Growing Greener

Tom Christopher

Native Plants

Biodiversity

Native Plant Trust

Berkshire Botanical Garden

Ecology

Mycorrhizal Fungi

Gardening

Organic Gardening

Plant Roots

Integrated Weed Management

Prospect Park

Invasive Plants

Ecological Landscaping

Land Race Gardening

Rewilding Magazine

Harvard University

Cornell University

Let's Botanize

Water Management

Regenerative Gardening

Your weekly half-hour program about environmentally informed gardening. Each week we bring you a different expert, a leading voice on gardening in partnership with Nature. Our goal is to make your landscape healthier, more beautiful, more sustainable, and more fun.

147 ratings

Publishes	Weekly	Episodes	350	Founded	6 years ago
Number of Listeners		Categories	ScienceHome & GardenEarth SciencesLeisure

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Guests Host Reviews Charts Talking Points

Latest Episodes

A Gardener's Introduction to Fungi and Their Essential Support for Plants

Estimates of fungi diversity range into the millions of species, yet the vast majority remain unknown. What is clear, says mycologist Gabriela D'Elia, is that your garden plants depend on the services provided to them by the indigenous fungi.

17 Mar 2026 • 29 min

A Brazilian Genius of the last Century Created Invaluable Lessons for Today's Ecological Gardeners

James Lord speaks of his mentor and inspiration Roberto Burle Marx, the painter, sculptor, musician, and botanist who found in Brazil's native plants the basis for a new style of landscape architecture and a language to celebrate the distinctive beau... more

11 Mar 2026 • 29 min

A British Horticultural Ecologist Challenges the U.S. Consensus

Citing European studies, British horticultural ecologist James Hitchmough, a leader of the ecological gardening movement in his country, rejects the intrinsic superiority of native plants over exotic garden imports for supporting insect diversity in ... more

4 Mar 2026 • 29 min

Balancing your account in the soil seed bank

A square foot of topsoil typically hosts thousands of dormant seeds deposited by previous floras. Nathan Lambstrom of Lambstrom Garden Ecology discusses his research into how this "soil seed bank" can enhance or derail ecological restoration, and how... more

25 Feb 2026 • 29 min

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Recent Guests

James Lord

Landscape architect

Surface Design, Inc.

Episode: A Brazilian Genius of the last Century Created Invaluable Lessons for Today's Ecological Gardeners

James Hitchmough

British garden designer and professor of horticultural ecology

University of Sheffield (or related UK institutions)

Episode: A British Horticultural Ecologist Challenges the U.S. Consensus

Nathan Lambstrom

Proprietor of Lambstrom Garden Ecology, design/installation/consultation

Lambstrom Garden Ecology

Episode: Balancing your account in the soil seed bank

Chris Roddick

A pioneer of ecologically-based tree and shrub care, formerly head of arboriculture at Brooklyn Botanic Garden.

Sweet Birch Land Plus Tree

Episode: A Tree's Perspective on Pruning

Ash Burkowski

Skilled self-educated gardener and advocate for native prairie flora

Northern Wildscapes Plants Plus Design

Episode: O Canada ¬– A Garden Activist Enriches and Beautifies Lawns with Local Prairie Flora

Joseph Lofthouse

Farmer and gardener specializing in landrace crops.

Episode: Creating Crops that Thrive in Your Garden

Byron Kominek

Founder of the Colorado Agrivoltaic Learning Center

Colorado Agrivoltaic Learning Center

Episode: Colorado Agrivoltaic Learning Center combines energy generation with agriculture for a double harvest

Dr. Liz Koziol

Assistant research professor at the University of Kansas focusing on mycorrhizal fungi and their role in prairie restorations.

University of Kansas

Episode: The Missing Piece of Your Ecological Garden

Dr. Lea Johnson

Director of Conservation at the Native Plant Trust

Native Plant Trust

Episode: An Antique Tool Brings New Knowledge of Native Plants

Host

Tom Christopher

Host of discussions focused on environmentally informed gardening practices, sharing in-depth knowledge and expert insights.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 147 ratings

Making us ALL better gardeners!
Growing Greener is a fantastic resource for both professional and amateur gardeners alike, bringing new ideas, techniques and garden news to us all, informative and on point!
Apple Podcasts
5
Dashford25
Australiaa year ago
Top of my list
Growing Greener is consistently engaging. I appreciate the deep knowledge of the host, Tom Christopher. He asks excellent questions. I look forward to listening every week. This radio broadcast/podcast always leaves me feel satisfied but wishing there was more time.
Apple Podcasts
5
Rosemary’s Herbs
United States2 years ago
Top quality content, well researched
Excellent podcast. Host Tom Christopher and guests are well informed. This host really adds depth to the discussion AND allows his guests to deliver great information.
Apple Podcasts
5
F Helvet
United States2 years ago
One of my top garden podcasts!
I started listening to Growing Greener a few months ago and now I never miss an episode. Tom Christopher is so knowledgeable about all things gardens. Aside from gardening he also imparts his true love of the natural world and it shows in the type of guests he has on the show. A+
Apple Podcasts
5
Kitzi from Kansas City
United States3 years ago
Great Show!
I never miss a show, but particularly enjoyed todays show, March 1, 2023. The only problem is I now have to buy more seeds.
Apple Podcasts
5
Seedlady32
United States3 years ago

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Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Feedback highlights the host's ability to ask excellent questions that drive meaningful conversations.

The podcast is described as informative and engaging, often leaving listeners wanting more.

Listeners appreciate the focus on practical, sustainable gardening techniques.

Many value the expert insights shared by the host and guests.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts	#43	United States/Leisure/Home & Garden
Apple Podcasts	#249	United States/Leisure
Apple Podcasts	#44	Canada/Leisure/Home & Garden
Apple Podcasts	#173	United Kingdom/Leisure/Home & Garden
Apple Podcasts	#77	France/Leisure/Home & Garden
Apple Podcasts	#218	Australia/Leisure/Home & Garden

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

A British Horticultural Ecologist Challenges the U.S. Consensus

Q: What should gardeners take away about choosing plants for biodiversity?

Gardeners should aim to maximize resource availability across seasons with a mix of natives and well-chosen non-natives, while focusing on long-term ecological context and the broader landscape, including reducing reliance on intensive agriculture nearby.

A British Horticultural Ecologist Challenges the U.S. Consensus

Q: Can you summarize the current consensus on whether non-native plants can replace the biodiversity benefits of natives over time?

Evidence suggests host range expansion and increased insect use of non-natives can occur, particularly with long-established non-natives, but this does not necessarily compensate for the unique benefits natives provide to specialist herbivores like certain lepidopteran larvae; a nuanced, taxa-specific view is essential.

A British Horticultural Ecologist Challenges the U.S. Consensus

Q: How did your views on nativeness evolve after your time in Australia and your observations of urban versus rural landscapes?

The discussion grew from seeing native plants as ideal for character and ecology to recognizing that non-native species can fill important ecological roles, especially in urban settings where native flora may be limited, as long as we evaluate taxa and interactions carefully.

Balancing your account in the soil seed bank

Q: Should restoration always start by depleting the soil seed bank before introducing native seeds?

In most cases, yes, especially on post-agricultural lands; otherwise the introduced meadow seeds may be outcompeted by ruderal and non-native species that remain in the seed bank.

Balancing your account in the soil seed bank

Q: What did you do in your Chicago Botanic Garden study to test the seed bank hypothesis?

We compared pre-restoration and post-restoration sites by surveying vegetation, collecting soil from random points, and germinating the seeds in controlled flats to see what communities the seed bank contained and how they differed after restoration actions like removing buckthorn and increasing light.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Growing Greener

What is Growing Greener about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Focused on environmentally informed gardening, this podcast features conversations with experts who aim to promote sustainability in landscaping and gardening practices. Topics range from innovative techniques such as landrace gardening and sustainable landscaping with native plants, to understanding ecological relationships and garden biodiversity. The discussions often highlight practical tips and education on integrating ecology with gardening, making it a valuable resource for both novice and experienced gardeners interested in nature-friendly practices. The host's deep knowledge and the variety of guests ensure that listeners gain insights that not only enhance the appeal of their gardens but also contribute positively to the environme... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Growing Greener?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Growing Greener:

1. The joe gardener Show - Organic Gardening - Vegetable Gardening - Expert Garden Advice From Joe Lamp'l
2. MARGARET ROACH A WAY TO GARDEN
3. Native Plants, Healthy Planet
4. Gardening with the RHS
5. The Plantastic Podcast

How many episodes of Growing Greener are there?

Growing Greener launched 6 years ago and published 350 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Growing Greener?

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What guests have appeared on Growing Greener?

Recent guests on Growing Greener include:

1. James Lord
2. James Hitchmough
3. Nathan Lambstrom
4. Chris Roddick
5. Ash Burkowski
6. Joseph Lofthouse
7. Byron Kominek
8. Dr. Liz Koziol

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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