Conversations with Alaska Gardeners

 Margaret Tharp and David Lendrum of Landscape Alaska explore the art and challenges of landscape design in Southeast Alaska, from balancing formal gardens with the surrounding wilderness to designing around a client’s views, lifestyle, and long-term maintenance needs. They also discuss Telephone Hill’s potential as a community garden, using plants to reduce noise, preparing arborvitae for heavy snow, and why successful landscapes need to adapt as both people and the environment change. 

David Lendrum and Margaret Tharp of Landscape Alaska dive into fall gardening in Juneau, covering everything from transplanting shrubs and trees to cutting back perennials and preparing plants for winter. They discuss proper pruning techniques, the challenges of fast-spreading rugosa roses and horseradish, late-season fertilizer and nematode treatments, and the colorful fall displays from Japanese maples, azaleas, geraniums, and Bergenia. The episode also features tips for planting in the fall, including how to protect newly transplanted plants with proper watering basins. 09-19-26

 Margaret Tharp and David Lendrum of Landscape Alaska discuss the signs of fall in Juneau, from changing foliage and late-season hydrangeas to preparing gardens for winter. They cover black vine weevil control using nematodes, fall fertilizing, tying up arborvitaes and cedars before snow, protecting greenhouses, and using landscape design to naturally suppress weeds and create privacy. They also share tips for choosing fall-color plants and preparing landscapes for the challenging winter ahead. 09-12-26

 David Lendrum and Margaret Tharp of Landscape Alaska discuss how trees respond to pruning wounds, preparing arborvitaes and other plants for winter, and giving lawns, trees, shrubs, and perennials their final fertilizing of the season. They also share tips for dividing primroses, growing lawns in sand, adding late-season color with asters, and choosing plants like Japanese maples and dwarf conifers. The episode also features advice on using layered plantings to reduce noise and keeping vegetation trimmed away from stop signs and intersections. 09-05-26

 David Lendrum and Margaret Tharpe of Landscape Alaska explore what’s happening in Juneau gardens as summer winds down, from late-blooming asters, anemones, and hydrangeas to dividing spring perennials and preparing plants for winter. They also explain how to spot and treat black vine weevils, discuss transplanting evergreens, and highlight some unique plants at Landscape Alaska—including dwarf conifers, Arctic birch, and columnar beech trees. 08-29-26

 David Lendrum and Margaret Tharpe of Landscape Alaska cover a wide range of summer gardening topics, including how to spot black vine weevils, use beneficial insects to control aphids, and properly prune and transplant plants. They also discuss dwarf conifers, hardy Asian maples, winter damage, and even an unidentified mystery pest that raided a garden’s currant bushes. 08-22-26

In this episode of Conversations with Alaskan Gardeners, David and Conor from Landscape Alaska dig into what’s happening in Juneau gardens as a cool, late-growing season finally begins to come alive.

They talk rhododendrons and deciduous azaleas, climbing hydrangeas, honeysuckle, spirea, midsummer perennials, and why some plants simply handle Southeast Alaska better than others. David also explains how to spot rhododendron root weevils, how beneficial nematodes can help control them, and why rhododendrons should be fertilized before July 4 if you want a strong bloom the following year.

 On this sunny pre-solstice edition of Conversations with Alaskan Gardeners, Margaret Tharp and David Lundrum share exciting new arrivals at Landscape Alaska, including hardy hybrid Japanese maples, colorful dwarf conifers, blooming peonies, hydrangea trees, lilacs, and fruit-producing blueberry varieties. They discuss lessons learned from Juneau’s harsh winter, offer tips for recovering damaged plants, and highlight natural pest-control solutions like beneficial insects and nematodes. Listeners also get a preview of Father's Day and Summer Solstice sale specials, advice on protecting arborvitae from snow damage, and an invitation to visit the nursery and experience one of Juneau's most beautiful garden destinations. 

Winter damage has left many Juneau gardeners facing tough decisions, but there’s still plenty to celebrate in the garden. On this episode of Conversations with Alaskan Gardeners, Dave Lendrum of Landscape Alaska explains why some plants may not recover after the harsh winter and shares advice on choosing more resilient varieties for the future. He explores the fascinating world of plant breeding, highlights standout performers like Mun’s Moonrise maple, PJM and Olga Mezitt rhododendrons, and climbing hydrangeas, and offers a glimpse into the artistry of bonsai and the latest trends shaping modern gardens in Southeast Alaska. 

On this episode of Conversations with Alaskan Gardeners, Margaret Tharp and David Lindrum of Landscape Alaska talk through the realities of gardening in a cold Juneau spring.

They discuss the arrival of spectacular Japanese maples, including standout varieties like Orange Dream, Inaba-shidare and Crimson Prince, along with tips on choosing plants that bring long-term beauty to Southeast Alaska landscapes.

The conversation also covers a pruning workshop at Landscape Alaska, how to handle winter-damaged plants, hydrangeas, roses, flowering trees, arborvitaes, dwarf conifers, vegetable starts, pansies, Roseanne geraniums, azaleas, lilies and more.