Walter Reeves, the beloved Georgia gardening guru and veteran radio personality best known for hosting WSB Radio’s “The Lawn and Garden Show” for 26 years, passed away on Friday morning, April 10, 2026, at the age of 74 after a decade-long battle with Parkinson’s disease, leaving the Atlanta broadcasting and gardening communities in mourning and prompting heartfelt tributes from colleagues and longtime listeners across the metro area.
Growing up on a small family farm in Fayette County, Georgia, where daily chores included tending chickens, cows, and a large vegetable garden that helped feed the household, young Walter Reeves once swore he would never garden again once he left home at 18, yet those early roots in the soil became the very foundation for a lifetime spent teaching others how to nurture thriving lawns, plants, and landscapes throughout the state.
A familiar and trusted voice in Atlanta broadcasting for decades, he began hosting the popular Saturday morning “Lawn and Garden Show with Walter Reeves” on WSB Radio in January 1994 and continued for 1,352 episodes until his retirement in early 2020, delivering warm, practical expertise and engaging on-air presence that made the program one of the most listened-to weekend shows among all stations in the region.
Beyond the microphone he served as a garden columnist for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution since 1986 and spent 30 years as a University of Georgia Cooperative Extension agent before retiring, sharing research-based advice through television appearances on networks like the DIY Network while maintaining his widely visited website that continued offering guidance to homeowners long after his radio days ended.
Known for his calm communication style that turned complex gardening topics into approachable solutions for everyday Georgians, Reeves earned induction into the Georgia Radio Hall of Fame in 2018, a recognition that reflected the deep respect he built through years of helping listeners solve everything from lawn care dilemmas to backyard plant mysteries with patience and genuine enthusiasm.
As the Atlanta community reflects on the quiet strength and generous spirit he brought to every broadcast and column, Walter Reeves leaves behind a lasting legacy of trusted wisdom and quiet joy that continues to bloom in the gardens and memories of countless listeners who tuned in faithfully each Saturday morning, forever grateful for the man who made the Georgia landscape feel a little more manageable and a lot more green.
