Pruning shrubs is one of the most misunderstood tasks in the North Texas garden. Many homeowners reach for the hedge trimmers without realizing that the wrong pruning method or timing can eliminate blooms, damage plant structure, or weaken the shrub over time.

In this episode, I walk through how to prune shrubs correctly in late winter and early spring, the most common mistakes I see in North Texas landscapes, and the simple principles that will keep your shrubs healthy, beautiful, and properly shaped.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How to determine the right time to prune shrubs, especially flowering shrubs that bloom on old wood
• The difference between shearing shrubs and selective pruning, and why most plants need a combination of both
• The simple “Three D’s” rule for pruning
• Why aggressive pruning practices weaken plants and reduce flowering

Resources mentioned in this episode:

The 2026 North Texas Garden Planner
Plan, track, and manage your garden with region-specific planting schedules and weekly task lists.
https://thedallasgarden.com

Dallas Garden School Enrollment
Get access to all live classes, replays, and the full on-demand library of more than forty gardening classes.
https://learn.thedallasgarden.com/enroll-in-the-dallas-garden-school

Website
https://thedallasgarden.com

Instagram
https://instagram.com/thedallasgardenschool

If you found this episode helpful, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review the podcast. Reviews help more North Texas gardeners discover practical, research-based advice for growing beautiful and productive gardens.

Are squash vine borers wiping out your zucchini every summer? You’re not alone. These destructive pests can take down a healthy squash plant almost overnight. But here’s the good news: preventing squash vine borer damage is far easier than trying to fix it after the fact.

In this episode, I walk you through the simple, practical strategies I use in my own North Texas garden. I haven’t lost a squash plant to vine borers in more than a decade, and it’s not because I’m out there performing plant surgery or drenching everything in products. It’s because I focus on prevention first.

You’ll learn:

If you’re tired of watching beautiful squash plants collapse in June, this episode will give you a clear, low-stress plan to keep them thriving and productive. Listen in and take control of squash season this year.

00:00 What Are Squash Vine Borers?

01:19 How the Damage Happens (and Why Plants Suddenly Wilt)

03:26 Prevention Over Treatment: A Smarter Gardening Mindset

04:09 Using Floating Insect Mesh Correctly

05:30 Why You Must Rotate Squash Every Year

07:17 Planting at the Right Time in North Texas

09:22 Choosing More Resistant Squash Varieties

10:39 Catching Damage Early: What to Look For

12:19 Simple, Practical Bt Application

14:13 Seed Starting and Planning Ahead

15:13 Supplies to Stock Up On Now

17:03 Optional Egg Scouting (and Why It’s Not My Main Strategy)

17:49 Final Reminders and Planner Resources

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

Buy the 2026 North Texas Garden Planner: https://https://shop.thedallasgarden.com/products/2026-north-texas-garden-planner

Learn more about enrollment: https://learn.thedallasgarden.com/enroll-in-the-dallas-garden-school

Bacillus thurengiensis

Floating insect mesh

Johnny's Seeds

MORE FROM THE DALLAS GARDEN SCHOOL:

The Dallas Garden School Amazon Store: https://www.amazon.com/shop/thedallasgardenschool_

Classes: https://learn.thedallasgarden.com

Follow me on Instagram: https://instagram.com/thedallasgardenschool

Shop our store: https://shop.thedallasgarden.com

SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW

If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review! Your support helps us reach more North Texas gardeners who need these insights. 🎙 Thanks for tuning in to The Dallas Garden School Podcast! See you next week!

Best of 2025 Series Finale: Fall Vegetables & Advanced Seed Starting Tips

Welcome back to the podcast! Today we're enjoying some bird-watching out my window and wrapping up the 'Best of 2025' series by diving into fall vegetables.

I'll share highlights and lessons from my fall garden, along with tips for indoor seed starting—an essential technique even for beginners.

We’ll also discuss the upcoming classes you don't want to miss and explore what’s growing in my garden.

Let’s get into the nitty-gritty of what worked and what didn’t, and help make your gardening journey both enjoyable and productive!

 00:00 Introduction and Bird Watching Joys

01:23 Best of 2025 Series Finale: Fall Vegetables

02:04 Upcoming Gardening Classes

06:09 Detailed Planting Records and Recommendations

08:52 Pumpkin Varieties and Growing Tips

13:17 Exploring Chinese Cabbage and Other Greens

15:19 Kale and Lettuce Varieties

22:54 Current Garden Status and Final Tips

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

ENROLL IN SCHOOL HERE!

2026 North Texas Garden Planner: https://shop.thedallasgarden.com

Johnny’s Seeds

Renee’s Garden Seeds

Swallowtail Seeds

MORE FROM THE DALLAS GARDEN SCHOOL:

Sign up for our email newsletter: https://thedallasgarden.com/newsletter/

The Dallas Garden School Amazon Store: https://www.amazon.com/shop/thedallasgardenschool_

2026 Class Schedule: https://learn.thedallasgarden.com/2026-class-schedule

Follow me on Instagram: https://instagram.com/thedallasgardenschool

Shop our store: https://shop.thedallasgarden.com

SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW

If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review! Your support helps us reach more North Texas gardeners who need these insights. 🎙 Thanks for tuning in to The Dallas Garden School Podcast! See you next week!

Preparing for the 2026 Educational Season and Top Flower Picks for North Texas Gardens

In this podcast episode, I share exciting updates about our upcoming 2026 educational season and the new enrollment model that grants students access to all classes with a single registration. I also discuss the recent addition of an on-demand class, 'Step-by-Step Building a Garden from Scratch.'

The episode continues with a detailed review of my 'Best of 2025' series, focusing on the performance of various seeds and plants in North Texas. I cover a wide range of flowers, including Shirley Poppies, Sweet Peas, Cosmos, Rudbeckia, and Zinnias, providing insights and recommendations based on my extensive trials and tests.

Additionally, I offer valuable seed starting tips and emphasize the importance of indoor seed starting for successful gardening in North Texas. Lastly, I remind listeners to enroll in the upcoming indoor seed starting class and grab the planner to stay organized throughout the gardening season.

00:00 Introduction and Welcome

00:21 New Enrollment Model for 2026

00:52 Step-by-Step Garden Building

01:37 Best of 2025 Series Overview

03:00 Cut Flowers Review

03:41 Poppies: Easy Indoor Growing Tips

07:53 Sweet Peas: Challenges and Tips

10:43 Cosmos: A Garden Staple

13:35 Rudbeckia and Summer Bloomers

18:49 Amaranthus: Beautiful and Prolific

21:40 Zinnias: A Pleasant Surprise

24:03 Housekeeping and Final Thoughts

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

ENROLL IN SCHOOL HERE!

2026 North Texas Garden Planner: https://shop.thedallasgarden.com

Johnny’s Seeds

Renee’s Garden Seeds

Swallowtail Seeds

MORE FROM THE DALLAS GARDEN SCHOOL:

Sign up for our email newsletter: https://thedallasgarden.com/newsletter/

The Dallas Garden School Amazon Store: https://www.amazon.com/shop/thedallasgardenschool_

2026 Class Schedule: https://learn.thedallasgarden.com/2026-class-schedule

Follow me on Instagram: https://instagram.com/thedallasgardenschool

Shop our store: https://shop.thedallasgarden.com

SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW

If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review! Your support helps us reach more North Texas gardeners who need these insights. 🎙 Thanks for tuning in to The Dallas Garden School Podcast! See you next week!

Join me in this exciting episode of the Dallas Garden School podcast as I recap the highlights of my 2025 gardening season.

Discover the warm-season vegetables that thrived in my North Texas garden this year, including standout varieties like the highly productive Sophy squash and the flavorful Paloma eggplant.

Learn about the challenges and successes I faced, tips for soil health and garden maintenance, and get a sneak peek into the 2026 gardening classes.

This episode is packed with insights and inspiration for making the most of your garden this year. Happy gardening!

00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview

01:01 Warm Season Vegetables: Peppers and Eggplants

07:52 Hot Peppers and Sweet Peppers

15:13 Corn and Cucumbers

24:11 Squash and Seed Companies

30:48 Garden Maintenance and Cold-Hardy Annuals

35:52 Indoor Seed Starting and Upcoming Classes

38:53 Conclusion and Next Episode Preview

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

2026 North Texas Garden Planner: https://shop.thedallasgarden.com

Johnny’s Seeds

Renee’s Garden Seeds

MORE FROM THE DALLAS GARDEN SCHOOL:

Sign up for our email newsletter: https://thedallasgarden.com/newsletter/

The Dallas Garden School Amazon Store: https://www.amazon.com/shop/thedallasgardenschool_

Classes: https://learn.thedallasgarden.com

Follow me on Instagram: https://instagram.com/thedallasgardenschool

Shop our store: https://shop.thedallasgarden.com

SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW

If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review! Your support helps us reach more North Texas gardeners who need these insights. 🎙 Thanks for tuning in to The Dallas Garden School Podcast! See you next week!

Best of 2025: Vegetables, Part One

In this episode, I continue my 'Best of 2025' series, sharing the results of my growing trials. I discuss what worked, what didn't, and what I'm changing for next year. Last week, I reviewed tomatoes, and today I move on to Part One of discussing vegetables. Additionally, I share tips for indoor seed starting and preparing your garden for winter. Don't forget to subscribe to my newsletter for updates on the 2026 learning themes and class schedules.

00:00 Welcome Back to the Podcast

01:08 Seed Shopping and Preparation

04:33 2026 Learning Themes

08:09 Reviewing the Best Vegetables of 2025

23:32 Indoor Seed Starting Tips

24:52 Garden Bed Transitioning

26:17 Conclusion and Final Tips

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

2026 North Texas Garden Planner: https://shop.thedallasgarden.com

Johnny’s Seeds

Renee’s Garden Seeds

MORE FROM THE DALLAS GARDEN SCHOOL:

Sign up for our email newsletter: https://thedallasgarden.com/newsletter/

The Dallas Garden School Amazon Store: https://www.amazon.com/shop/thedallasgardenschool_

Classes: https://learn.thedallasgarden.com

Follow me on Instagram: https://instagram.com/thedallasgardenschool

Shop our store: https://shop.thedallasgarden.com

SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW

If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review! Your support helps us reach more North Texas gardeners who need these insights. 🎙 Thanks for tuning in to The Dallas Garden School Podcast! See you next week!

Best of 2025: Tomatoes or Lack Thereof

This episode is the first in my Best of 2025 series and delves into a detailed analysis of my tomato trials for 2025, highlighting what worked, what didn't, and why. I share insights on disease resistance, specifically focusing on early blight, and the performance of different tomato varieties from various seed sources.

I’ll also touch on my plans for 2026, new varieties to be tested, and tips for making educated choices for next season's garden.

Plus, learn why I am having to say goodbye to a seed company that I’ve bought from for years.

00:00 Welcome and Winter Garden Update

00:33 Preparing for Winter: Clearing Summer Vegetables

03:05 Introducing the Best of 2025 Series

04:34 Tomato Trials: Successes and Failures

10:34 Micro and Container Tomatoes

12:33 Tomato Varieties: Hits and Misses

17:02 Seed Companies and New Trials

21:46 Black and Yellow Tomatoes: Fall Performance

23:06 Yellow Pear Tomato Review

24:32 Porter Tomato: Heat Tolerance vs. Flavor

26:42 Tomato Fest: A Mixed Experience

29:49 Fall Tomato Season Results

31:59 Planning for Next Year's Tomato Crop

33:39 New Tomato Varieties for 2026

39:24 Cozy Holiday Season and Final Thoughts

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

2026 North Texas Garden Planner: https://shop.thedallasgarden.com

Johnny’s Seeds

Tomatofest.com

MORE FROM THE DALLAS GARDEN SCHOOL:

Sign up for our email newsletter: https://thedallasgarden.com/newsletter/

The Dallas Garden School Amazon Store: https://www.amazon.com/shop/thedallasgardenschool_

Classes: https://learn.thedallasgarden.com

Follow me on Instagram: https://instagram.com/thedallasgardenschool

Shop our store: https://shop.thedallasgarden.com

SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW

If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review! Your support helps us reach more North Texas gardeners who need these insights. 🎙 Thanks for tuning in to The Dallas Garden School Podcast! See you next week!

Beginner Tips for Transitioning from Containers to a Full Garden

In this episode of the Dallas Garden School podcast, host Callie Works-Leary answers a listener's question about transitioning from growing plants in containers to creating a full-fledged garden in the yard without spending a fortune. Callie discusses essential factors to consider, such as selecting the ideal garden location based on sun exposure and proximity to water sources. She outlines the pros and cons of raised beds versus in-ground beds, recommending starting with two 4x8 raised beds if space allows. Additionally, she provides advice on soil amendment, irrigation methods, and dispels common misconceptions like the necessity of landscape fabric in raised beds. Tune in for practical tips to kickstart your gardening journey and maximize plant health and productivity.

00:00 Introduction and Listener Question

01:24 Choosing the Right Garden Location

04:16 In-Ground vs. Raised Bed Gardening

07:29 Building and Filling Raised Beds

12:18 Preparing In-Ground Beds

16:52 Irrigation Tips and Techniques

21:15 Final Tips and Announcements

To calculate how much compost you need for a three-inch layer, measure the length and width of the bed in feet and multiply them to determine square footage. Convert three inches to feet by dividing by twelve (0.25 feet). Multiply the square footage by 0.25 to get the required volume in cubic feet. If you’re buying by the bag, divide that number by two and that’s how many bags of compost you need. For bulk orders, divide that number by twenty-seven to convert cubic feet to cubic yards, which is the standard unit for bulk compost orders.

Buy the planner here: https://shop.thedallasgarden.com/products/2026-north-texas-garden-planner

In this episode, I introduce a new format that includes answering listener questions in addition to the usual lecture-style content.

First, I discuss important gardening tasks for the week, such as transplanting brassicas, lettuce, and cool-season flowers like snapdragons and pansies. I also emphasize the need for consistent watering despite cooler temperatures.

Next, I address Angela's question about growing cut flowers in partial shade, providing detailed recommendations on suitable perennials and annuals, including oak leaf hydrangeas and dianthus.

Don’t forget to check out our 2026 garden planner, now available for purchase.

00:00 Introduction and New Format Announcement

00:52 Weekly Gardening Tips: Transplanting and Winter Annuals

03:13 Angela's Question: Growing Cut Flowers in Partial Shade

05:13 Understanding Light Levels for Plants

07:02 Perennials for Part Shade Cut Flower Gardens

10:00 Annuals for Part Shade Cut Flower Gardens

12:14 Encouragement and Final Thoughts

12:49 Conclusion and Announcements

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

2026 North Texas Garden Planner: https://shop.thedallasgarden.com

MORE FROM THE DALLAS GARDEN SCHOOL:

The Dallas Garden School Amazon Store: https://www.amazon.com/shop/thedallasgardenschool_

Classes: https://learn.thedallasgarden.com

Follow me on Instagram: https://instagram.com/thedallasgardenschool

Shop our store: https://shop.thedallasgarden.com

SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW

If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review! Your support helps us reach more North Texas gardeners who need these insights. 🎙 Thanks for tuning in to The Dallas Garden School Podcast! See you next week!

 In this episode, I introduce a new interactive podcast format that focuses on answering listener questions. Today, we're addressing a question from Morgan about pruning her overgrown Texas Rock Rose and Salvia greggii.

I explain the science behind pruning, including the role of the hormone auxin, and offer detailed advice on when and how to cut back these plants to promote healthier, fuller growth.

I also discuss seasonal gardening tips, the importance of timing in pruning, and provide additional advice on plant maintenance and management. Listeners are encouraged to submit their gardening questions for future episodes.

00:00 Introduction and New Podcast Format

02:05 Listener Questions: Overgrown Plants

03:26 The Science of Pruning

05:58 Pruning Techniques for Woody Perennials

08:22 Seasonal Pruning Guidelines

10:05 Winter Care for Perennials

12:45 Planting and Dividing Perennials

14:01 Housekeeping and Announcements

15:07 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Resources Mentioned

If you like the episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on your podcast platform of choice! Your support helps us reach more North Texas gardeners who need these insights. 🎙