Family Plot Complete Episodes

Current Episode

The Q&A Show

​This week on The Family Plot: Gardening in the Mid-South it’s the Q&A show! UT Extension Agent Dr. Chris Cooper and his guests answer viewer questions about all sorts of gardening topics.

Peach Tree Diseases and Pests, Touring a Beehive

​This week on The Family Plot: Gardening in the Mid-South, retired UT Extension Director Mike Dennison discusses the most common diseases and insect pests that affect peaches. Also, the Bartlett Bee Whisperer David Glover gives us a tour of a beehive.

Correct Garden Soil pH, Insect Pest Control

This week on The Family Plot: Gardening in the Mid-South, retired UT Extension Director Mike Dennison demonstrates how to correct the soil pH in your garden. Also, Williamson County Extension Agent Amy Dismukes discusses methods of insect pest control in the garden.

Invasive Plants, Saving Annual Cuttings

This week on The Family Plot: Gardening in the Mid-South, University of Memphis Director of Landscape Joellen Dimond discusses what makes a plant invasive, and lists the most invasive plants in the United States. Also, Horticultural Specialist Dr. Lelia Kelly demonstrates how to take cuttings from annuals to save for next spring.

Planting Summer Annuals, Maximizing  Corn Crops

This week on The Family Plot: Gardening in the Mid-South, the University of Memphis Director of Landscape Joellen Dimond plants scaevola, pintas, and vinca. Also, retired UT Extension Agent Mike Dennison discusses how to maximize your corn crop.

Re-potting House Plants, Summer Lawn Watering

This week on the Family Plot: Gardening in the Mid-South, Rick Pudwell, Director of Horticulture at the Memphis Botanic Gardens, demonstrates the correct way to re-pot your houseplants. Later, Booker T. Leigh , UT Extension Agent in Shelby County, will explain proper summer lawn watering techniques.

Square Foot Gardening, Treating Crape Myrtle Bark Scale

This week on The Family Plot: Gardening in the Mid-South, garden expert Tonya Ashworth talks about the basics of square foot gardening. Also, Retired UT Extension Agent Mike Dennison demonstrates how to use a soil drench to treat crape myrtle bark scale.

Low-Sugar Strawberry Freezer Jam, Attracting Wildlife

This week on The Family Plot: Gardening in the Mid-South, UT Extension Agent Cathy Faust makes low-sugar strawberry freezer jam. Also, Gardening Expert Tonya Ashworth tells you what to do to attract wildlife to your yard.

Rotten Wood Raised Beds Rebuilt with Concrete Block, Gardening Myths

This week on The Family Plot: Gardening in the Mid-South, gardener Peter Richards helps transform the wooden Family Plot garden raised beds to concrete block. Also, UT Extension Horticultural Specialist Carol Reese discusses various gardening myths.

Preparing Lawn for the Growing Season, Calibrating a Fertilizer Spreader

This week on The Family Plot: Gardening in the Mid-South, Shelby County UT Extension Agent Booker T. Leigh discusses what to do to prepare your lawn for the growing season. Also, Madison County UT Extension Agent Celeste Scott demonstrates how to calibrate your fertilizer spreaders for proper fertilizer application.

Fish in Garden Water Features, Planting Blackberries

This week on The Family Plot: Gardening in the Mid-South, Andy Williams, Director of The Lichterman Nature Center, discusses fish for an added water feature in your garden. Also Mike Dennison, Retired UT Extension Agent, plants blackberries in the WKNO Family Plot garden.

Supporting Garden Tomatoes, Companion Planting

This week on the Family Plot: Gardening in the Mid-South, local garden expert Peter Richards demonstrates several ways to properly support tomatoes in the garden. Also, gardening expert Tonya Ashworth discusses the benefits of companion planting.

Hostas, Preparing soil for planting

This week on The Family Plot: Gardening in the Mid-South, Memphis Botanic Garden Horticulturalist Jim Crowder discusses varieties of hostas and how to properly take care of them. Also, Retired UT Extension Agent Mike Dennison discusses how to prepare your soil for planting.

The Q&A Show

This week on The Family Plot: Gardening in the Mid-South, host Chris Cooper is joined by Joellen Dimond, University of Memphis Director of Landscape, and UT Extension Agent Booker T. Leigh to answer your gardening questions.

Common Nursery Plant Problems, Properly Pruning Crape Myrtles

This week on The Family Plot: Gardening in the Mid-South, the University of Memphis Director of Landscape Joellen Dimond discusses how to choose the right plants from nurseries, and things to look out for. Also, City of Germantown's Natural Resource Manager Wes Hopper demonstrates how to properly prune crape myrtles.

Springtime Garden Checklist, Pruning Fig Trees

This week on The Family Plot: Gardening in the Mid-South, University of Memphis Director of Landscape Joellen Dimond helps you prepare a checklist of springtime items you can do to get your garden ready for the growing season. Also, local garden expert Bill Colvard demonstrates how to properly prune fig trees.

Pruning Rose Bushes, Tools Every Gardener Needs

This week on The Family Plot: Gardening in the Mid-South, rose expert Bill Dickerson demonstrates how to prune a rose bush. Also, University of Memphis Director of Landscape Joellen Dimond talks about the tools every gardener needs.

Frogs and Toads, When Songbirds are Pests

This week on The Family Plot: Gardening in the Mid-South, Mary Schmidt from Lichterman Nature Center brings some frogs and toads, and talks about how they are beneficial in the garden. Also, Retired UT Extension Agent Mike Dennison talks about what to do when songbirds are being pests.

Pruning Peachs and Nectarines, Growing Cabbage

This week on The Family Plot: Gardening in the Mid-South, Retired UT Extension Agent Mike Dennison demonstrates how to prune peach and nectarine trees. Also, Master Gardener Stephanie Alligood talks about the basics of growing cabbage.

How Trees Work, Worst Garden Weeds

This week on The Family Plot: Gardening in the Mid-South, Wes Hopper, certified arborist and City of Germantown's Natural Resource Manager, talks about how trees work. Also, Retired UT Extension Agent Mike Dennison talks about some of the worst weeds.

Tree Borers, Dangerous Plants for Dogs and Cats

This week on The Family Plot: Gardening in the Mid-South, UT Extension Entomologist Frank Hale talks about tree borers, and how you can stop them. Also, University of Memphis's Director of Landscape Joellen Dimond talks about plants that are dangerous for pets.

Fertilizer, Laying Sod

This week on The Family Plot: Gardening in the Mid-South, Celeste Scott, UT Extension Agent-Madison County, discusses everything you need to know about fertilizer. And UT Extension Agent Booker T. Leigh demonstrates how to lay sod.

Re-Potting Orchids, Planting Summer Flowers

This week on The Family Plot: Gardening in the Mid-South, Orchid expert Randall Bayer shows how to re-pot a grocery store orchid. Also, Joellen Dimond, University of Memphis Director of Landscape, plants summer flowers in the Family Plot Bed. Flowers featured are bat-faced cuphea and diamond frost euphorbia.

Removing Honey Bees from the Home, Composting Basics

This week on The Family Plot Gardening in the Mid-South, The Bartlett Bee Whisperer David Glover explains what to do if honey bees move into your house. Also, Compost Fairy Mike Larrivee talks about the basics of composting.

Birdhouses, Set and Bait a Live
Animal Trap

This week on The Family Plot: Gardening in the Mid-South, Debbie Bruce from Wild Birds Unlimited discusses birdhouses. Also Retired UT Extension Agent Mike Dennison shows us how to set and bait a live animal trap for possums and raccoons.

Raptors, Garden Fencing to Keep Out Unwanted Critters

This week on The Family Plot: Gardening in the Mid-South, Mary Schmidt from the Lichterman Nature Center tells us all you need to know about raptors of the Mid-South. Also, Retired UT Extension Agent Mike Dennison explains all about the different kinds of fencing you can use to defend your garden from unwanted intruders.

Gardening in 5-Gallon Buckets, Easy-to-Grow Herbs

This week on The Family Plot: Gardening in the Mid-South Haywood County UT Extension Director Walter Battle shows how you can garden in 5-gallon buckets. Also, Memphis Herb Society President Reni Erskine talks about easy-to-grow herbs.

Worm Composting Indoors, Organic Gardening

This week on The Family Plot: Gardening in the Mid-South, local worm farmer with Happy Daze Worm Farm Bill Abresch explains how you can use worms to make compost indoors when you don't have the space outdoors to build a compost pile. Also, Gardening Expert Tonya Ashworth gives you tips on how to garden organically.

Making a Grow Light, Finding Gardening Information Online

This week on The Family Plot: Gardening in the Mid-South, Master Gardener Tom Mashour shows how to make an inexpensive grow stand to provide light for indoor seedlings. Also, UT Extension Horticulture Specialist Carol Reese talks about how to find reliable and accurate gardening information on the internet.

Viburnum, Asters, Fall and Winter Fruit Tree Care

This week on The Family Plot: Gardening in the Mid-South, University of Memphis Director of Landscape Joellen Dimond talks about viburnum and aster. Also, Retired UT Extension Agent Mike Dennison talks about fall and winter fruit tree care.

Spiraea and Falsecypress, Interacting with Landscape Professionals

This week on The Family Plot: Gardening in the Mid-South, University of Memphis Director of Landscape Joellen Dimond introduces two common types of landscape plants, spiraea and falsecypress. Celeste Scott, TSU Extension Agent for Madison County, will give tips on the best ways to interact with the different types of landscape professionals, from designers to architects.

Growing Microgreens, Home Mouse and Rat Control

University of Tennessee Assistant Professor of Residential and Consumer Horticulture Natalie Bumgarner talks about how to grow microgreens. Also, Retired UT Extension Agent Mike Dennison talks about how to keep mice and rats out of your house and how to get rid of them once they are inside.

Holiday Greenery Display, Preparing Tools for Winter Storage

This week on The Family Plot: Gardening in the Mid-South, Horticulturalist Jason Reeves demonstrates how to make holiday greenery displays. Also, retired UT Extension Agent Mike Dennison shows you how to prepare your gardening tools for winter storage.

Fern Propagation, Cross-Pollinating Daylilies

This week on The Family Plot: Gardening in the Mid-South, Dixon Gallery & Gardens Greenhouse Manager Kim Rucker shows us how to propagate ferns. Also, Wilson County UT Extension Agent Lucas Holman talks about daylilies and how to cross-pollinate them.

Pressing Flowers, Lasagna Gardening

This week on The Family Plot: Gardening in the Mid-South, Master Gardener Mary Heim demonstrates how to press flowers to save for later use. And Master Gardener Ginny Fletcher demonstrates an alternative to traditional in-ground gardening called lasagna gardening.

Spring Bulbs, Attracting Winter Birds

This week on The Family Plot: Gardening in the Mid-South, University of Memphis Director of Landscape Joellen Dimond talks about early spring bulbs and shows how to force a bulb so it will bloom whenever you want. Also, Debbie Bruce from Wild Birds Unlimited talks about how to attract winter birds to your garden.

Garlic, Planting Tulips and Pansies

This week on The Family Plot: Gardening in the Mid-South University of Memphis Director of Landscape Joellen Dimond plants tulips and pansies for winter and early spring color. Also, UT Extension Agent Lucas Holman talks about garlic.

Tilling and Preparing a New Garden

This Week on The Family Plot: Gardening in the Mid-South: Retired UT Extension Agent Mike Dennison shows how to till and prepare a new in-ground garden. Also, Mike and UT Extension Agent Chris Cooper answer viewer questions.

Building a Compost Pile, Liming a Lawn

This Week on The Family Plot: Gardening in the Mid-South: Gardening Expert Tonya Ashworth shows how to build a compost pile. Also, retired UT Extension Agent Mike Dennison shows how to lime a lawn.

Insect Scale, Tree Questions Answered

This Week on The Family Plot: Gardening in the Mid-South: TSU Central Region Nursery Extension Specialist Amy Dismukes talks about the different kinds of insect scale and how to get rid of them. Also UT Extension Agent Chris Cooper and Certified Arborist Wes Hopper answer lots of tree questions from viewers.

Festive Fall Display, Hoop House Greenhouse

This week on The Family Plot: Gardening in the Mid-South: Jason Reeves, Horticulturist at the West Tennessee AgResearch and Education Center, shows how to create a festive fall display with straw bales, corn stalks, and pumpkins. Also, Master Gardener Stephan Leonard shows how to build a simple hoop house greenhouse for a raised bed.

Fertilizing Trees, Growing Plants Under Trees and on Slopes

This week on The Family Plot: Gardening in the Mid-South, City of Germantown Natural Resource Manager Wes Hopper discusses how to and when to fertilize trees in your landscape. Also, UT Extension Horticultural Specialist Carol Reese discusses how to grow plants under trees and on slopes in your landscape.

Cover Crops, Boxwoods

This week on The Family Plot: Gardening in the Mid-South Master Gardener Carl Wayne Hardeman talks about cover crops and how they can benefit your garden. Also, UT Extension Horticultural Specialist Carol Reese talks about the different kinds of boxwood and the best ones to grow in your landscape

Summer Rose Care, Fall Fruit Tree Care

This week on The Family Plot: Gardening in the Mid-South, Rose Expert Bill Dickerson shows us how to take care of roses in the late summer into the fall. Also, retired UT Extension Agent Mike Dennison tells us how to prepare and care for fruit trees for the fall and winter.

Fall Cool Season Vegetables, Figs

This week on The Family Plot: Gardening in the Mid-South, Master Gardener Tom Mashour discusses and demonstrates how to start fall, cool season vegetables from seed indoors. And local garden expert Bill Colvard talks about figs.

Properly Fertilize Lawn, Can Green Beans

This week on The Family Plot: Gardening in the Mid-South UT Extension Agent Booker T. Leigh demonstrates how to properly fertilize your lawn. And UT Extension Agent Cathy Faust shows you how to can fresh green beans.

Lawn Grass Alternatives, Insecticides

This week on the Family Plot: Gardening in the Mid-South University of Memphis' Director of Landscape Joellen Dimond discusses the many alternatives to lawn grasses. And retired UT Extension Agent Mike Dennison discusses the different types of insecticides and how to use them.

Mowing your Lawn Properly, Wildflowers

This week on The Family Plot: Gardening in the Mid-South, UT Extension Agent Booker T. Leigh shows how to properly mow your lawn. Also, Andy Williams from Lichterman Nature Center talks about wildflowers.

Planting Shurbs in Wet Heavy Soil

This week on The Family Plot learn how to plant ornamentals in heavy, wet soils with Host Chris Cooper and Director of Landscape for The University of Memphis Joellen Dimond. Find out about the problems, plants that can do well in this kind of soil, and then how to plant the shrubs and ornamentals so they will survive.

Pressure Canning Tomatoes, Store and Dispose Pesticide Conatiners

This week on The Family Plot, UT Extension Agent Cathy Faust demonstrates how to pressure can fresh tomatoes. And retired UT Extension Agent Mike Dennison explains how to store and dispose of pesticide containers.

Cucumber Trellis, Apply Fungicide on Tomatoes

This week on The Family Plot: Gardening in the Mid-South, UT Assistant Professor of Residential and Consumer Horticulture, Natalie Bumgarner shows how to build a cucumber trellis and string up cucumbers. Also, retired UT Extension Agent Mike Dennison shows how to mix and apply fungicide on tomatoes.

The Q & A Show

This week on The Family Plot: Gardening in the Mid-South it’s the Q&A show! UT Extension Agent Dr. Chris Cooper and his guests answer 11 viewer questions about all sorts of gardening topics: tomatoes, azaleas, asparagus, lawns, and more.

Make a Rain Barrel, Common Tree Bugs

This week on The Family Plot: Gardening in the Mid-South, gardening expert Tonya Ashworth shows how to make a rain barrel to catch water off your roof. Also, Retired UT Extension Agent Mike Dennison talks about common tree bugs.

Florida Weave Tomato Staking, Drip Irrigation for the Garden

This week on The Family Plot, Assistant Professor of Residential and Consumer Horticulture, UT Extension, Dr. Natalie Bumgarner demonstrates the Florida weave method for staking tomato plants. And Master Gardener Melisa Nowag shows you how to build a drip irrigation system for your garden.

Blackberry Trellis, Hydroponics and Aeroponics

This week on The Family Plot Mr. D., retired UT-Extension Agent, will show how to build a sturdy trellis for Blackberry vines, and Stephan Leonard, a Master Gardner, will explain everything about hydroponics and aeroponics.

Prune Shrubs, Snakes in the Garden

This week on The Family Plot, Director of Landscape for the University of Memphis Joellen Dimond discusses and demonstrates how to properly prune shrubs in your garden. And Andy Williams of Lichterman Nature Center discusses the importance of snakes in the garden, as well as which to look out for.

Hibiscus and Begonia Planting, Viewer Questions and Answers

This week on The Family Plot, host Chris Cooper and Director of Landscape for the University of Memphis Joellen Dimond replant the summer flower bed with hibiscus and begonias. They also answer your gardening questions.

Types of Mulch, Problems for Garden Seedlings

This week on The Family Plot Jim Crowder from the Memphis Botanic Garden explains all about the different kinds of mulch that can be used in the garden. Also, Mr. D. talks about early spring garden problems.

The Q & A Show

This week on The Family Plot, we have the Q & A show where we spend the episode answering many of your questions and responding to viewer emails.

Grocery Store Flower Arranging, Planting Flowers in Containers

This week on The Family Plot Master Gardener Mary Heim shows you how to arrange flowers that you purchase from a grocery store. And gardening expert Tonya Ashworth demonstrates how to plant flowers in containers.

Self-Watering Pots, Reading Garden Chemical Labels

This week on The Family Plot gardening expert Tonya Ashworth tells you the benefits of self-watering pots and demonstrates how to build one. Also, retired UT Extension Agent Mike Dennison, Mr. D., shows you how to read garden chemical labels.

Planting a Butterfly Garden, Japanese Maples

University of Memphis Director of Landscape Joellen Dimond discusses which plants to add to your garden to attract butterflies and how to plant them. And UT Extension Horticultural Specialist Carol Reese discusses the many different types of Japanese maples and how to take care of them.

Straw Bale Gardening, Yard Fertilizer Calculating

This week on The Family Plot, garden expert Tonya Ashworth shows how to prepare and plant a straw bale garden, and retired UT Extension Agent, Mike Dennison, Mr. D., demonstrates how to do garden math to calculate how much fertilizer to use on your yard.

Plant Roses, Disease Resistant Apple Trees

This week on the Family Plot, host Chris Cooper is joined by rose expert Bill Dickerson who shows us how to plant store-bought and nursery-bought roses, and Mike Dennison, Mr. D., tells us about the different varieties of apple trees and diseases they are susceptible to.

Recent Episodes

Spray Fruit Trees, Install Bird Feeder to Attract Birds

Mike Dennison, Mr. D., will demonstrate how to properly spray fruit trees, and later Debbie Bruce will demonstrate how to correctly install a bird feeder to attract birds to your yard.

Horticultural Oils, Beneficial Garden Bugs

Mr. D. explains how horticultural oils are a great way to control insects without using heavy chemicals and how to apply them. Also, garden expert Tonya Ashworth stops by to explain the beneficial bugs you want in your garden.

Planting Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower; Landscape Trees

This week we begin spring with planting broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower. Haywood County UT Extension Director Walter Battle shows you how to plant them. Also, University of Memphis Director of Landscape Joellen Dimond talks about the various types of trees to use in your landscape

Planting Onions, Common Landscape Mistakes

We start the new year with planting onions. Haywood County UT Extension Director Walter Battle talks about growing onions and plants a few different kinds. Also, University of Memphis Director of Landscape Joellen Dimond talks about common landscape mistakes and how to avoid them.

Daffodils, Pre-Emergent Herbicides

Joellen Dimond, Director of Landscape at The University of Memphis, tells us everything we need to know about the 13 different divisions of daffodils, and Mr. D., retired UT Extension Agent, talks about pre-emergent herbicides and how to use them. Joellen finds damage in the pansies caused by squirrels.

Ground Covers, Fall and Winter Weed Control

UT Extension Horticultural Specialist Carol Reese talks about ground covers for any area in your landscape. Also, Alabama A&M University Extension Specialist Rudy Pacumbaba talks about fall and winter weed control. Jef Terry introduces us to Callaloo or Amaranth.

Winter Edibles, Winter Lawn Preparation

UT Extension Horticultural Specialist Carol Reese talks about different edibles that may live in your landscape through the winter, providing food and color. Also, Alabama A&M University Extension Specialist Rudy Pacumbaba talks about things you can be doing now to prep your lawn and garden for winter. Jef Terry introduces us to Jamaican Sorrel and shows how to extract the seed pod.

Goats, Greenery for Flower Arrangements

Germantown Bobby Lanier Farm Park Manager Jeff Terry talks all about goats, and how they can be useful garden companions. Also, Master Gardner Mary Heim talks about greenery you can grow at home to use in your flower arrangements. Chris Cooper shows powdery mildew on Zinnias.

Pressing Flowers, Lasagna Garden

Master Gardener Mary Heim shows how to press flowers. Also, Master Gardener Ginny Fletcher demonstrates how to plant a lasagna garden. Arborist Wes Hopper shows tree branches that have grow together and what happens in between them.

Viewer Garden Questions

We've gotten lots of viewer questions recently, so we're going to spend the whole show answering them. Topics include voles, hydrangeas, transplanting lilies, blueberries and more!

Planting Fall Annuals, Apple Tree Diseases

Joellen Dimond designs and plants the front flower bed with fall annuals, including dianthus, purple pansies, and daffodils. Also, Mr. D. talks about many of the most common diseases that can be found in apple trees. Joellen shows how to save elephant ears for next year.

Raptors, Garden Fencing Options

Mary Schmidt from the Lichterman Nature Center joins us to talk about raptors. Also, Mr. D. explains everything you need to know about different kinds of fencing to help protect your garden. Dr. Lelia Kelly shows how to divide cannas.

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