Podcast Summary: All Of It – "Spring Gardening and Composting Tips"

Title: All Of It
Host: Alison Stewart
Episode: Spring Gardening And Composting Tips
Release Date: April 3, 2025
Produced by: WNYC
Description: ALL OF IT is a show about culture and its consumers, aiming to engage thinkers, doers, makers, and creators about the what and why of their work. This episode focuses on spring gardening and composting, featuring expert advice from Shawna Moore, Director of Horticulture at the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens.

Introduction

[00:37] Alison Stewart Alison Stewart welcomes listeners to All Of It, emphasizing the show's dedication to exploring cultural topics. She sets the stage for the episode by introducing the focus on spring gardening and composting, highlighting the importance of preparing gardens for the warmer months and building on last year's efforts.

Quote:

“ALL OF IT is a show about culture and context…In other words, ALL OF IT.”
— Cristina De Rossi, anthropologist at Barnet and Southgate College, London
— Described in the podcast introduction.

Spring Gardening Tips

Guest: Shawna Moore, Director of Horticulture, Brooklyn Botanic Gardens

[02:08] Shawna Moore Shawna Moore outlines key spring gardening activities, emphasizing the importance of planting cool-season crops such as lettuce, kale, and spinach. She advises gardeners to prepare their soil through testing and adding amendments like compost or manure, and stresses the necessity of weeding and pruning.

Key Recommendations:

• Soil Preparation: Conduct soil tests and add necessary amendments.
• Weeding: Remove invasive weeds like dandelions.
• Pruning: Finish winter pruning for shrubs like hydrangeas and roses, and divide overgrown perennials.
• Lawn Care: Start fertilizing lawns and prepare for mowing.

Quote:

“Preparing the beds would be a good thing to do right now.”
— Shawna Moore [02:55]

Common Gardening Mistakes

[04:22] Alison Stewart Alison discusses common pitfalls in transitioning gardens from winter to spring with Shawna Moore, who warns against the impatience of gardeners eager to plant tender annuals too soon. Shawna advises waiting until after the first frost is past, typically safe by early May.

Quote:

“Patience, not moving too quickly…you’re not quite ready.”
— Shawna Moore [04:30]

Listener Q&A

Interactive Segment: Listeners call in with specific gardening questions, receiving expert advice from Shawna Moore.

Caller: Judy from Huntington

[05:35] Caller Judy Judy seeks help with an invasive yellow flower, likely Lesser Celandine, that has returned despite her efforts to remove it.

Advice:

• Organic Control: Dig deeply to remove tuberous roots.
• Ephemeral Nature: Lesser Celandine will fade after flowering, allowing turf grass to recover.

Quote:

“The only way you can combat it is by digging…it is ephemeral.”
— Shawna Moore [06:10]

Caller: Ed from Manhattan

[07:35] Caller Ed Ed experiences his Meyer lemon tree's flowers falling off before fruiting and seeks advice.

Advice:

• Acclimation: Slowly transition the tree outdoors after consistent warm weather.
• Watering: Avoid overwatering, which may cause flower drop.
• Fertilizing & Repotting: Ensure adequate nutrients and proper pot size.

Quote:

“You're going to need full sun…maybe you're watering a little too much.”
— Shawna Moore [08:01]

Caller: Mike

[09:23] Caller Mike Mike fears pruning his hydrangeas and seeks tips.

Advice:

• Pruning Technique: Prune hydrangeas hard, cutting back 10-12 inches to encourage new growth and robust flowers.
• Frequency: Annual pruning is recommended to maintain plant health.

Quote:

“Take a deep breath and go for it. The hydrangeas will thank you.”
— Shawna Moore [09:42]

Caller: Sophia

[12:14] Caller Sophia Sophia inquires about expanding her successful indoor herb garden to include fruit or vegetables.

Advice:

• Potential Plants: Cherry tomatoes, cherry peppers, and other compact vegetables can thrive indoors with sufficient light.
• Light Requirements: Ensure plants receive adequate indirect sunlight.

Quote:

“You'd be very, very successful with some cherry tomatoes.”
— Shawna Moore [12:25]

Additional Callers:

• Deer Management: Sophia from the suburbs asks about deer-resistant plants and repellents. Shawna recommends spraying deer repellent as an effective strategy.

  Quote:

  “Spraying deer repellent…really do help protect all of the plants.”
  — Shawna Moore [13:19]

• Replacing Grass Lawn: A text query about replacing turf grass with native, low-maintenance plants. Shawna suggests rain gardens and native plant meadows to attract pollinators and reduce maintenance.

  Quote:

  “Think about looking into a rain garden…a really good solution.”
  — Shawna Moore [14:21]

• Container Gardening: Jennifer from Park Slope seeks advice on maintaining year-round blooming in large containers. Shawna recommends using mulch to protect bulbs and integrating evergreens and annuals for continuous interest.

  Quote:

  “Keep a layer of straw or mulch throughout the winter…add annuals for color and texture.”
  — Shawna Moore [18:35]

• Pruning Cherry Trees: Sarah from Brooklyn asks about the optimal time to prune Kwanzan cherry trees. Shawna advises light pruning in June post-flowering and heavy corrective pruning during dormancy in winter.

  Quote:

  “Any real heavy pruning…happens in the wintertime when it’s dormant.”
  — Shawna Moore [19:56]

• Composting and Mulching: Shawna discusses effective composting practices and the benefits of mulch, emphasizing soil health and weed control.

  Quote:

  “Mulch not only helps the soil retain water, it really helps keep the weeds down.”
  — Shawna Moore [24:00]

Composting Insights

[24:54] Shawna Moore Shawna elaborates on composting strategies, highlighting permissible items such as pizza boxes, bones, meat scraps, and dairy. She emphasizes the environmental benefits and city mandates for composting.

Quote:

“Pizza boxes…and really all of our food scraps.”
— Shawna Moore [25:04]

Cherry Blossoms at the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens

[25:56] Shawna Moore Shawna shares excitement about the cherry blossom season at the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens, describing the variety of blooms including magnolias, tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths. She invites listeners to visit and experience the vibrant displays.

Quote:

“Our cherry blossoms are…celebration of spring. It’s really what we’re known for.”
— Shawna Moore [25:56]

Conclusion

[27:01] Alison Stewart Alison wraps up the episode by thanking Shawna Moore and the callers for their insightful gardening questions and contributions. She encourages listeners to visit the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens to enjoy the spring blooms.

Notable Highlights:

• Soil Preparation and Weeding: Emphasized as foundational steps for a successful spring garden.
• Patience in Planting Tender Annuals: Advised waiting until after frost risks have passed.
• Effective Pruning Techniques: Detailed guidance on pruning hydrangeas, roses, and other shrubs.
• Dealing with Invasive Species: Practical strategies for managing Lesser Celandine and Mugwort.
• Indoor Gardening Expansion: Encouragement to grow fruits like cherry tomatoes indoors.
• Composting Practices: Inclusion of diverse compostable materials in compliance with city guidelines.
• Cherry Blossom Season: Celebration of spring’s beauty at the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens with diverse plant displays.

Engagement with Listeners: The episode successfully engages gardeners of all levels, providing actionable advice and fostering a sense of community through listener interactions. Shawna Moore’s expertise offers valuable insights, while Alison Stewart’s facilitation ensures a smooth and informative dialogue.

Final Thoughts: This episode of All Of It serves as a comprehensive guide for spring gardening enthusiasts, blending expert knowledge with practical advice to inspire and assist gardeners in nurturing their plants and enhancing their green spaces.