Gardening Simplified

Gardening Simplified

Introducing Gardening Simplified, a new radio show and podcast from Proven Winners ColorChoice Shrubs. Hosted by life-long gardeners Rick Vuyst and Stacey Hirvela, the Gardening Simplified show is designed to share our love of plants and gardening. Whatever your skill or experience level, you’ll find something interesting, useful, and just plain fascinating in every episode.

Episodes

Surviving Heat and Humidity | Best Plants and Practices

June 20, 2026 • 44 mins
Sometimes the weather can feel too hot to handle! Luckily, these plants won’t break a sweat under these tough conditions. Learn all about plants that grow well in hot and humid landscapes and ways to help your garden beat the heat.
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
Transcript

Homing in on Hibiscus

June 13, 2026 • 46 mins
The hibiscus plant family includes several hundred species of plants that are native to warm temperate, subtropical, and tropical regions throughout the world. In this episode, Stacey and Rick explain the different types of hibiscus, how to grow them, and all of the amazing features they provide.
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
Transcript

Understanding Fertilizer and Soil Amendments | When to Use and When Not to

June 6, 2026 • 51 mins
Fertilizer can be confusing - when should you use it and what type should you use? Stacey and Rick break down the basics of fertilizer, understanding NPK, fertilizer ratios, and the plants that benefit most from the extra boost.
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
Transcript

All About Beneficial Insects

May 30, 2026 • 46 mins
Ever wonder if that bug in your yard is a friend or a foe? IPM, or Integrated Pest Management, is the best way to manage pests in the garden while being environmentally sensitive. It’s important to become familiar with the various insects that visit your garden so you can be aware of their role in your ecosystem. Learn all about beneficial insects and the positive impact they can have in your garden!
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
Transcript

How to Have Color in the Shade

May 23, 2026 • 45 mins
Gardening in the shade can be difficult, and trying to have color in shade can be even more so. Don’t worry, we’ve got you! Hear all about plants that provide color and brighten up those tough areas.
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
Transcript

Yellow in the Garden | Flowers & Foliage

May 16, 2026 • 43 mins
Bees love yellow and we love yellow! Yellow is a great color for brightening up the landscape and giving a cheerful appearance to any garden bed. In this episode, Stacey and Rick list a ton of plants with yellow flowers or yellow foliage that you can use in your garden.
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
Transcript

All the Pots-abilities! Container Gardening 101

May 9, 2026 • 46 mins
Containers are a great way for you to experiment with new plants, color schemes, and design elements. Not to mention, they have fantastic space saving capabilities! Whether you like to go all out on containers, or have one cherished pot, we’ve got plant and care recommendations when it comes to container gardening.
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
Transcript

Eat (And Grow) More Plants!

May 2, 2026 • 43 mins
There’s no better feeling than being able to go out to your own garden and harvest food you’ve grown yourself. Not only is it rewarding, but beneficial for you and the wildlife around you! Learn about some of the tasty and useful plants that you can incorporate in your landscape.
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
Transcript

New Plants to Look for in Garden Centers | 2026

April 25, 2026 • 44 mins
Incredible flowers, improved disease resistance, and foliage for every taste and space – whew! In this episode Stacey and Rick talk about plants you’ll want to keep an eye out for in garden centers in 2026.
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
Transcript

Annual Garden Review | How Plants Performed

April 18, 2026 • 44 mins
An annual review of the plants in your landscape is similar to an annual review of workers at a place of employment. You're the boss. Which plants excelled? Which plants are put on the chopping block? Learn about factors that Stacey and Rick use to determine if a plant is going to stay in their gardens or not.
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
Transcript

Knowing How to Pair Plants

April 11, 2026 • 44 mins
Good companions bring out the best in each other. That doesn’t mean they have to be similar, but that they support and boost-up one another. Learn how to pair plants like a pro in this episode!
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
Transcript

The Habits of Rabbits | Rabbits in the Garden

April 4, 2026 • 46 mins
Sharing space with wildlife is a necessity, and frequently a purpose, of a garden. Observing little animals is magical until you see them munching on your favorite flowers. Although rabbits are small, they can do a lot of damage! Hear about ways to help garden and coexist with these hoppy little creatures.
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
Transcript

Embracing the Beauty of Unruly Gardens

March 28, 2026 • 56 mins
Some gardeners prefer their landscape to be tidy and well-kept, while others like their garden a little on the wild side. In this episode Stacey and Rick discuss what makes for an unruly garden and plants that can be the perfect rowdy contenders. In segment four, we interview Eric and Christopher from Grow For Me Gardening to talk about their very beautiful and very orderly garden. Plus hear about their new Hydrangea Handbook and d...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
Transcript

Zone-Pushing | Pushing the Limits with Plants

March 21, 2026 • 43 mins
Zone-pushing is attempting to plant and grow a plant that is one or two zones different from your current planting zone. It refers to pushing the boundaries of what is considered an appropriate planting location. Learn what plants are good contenders for zone-pushing, and ways you can create micro-climates in your garden to help be successful zone-pushing.
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
Transcript

Understanding Invasive Plants

March 14, 2026 • 43 mins
The National Invasive Species Council and the Invasive Species Advisory Committee define an invasive species as “a species that is non-native to the ecosystem under consideration and whose introduction causes or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health.” Stacey and Rick dispel misunderstandings, highlight problematic plants, and talk about what you can do to help...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
Transcript

Been There, Killed That, Want it Back

March 7, 2026 • 43 mins
The more you garden, the more plants you kill, it’s an obligatory part of the journey. But just because a plant dies, doesn’t mean it isn’t worth another shot. Stacey and Rick discuss reasons why a first attempt may not be successful, but how you can learn and move forward from it.
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
Transcript

Plants That Help Save Energy

February 28, 2026 • 43 mins
We all know the benefits that come with gardening, but something we don’t often think about is how plants can help to save energy. Casting shade, providing windbreaks, and saving on water bills are just some of the ways you can utilize plants to help conserve energy. The best part? You can buy more plants with the money you save!
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
Transcript

How to Have Seed Starting Success

February 21, 2026 • 43 mins
Seed germination is the fundamental biological process by which a dormant seed wakes up and develops into a new, functional seedling under favorable conditions. We explain these ideal conditions and the best practices for creating and maintaining them. Plus, learn (and listen to) Stacey’s favorite seeds and seed pods!
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
Transcript

An In-Depth Look at Island Beds

February 14, 2026 • 45 mins
What is an island bed? An island bed is a freestanding garden, usually surrounded by grass and can be viewed from all sides. Hear design tips, including how to incorporate texture, color, and structure in these beds. And, of course, we give plant recommendations!
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
Transcript

Plants Make Great Gifts! Knowing How to Pick the Right Plants

February 7, 2026 • 48 mins
A reminder that flowers are symbols for expressing complex emotions and feelings. Flowers engage multi-sensory sight, touch, and aroma experiences! We recommend flowers year-round for you! In segment four, we interview Dr. Jessica Turner-Skoff about plant poaching, its impacts, and how you can help stop this practice. Featured shrub: Midnight Express redbud.
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
Transcript

Popular Podcasts

    Stuff You Should Know

    Stuff You Should Know

    If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.

    Dateline NBC

    Dateline NBC

    Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com

    Betrayal Weekly

    Betrayal Weekly

    Betrayal Weekly is back for a new season. Every Thursday, Betrayal Weekly shares first-hand accounts of broken trust, shocking deceptions, and the trail of destruction they leave behind. Hosted by Andrea Gunning, this weekly ongoing series digs into real-life stories of betrayal and the aftermath. From stories of double lives to dark discoveries, these are cautionary tales and accounts of resilience against all odds. From the producers of the critically acclaimed Betrayal series, Betrayal Weekly drops new episodes every Thursday. If you would like to share your story, you can reach out to the Betrayal Team by emailing them at betrayalpod@gmail.com and follow us on Instagram at @betrayalpod and @glasspodcasts. Please join our Substack for additional exclusive content, curated book recommendations, and community discussions. Sign up FREE by clicking this link Beyond Betrayal Substack. Join our community dedicated to truth, resilience, and healing. Your voice matters! Be a part of our Betrayal journey on Substack.

    The Joe Rogan Experience

    The Joe Rogan Experience

    The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.

    Emergency Intercom

    Emergency Intercom

    Emergency Intercom is a comedy podcast by Enya Umanzor and Drew Phillips. There is no emergency, but there is an intense need for attention, so maybe listen up… You don’t want to know what happens if you don’t. (we will be violent)

Advertise With Us
Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

Explore

iHeart

Live Radio

Podcasts

Artist Radio

Exclusives

News

Features

Events

Contests

Photos

Information

About

Advertise

Blog

Brand Guidelines

Contest Guidelines

Subscription Offers

Jobs

Get the App

Automotive

Home

Wearables

© 2026 iHeartMedia, Inc.

  • Help
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • AdChoicesAd Choices