Good Growing

Got weird plants in your yard? Strange damage on your trees? Or birds attacking your truck? You’re not alone! In this Good Growing Podcast Q&A episode, we tackle real gardening questions asked at Illinois Extension offices and by podcast listeners.
We start with a recurring question this time of year, a Poison Hemlock alert—how to identify this highly toxic plant, how it compares to lookalikes like Queen Anne’s lace, and what to do if you find it on your property. Then we dig into peach tree leaf curl, why there’s nothing you can do mid-season (sorry!), and how to prevent it next year. Plus, much more!
Watch us on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKvEiM_7REM
Skip to what you want to know: 
01:35 What's going on in our landscapes this time of year?  
04:46 Kicking off this week's questions: What is this plant? Picture This says it is poison hemlock. 
   06:25 How to identify poison hemlock.   
   08:32 Toxic effects of poison hemlock   
   10:09 Controlling poison hemlock     
16:58 Can we plant Chinese wisteria in Illinois?   
18:57 What are the basics of fruit tree grafting?   
26:26 Why do bluebirds attack my truck?   
31:45 Sick peach tree. Is it peach leaf curl?   
35:11 How do you find a good landscape contractor?  
43:30 What's wrong with my linden trees? They aren't leafing out, and the leaves that are there are deformed.   
54:41 Are peppers with three lobes on the bottom considered males and peppers with four to five lobes considered female?  
01:30 Thank yous and coming up next week. 
Invasive Poison Hemlock https://extension.illinois.edu/invasives/invasive-poison-hemlock
Poison Hemlock Handout https://extension.illinois.edu/sites/default/files/2025-05/accessibledocuments/poison-hemlock.pdf
Invasive Wild Parsnip https://extension.illinois.edu/invasives/invasive-wild-parsnip
Contact us! 
Chris Enroth: [email protected]
Ken Johnson: [email protected] 
Emily Swihart [email protected]
Like what you hear? Subscribe for more gardening tips, plant talk, and seasonal inspiration from University of Illinois Extension.
Check out the Good Growing Blog: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowing
Subscribe to the weekly Good Growing email: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowingsubscribe
Any products or companies mentioned during the podcast are in no way a promotion or endorsement of these products or companies.
Barnyard Bash: freesfx.co.uk 
--
You can find us on most podcast platforms.  
iTunes - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/good-growing/id1446630377     
Tunein - https://tunein.com/podcasts/Gardening/Good-Growing-p1187964/  
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/202u3siWExE1tTqrVgtmCR    
Vurbl - https://vurbl.com/station/good-growing-4pljnNlUtyG/    
Listen notes - https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/good-growing-chris-enroth-cHLPMWpvEOG/    
Ivy - https://ivy.fm/podcast/good-growing-167902    
Castbox - https://castbox.fm/channel/Good-Growing-id4302614?country=us

This week on the Good Growing Podcast, we dig into the Three Sisters gardening method, an Indigenous planting system that brings corn, beans, and squash together in a mutually beneficial way. Learn about the history and cultural significance behind the Three Sisters, how these three crops support one another in the garden, tips for trying it yourself at home, and more!  
 
Watch us on YouTube: https://youtu.be/EZmR9h-dhmQ 
 
 
Skip to what you want to know:  
  00:36 – Have we ever tried the Three Sisters Gardening technique?
  03:07 – Land acknowledgment 
  09:20 – The origin of the Three Sisters 
  16:31 – What is Three Sisters agriculture/gardening?
  20:41 – Growing the Three Sisters
  31:50 – Is it an effective way to grow?
  39:53 – Eating the harvest
  50:05 – The Honorable Harvest
  57:26 – Wrap-up, what’s up next week, and goodbye!
 
 
More information
The Mohawk story of creation: Lee Claremont, TEDx Penticton
 
Historical Indigenous Food Preparation Using Produce of the Three Sisters Intercropping System
 
An Evaluation of the Productivity of the Native American 'Three Sisters' Agriculture System in Northern Wisconsin
 
Yield, growth, and labor demands of growing maize, beans, and squash in monoculture versus the Three Sisters 
 
Root foraging elicits niche complementarity-dependent yield advantage in the ancient ‘three sisters’ (maize/bean/squash) polyculture 
 
Uncovering Cahokia’s Food History & Forgotten Farmscapes 
 
Contact us! 
Chris Enroth: [email protected]
Ken Johnson: [email protected]
Emily Swihart: [email protected]
 
 
Check out the Good Growing Blog: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowing
Subscribe to the weekly Good Growing email: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowingsubscribe
 
Any products or companies mentioned during the podcast are in no way a promotion or endorsement of these products or companies.
 
 
Barnyard Bash: freesfx.co.uk
 
--
You can find us on most podcast platforms.  
iTunes - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/good-growing/id1446630377     
Tunein - https://tunein.com/podcasts/Gardening/Good-Growing-p1187964/  
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/202u3siWExE1tTqrVgtmCR    
Vurbl - https://vurbl.com/station/good-growing-4pljnNlUtyG/    
Listen notes - https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/good-growing-chris-enroth-cHLPMWpvEOG/    
Ivy - https://ivy.fm/podcast/good-growing-167902    
Castbox - https://castbox.fm/channel/Good-Growing-id4302614?country=us

The National Garden Bureau has named 2026 the Year of the Azalea! Ken, Emily, and Chris are digging into what makes these colorful (and sometimes finicky) plants so popular.
In this episode of the Good Growing podcast, we break down everything you need to know about azaleas—from their connection to rhododendrons to how to grow them successfully in the Midwest. If you’ve ever wondered why azaleas struggle in Illinois landscapes (or if they’re even worth trying), this episode is for you.
Watch us on YouTube https://youtu.be/Tvg7VoiBmgc
00:30 Hey Ken
01:07 Hey Emily!
01:42 Topic of the week: Year of the azalea according to the National Garden Bureau
03:13 Rhododendron vs, Azalea, which is which?
05:44 Groups of azalea: Tsutsusi and pentanthera
07:19 Native deciduous azalea vs non-native evergreen azalea
07:42 History of breeding azalea
10:16 Growing requirement for azalea
14:52 Site selection and species/cultivar selection
18:59 Insects and disease challenges with azaleas
22:24 Pollinators and azalea
23:51 Phytopthora root rot and soil pH issues
25:10 Back to pollinators on azalea
26:06 Describing 10 azaleas native to Eastern North America
   27:08 Alabama Azalea
   29:12 Coastal Azalea
   30:11 Florida Azalea
   32:13 Flame Azalea
   33:04 Piedmont or Mountain Azalea
   33:35 Oconee Azalea (also goes by Peidmont azalea in some areas but is a different species)
   34:14 Pinxterbloom Azalea
   35:13 Rochelle/Early/Plumleaf Azalea
   36:44 Pink Shell Azalea
   37:28 Swamp Azalea
39:19 Would we grow azaleas in our yard?
42:34 What type of azalea might you find in an Illinois nursery?
44:32 Azaleas at Augusta Golf Course
Contact us! 
Chris Enroth: [email protected]
Ken Johnson: [email protected] 
Emily Swihart [email protected]
Like what you hear? Subscribe for more gardening tips, plant talk, and seasonal inspiration from University of Illinois Extension.
Check out the Good Growing Blog: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowing
Subscribe to the weekly Good Growing email: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowingsubscribe
Any products or companies mentioned during the podcast are in no way a promotion or endorsement of these products or companies.
Barnyard Bash: freesfx.co.uk 
--
You can find us on most podcast platforms.  
iTunes - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/good-growing/id1446630377     
Tunein - https://tunein.com/podcasts/Gardening/Good-Growing-p1187964/  
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/202u3siWExE1tTqrVgtmCR    
Vurbl - https://vurbl.com/station/good-growing-4pljnNlUtyG/    
Listen notes - https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/good-growing-chris-enroth-cHLPMWpvEOG/    
Ivy - https://ivy.fm/podcast/good-growing-167902    
Castbox - https://castbox.fm/channel/Good-Growing-id4302614?country=us

Long-time listeners know that Ken, Chris, and Emily are passionate about proper plant care practices. On this week’s podcast, the team discusses six hot-button issues related to improper tree care, including tree topping, the misuse of plastic sheeting under mulch, and codominant leaders. Listen to discover the other three pet peeves and what can be done to better support tree health. 
 
Watch us on YouTube: https://youtu.be/-Rhg5WXPlaw
 
Skip to what you want to know:  
  03:12 – Co-dominant leaders
  06:33 – Nursery pruning for bushier trees 
  10:57 – Tree topping
  12:36 – Two times when topping may be considered
  15:34 – What to do with vegetation at the base of a tree
  20:32 – Not removing burlap from a root ball
  26:38 – Removing healthy trees
  29:08 – Overview of tree benefits
  34:44 – Making good pruning cuts
  41:19 – Tree diversity – species and age
  46:02 – Available resources
  49:34 – Wrap-up, what’s up next week, and goodbye!
 
Resources
 Morton Arboretum - https://mortonarb.org/
 Community Tree Care Series - https://extension.illinois.edu/plants/community-tree-care-series
 
 
Contact us! 
 Chris Enroth: [email protected]
 Ken Johnson: [email protected]
 Emily Swihart: [email protected]
 
 
Check out the Good Growing Blog: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowing
Subscribe to the weekly Good Growing email: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowingsubscribe
 
Any products or companies mentioned during the podcast are in no way a promotion or endorsement of these products or companies.
 
 
Barnyard Bash: freesfx.co.uk
 
--
You can find us on most podcast platforms.  
iTunes - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/good-growing/id1446630377     
Tunein - https://tunein.com/podcasts/Gardening/Good-Growing-p1187964/  
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/202u3siWExE1tTqrVgtmCR    
Vurbl - https://vurbl.com/station/good-growing-4pljnNlUtyG/    
Listen notes - https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/good-growing-chris-enroth-cHLPMWpvEOG/    
Ivy - https://ivy.fm/podcast/good-growing-167902    
Castbox - https://castbox.fm/channel/Good-Growing-id4302614?country=us

As we reach Arbor Day this month of April, the Good Growing team dives into the biotic world of tree pests and diseases, breaking down what’s really going on when insects and pathogens show up in your landscape.
Horticulture educators Chris Enroth, Ken Johnson, and Emily Swihart explore common (and not‑so‑common) tree troubles, including eastern tent caterpillars, bagworms, wood‑boring insects, cedar apple rust, needle cast diseases, and oak wilt. Along the way, they explain the difference between biotic and abiotic problems, how environmental stress sets trees up for decline, and why some “pests” are actually just doing their ecological job.
Skip to what you want to know:
00:31 Hey Ken! Are you there? 
01:15 Welcome, Emily! 
01:54 What are biotic problems? 
06:05 How did we choose what biotic tree problems to share today? 
07:49 Eastern tent caterpillar 
16:01 Wood boring insects 
31:25 Cedar apple rust 
43:59 Bagworms 
52:01 Spruce needle cast diseases 
01:00 Oak wilt 
14:25 Thank yous and see you next week! 
Contact us! 
Chris Enroth: [email protected]
Ken Johnson: [email protected] 
Emily Swihart [email protected]
Like what you see? Subscribe for more gardening tips, plant talk, and seasonal inspiration from University of Illinois Extension.
Check out the Good Growing Blog: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowing
Subscribe to the weekly Good Growing email: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowingsubscribe
Any products or companies mentioned during the podcast are in no way a promotion or endorsement of these products or companies.
Barnyard Bash: freesfx.co.uk 
--
Prefer audio? You can find us on most podcast platforms.  
iTunes - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/good-growing/id1446630377     
Tunein - https://tunein.com/podcasts/Gardening/Good-Growing-p1187964/  
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/202u3siWExE1tTqrVgtmCR    
Vurbl - https://vurbl.com/station/good-growing-4pljnNlUtyG/    
Listen notes - https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/good-growing-chris-enroth-cHLPMWpvEOG/    
Ivy - https://ivy.fm/podcast/good-growing-167902    
Castbox - https://castbox.fm/channel/Good-Growing-id4302614?country=us