Yard Coach | DIY Landscaping Mastery & Professional Advice

Hosted by Yard Coach Matt

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213

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Nov 2026

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About the show

Yard Coach helps DIY homeowners plan smarter, avoid costly mistakes, and create beautiful, functional landscapes with confidence. Drawing on decades of hands-on landscaping and construction experience, Coach Matt shares practical guidance you can apply to your own property—without confusing jargon or expensive guesswork. Learn about landscape planning and design, drainage and grading, functional hardscaping, plant selection, irrigation, lawn improvement, and the common DIY mistakes that can cost you time and money. Whether you’re improving one garden bed or planning your entire property, Yard Coach will help you understand what to do, why it matters, and how to get started. NO AI-GENERATED PODCASTS, VIDEOS OR PRODUCTS.

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60 recent

November 4, 2026Episode 22639 min

Landscape Drainage - Choosing the Right Drainage Solution

Video Version Here: https://youtu.be/QNlPgYYJlh4 A soggy backyard, a washed-out driveway, or roof water collecting beside your foundation—each drainage problem needs the right solution. And a French drain isn’t always the answer. In this episode of the Yard Coach Podcast, Coach Matt explains how to identify where unwanted water comes from, understand how it moves through your property, and compare drainage options before spending money or digging a trench. Drawing on projects from Northern California to Northern Maine, Matt covers: • Surface runoff versus subsurface water—and why the difference matters. • How grading, swales, berms, and simple diversions can help control runoff. • When French drains, channel drains, sump basins, and pumps may make sense. • Using a dry creek bed to combine drainage with landscape appeal. • Three common scenarios: street runoff entering a driveway, water collecting at the bottom of a hill, and downspouts dumping beside a foundation. • Why some yards need several drainage solutions working together. Before choosing a drain, understand the problem—and plan where the water will go. Confirm local requirements for discharge locations and electrical work before installation. 🌿 NEED HELP WITH YOUR YARD? Explore DIY landscaping resources, landscape design services, and personalized consultations: https://www.youryardcoach.com 📩 QUESTIONS FOR COACH MATT? youryardcoach@gmail.com Follow the Yard Coach Podcast for practical landscaping guidance, and visit Yard Coach on YouTube for demonstrations and project examples. Share this episode with a homeowner who’s tired of watching their yard turn into a swamp.

October 2, 2026Episode 22512 min

Drought Nearly Emptied Our Pond - So We Brought In an Excavator!

VIDEO VERSION HERE: https://youtu.be/mslUPM_z87U Our pond was nearly 90% gone after an unusually dry stretch, creating a rare opportunity to bring in an excavator and tackle some much-needed pond work. In this episode, Coach Matt shares what the pond looked like during the drought, why we decided this was the right time to excavate, and what we hoped to accomplish before the water returned. It’s a real-world look at responding to changing conditions and making the most of an unexpected opportunity at Brook & Pond. This is the audio-only version of the Yard Coach video. To see the pond and excavation footage, look for “Drought Nearly Emptied Our Pond—So We Brought In an Excavator” on the Yard Coach YouTube channel. Visit Yard Coach: https://www.youryardcoach.com Questions or comments: youryardcoach@gmail.com

July 15, 2026Episode 22430 min

When Too Much Yard Spoils Everything

That dream property with acres of space can quickly become a nightmare if you’re not realistic about the time, money, and effort it takes to maintain it. VIDEO VERSION HERE https://youtu.be/UakoG7E_ExM In this episode, Coach shares real stories from nearly 40 years in the landscaping industry—including a beautiful five-acre property that fell apart just two years after a complete landscape transformation. He also discusses first-time homebuyers, downsizers, busy families, and retirees who often underestimate what “all that potential” really costs. You’ll learn: How to know if a property is simply too much yard for your lifestyle. Why neglected landscapes usually point to bigger issues. The hidden financial cost of deferred maintenance. How to honestly evaluate your time, skills, and resources before buying. Why smaller, manageable landscapes often provide greater long-term enjoyment. Practical advice if you’re already feeling overwhelmed. Whether you’re shopping for your first home, downsizing, or wondering where your weekends disappeared, this episode may change the way you look at your property forever. Need help creating a landscape you can actually enjoy? 🌿 Visit https://www.youryardcoach.com to learn more about our consultation services, DIY resources, and homeowner education.

June 26, 2026Episode 22335 min

Landscape Designing for Continuous Color All Season Long

Episode: Landscape Designing for Continuous Color All Season Long VIDEO VERSION HERE: https://youtu.be/IsceTOOf5eI Yard Coach COLOR CONTINUUM GUIDE: https://www.youryardcoach.com/continuous-color-guide Does your yard look amazing for a few weeks… and then fade into a whole lot of green? In this episode, Coach explains how to think like a landscape designer and build a true color continuum — a landscape where one plant hands the spotlight to the next from spring through fall. You’ll learn why buying only what’s blooming at the garden center is one of the biggest DIY mistakes, how annuals should be used as fillers instead of the whole show, and why flowers are only one part of long-term landscape color. Coach covers: How to plan color by season Why foliage, bark, texture, grasses, shrubs, and evergreens matter How to avoid the “two-week wonder” landscape The power of mass plantings and drifts Simple plant examples for spring, summer, late summer, fall, and winter interest How to build a stronger, more professional-looking landscape over time If your yard feels flat after spring, this episode will help you start planning for color that lasts. Visit: https://www.youryardcoach.com To your landscape success.

June 4, 2026Episode 22226 min

Online Plant Purchases - Is this the New Wave on How to Landscape?

Online Plant Purchases – Is This the New Wave on How to Landscape? VIDEO VERSION HERE: https://youtu.be/4FLyvTlSeCQhttps://youtu.be/4FLyvTlSeCQ For more than 45 years, Coach Matt has relied on a simple rule when buying plants: see them, touch them, inspect them, and bring them home yourself. This year, that changed. In this episode, Coach shares his first-ever experience ordering fruit trees, strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries online and having them shipped directly to his property in northern Maine. Did the plants arrive healthy? How did they handle the stress of shipping? Were online prices worth it? And can internet plant purchases really replace the traditional nursery experience? You'll hear: • The pros and cons of ordering plants online • What arrived in good condition—and what struggled • How Coach handled bare-root fruit trees and berry plants upon arrival • Common mistakes homeowners make with shipped plant material • Tips for planting and caring for bare-root trees and shrubs • Whether online plant buying has earned a place in Coach's landscaping toolbox If you've ever wondered whether ordering plants online is worth the risk, this episode offers a real-world, first-season perspective from someone who spent decades in the nursery industry. Have you purchased plants online? We'd love to hear about your experience. Visit https://www.youryardcoach.com for DIY landscaping resources, consultations, digital products, and more. To your landscape success, Coach Matt

May 13, 2026Episode 22144 min

Landscape Form vs Function – Why Beautiful Yards Fail Over Time | Yard Coach Podcast

In this episode of the Yard Coach Podcast, Coach Matt dives into one of the biggest mistakes homeowners make in DIY landscaping: choosing form over function. VIDEO VERSION on YouTube: https://youtu.be/7sRVcOcivpM Why do so many beautiful landscapes fail after only a few years? Why do flooded yards, cracked patios, dead plants, drainage issues, and maintenance nightmares happen so often — even in landscapes that looked amazing at first? Coach Matt breaks down the real-world difference between landscaping that simply photographs well… and landscaping that actually works long term. Topics include: Form vs function in landscape design Why drainage should always come first Common homeowner landscaping mistakes The hidden problems Pinterest landscapes don’t show Grading, irrigation, traffic flow & snow management Plant survivability and maintenance realities Designing landscapes for year 5 and year 10 — not week 5 This episode is packed with practical homeowner advice, decades of contractor experience, and common-sense DIY landscaping wisdom to help you avoid expensive mistakes and build a landscape that’s both beautiful and durable. 🌐 Explore Yard Coach Products & Services: Yard Coach Website 📘 Landscaping Simplified eBook: Landscaping Simplified 🎓 Homescape 2.0 DIY Landscaping Course: Homescape 2.0 📋 15-Step DIY Landscaping Checklist: 15-Step Checklist 📧 Contact Coach Matt: youryardcoach@gmail.com #landscaping #DIYlandscaping #yardcoach

April 3, 2026Episode 22048 min

Why Your Irrigation System Isn’t Working: 5 Common Problems and Fixes

If your irrigation system won’t turn on, won’t shut off, sprays weak, floods spots, or just plain underperforms, this episode is for you. VIDEO VERSION HERE: https://youtu.be/Y8IU-D9RmJM In this Yard Coach Podcast episode, Coach Matt breaks down the big 5 irrigation problems he’s seen after working on hundreds of manual and automatic sprinkler systems over the years. From electrical issues at the timer controller to worn solenoids, clogged nozzles, broken heads, hidden pipe leaks, freeze damage, poor pressure, and underperforming zones—this is a practical, no-fluff look at what goes wrong and what to do next. Inside this episode: Why zones won’t turn on What causes weak sprinkler pressure and poor coverage Why a valve may not shut off How broken heads, cracks, and leaks affect performance What freeze damage and spring startup problems can do to your system When it makes sense to repair a part—and when it’s smarter to replace it Coach Matt also shares real-world troubleshooting advice from years in the field, including what to inspect first, what commonly fails, and how to avoid wasting money chasing the wrong fix. If your yard is getting too much water, not enough water, or the wrong kind of coverage, this episode will help you think through the system before it costs you more time, water, and frustration. Need more help with your landscape? Visit Yard Coach YouTube channel . As always—to your landscape success.

March 31, 2026Episode 21916 min

Landscape Lights Not Working? Do THIS Before You Dig

The simple troubleshooting steps that fix most lighting problems fast Your landscape lights stopped working… now what? Before you start digging up your yard or calling a contractor, there’s a simple troubleshooting path that solves most lighting problems fast—and it’s probably not what you think. In this episode, Coach Matt walks you through the real-world process used to diagnose low voltage landscape lighting issues, including: Why the most common failure isn’t your wiring The simple checks that can save you hours of frustration When it’s a quick fix—and when it’s time to call someone How one inexpensive tool can help you diagnose it yourself Here’s the truth: most homeowners jump straight to worst-case scenarios… when the fix is often something small, simple, and completely avoidable. And if you’re still running incandescent bulbs, you may be setting yourself up for repeat failures—because they burn out far faster than modern alternatives. 🎥 Watch the full video version here: https://youtu.be/kHfrBaEtaIY 🔧 DIY Landscaping Resources: 🌱 15-Step DIY Landscaping Checklist https://www.youryardcoach.com/15-step-diy-landscaping-project-checklist 📘 Landscaping Simplified eBook https://www.youryardcoach.com/landscapingsimplifiedebook 🎓 Homescape 2.0 Course https://www.youryardcoach.com/diy-landscape-course 💡 Bottom line: Don’t guess. Don’t dig blindly. Diagnose it the right way—and fix it once.

March 27, 2026Episode 21820 min

The 15-Step DIY Landscape Plan (Part 2): Build It Right or Fix It Later

You planned it. You prepped it. Now it’s time to build it—and this is where most DIY projects go wrong. In Part 2, we walk through the critical build phase of the 15-step landscaping process—where trenching, underground installs, grading, and timing either lock in a successful project… or create problems you’ll be fixing later. This episode covers: How to properly mark and trench for underground systems Installing drainage, irrigation, gas, and electrical the right way Why poor compaction leads to sinking, shifting, and rework The exact order of operations that keeps your project on track What needs to be done before you move to finishing work This is the difference between a project that lasts—and one that becomes a headache. 🔗 Get the Full 15-Step Checklist + Bonus Audio https://www.youryardcoach.com/15-step-diy-landscaping-project-checklist 💥 Use code NEW15STEP to save $5 (limited time) 🧠 What You’ll Learn: The correct sequence for underground installations Why compaction and grading make or break your project How to avoid the most expensive DIY mistakes 📌 Follow Yard Coach: YouTube: https://cutt.ly/UjR6cKF Facebook Group: http://www.facebook.com/groups/yardcoach/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/YardCoach If you do this phase right, everything that follows gets easier.

March 20, 2026Episode 21721 min

The 15-Step DIY Landscape Plan (Part 1): Where Most Homeowners Get It Wrong

Most DIY landscaping projects don’t fail because of effort… They fail before the first shovel hits the ground. In Part 1 of this series, we break down the foundation of every successful landscape project—and where most homeowners quietly sabotage themselves. This episode walks through the first critical stages of the proven 15-step process, including: Knowing your real limits (before the project humbles you) Why “winging it” is the fastest way to waste time and money The planning mistake almost everyone makes What to do before demolition even begins Why calling 811 isn’t optional—it’s survival This isn’t theory—it’s the exact step-by-step framework used to take projects from idea → execution → done right the first time. If you’ve ever: Started a project and stalled out Had to redo work (and hated every second of it) Or felt overwhelmed before even beginning …this is where you fix that. 👉 This is Part 1. Don’t skip ahead—this is the groundwork everything else depends on. 🔗 Get the Full 15-Step Checklist + Bonus Audio https://www.youryardcoach.com/15-step-diy-landscaping-project-checklist 💥 Use code NEW15STEP to save $5 (limited time) 🧠 What You’ll Learn in This Episode: The mindset shift that separates finishers from quitters How proper planning eliminates 80% of common mistakes The exact order of operations before installation even begins 📌 Follow Yard Coach: YouTube: https://cutt.ly/UjR6cKF Facebook Group: http://www.facebook.com/groups/yardcoach/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/YardCoach If you’re serious about doing your landscape project once—and doing it right—start here.