on the label. Regarding weeds, it's all about early detection. He strongly recommends spending time in your garden daily to inspect plants for pests and other damage before they become a big problem.

Links:
https://www.aces.edu/ (Alabama Cooperative Extension)
https://mastergardeners-limestonecountyalabama.org/
https://www.alcpl.org/

Have questions about this episode? Email askalibrarian@alcpl.org
Music by Pixabay