If you are new to the Washington DC metro area and are interested in learning more about gardening, check out the local media. The following is the traditional, not social, media such as newspapers, newsletters, magazines, television, and radio. Social media can be useful as well but there are far too many resources to be able to capture in one article.
Newspaper
Every Thursday, in the Washington Post’s Local Living section, local garden editor Adrian Higgins writes a gardening article. During the growing season, on some Thursdays, Adrian answers questions from the public from noon to 1:00 pm. You can e-mail the question in advance or e-mail during that time period. If you missed the session, you can read the questions and answers in transcript format, online.
Newsletter and Magazine
Pegplant’s Post is a free, subscription-based newsletter for gardeners in the Northern Virginia, Maryland, and Washington DC area. The newsletter is e-mailed at the end of each month and features local gardening articles, tips, events, new books, and a giveaway. See pegplant.com for the sign up form or visit the pegplant Facebook site.
The Washington Gardener is a digital magazine, published monthly for a subscription fee. The pdf file is e-mailed to subscribers.
Television
Fairfax Public Access sponsors the Gardening with Burke Nursery show, hosted by horticulturist Misty Kuceris. Shows are on the first and second Saturdays of the month at 2 pm; first and second Tuesdays of the month at 7:30 am; and first and second Thursdays of the month at 7:30 pm. This is on Channel 10 or 810 on Cox Communications or Channel 10 on Verizon Fios. If you miss it you can catch it on YouTube at Gardening with Burke Nursery. Burke Nursery is in Burke, VA.
PBS has a variety of shows related to gardening. Enter search words such as gardening, garden, landscape design, Virginia, or Maryland. Many are taped and can be viewed online. A Richmond-based show is Virginia Home Grown hosted by Peggy Singlemann and Pat McCafferty. This is a live, call-in show where you can get your questions answered, watch the show on TV, or view taped shows online.
Radio
Andre Viette has a live, call-in radio program called In the Garden with Andre Viette on Saturdays 8:00-11:00 am aired at several local radio stations. You can listen live from your computer or podcast as well.
Mike McGrath, garden editor for WTOP, 103.5 FM, an all news radio station in Washington, DC, has one-minute “Garden Plot” sessions on Saturday and “Yard Warrior” on Friday morning. He writes a gardening column every Friday, posted on WTOP.com. You can e-mail him your gardening issue/questions.
Garden Sense Radio is hosted by Rick Fowler on Saturday, 8:00 to 9:00 am., WMAL AM 630 and 105.9 FM.
