Let's Argue About Plants

364
Hobbies #41

The podcast for people who love plants—but not always the same ones.

Brought to you by the editors of Fine Gardening, this fun, informative podcast tackles all things topical in gardening. You’ll listen to the insights (and arguments) of Editor-in-Chief Steve Aitken and Senior Editor Danielle Sherry as they discuss various horticultural subjects on a deeper level. You will also hear from today’s leading horticultural minds who will offer their wisdom and opinions about what you might want to grow in your garden. We guarantee you’ll be entertained and feel like a better gardener.

Recent Episodes
Episodes loading...
Recent Reviews
  • julieinchicago
    Love Carolyn
    I really love Carolyn leading the podcasts lately. I’ve been listening a long long time and I’m not trying to be rude but many episodes are hard to understand because the chief editor has a bad microphone or bad connection in my opinion. I’m really liking the new format with Carole
  • Barbcfc
    Used to be better
    This podcast has changed so much. I think Carol and Danielle are fine but don’t have the chemistry that Danielle had with Steve. Additionally, I do not like the changed format of interviewing another expert. If it is getting to be too much of a burden for these two gals to do a bi-monthly show, consider using other staff but keep the format. I no longer recommend this podcast to all my gardening friends.
  • Kurt in NWCT
    GREAT New Interview
    Love the interview with Stacie Crooks! Easily the best episode yet of the podcast. So much sensible advice! Keep them coming!
  • Logophile Z
    Still Missing Steve
    I like Carol a lot and still enjoy the podcast, but I do miss the interplay between Steve and Danielle. There’s no one now to correct Danielle’s egregious botanical mispronunciations and frequent misuse of words. Please, I beg you…Anemone is pronounced An-e-MONEY, not An-ENEMY!
  • BrookeAnne P.
    Get my Garden On
    How I love Let’s Argue About Plants! I have been listening for several years now. I think I can blame you for my garden addiction. I never realized that you can start to garden, make mistakes and learn. Since the pandemic, that is what I do and I love it more even when digging up enormous rocks hiding in my New Hampshire earth. I want each and every plant that you talk about. And you have contributed to my knowledge and desire to increase my native species. Is there anyway that in the magazine/podcast/website includesinformation about natives alternatives? Maybe I have missed that. For example, I now want a leatherleaf viburnum. I have Brandywine viburnum that I just planted last fall. But should I have more native viburnums in the mix? I want to make sure that I balance my local ecosystem if I can. Thank you so much for your delightful show and magazine.
  • LauraKB12
    A must listen!
    I am a newbie gardener and this podcast has been so educational. It’s a really fun format. Can’t wait to see what they come up with in 2023!
  • Jabber1256
    Great for beginner gardeners
    I listen to this show regularly despite it not really being for me. My garden style is very different from Danielle’s and while Carol and I have similar tastes, I live in a totally different region from her so her natives aren’t my natives. It’s an entertaining listen most episodes and I bet I’d learn a lot from it if I lived in their area and was newer to gardening. They try valiantly to make it relevant for the whole continent but gardening is fundamentally a local affair. I like hearing different perspectives and ideas.
  • abirdVa
    Thank you for the pod and two ideas
    Two areas that might be good for discussion are “plants that weave in and out and play well/ beautifully frame/ offset others” and “plants that are allelopathic”. There isn’t a ton of easily found info on that subject for plants we all typically use and it would be helpful. Thank you for the pod- Danielle has a ton of knowledge, loved Steve, but Carol is awesome as well.
  • A_Carnes
    Steve disappeared, Show Still Suffers
    Danielle is probably a nice person but her vocal fry makes me crazy. She just doesn’t seem to take the job seriously. Why are we pretending we aren’t gardeners and soo bad at watering? Cringe. The latest episode where the web person interviews Doug Tallamy is the most cringeworthy set of questions I’ve heard. Luckily Mr. Tallamy is amazing and I’m listening for him.
  • actually-karen
    Even when
    Even when I don’t think I’m going to be interested in a particular topic… I ALWAYS hear a new tip and enjoy the podcast! I like the hosts of course but also appreciate the guests and short contributions by the experts.
  • mauimc
    No argument best plant podcast !
    I’ve been looking and finally found a great podcast. They seem friendly, happy and are incredibly amazing about sharing their knowledge. It’s like having brilliant plans friends over for a glass of wine.
  • dancdud
    One of my favorite gardening podcasts
    Although I do miss Steve and the back and forth banter. I am really happy it was Carol that was his replacement, I enjoyed when she was a guest in past episodes. I love this podcast because it is more about plants. I have added some of the suggestions to my garden as well to my wish list 😀. My only request is the plants are part of the show notes, those would be very helpful. Thank you and keep the episodes coming!
  • andy sixxxxxxx
    Variety is the spice of gardening
    I love this podcast. As a newer to intermediate gardener I love hearing more experienced gardeners talk about their success and their challenges. This podcast keeps it real. Like anything in life we will experience success and challenges - I love that the hosts talk about their real life experiences with gardening, their likes and dislikes. It makes gardening the imperfect, beautiful process and journey it should be. A wealth of knowledge is shared on a variety of subjects and interests so there’s something for everyone. Hosts and experts are engaging and fun to listen to. And who could not love Peter and his English accent - because “everything sounds better in an English accent”.
  • Mauz55
    What happened to Steve? Bad Form
    I still enjoy the podcast (guiltily). When you dump a guy, you should probably at least acknowledge his contributions on his last show.
  • ADW1973
    Real plants and real experience
    Finally. Actual info instead of “the joy of gardening” banalities. Great to include a wide range of horticulturists. Appreciate their including info for different zones and soil types.
  • MoscowTim
    Ads
    Yes, we hate ads at the start, middle and end. Immediately turned off and unfollow.
  • cldwingfield
    Meh
    Where’s the “arguing?” The chemistry is not there anymore. I guess all good things must come to an end.
  • Xv532
    I miss Steve
    No arguing about plants anymore. The dynamic is very different and less entertaining.
  • IntlMom3
    I miss Steve
    It’s just not the same anymore - I always looked forward to each weekly episode, not so much anymore.
  • cupa25
    Sometimes good info but
    Steve was great. Others not so much. Danielle’s voice tends to gurgle which makes for difficult listening.
  • Tomanyusernamestoremember
    Love it
    I enjoy the discussions and banter. I also enjoy Steve and Danielle’s personalities. Good job guys love the show. Update: Steve vanished like a Chinese dissident, never a word mentioned about it :/
  • Mlnch0ly
    Bring back Steve!
    This was my favorite gardening podcast mostly because Steve and Danielle were so funny! Now that Steve is gone it’s just not the same.
  • wyndyln
    I wish you would expand to Western zones - like zone 10
    Everything is up to zone 8! Otherwise there is no point in listening!!!
  • HelenAtChateau
    Where’s Steve?
    It was a five star show with the dynamics between Danielle and Steve. I miss Steve.
  • Nicole Balch
    Informative and fun!
    I have planted both sun king aralia and Amsonia hubrichtii because of this podcast, and my garden is far better for it! And I appreciate the recent effort to name each plant before and after describing it - very helpful so I don’t have to rewind all the time thinking “that sounds great but what was it called again?”
  • Nicky McNickname
    Is this about plants?
    We are lifelong gardeners, have subscribed to Fine Gardening, and are always interested in learning more. On the other hand, we listened to this podcast, which is largely about a narcissistic senior editor and her life, with minimal short entries from a deferential editor in chief. We listened to the episode about small trees because we’re going to be planting some small trees, but what we learned about were little bits about some of the small trees our presenters chose for their own homes. The contents were largely self-referential, lame jokes mixed with personal anecdotes and “playful” and pointless repartee. However, I did learn something. Of necessity, I learned to reconfigure the equalizer to make the female editor’s voice at least a little less annoying. I thought we would really enjoy this, but I’m still stunned with how terrible this supposed “fine gardening” podcast was. Ugh!
  • PamintheNW
    Episode 86 . Wow
    Great episode until the end. Wow. Late to work, car noise, rambling dialogue... nice. This is always a 5 star podcast, but this last guest speaker... wow. So 4 stars for episode 86.
  • plant boo
    Love this Podcast
    I usually don't know about the cultivars Danielle and Steve are talking about, but the podcast is still fun because of their banter and stories. Very pleasant listening! And sometimes I wind up ordering a plant because of it.
  • Peg in the Woods
    Love it!
    This is my favorite podcast by far. None of that silly vegetable stuff, it’s just about the plants that make my part of the world more interesting and beautiful. It’s rare to find a show that’s this informative with hosts that are so personable. Honestly, i think that Steve and Danielle could argue about dish washing detergent and make it entertaining.
  • foster1318
    Great podcast
    Love it. Totally binge worthy. Great advice in an entertaining matter. I’m learning a lot about gardening that other podcasts don’t cover such as trees, etc.
  • wilmabutfitn
    Needs show notes
    Listened for the first time today. Interesting, but why wouldn’t the plants mentioned in the program be listed in the show notes? There were a couple of shrubs that I would like to see if they would be a fit in my yard, but Ive never heard of them previously and have no idea how to spell the name. Will listen to a couple more episodes to see if this is a podcast for people who write gardening books. Nice people on the podcast!
  • notelevisionever
    Awful
    Don’t bother horrible podcast
  • Marjorie Zone 5
    Entertaining and informative
    I've been listeing to this podcast for about a year. It took me a while to get used to Danielle's voice and Steve's dry wit, but now I am a fan. Their banter is fun and entertaining and the shows always have something of interest to me as a professional gardener. Sometimes that nugget is during the main part of the program and sometimes it's in the expert segment, but I've been entertained all through the program by Danielle and Steve.
  • EmKn8410
    Thoroughly enjoyable
    I’m so glad to have found this podcast and look forward to listening to it every two weeks. Steve and Danielle have a fun dynamic and I have found myself actually laughing out loud to their banter. This is as much educational as it is entertaining. But if you DON’T find a little friendly sarcasm chuckle-worthy, then it’s probably not wise to listen to a podcast called Let’s ARGUE About Plants. Otherwise, this is definitely worth listening to, and it makes my gardening time even better than it naturally is.
  • MoshC
    I never miss it
    It’s on my “must listen” list as I almost always learn something & the banter (mostly) contributes to the experience
  • Anr36:akicv
    Fun banter, but needs more in depth content
    I do enjoy the hosts’ banter and light-hearted, down-to-earth approach. Having listened to both American and European gardening podcasts, the former always seem to be lacking. There’s a huge cultural difference, and this podcast is no different. Both hosts seem to favor and spend a lot of time listing dwarf, new ‘exciting’ cultivars, especially ones with variegated/colorful foliage. It makes you wonder how much of it is genuine recommendation, and how much is just product promos. I was shocked to hear one of the Fine Gardening editors admitting to not growing any spring bulbs, and both spending an episode struggling to recommend almost any disease-resistant roses. I wish there was more content on the thoughtful creation of a garden, using plants in challenging conditions, long-term performance, weed management strategies, naturalistic and pollinator friendly plantings, interesting plant combinations, succession plantings, etc!
  • SamAnneScott
    Funny, well-paced, great banter.
    Did not expect to find such great entertainment from my gardening podcast search. Up there with Sawbones.
  • Acookdail
    Great info, not so great chemistry
    I actually find the information really helpful, but I cannot stand Steve’s attitude. I am all for tongue in cheek debates about plants, but Steve’s attitude toward Danielle is extremely off-putting as a listener. The cynical, stoic, ironic schtick is also grating. I love hearing Danielle’s segments as she is clearly knowledgeable and passionate about plants and it comes across effortlessly; this is much in contrast to Steve, who seems to begrudgingly co-host, and every opinion and all advice from him seems to be akin to drawing blood from a stone.
  • Lilly from Richmond
    Funny, informative and entertaining
    I have binge listened to this podcast ever since I started. The two hosts love to banter with each other in not so much an antagonistic way, but rather an entertaining way, in a way only good friends can. I love the introduction of plants that are outside the realm of what most people are familiar with. They also have an expert on at the end that gives their two cents on the subject which I love as well. Highly recommend.
  • owlsrest
    Had high expectations but no
    Wow I was really looking for a garden podcast that would inform and engage but these two hosts are horrible. Seemed like these two are great at wasting time- get to the story. Please! This is not going to be a favorite. Talk plants, talk gardening and stop the stupid chatter. Ugh. Maybe it a Connecticut thing. Hope this great mag can get better hosts.
  • kt-wolf
    Strange Podcast
    Tried this out while looking for a new gardening podcast. The episode I picked, Reliable Performers, was a strange presentation that was developed using video. So if you’re just turning in for a listen, you’re out of luck, because you have no visual reference. Also, the team here seems pretty antagonistic towards each other hence, Let’s Argue about Plants. No thanks. Finally, they really don’t even give a nod to the necessity to at least care about native plants. They seem to focus on non-native Asian or European species. Probably won’t listen again.
  • ChiMamma31
    Long intros and YouTube.com
    Really long intros, they could cut to the chase a bit faster. The hosts lost me when they repeatedly encouraged listeners to go to YouTube.com, yes “YouTube dot com”
  • 24mc
    Love this more than I thought I would!
    Funny, very informative, not tooooo nerdy, just nerdy enough !
  • Supa Dupa chickola
    Smart, engaging, funny
    What a refreshing set of voices on plants. I’m telling friends this is “like Click and Clack, but they (usually) know the Latin names of plants.” Both hosts are terrific and funny and I learn something every episode. And super high quality content — these folks are editors at the gorgeous, authoritative magazine, Fine Gardening.
  • Redtootsiepop
    Can the girl.
    Ugh! Her voice is impossible to listen to.
  • NLB420
    Wish I could hang out with these guys!
    This podcast is so informative yet hilarious! I love to listen while working in the garden—a great escape from the craziness going on beyond my garden fence :-)
  • Klormpy
    Great show
    If you like plants you will learn to love this show. I thought the show was a bit goofy but it really grows on you. Pun intended. Seriously keep listening because the information is great and the special guest at the end of the show are awesome. I listen to the shows over again and look up all the plants.
  • PWM78
    Love it!
    This is both an informative and fun show! I’ve been binge listening since I found “Let’s Argue About Plants,” and every episode has been a joy.
  • clsullie
    The best gardening podcast
    Love love love this podcast! I learn so much listening to it. I do recommend that a photo of EVERY DISCUSSED be posted on Facebook or something as a reference. Keep up the good work. One of my favorites.
  • Honey Petal Plants
    A little research, please
    The Q and A episode is an good example about what bothers me about this show. They recommend that a person with a small urban garden grow any kind of goldenrod in order to support wildlife. They couldn’t be bothered to suggest a smaller, more small-garden worthy example such as ‘Little Lemon’. Also, Shale Barrens Buckwheat, which is an excellent plant and I was really glad it got mentioned, is one of a small collection of buckwheats that is native to the east coast NOT the west. It is also endangered in its native habitat. Here was an opportunity to offer some solid info on a wonderful native plant and they couldn’t be bothered to care about being accurate.
Similar Podcasts
Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork on this page are property of the podcast owner, and not endorsed by UP.audio.