Meet Gurney’s Chief Horticulturist Mark Wessel
About Mark Wessel
Mark Wessel is highly regarded as a plantsman and naturalist in the Greater Cincinnati area and beyond. His interest in plants began on a small farm in Ohio, where he learned to garden and explored surrounding forests and fields. After graduating from Hocking University with a degree in Natural Resources, he spent decades working as a fine gardener on private estates. In 2014, he brought his diverse knowledge and experience to Gardens Alive!, home to a family of horticulture brands including Gurneys, Breck’s, and Spring Hill Nurseries. Mark is currently Chief Horticulturist, where he travels extensively in the U.S. and abroad searching for new fruits, vegetables, and ornamental plants for customers. In his spare time, Mark gardens with his wife Meg, enjoys birdwatching, and wanders anywhere outdoors observing nature. He is a participating member in various organizations including the International Plant Production Society, Perennial Plant Association, North American Fruit Explorers, North American Rock Gardening Society, and several others.
Learn From Mark
Dig In Q&A Series
Each month, Mark answers questions sent in from gardeners like you. Watch here: Dig In Q&A Series
Let’s Garden Podcast
Let’s Garden is a weekly conversation with passionate plant-loving people, hosted by Scott Beuerlein. Scott is an accomplished garden writer known for his contributions to Garden Rant and Horticulture Magazine, winning multiple awards from Garden Communicators International. Scott is also Manager of Botanical Garden Outreach at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden.
Tune into these episodes to hear from Mark:
Scott and Mark Wessel dive into the world of gardening, discussing the importance of choosing the right plants for your climate and soil type. Mark shares tips on planting onion sets and potatoes, highlighting the benefits of soaking the roots before planting. They also touch on the topic of minor bulbs, exploring the unique characteristics of plants like paper birch and Virginia bluebells.
Scott and Mark Wessel are joined by Bill Fountain to discuss the impact of road salt on plants. They explore how salt can damage soil pH, limit essential nutrients like magnesium and iron, and cause issues like chlorosis. Bill shares his expertise on the effects of salt on plants, including its ability to dehydrate them and pull moisture from the air. They also talk about salt-tolerant plants, such as bayberry, shore juniper, and ginkgo, and how to choose the right plants for your location.
Scott and Mark Wessell are joined by special guest Marianne Willburn, a blogger, author, and podcaster. They dive into the beauty of spring, discussing the tulip season at the Cincinnati Zoo and the upcoming super bloom in California. Mark shares his experience with planting 100,000 tulips, while Mary Anne talks about her own garden in Virginia, where spring ephemerals are blooming. They also discuss the challenges of dealing with deer and rabbit damage in their respective gardens.
