Dutch horticulturist, voice of ‘Garden Sense’

Many immigrants to the U.S. come in search of greener pastures. Dutchborn horticulturist Jos Roozen was determined to create them, one yard at a time.

He dispensed advice on lawn care and other garden needs to listeners and callers for almost two decades on his nationally syndicated radio show, “Garden Sense.”

He died Feb. 8, five days after his last broadcast, at his home in suburban Fort Washington, Md. He was 70.

The cause is believed to be related to a heart condition, said his brother, Eric Roozen.

Jos Roozen came to the U.S. from the Netherlands in 1971 to gain what he expected to be temporary experience in an American retail nursery. Seeing the economic vitality of the retail nursery trade, he decided to stay even though he came from a family with deep roots in the Dutch flower bulb industry. He established Roozen Nursery in 1975 in Fort Washington, with Eric Roozen joining him soon after as a partner.

Jos Roozen decided to launch the radio show, which was also a vehicle for product sales, after the dominant voice on the radio in Washington, WTOPAM’s Jack Eden, ended his long-running program. After its 1999 debut on WMAL-AM 630, “Garden Sense” developed a broad fan base who tuned in to hear Mr. Roozen’s advice.

His tone was always firm but never hectoring and delivered in a smooth Dutch accent that was authoritative and reassuring.

“That was part of the magic,” said Rick Fowler, who in 2005 joined the program as co-host.

Listeners would travel from as far as Alabama New York to visit Mr. Roozen at his nursery, though he never considered himself a media personality, a son, Nicholas Roozen, said.