Uncle Josh Gardens

Uncle Josh Gardens 🌱 Master Gardener & Fruit Tree Grower 🏡 | Homesteader 🌾 | Tech Enthusiast 💻 | 10 Years of Growing

09/10/2026

Have you seen these on your trees? 🌳👀

This neglected Autumn Blaze maple 🍁 had a strap and landscape fabric around the trunk, root suckers, weeds, and a buried root flare. 😮

We removed anything that could restrict the trunk, exposed the root flare, cleaned up the suckers, and added a mulch ring. ✂️🌱

A few simple fixes can make a big difference for long term tree health! ✅

Have you checked the base of your trees lately?

09/09/2026

🍎 Are you picking apples right now?

Just because an apple is red doesn’t mean it’s ripe! 👀 One clue is the ground color underneath that red blush.

As many apples mature, that background color shifts from green toward a lighter green or yellow. 🍏➡️🍎 Pair that with the twist test. A ripe apple should usually release easily when gently lifted and twisted.

Did you know to check the ground color before picking? 👇

09/08/2026

Have you heard of the Sweetbay Magnolia? 🌳🤍

This underrated native tree has it all! 🌿 Glossy leaves with silvery undersides ✨ fragrant white flowers 🌸 bright red seeds birds love 🐦 and it thrives in wet, soggy areas 💧

Perfect for that low spot where other trees struggle! 🙌🌳

Would you grow one? 👇

09/07/2026

Are you removing an old fence? What’s your technique? 👇

I had about 30 old, rusty T-posts to pull, and some had roots growing around them. This T-post remover made the job SO much easier. 🙌

It’s basically a giant lever that grabs the post and uses leverage to pop it right out of the ground. The extended handle helps even more, and putting a board underneath gives you a solid base when the ground is soft.

Definitely one of those tools that can save you hours! 🛠️💪

09/05/2026

What do you look for when buying a fruit tree? 🌳👀

Poor pruning, crowded upright growth, and bad branch angles can mean YEARS of extra work. ✂️

When possible, choose a younger, thinner tree with good structure that’s easier to train from the start. 🌱

09/04/2026

What’s the best type of basil? 🌿

I grew three very different types this year: Thai basil, sweet basil, and Emerald Towers.

🌿 Thai basil has that distinct anise/licorice flavor and holds up great when cooked.
🍃 Sweet basil is the classic for pesto, caprese, and Italian dishes.
🌱 Emerald Towers grows upright and narrow, flowers later, and is perfect when you’re short on space.

They all have their place, but which basil are you growing? 👇

09/04/2026

What are you planting in your fall garden? 🥦🥬🌱

When it’s still 100° outside, starting cool season crops like broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower indoors can give them a much better start. Once temperatures cool down, you’ll have healthy seedlings ready to hit the garden! 🙌

Everything I’m starting came from Park Seed, including the Bio Dome. They’ve got the seeds and seed starting supplies you need to get your fall garden going! 🌱

09/04/2026

Are you growing apples? 🍎🌳

One of the easiest ways to check if an apple is ready is the lift-and-twist test. Gently lift the apple and rotate it. If it releases easily from the spur, it’s a good sign it’s ready to harvest.

Color alone can be misleading, so taste and variety-specific ripening signs matter too! 🍏

What apple varieties are you growing? 👇

09/03/2026

Have you ever seen this on a fruit tree? 🌳🔥

Before buying a fruit tree, always check it closely for signs of disease. Brown, scorched-looking leaves along with rapidly dying or curled shoots can be signs of fire blight, a bacterial disease that can spread through susceptible pear and apple trees.

If a tree is already showing suspicious symptoms at the nursery, I’m leaving it behind! 👋🌳

And remember, susceptibility varies by variety, so choosing more resistant varieties can make a big difference.

09/03/2026

Have you tried comfrey in your orchard? 🌱🌳

Comfrey might be one of my favorite chop-and-drop plants. It produces tons of foliage, grows back quickly after cutting, and those leaves can be spread around fruit trees as mulch, returning nutrients and organic matter to the soil as they break down.

I grow Bocking 14 Russian comfrey, which is sterile and won’t spread by seed. Just choose your planting spot carefully! Its roots can be tough to remove, and even small root pieces can grow into new plants.

I’ve already chopped mine down about three times this year, and it keeps coming back! 🌿✂️

What’s been your experience with comfrey?

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Tempe, AZ
85281, 85282, 85283, 85284, 85285, 85287

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