The Messed Up Gardener
Hello and Welcome to The Messed Up Gardener. This podcast covers all areas of gardening from a beginner, intermediate to advanced level. It covers gardening on any budget, any space, any place. There are no rules when it comes to me, and my gardens and I do it messy. There is nothing more fun than getting your hands dirty and creating that space that gives you joy and abundance. This podcast will give tips, tricks, hacks and methodology’s to make any space work from the tiny indoor garden to the rolling meadows with even a dash of bees, mushrooms and hydroponics thrown in. I have been a horticulturist for as long as I can remember and in the industry since I was 15 so that’s nearly 30 years of hands on gardening experience. I am really looking forward to being on this journey & doing it messy with you.
The Messed Up Gardener
Ep 185: What Your Garden Is Trying to Tell You
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Free Gardening Resources at the bottom of the show notes
Have you ever walked into your garden and immediately assumed something had gone wrong?
A yellow leaf. A wilted seedling.
A plant that suddenly looks unhappy for no obvious reason.
It's amazing how quickly a garden can make us feel like we've failed.
But what if your garden isn't criticizing you at all?
What if it's simply trying to tell you something?
In this episode of The Messed-Up Gardener, Esther Williams explores one of the most valuable gardening skills you can develop—not growing better plants, but learning how to read what your garden is trying to communicate.
Because every garden is constantly giving feedback.
The challenge is learning the difference between information, genuine problems, and the stories we tell ourselves.
Not every yellow leaf is a disaster.
Not every pest is a crisis.
And not every struggling plant means you're doing something wrong.
Sometimes the best thing a gardener can do isn't react faster...
It's pause, observe, and ask better questions.
In this episode you'll discover:
🌱 Why gardens are constantly giving feedback—and why that isn't bad news
🌱 How to stop turning every garden problem into a personal failure
🌱 Why most garden feedback isn't nearly as urgent as it first feels
🌱 The difference between symptoms, causes, and assumptions
🌱 How weather, timing and a plant's natural life cycle often explain more than we realize
🌱 Why overcorrecting can sometimes create bigger problems than the original issue
🌱 A simple garden feedback walk that will help you make calmer, more confident gardening decisions
If you've ever found yourself standing in the garden wondering...
"What have I done wrong?"
This episode offers a completely different way of looking at what your garden is trying to tell you.
Because feedback isn't failure.
It's how the garden teaches us.
🎧 Press play above to listen.
If you enjoyed this episode, please consider sharing it with another gardener or leaving a review. Every share and every review helps more people discover the show.
I'd also love to hear what your own garden has been teaching you lately.
📩 themessedupgardener@gmail.com
https://www.mushroomsbythesea.co.nz/products/blue-oyster-grow-kit
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🌱 Helpful Garden Resources
If you'd like to keep learning, you can explore some of my practical gardening resources:
🌱 Create Your Own DIY Self-Watering Planters
A step-by-step guide to building simple systems that help your garden thrive.
https://stan.store/EstherA/p/create-your-own-diy-self-watering-garden-planters
🌿 Free Gardening Resources
You can also grab a selection of free guides designed to help gardeners build confidence and grow more successfully.
🌿 12 Essential Tips for a Thriving Garden
Practical guidance from planning through to harvest.
🌿 Organic Gardening Cheat Sheet
Simple natural methods for chemical-free growing.
🌿 Garden Goals Planning Worksheet
A practical worksheet to help you design your garden with purpose and intention.
https://stan.store/EstherA/p/get-my-garden-goals-planning-worksheet-now
Until next time, remember:
Gardening can happen in any space, in any place, and on any budget.