The Messed Up Gardener

Autumn isn’t the end of the season — it’s leverage season.
In this episode, Esther breaks down how smart gardeners prepare before the cold really hits. You’ll learn the key mindset shift for autumn, the five strategic moves that set your garden up for winter success, and the common mistakes that quietly create stress later.
No hype. No overwhelm. Just steady, practical preparation.
Because winter doesn’t defeat gardeners — winter reveals preparation. 🌿
If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with a friend, leave a review, or send me your questions for future Q&A sessions.
And if you are looking for one-on-one support to grow your garden confidence (or even shape a garden-based business idea), I’ve still got a few spots open.
📩 Reach out here: [email protected]
Until next time, remember: gardening can happen in any space, in any place, and on any budget. 🌿
🐝Listen now and get your garden prepped for anything!
Follow our Journey on our Facebook Pages
The Messed Up Gardener Or Shesther’s Mushrooms 
Or Grab 
·        A Step by Step guide on how to create your own DIY self-watering planters
https://stan.store/EstherA/p/create-your-own-diy-self-watering-garden-planters
Don’t forget to grab one of my gardening freebees.   
Freebies: Grab the 
-         "12 Essential Tips for a Thriving Garden: From Planning to Harvest" Practical Tips to Help You Grow a Flourishing Garden 
-         https://stan.store/EstherA
-         Organic gardening Cheat Sheet: Natural methods for chemical free cultivation https://stan.store/EstherA
-         Garden Goals Planning Worksheet https://stan.store/EstherA/p/get-my-garden-goals-planning-worksheet-now
Gardening can happen in any space, in any place, and on any budget.

Have you ever planted out a seedling, stood back proud… then come out the next morning to find it flopped over like it’s regretting all its life choices? 😅
In this episode of The Messed-Up Gardener, we’re breaking down “transplant shock” in a way that actually makes it feel manageable — because most of the time, it’s not about you doing something wrong… it’s about your plant adjusting to a sudden environmental reset.
You’ll learn how to tell the difference between normal transplant stress and real damage, plus a calm, layered plan that stabilises seedlings without turning you into an exhausted full-time plant nurse.
This episode is designed to lower the panic, reduce seedling losses, and help you respond calmly instead of escalating into “water it again and hope” mode.
If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with a friend, leave a review, or send me your questions for future Q&A sessions.
And if you are looking for one-on-one support to grow your garden confidence (or even shape a garden-based business idea), I’ve still got a few spots open.
📩 Reach out here: [email protected]
Until next time, remember: gardening can happen in any space, in any place, and on any budget. 🌿
🐝 Listen now and get your garden prepped for anything!
Follow our Journey on our Facebook Pages
The Messed Up Gardener Or Shesther’s Mushrooms 
Or Grab 
·        A Step by Step guide on how to create your own DIY self-watering planters
https://stan.store/EstherA/p/create-your-own-diy-self-watering-garden-planters
Don’t forget to grab one of my gardening freebees.   
Freebies: Grab the 
-         "12 Essential Tips for a Thriving Garden: From Planning to Harvest" Practical Tips to Help You Grow a Flourishing Garden 
-         https://stan.store/EstherA 
-         Organic gardening Cheat Sheet: Natural methods for chemical free cultivation https://stan.store/EstherA
Garden Goals Planning Worksheet https://stan.store/EstherA/p/get-my-garden-goals-planning-worksheet-now 
Gardening can happen in any space, in any place, and on any budget.

Ep 163: Slugs & Snails Are Back — Here’s the Calm Plan That Actually Works
A targeted, low-tox slug strategy for seedlings and soft growth
Slugs are back — and if you’ve walked outside to find seedlings chewed overnight, this episode is for you.
In this calm, practical mini-masterclass, Esther breaks down a low-stress, realistic approach to managing slugs and snails without turning your garden into a chemical zone or exhausting yourself trying to “fix everything.”
This episode isn’t about eradicating slugs.
 It’s about protecting what matters most, using a layered plan that works with plant biology — not against it.
If slug damage has been making your garden feel like a nightly loss, this episode will help you reset, refocus, and move forward with confidence.
 
If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with a friend, leave a review, or send me your questions for future Q&A sessions.
And if you are looking for one-on-one support to grow your garden confidence (or even shape a garden-based business idea), I’ve still got a few spots open.
📩 Reach out here: [email protected]
Until next time, remember: gardening can happen in any space, in any place, and on any budget. 🌿
🐝Listen now and get your garden prepped for anything!
Follow our Journey on our Facebook Pages
The Messed Up Gardener Or Shesther’s Mushrooms 
Or Grab 
·        A Step by Step guide on how to create your own DIY self-watering planters
https://stan.store/EstherA/p/create-your-own-diy-self-watering-garden-planters
Don’t forget to grab one of my gardening freebees.   
Freebies: Grab the 
-         "12 Essential Tips for a Thriving Garden: From Planning to Harvest" Practical Tips to Help You Grow a Flourishing Garden 
-         https://stan.store/EstherA
-         Organic gardening Cheat Sheet: Natural methods for chemical free cultivation https://stan.store/EstherA
-         Garden Goals Planning Worksheet https://stan.store/EstherA/p/get-my-garden-goals-planning-worksheet-now
Gardening can happen in any space, in any place, and on any budget.

Growing food is changing — and this episode explains why tabletop veg is having a real moment, not just a social media one.
In Episode 162 of The Messed-Up Gardener, Esther Williams breaks down how growing edible plants at waist height — on tables, benches, decks, balconies, and patios — is becoming one of the most practical, accessible ways to grow food in 2026 and beyond.
This episode is calm, practical, and designed for real life. No hype. No pressure. Just clear guidance for anyone who wants to grow food in a small space, with limited time or energy.
Whether you’re gardening on a balcony, a patio, a deck, or just outside your kitchen door, this episode will help you grow food in a way that feels doable — and sustainable.
✨ Because a tabletop garden counts.
🎧 Listen now and start small, keep it close, and let it be enough.
If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with a friend, leave a review, or send me your questions for future Q&A sessions.
And if you are looking for one-on-one support to grow your garden confidence (or even shape a garden-based business idea), I’ve still got a few spots open.
📩 Reach out here: [email protected]
Until next time, remember: gardening can happen in any space, in any place, and on any budget. 🌿
🐝Listen now and get your garden prepped for anything!
Follow our Journey on our Facebook Pages
The Messed Up Gardener Or Shesther’s Mushrooms 
Or Grab 
·        A Step by Step guide on how to create your own DIY self-watering planters
https://stan.store/EstherA/p/create-your-own-diy-self-watering-garden-planters
Don’t forget to grab one of my gardening freebees.   
Freebies: Grab the 
-         "12 Essential Tips for a Thriving Garden: From Planning to Harvest" Practical Tips to Help You Grow a Flourishing Garden 
-         https://stan.store/EstherA
-         Organic gardening Cheat Sheet: Natural methods for chemical free cultivation https://stan.store/EstherA
-         Garden Goals Planning Worksheet https://stan.store/EstherA/p/get-my-garden-goals-planning-worksheet-now
Gardening can happen in any space, in any place, and on any budget.

5 myths, 5 truths, and the things that make a real difference
Gardening advice is everywhere — and a lot of it sounds helpful.
But for many gardeners, it quietly creates more pressure than progress.
In this episode of The Messed-Up Gardener, Esther slows things right down.
After a week shaped by extreme weather, disrupted travel, and a reminder of how quickly conditions can change, this episode becomes a steady, grounding pause — not a push to do more.
This is a calm, supportive reality check for tired gardeners who care deeply but don’t always have the energy for perfect systems or constant momentum.
You don’t need to take notes.
 You don’t need to apply this perfectly.
 Just listen, notice what feels relieving, and let the rest go.
If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with a friend, leave a review, or send me your questions for future Q&A sessions.
And if you are looking for one-on-one support to grow your garden confidence (or even shape a garden-based business idea), I’ve still got a few spots open.
📩 Reach out here: [email protected]
Until next time, remember: gardening can happen in any space, in any place, and on any budget. 🌿
🐝Listen now and get your garden prepped for anything!
Follow our Journey on our Facebook Pages
The Messed Up Gardener Or Shesther’s Mushrooms 
Or Grab 
·        A Step by Step guide on how to create your own DIY self-watering planters
https://stan.store/EstherA/p/create-your-own-diy-self-watering-garden-planters
Don’t forget to grab one of my gardening freebees.   
Freebies: Grab the 
-         "12 Essential Tips for a Thriving Garden: From Planning to Harvest" Practical Tips to Help You Grow a Flourishing Garden 
-         https://stan.store/EstherA
-         Organic gardening Cheat Sheet: Natural methods for chemical free cultivation https://stan.store/EstherA
-         Garden Goals Planning Worksheet https://stan.store/EstherA/p/get-my-garden-goals-planning-worksheet-now
Gardening can happen in any space, in any place, and on any budget.