Mike McCurdy

If the pandemic and 2020 have taught us anything, it's to expect the unexpected.

The best lettuce is fresh lettuce. It's easy to grow and eat right out of the garden. But sometimes you don't have enough and you have to grab some from the store.

Pollinators are having a tough time. We've all heard about the decline in the honeybee population. Butterflies like Monarchs also are in decline. But backyard gardeners can help. Learn how with help from Illinois State University's Patrick Murphy and WGLT's Mike McCurdy.

WGLT's Grow is your source for gardening advice and down-to-earth tips. Murph and Mike are ready to take on all your gardening questions, so submit yours today.

Alcohol consumption is up during the pandemic, and some of us have a little extra time on our hands. So why not make our own alcohol?

A lot of people are thinking about vegetable gardens this year to help fight food insecurity.

In this week's episode of WGLT's Grow, listen as Illinois State University's Patrick Murphy and WGLT's Mike McCurdy provide some advice to avoid rookie mistakes.

While staring out your window during the stay-at-home order, you might notice trees and shrubs beginning to leaf out. It's a welcome sight, a cue that spring is here.

The tree industry is under pressure. Prices for trees are up. But in this episode of WGLT's gardening podcast Grow, ISU's Patrick Murphy tells WGLT's Mike McCurdy it's not a shortage.

WGLT's Grow is your source for gardening advice and down-to-earth tips. Murph and Mike are ready to take on all your gardening questions, so submit yours today.

The future is nearly here when it comes to self-guided lawnmowers. In this edition of WGLT's gardening podcast Grow, listen as ISU's Patrick Murphy and WGLT's Mike McCurdy tell you what to expect ... including a huge time savings.

WGLT's Grow is your source for gardening advice and down-to-earth tips. Murph and Mike are ready to take on all your gardening questions, so submit yours today.

There's not much you can do as a gardener right now...except plan for the future. In is episode of our gardening podcast Grow, ISU's Patrick Murphy and WGLT's Mike McCurdy have some tips on mapping out your spring plans. 

WGLT's Grow is your source for gardening advice and down-to-earth tips. Murph and Mike are ready to take on all your gardening questions, so submit yours today.

The time to appreciate winter interest in the yard and landscaping is now. The time to plan for future winters is also now. Listen as Illinois State University's Patrick Murphy shares what to consider to create winter interest in WGLT's gardening podcast Grow. 

WGLT's Grow is your source for gardening advice and down-to-earth tips. Murph and Mike are ready to take on all your gardening questions, so submit yours today.

There all kinds of ways a gardener could get hurt, from sprains and strains to even more serious injuries.In this edition of WGLT's gardening podcast Grow, Mike McCurdy talks with Illinois State University's Patrick Murphy about preventing injuries and staying safe.

WGLT's Grow is your source for gardening advice and down-to-earth tips. Murph and Mike are ready to take on all your gardening questions, so submit yours today.

The winter months are a perfect time to daydream about spring and the upcoming planting season...and nothing can help fuel that imagination like seed and plant catalogues. But a little knowledge about different kinds of new plants can help. Patrick Murphy has that knowledge in this edition of our gardening podcast Grow.

Giving a house plant as a gift raises a number of questions. What's the best kind of plant to give? Is the person receiving it capable of caring for the plant?

You've heard the song. Now you'll find out from Illinois State University's Patrick Murphy and WGLT's Mike McCurdy if you really can roast chestnuts over an open fire.

Winter's cold temperatures have already visited the Midwest. And if the Old Farmer's Almanac is to be believed, a lot more cold is on the way this winter.

In this edition of our gardening podcast Grow, WGLT's Mike McCurdy talks with Illinois State University's Patrick Murphy about the effects of the cold on our plants and gardens.

Winter is coming on strong with below zero lows and highs barely breaking 20. And then it all thaws out again.

We have already had a little snow, but gardening is not quite done for the year.

Hardscape can add interest to your landscaping with river rock, boulders, and flagstones.

Tucked away near Cardinal Court on the Illinois State University campus are 18 acres designated for restoration. The goal: return the area to its original savanna state.

Before those chestnuts can roast over an open fire, they have to be harvested.

It's hard to know when to stop nursing a sick plant, tree, or shrub and just opt to get a new one.

There may be food, just free for the taking. But there may also be a few rules you need to observe to be polite ... and safe.

There's nothing wrong with being a late bloomer. In fact, that's exactly what you might want in late summer for your yard and landscaping.

Some jobs around the yard are beyond the do-it-yourselfer. To get it done right, and safely, it's best to call an expert.

Palm trees bring to mind images of beaches and tropical breezes. But palms can do quite will in the hot, humid conditions in the Midwest.

In this edition of our gardening podcast Grow, Illinois State University's Patrick Murphy and WGLT's Mike McCurdy talk about caring for your little slice of tropical paradise.

The Fell Arboretum is Illinois State University most visible gardening asset. But there are others, and combined they could lead to a new "botanical garden" designation.

Edges and edging can be found throughout nature. Great landscaping successfully duplicates nature on a smaller scale.

A plant you might expect to find in the desert Southwest is native to central Illinois. And it's easy to grow, edible and might have medical benefits.

The first instinct with exposed tree roots is to cover them up. But is that the right instinct? Or could doing nothing be the best option?

The American lawn uses too much water, often gets too many chemicals, and takes up too much space and time. But most of us love the look of a green carpet surrounding a home.