Fall may feel like the end of the gardening season, but for many spring-flowering plants, it's just the beginning.

In this episode of The Evergreen Thumb, Erin explores fall planting in Washington, with a focus on spring-flowering bulbs and other geophytes. We'll look at why fall is the right time to plant many of these plants, how soil temperature affects planting timing, and what Washington gardeners should consider when deciding when to get their bulbs in the ground.

We'll talk about familiar garden favorites such as daffodils, tulips, and hyacinths, along with some less familiar native geophytes, including camas and fawn lilies for seasonal interest and to support regional biodiversity.

Cover crops can protect and improve garden soil during the time of year when our gardens are resting. In this episode, Erin talks with Twinflower Wilkie, a WSU Extension Master Gardener in Ferry County, about how cover crops help retain moisture, protect soil from erosion, cycle nutrients, and build healthier soil.

Twinflower also shares why cover crops can benefit pollinators and other beneficial wildlife, and why allowing your garden to go a little wild can be good for the garden and the creatures that depend on it. They discuss choosing and using cover crops in the home garden and simple ways gardeners can get started.

For gardeners in Washington's dry eastern climate and beyond, cover crops offer a practical way to keep soil protected and productive while creating a more welcoming garden for wildlife.

Resources mentioned in this episode, along with a full transcript, can be found on our website.

Every gardener has encountered advice that promises amazing results, from family traditions passed down through generations to the latest trend making the rounds on social media. How do you know what to trust?

In this episode, Erin talks with Bryce Battisti about what "research-based" really means and why it is a core part of the WSU Extension Master Gardener Program. Bryce shares his own journey from embracing popular gardening ideas to appreciating the value of research in helping gardeners make informed decisions.

Together, they explore how gardening recommendations are developed, why scientific understanding changes as new discoveries are made, and why local research is especially valuable for Washington gardeners. They also discuss practical ways to evaluate gardening advice, identify reliable sources, and avoid wasting time and money on untested practices.

Resources mentioned in this episode, along with a full transcript, can be found on our website.

In this episode of The Evergreen Thumb, Erin Hoover chats with Julie Banken, a Master Gardener with a background in entomology, about creating pollinator-friendly gardens by rethinking traditional fall cleanup practices. Julie shares her passion for gardening with insects in mind, explaining how leaving leaves, stems, and other natural debris provides essential winter habitat for a wide variety of pollinators and beneficial insects. She encourages gardeners to view their yards as crucial parts of the ecosystem, highlights the importance of native plants, and offers practical advice for supporting insect life cycles—like leaving leaf mulch and standing stems through winter and only tidying up the next year. By making simple intentional changes, gardeners can help sustain the pollinators and insects that depend on them, making a positive impact right in their home gardens.

Every gardener has decisions they would make again…and a few they probably wouldn't.

In this episode, Erin Hoover reflects on the gardening choices that paid off, the ones that created more work than expected, and the unexpected surprises that have shaped her garden over the years. From self-seeding herbs that got out of control to volunteer flowers worth keeping, she shares practical lessons learned through trial, error, and observation.

Along the way, Erin discusses why investing in quality seed potatoes and garlic has been worthwhile, how redesigning her vegetable garden improved watering efficiency, and why a simple moisture meter completely changed the way she waters her garden.

If you're just starting out or even if you are a seasoned gardener, this is a reminder that every season teaches us something new.

Gardening changes as we do. Tasks that once felt easy may take more planning, different tools, or a new approach. In this episode of The Evergreen Thumb, we talk about practical ways gardeners can adapt their spaces and routines to keep gardening comfortably and confidently over time.

King County Extension Master Gardener Sally Bagshaw shares ideas for reducing physical strain, improving accessibility, and rethinking garden design to better fit changing needs. We discuss raised beds, pathways, ergonomic tools, lower-maintenance planting choices, and strategies that help gardeners stay connected to the activities we enjoy most.

In this episode, Lisa Taylor returns to share tips on saving water while gardening. Lisa focuses on how being intentional with water use improves soil health, efficient watering techniques, and drought-tolerant practices for thriving plants. She shares some of her favorite high-quality tools to make saving water easier. Listen to learn how to build resilient gardens that thrive with less water, perfect for hot summers and adapting to climate change.

In this episode of The Evergreen Thumb, we talk with Master Gardener Ed Adams about growing dahlias in Western Washington, including what it takes to manage a large collection of over 600 plants.

Ed shares why dahlias thrive in Sequim's unique climate and walks through practical, research-based approaches to growing them successfully. The conversation covers getting started with tubers, seasonal care, supporting healthy growth, and managing common garden challenges using an integrated pest management approach.

We also explore what changes when dahlias are grown at scale, along with tips for digging, dividing, and storing tubers for the next season.

Whether you're growing a few plants or planning something larger, this episode offers grounded, field-tested insight into making dahlias work in a Pacific Northwest garden.

There are a lot of resources mentioned in this episode. Find them on our website.