Mike Miller
Mike Miller joined KMOX in August 1994 as host of the then-newly created KMOX Garden Hotline.
Gardening and growing anything in this region is truly related to nature’s sliding scale of weather / four seasons making each week, month or year entirely different from those previous adding to the Garden Hotlines timeliness. Rain, sun, cold, hot, or perfectly wonderful it doesn’t matter, Mike is there to help by providing listeners with useable, practical, easily understandable information related to their individual question or situation, while reminding all listeners to keep an eye out for similar occurrences in their yard. Thoughts and ideas with lead time allow listeners to stay ahead by giving advance notice of what to expect next, this allows for more family fun time, and over-all enjoyment.
1000′s of listener questions and comments have been addressed over the years with queries spanning plant world and everything related to successful growing from storms, birds, insects, diseases, wildlife basically anything from underground to sky high. How to’s and beyond of soil improvement, best grass seed for very sunny yard with kids and dogs, repotting an orchid, best fertilizer for spruce trees, how much water do tomatoes require, will killing grubs get rid of moles, how many years will tulips continue to bloom, why is algae growing in bird bath, some bug is eating rose petals, to this weed growing every where what can be done to get rid of it are just examples. Mike’s respectful approach gives callers a down to earth straight forward suggestion, while thanking callers, reminding them ‘if they weren’t calling or listening in he wouldn’t be on KMOX’.
Always ready to share a laugh or offer sympathy Mike understands amount of time and effort that goes into selecting, planting, growing and keeping any plant or landscape idea alive and robust. Mike a four-year Air Force veteran, educated in southern California, with now over 30 years of landscape design horticultural experience includes; horticultural staff at Missouri Botanical Garden, general manager of retail garden center, cofounder of predatory insect store, Missouri state licensed for pest, disease, weed and aquatic environment management, guest speaker at University of Illinois and SIUE seminars, MO. Dept. of Natural Resources-Powder Valley, adult and master gardener education at Missouri Botanical Garden, National Council of State Garden Clubs, advisory boards for Forest Park Forever, Operation Brightside, and Lafayette Square Park Restoration.
Mike has written 5 gardening books and gardening articles featured in both St. Louis Post Dispatch and Suburban Journal, is webmaster for www.mikemillerdesigns.com which contains monthly updates, info and useful overviews. Mike has been tour host and plant interpreter for KMOX listeners as they have traveled to Alaska, Canadian’s Eastern shore and Rockies, Europe, and Western United States. 1998 Mike Miller Designs was started and since has planned landscapes, consulted in yards throughout the area.
Mike and Tracy Anne both St. Louis natives live in the Christy Park neighborhood of south St. Louis where colorful containers, lawn, herbs, annual plantings, gazing balls, water features, trees, artwork and shrubs embrace their 1950′s home. They both take pleasure in ethnic food, strolling diverse neighborhoods and parks, listening to a wide range of music, bicycling, bird watching, art fairs, flea markets and simply relaxing.
The KMOX Garden Hotline is sponsored by St. Louis Composting and Allen’s Tree Service.
