The Helpful Gardeners
Welcome to the Helpful Gardeners, a weekly podcast diving into the home and garden topics you want to learn more about. Colin is a certified horticulturist with decades of experience working in landscaping, gardening and houseplants in various climactic zones. Brandi is a beginner with a passion to ask questions. Subscribe to catch new episodes every Sunday!
Episodes
The Canada Strong Pass is available now until September 2!
The Canada Strong Pass is breaking down barriers for Summer 2026 to encourage more visits to some of Canadas most iconic places. There is so much diversity in the foral found around Alberta and the rest of the country from trees to grasses, and especially wildflowers. What can see out your back door? Are you making a trip to take in more of Canada's natural beauty this s...
"It's part of a cycle of nature"
Today, we're exploring the increase in wildfire activity in our community and how it impacts our gardens. We're talking the life cycle of forests, the causes of wildfires, and the effects of smoke on plants. We even dive into the nutritional implications of smoke on vegetables! Let's better understand the environmental changes and adapting gardening practices during wildfire...
We're talking summer lawn care with our friend Shelley Vance from Scotts Canada! Find out what she thinks about 'No Mow May', and how she tackles cutting the lawn including optimal mowing techniques, proactive maintenance strategies, effective watering methods, and how to manage lawn diseases and pests. Maintain a healthy lawn throughout the summer months with proactive strategies!
Chapters
02:22 Introduction to Summe...
Welcome back to courthouse!
This week, we're diving into "No Mow May", a concept that was popularized during the pandemic encouraging people to refrain from mowing their lawns in May to support pollinators and biodiversity. We'll talk the pros and cons of this initiative, including its impact on lawn health, the ecological implications of traditional lawns, and alternative practices for deeper impact.
Episodes ...
In Canada, the Victoria Day long weekend is typically our green light for planting in the garden! We're talking about different annual plants you can get right now, tips for creating the perfect planter, and a conversation about growing veggies! Weather is still a consideration as we may still see some frosty nights. We'll explore ways to be proactive rather than reactive in the garden this spring.
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CO...
It's Mother's Day and while there are lots of ways to celebrate the motherly figures in our lives, afternoon tea is a popular outing this holiday. We dive into the tradition of afternoon tea, its origins, and how it has evolved over time. What country produces the most tea? What are tea connections in Brazil? Can we grow tea in Canada? Does it taste different in other regions? Plus, the discussion takes a personal turn as o...
Have you seen mystery items pop up in your garden? A shell? A peanut? A new plant?
Let us know!
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What's the deal with curb appeal?
We delve into the subjective nature of curb appeal, the balance between personal expression and neighborhood harmony, and the local regulations that govern property aesthetics. What are the benefits of curb appeal and what factors might influence poor curb appeal? Is it your place to judge? Is it your place to reach out?
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Thank you so much for supporting...
Colin found another sign of spring in his garden this week! What are you seeing in your community?
Google is a common tool for gardeners to diagnose plant issues which can be helpful especially for those weird questions you feel dumb for uttering out loud, but it can also problematic as some scenarios require a fuller picture to diagnose.
Today, we explore common gardening questions and concerns that gardeners often Google. We're talking about plant odors, noises, and health issues. Is your plant making sounds? Do you have mushr...
I think it's time to get back in the garden... Brandi has been deep in the reality TV and it's gone too far...
The gardeners are on the road this week in downtown Calgary for Earth Week at the Core Shopping Centre! Exploring a fun craft for the kiddos, some fun Earth Day activities across Canada, and 11 low effect ways to celebrate Earth Day at home!
Chapters
00:00 Celebrating Earth Week in Calgary
05:08 Fun Kids Activity
09:59 Community Events for Earth Day
15:00 Creative Earth Day Activities
20:01 Practical Tips for Environmental Awareness
2...
What is your first signal that spring is here? Find out what Colin and Brandi consider to be theirs!
As the spring growing season gets underway, what can you find growing at your local greenhouse? The gardeners explore iconic spring flowers, the benefits of buying some of your annuals early, climatizing or hardening off, home greenhouses, and effective shopping strategies.
Chapters
02:56 Exploring Iconic Spring Plants
09:00 The Benefits of Early Planting
14:49 Maximizing Growth Potential
17:43 Tips for Plant Care and Maintenance
26...
Someone was lurking in Brandi's garden this week...
We're explore some of the common critters you may find in your backyard at any time of the day and what they may be interested in. What kind of natural deterrents and preventative measures can you use to creating a balanced ecosystem?
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Thank you so much for supporting our podcast and for making the world a more planty place. Please subs...
Brandi and Colin BOTH attended their first seed swap a little while ago! Find out what their experiences were like!
Check out our episode on Seed Swaps!
We're talking Homeowners Associations (HOAs), exploring their benefits and drawbacks. In this episode we'll touch on some of the common rules imposed by HOAs, the tension between maintaining property values and allowing personal expression, conflict resolution within HOAs, the complexities of neighborhood dynamics, the pros and cons of HOAs, and more.
If you're part of an HOA, we talking about how to engage with your communities and...
Can you guess what Brandi saw in the garden the other day?
We're exploring simple and stylistic ways to incorporate plants into your outdoor and indoor living spaces. We explore inspired approaches to decorating, benefits of thrifting, working with small spaces, and even how to spread plant love to your local community.
SPECIAL GUEST
Nancy Adie | Simply Styled Inspo
Nancy is the creator behind Simply Styled Inspo. Following a move from Toronto to Calgary she began her creative jour...
Farmers and homesteaders are the ultimate gardeners. While farmers and homesteaders are working on a grander scale than home gardeners, they’re most likely working through similar challenges like we are as gardeners, just on a grander scale. Take a peek behind the curtain at some of the many ways Hartell Homestead is growing not only for themselves, but for their community.
SPECIAL GUEST
Nick Shipley is the founder of Hartell Ho...
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