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Top Ten Berries for Container Gardens

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Great success is found when berries are grown in large pots.

Those new to gardening are surprised at the bountiful crops berry plants produce. Local berry bushes are even more consistent fruit bearers than fruit trees and are easier to grow. Simply plant them into the ground where at least six hours of bright, hot sun are guaranteed, add them to the drip system with your other trees and shrubs, and wait for the berry harvest! Even more impressive is that berry plants don’t need to be in the ground at all.

Containers are a great way to enjoy berry bushes for gardeners with limited space or those trying to keep four-footed mammals away. Great success is found when berries are grown in large pots.

If you plan on leaving your plants outdoors for the winter, choose a container material that can handle our spring and fall freeze and thaw cycles. My best berries have been grown in glazed pots. Plastic pots seem to only last a few years and then become brittle and break. I tend to overwater plants in plastic pots as well. Containers made of wood grow exceptional plants but can be a dated style. Fiberglass containers are beautiful – plants grow well in them – but being more expensive than glazed clay pots, I go for the glazed pots. (It’s no coincidence that Watters has the largest glazed pottery selection in Northern Arizona.) I love pretty pots.

#1 Strawberries are well-suited to containers, but you don’t need a strawberry jar for success; any container, even a hanging basket, is suitable. You will find several strawberries at the garden center right now. June bearing, everbearing, and day-neutral are popular varieties, each with slightly different care requirements.

If you plan on growing strawberries as annuals and replacing them each year, everbearing or day-neutral are the better choices. Even though strawberries are perennial plants, they only produce well for about three years, so you don’t lose much by growing them as annuals. Plant them directly in Watters Potting Soil, setting the plants, so the crowns are right at soil level. As with all fruits, they need sunshine and regular water to grow plump and sweet.

#2 Blueberries – Lowbush blueberries generally need more space to creep than a container can provide, and rabbiteye varieties grow too large for containers. The better choice is a highbush variety, and better still, the dwarfs or half-highs have been bred specifically for small spaces. All are available now at Watters Garden Center.

A sunny spot is ideal for most potted blueberries. However, where summers are unrelentingly hot, afternoon shade keeps the berries plumper before harvest. All blueberries like regular watering, but do not like to sit in wet soil for prolonged periods. Make sure their containers have proper drainage holes at the bottoms.

We have several varieties that are self-fruitful, but all blueberries produce heavier when planted in pairs. Planting two different types is useful for extending the harvest season. Blueberries start fruiting from year one, and each additional year becomes more abundant.

#3 Grapes grow large and fast. Zestful Golden Chalice is my “go-to” table grape for containers. This fast-growing grapevine is well-suited for the warmer regions of Arizona. Sets enormous clusters of crisp, wonderfully flavored champagne-colored fruits in summer that are nearly completely seedless.

#4 Raspberries & Blackberries – Brambles are not ideal candidates for containers. Raspberries can be big, unruly plants, but we’ve introduced new varieties easily controlled in containers. Everbearing varieties like Heritage and Fall Gold produce two harvests per year when pruned after their initial fruiting. If you don’t want to be bothered with pruning in summer, cut them to the ground in late fall or early spring, and you will get a lovely fall crop.

If you want to try blackberries, choose the thornless Black Satin varieties. They’ll be easier on your skin and grow without trellising.

Feeding with Watters Flower Power 54 water-soluble fertilizer every two weeks produces HUGE berries! Regular water will help keep the berries fully plumped.

Until next issue, I’ll be helping gardeners plants the best berries here at Watters Garden Center. QCBN

By Ken Lain

Ken Lain can be found throughout the week at Watters Garden Center, 1815 Iron Springs Road in Prescott or contacted through his web site at WattersGardenCenter.com or    Top10Berries.com.

Exploring the Best Four-Season Trees for Any Landscape

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You now have the three ideal trees for every mountain season.

Trees are where your landscape value is. Plant them right and your home value grows; get trees wrong, and they take over, lift patios and driveways, hide beautiful architecture and more. Think of trees and the four seasons. Begin with trees that announce spring by blooming, then have trees that offer summer shade, autumn reds and gold, ending with visual interest through winter. The goal is not simply to collect specimens in the yard but rather to have at least one model tree per season that adds pizzazz to your landscaping.

Spring Trees for the Landscape

Oklahoma Redbud grows just 16 feet tall. This local native is super easy to grow. Vibrant, red flowers cloak the branches of early spring. Luscious heart-shaped leaves emerge with a soft pink tinge that matures to a deep green. Plus, it’s small enough to grow in any yard.

Purple Robe Locust shows incredible, long clusters of purple flowers in May that look just like Wisteria flowers hanging from this local bloomer. The 8” fragrant clusters cover the tree profusely! Super hardy and drought tolerant with a brisk growth rate of 2’ feet in one year. It’s the perfect shade tree later in summer.

Thunder Cloud Plum is the perfect small purple tree between evergreens. Blooms in a profusion of pink flowers that precede the deep purple foliage. Large enough to use as a front yard tree and behaved enough to use as a street tree. Plant pairs flanking gateways, driveways or in orchard-like rows to screen a view of neighbors.

SUMMER Trees for the Landscape

Quaking Aspen has a tall, columnar form that provides excellent shade in small backyards or between homes at the edge of property lines. Perfect at shading scorching, sunbaked walls. They eventually grow tall enough to shade second-story decks. A valuable characteristic of aspens is that they don’t take over the yard after several years like many other fast-growing trees.

Sensation Maple is a stunning shade tree that thrives in severe garden conditions without skipping a beat. Faster growing, the spring leaves erupt in soft copper that quickly matures to a refreshing green with just a hint of copper undertones for the summer. Through autumn, it unleashes a brilliant display of red leaves. Where this tree really shines is in areas having challenging conditions. Once established, it is super drought tolerant. The perfect tree to line a long driveway or the picture-perfect patio shade tree.

Sunburst Honeylocust cheerfully shouts, “Hello, Spring!” with its glowing yellow leaves. As summer heats up, it settles down to a naturally cool green that turns gold again in autumn. This Watters exclusive casts a dappled shade perfect for reading a book or sharing an outdoor meal. It takes the sun and wind, yet is easy on your time, water and maintenance. Even the autumn cleanup is a piece of cake! Impervious to deer.

AUTUMN Trees for the Landscape

Prescott Blaze Maple flaunts fall color like embers in a blazing hot fire. It loves mountain soil, extreme conditions and takes our wind better than all other shade trees. It’s perfect for patios, hot sunny walls, street and driveway trees or any place shaded relief is needed.

Raywood Ash has the boldest fall foliage. The dark green summer leaves turn attractive wine-red through autumn. Plant as a single shade tree or grove for more widespread shade, especially on hotter south and west walls and patios. It is the perfect driveway-lining street tree that is both drought-hardy and beautiful.

Prescott Flowering Pear starts spring with dazzling white flowers. Summer shade is created by thick dark green foliage that is the last tree to turn brilliant red in fall. Even the winter bark is attractive. It’s the ideal specimen for lawns, lining driveways and standing alone as a model in small spaces. Even in the most challenging soil, this tree grows 30’x15’.

WINTER EVERGREEN Trees for the Landscape

Austrian Pine blocks the neighbors with a gorgeous evergreen tree! It is a handsome tree with a densely branched conical form when young and becomes umbrella-shaped with age. Needles are long and dark green. It is superb for windbreaks or as a single specimen. It is the fastest-growing local pine that quickly grows 40’ tall x 15’ wide.

Blue Spruce trees combine beauty and function. Their distinctive blue foliage is a stunning addition to any landscape and they grow tall enough to screen and create a wind break. Twice taller than wide, this native evergreen is best planted where it has room to grow. It can be used to separate tall multistory buildings and is tall enough to screen the view from second or third story windows. The blue spruce is gorgeous in estate-sized landscapes.

Vanderwolf Pine is related to Arizona Pinion Pine and produces fluffy foliage that resembles a blue cedar from a distance. It is remarkably resilient in dry Arizona soils and makes a graceful single specimen in front yards, parks or expansive, estate-sized landscapes. This distinctive pine grows 12’ x 5’ with long, twisted, silvery needles covering the dense branches. It is also carefree and easy to grow.

You now have the three ideal trees for every mountain season. The soil is warm and trees are actively rooting, making this an ideal season to plant new trees of your own. Research even more local choices through the web at Top10Trees.com.

Until next issue, I’ll be helping local gardeners plant the best trees here at Watters Garden Center. QCBN

By Ken Lain

Throughout the week, Ken Lain can be found at Watters Garden Center, 1815 W. Iron Springs Road in Prescott, or contacted through his website at WattersGardenCenter.com or Top10Trees.com.

Tips and Tricks for New Mountain Gardeners

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Never underestimate the Arizona sun, wind and dry air.

Many have gardened in places where the soil is rich, its pH perfectly balanced and the climate blessed with consistent rainfall, gentle sun and plant coddling humidity. If you have dug a hole in the ground, you know mountain gardening presents the opposite of such ideal conditions.

My words are limited here, but they’re enough that I can sketch out the big picture of mountain gardening. The local USDA garden zone is 7 with a definite influence from zone 8. This defines our area as mild but with a solid winter and possible subzero temperatures.

Never underestimate the Arizona sun, wind and dry air. They are significant influences in determining which plants do well in our landscapes and which ones won’t. Local soils are typically heavy clay with very little organic material. Therefore, soil preparation for planting is of extreme importance. It demands organic mulch to add to your soil to either hold in the moisture for granite soils or to keep clay soil from compacting. Our soil is alkaline and usually doesn’t need the addition of either lime or wood ashes, which would increase its already high pH.

When selecting plants, look for those with thick, leathery leaves; they allow plants to retain extra moisture and be less prone to tear in the area’s fierce windstorms. This is where it pays to talk to garden experts with some experience with local plants. It can save you a whole lot of time, energy and expense in planting your gardens. Visit Top10Plants.com.

Mild winter temperatures provide the chilling necessary to grow all the deciduous fruits and perennials that thrive in the region. The list includes apples, peaches, cherries, grapes and berries. Get a free copy of my new Fruit Tree Book for more. This climate also is conducive to blooming deciduous shrubs such as lilac, forsythia, hardy camellia, rose of Sharon, butterfly bush and Russian sage. The most exciting roses in the country thrive without the tedious demands of constant tending. Thanks to the low humidity and mild winters, mountain roses experience few bugs, mildew and virtually no black spot.

The climate is so mild, we garden and design landscapes 12 months of the year. The average last frost date in spring is Mother’s Day. However, spring is so mild that our cool-season gardens can be planted as early as March 1. These can include lettuce, spinach, broccoli, potatoes, onions, radishes and more.

The first light frost happens on or about Halloween, depending on your garden’s specific elevation, but gardens look great through Thanksgiving. This makes the average frost-free growing season in the area approximately 150 days long.

Until next issue, I’ll be helping new mountain gardeners here at Watters Garden Center. QCBN

By Ken Lain

Ken Lain can be found throughout the week at Watters Garden Center, 1815 W. Iron Springs Road in Prescott, or contacted through his web site at WattersGardenCenter.com    or Top10Plants.com.

Hummingbirds Fly to These Eight Flowers Every Time

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Hummingbirds are the easiest to attract to the yard.

Lisa and I sat in the front courtyard, watching the antics of “our” hummingbirds. They were enjoying water from the fountains and sipping nectar from the 30+ pots of flowers. We enjoyed one unique, unexpected benefit: The birds are equally happy sharing the landscape with us! The flowers, birds, sparkling water and fresh air combined for a romantic getaway in our front yard.

Hummingbirds are the easiest to attract to the yard. We don’t have feeders, as we never want our birds to become an obnoxious burden, but we have many flowers that attract them. We noticed that some flowers attract hummers better than others. The same flowers attract butterflies. If you enjoy birds and butterflies in the yard, try planting some of our favorites.

Agastache These burgundy-rose flowers pop against dark green foliage and attract hummingbirds and butterflies. They thrive in local gardens; 3’ tall.   

Autumn Sage Salvia greggi is the longest blooming sage in crimson-red. This plant signals spring, with continual flowers broadcast right through autumn. Hummingbirds and gardeners fall for this knee-high bloomer that deserves a prominent location in the garden’s hotter spots.

Fuchsia There are many fuchsias at the garden center right now. They have one of the brightest flowers for a shade-loving plant. Blooms usually are pink, orange and yellow and have a drooping habit at the end of the stems.   

Harlequin Pink Penstemon This cottage garden essential produces a profusion of tall, native spikes of bright pink flowers that bloom from early summer to fall. Locally hardy down to -30 degrees. 

Impatiens A popular cottage garden plant because of its long-lasting bloom in the shade, it flowers from spring all the way through to the first frost. Impatiens have simple, five-petal flowers that bloom in various colors: blue, purple, orange, pink, white and red. Impatiens set seed readily in the garden. It’s fun to wait until the seed pods swell to full size and then flick them with your fingers to see them burst open and spill their seed out to the ground.

Monarch Promise Milkweed Milkweed is butterflies’ choice of place to lay their eggs; it’s also a source of nectar for their migrations. The contrast between the tiny blossoms of orange and red against the spiky variegated foliage makes this plant uniquely stunning. Partial shade encourages lusher leaves and blooms all summer! Plus, it looks excellent in containers.

Petunias These are a staple at the Lain casa for containers, hanging baskets and window boxes because of their long-lasting blooms and various colors. The trumpet-shaped flowers are a dead giveaway for their ability to attract hummingbirds. The variety of colors makes them easy to add to any garden space.

Summer Splash Nierembergia flowers are profuse and almost look like they are made of paper. They reseed quickly and are excellent for hot locations. Also, they are easy to grow and perfect for patio pots and baskets.

Contact us for our list of plants that attract hummingbirds and those that attract other birds. Enjoy!

Remember to provide water, especially for hummingbirds. Birds need a reliable water source and are satisfied with a simple birdbath or a saucer filled with an inch or so of water. Our garden has a simple fountain that attracts the smaller birds to a bubbling waterfall. Larger birds seem to prefer the good-sized pond in the backyard. Birds don’t bathe as often as we like, but they love resting and sipping at the water’s edge.

Until next month, I’ll be helping gardeners attract more hummingbirds here at Watters Garden Center. QCBN

By Ken Lain

Ken Lain can be found throughout the week at Watters Garden Center, 1815 Iron Springs Road in Prescott, or contacted through his website at WattersGardenCenter.com or Top10Flowers.com.

Are Fruit Trees a Good Investment?

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Late winter and early spring are the ideal planting window for fruit trees.

You used to need a lot of land to grow fruit trees. Dwarf and semi-dwarf fruit trees have allowed growing them in just about any yard. Most standard-sized fruit trees mature at a height and width of between 18-25 feet. Not only will this require a big chunk of your yard, but it also makes them tall to prune and spray without using a ladder.

Even with smaller trees, growing fruit is a long-term investment. Fruits can take anywhere from two to 10 years to bear fruit. If you plan to be harvesting for years to come, it pays to do some upfront planning.

Choosing a Size

The terms dwarf and semi-dwarf can be confusing. Dwarf fruit trees reach a height and width of about 8-10 feet. At this height, they can be tended and harvested without a ladder. Pruning keeps them even smaller. Unfortunately, dwarf fruit trees tend to have short lives.

Semi-dwarf fruit trees are a little larger, with most topping at 12-16 feet tall and wide. Maintenance and harvest require a ladder, but the average yield is eight to 12 bushels, about twice what you expect from a dwarf tree and live far longer.

There is not much space difference between the two types of trees, and both should start producing fruits within 5 years. With just a bit more work, the yields are far greater on semi-dwarf trees. With actual dwarf trees, you will have all your fruit within arm’s reach.

For those of you thinking that even 8-10 feet is more space than you have or can sacrifice, don’t give up. Fruit trees can be grown in containers as well. The yield is not as heavy, but every bit delicious.

Which Fruit Trees Need Pollinators?

Most fruit trees produce better fruits if two or more trees are planted nearby. Just don’t put your house or barn between the two trees. Anywhere in the landscape will do.

Although the trees need to be the same type of fruit, they should not be the same variety. You can plant two different kinds of apples, and they will cross-pollinate with each other as long as they bloom simultaneously. Most fruit tree catalogs and plant labels give you suggestions for excellent pollinators. We have several local charts here at Watters Garden Center that will help.

If you only want one tree, your best options are peach, apricot, nectarine and sour cherry. These are self-pollinating or self-fruitful and pollinate themselves with help from bees. One notable exception is a Stella Sweet Cherry, which is also self-fruitful.

A second option is a multi-grafted tree, where three or more varieties of fruit are grafted onto one trunk. Another name for this fruit tree is a Fruit Cocktail Tree.

Some Like it Cold

Fruit trees need a certain number of hours when the temperature drops below 45 degrees F. Without this chilling period during their dormancy, they set little fruit the following spring. We have locally proven varieties available here at the garden center.

Which Fruit Trees are Low Maintenance?

All fruit trees require some care and the right Fruit Tree Food. Most require annual pruning. However, some can get by with minimal supervision once established. At the top of the list of low-maintenance trees are cherries. These require pruning only when branches are damaged or crossed.

Stone fruits like peaches, apricots, plums and nectarines are also easy to maintain. Some pruning is required to keep the trees open to light and may need fruit thinning in early summer for a larger harvest.

Apples and pears are the best mountain producers. Because apples and pears are the last fruit trees to blossom in spring, it reduces the likelihood of frost damage. This one trait puts them in the No. 1 producer spot.

Pruning fruit trees is a vast topic and varies with the tree type. But starting with the right tree for your location and getting it off to a healthy start is a solid first step toward your first fruit harvest.

If you’re thinking fruit this spring, now is the time to plant. Plant before they leaf. Late winter and early spring are the ideal planting window for fruit trees. Watters has the most extensive local selection.

Until next month, I’ll be helping gardeners plant the perfect fruit tree here at Watters Garden Center. QCBN

By Ken Lain

Ken Lain can be found throughout the week at Watters Garden Center, 1815 Iron Springs Road in Prescott, or contacted through his website at WattersGardenCenter.com or Top10FruitTrees.com.

How to Prune, Care for Roses

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March is the start of rose planting season, which culminates in June.

March is when roses get excited about spring. Prune, clean up and fertilize your roses, and 45 days later, they will show fragrant appreciation.

March is the start of rose planting season, which culminates in June. The newest varieties are found early in March. Plant them while available.

Visit my local guide: How to Plant Roses.

Six rose types are planted locally: Hybrid Tea, Floribunda, Grandiflora, Climbing, Carpet and Shrub roses. March is when each is pruned, cleaned and fertilized. Several columns are dedicated to cover each variety. This issue is dedicated to the hardiest of roses, shrubs.

Shrub roses are the easiest to care for and bloom the longest with minor disease and insect issues. The newest varieties of Easy Elegant and Knock Out roses have large, fragrant flowers. At first glance, they resemble a long-stem Hybrid Tea Rose.

Grown in pots, raised beds or directly planted in the garden, this new variety likes growing locally and March is the best season. The benefit of planting a shrub rose is the ease of care. They self-prune spent flowers and rebloom automatically for nonstop fragrance from May through October.

Upright shrub roses make bold statements in a garden because of their blooms and sprawling growth habit. However, these large shrub roses can be somewhat wild and ill-behaved in their growth and must be tamed through pruning that focuses on shaping them. Pruning is a simple process.

Start by removing any broken or diseased portion of the bush. Shrub roses should be pruned by cutting stems back to a healthy bud. After the cut, look for healthy white wood in the cut. If brown, continue to cut until you reach white wood. Make cuts at a 45-degree angle, about 1/4” inch above a bud. The goal is to remove all dead or broken canes, creating a pleasing shape that opens the interior to light and air.

Top Tips for Pruning Shrub Roses

Prune in March when new shoots begin forming on the canes.

Cut to about one-third of the desired final size. They typically triple in size after pruning.

Remove dead or damaged wood as you see it.

Remove one-third of old growth every two or three years to rejuvenate the shrub.

Rake all fallen leaves, twigs and branches away for your bush.

Apply 2-3” inches of Watters “Premium Mulch” over the root zone for longer bloom times.

Deadhead the Flowers

All roses benefit from deadheading, or pinching spent flowers. This extends the bloom period significantly.

Rose Food

Roses are heavy feeders and need several fertilizer applications during the growing season. We created a fantastic food that roses love called Watters All Purpose Plant Food. Feed at least three times annually in spring, again in summer, and a final application in the fall (March, July and October). Water thoroughly after each feeding.

Watering

Roses need water and appreciate being on a drip system. Remember how deep you planted the rose? Water must reach that level to get to the roots and keep the plant healthy and blooming. Water thoroughly twice a week if there is no rainfall. Set a watering schedule and adjust as dictated by the weather. Even though you may see fewer flowers during the summer, cooler weather will bring more flowers, so keep up the watering schedule. To discourage black spots and mildew, water in the morning and avoid moisture on the leaves.

Until next month, I’ll be helping gardeners plant better roses here at Watters Garden Center. QCBN

By Ken Lain

Ken Lain can be found throughout the week at Watters Garden Center, 1815 Iron Springs Road in Prescott, or contacted through his website at WattersGardenCenter.com or Top10Roses.com.

Best Evergreen Trees for Mountain Landscapes

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The Local Planting Guide offers information on planting and appropriately irrigating winter evergreen trees.

This is the season when evergreens sparkle in the winter landscape.

Here is a list of the top seven evergreen trees that stand up to mountain wind and winter cold and resist the naturally occurring insects and diseases found at higher elevations. You will find each at the garden center. We offer pros and cons and information for further research so customers can learn and buy directly from our farm.

Colorado Spruce – When customers don’t know the name of this tree, they refer to it as “The one that looks like a Christmas tree.” The thick branches swoop horizontally, forming a perfect broad pyramid. Drought hardy, this tree prefers dry, windy conditions.

Con – Tree aphids like the taste of native Ponderosa and of Colorado Spruces. They rarely do severe damage and are easily spotted in mid-spring as new growth elongates.

Pro – Ancient specimens are living proof that this tree does well. Feed with aluminum sulfate to bring out the silver-blue of this perfectly formed tree. Size: 60’H x 20’W

Austrian Pine – This long-needled evergreen often is mistaken for young Ponderosa pine, although it is far more graceful. Whereas the Ponderosa loses all its lower branches as it matures, the Austrian’s rich green needles seem to flow right to the ground for a balanced appearance. The dense, stout, pyramidal growth is uniform right to the crown. It is the hardiest of the ornamental pines without the bug issues that plague many natives. It makes a most effective windbreak or privacy screen.

Con – There aren’t many negatives other than that this is a fast-growing, big tree. It has been known to overpower walkways and eaves of a house when placed incorrectly in the yard.

Pro – The fastest growing of all-mountain pines, it can quickly grow 18 inches a year and more when under the care of an attentive gardener. Size: 35’H x 18’W

Vanderwolf Pine – Take a close look, and you will see the top of each needle is blue with a green underside. This very stately pine is so soft most homeowners literally hug their trees! Its very unusual and distinctive shape is unique to mountain landscapes.

Con – This evergreen is unreceptive to heavy clay soil or a gardener with a heavy hand. Those who overwater may lose this tree within the first year of planting.

Pro – The color is stunning, and it requires little to no pruning. It is a very low-water user. Size: 25’H x 12’W

Fat Albert Blue Spruce – Perfectly shaped like a Colorado Spruce, Fat Albert doesn’t grow as tall, so it won’t overtake more than its allotted space. It has a broad pyramidal shape with distinct blue needles that present a consistent blue color.

Con – I really can’t think of any cons for this tree! I did see grubs eat some roots of a Fat Albert this spring, but that is a scarce sight.

Pro – Intense silver-blue needles adorn this tree. The choice for those who love a Christmas tree shape but need a tree with a small footprint. Size: 25’H x 12’W

Dwarf Alberta Spruce – The slowest growing of the evergreens is the easiest to maintain. Its perfect cone shape displays dense green soft-to-the-touch needles. Although it often is used to make a formal statement in the garden, it is excellent as a container plant or miniature Christmas tree.

Con – Watch for spider mite webs possible in June. Spider mites like the taste of an Alberta Spruce but are easily thwarted by using Watters Multi-Purpose Insect Spray for instant protection.

Pro – It’s a small-format evergreen that needs little to no maintenance with a classic evergreen look and feel. Perfect for large containers framing the garage, accenting decks and highlighting pots at the front door. Size: 8’H x 3’W

Arizona Cypress – This tree is a real celebrity in the Arizona garden world. Often mistaken for a juniper, this blue evergreen forms miniature cones instead of juniper berries, making it less allergy-inducing than native juniper. It is very fast-growing and readily tolerates mountain soil, valley winds and bitter winter cold.

Con – Carefully watch the frequency of irrigation the first couple of years after planting. If you are going to kill this evergreen, it will be from too much water.

Pro – This fast grower should be a serious consideration for dry, dusty properties exposed to mountain living elements. It is also deer and javelina resistant. Size: 20’H x 10’W

Deodar Cedar – This fast grower has a central leader with soft branches that sway gracefully in the wind. It is a large tree that needs a large property.

Con – It is such a fast grower, it often overpowers the landscape and soft branches can break from heavy snowfalls. It needs more regular feeding than other evergreens or it will become yellow and off-color.

Pro – Fast growing and drought hardy are this tree’s claims to fame. Size: 50’H x 25’W

The Local Planting Guide offers information on planting and appropriately irrigating winter evergreen trees. We also have printed versions free at Watters Garden Center.

Until next month, I’ll be helping local gardeners plant the best winter evergreens here at Watters Garden Center. QCBN

By Ken Lain

Ken Lain can be found throughout the week at Watters Garden Center, 1815 Iron Springs Road in Prescott, or contacted through his websites at WattersGardenCenter.com or Top10Evergreens.com.

Five Ways Houseplants Improve Mental Health

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Adding more houseplants to your windowsill is a low-effort way to ease your mind and lower stress levels.

There is a good reason those fiddle leaf figs are flying off the shelves. Houseplants are a boon for your mental health.

Stoneside Blinds and Shades surveyed nearly 1,000 people to see how their plants influenced their stress levels with some fascinating results. They found some of the top reasons for purchasing plants are to beautify living spaces (65%), with 54% noting they wanted “to have something else to focus on.” Talking to your plants is apparently normal, with 55% responding that they speak to their plants. We are all for talking to Farley the Fern and Fifi the Ficus. But beyond beauty and the hobby of caring for plants, they benefit us in many ways.

Houseplants Provide a Taste of Nature

Houseplants are an easy way to bring the outside in and reap the restorative and calming effects of nature. Time Magazine reported “Forest Bathing” – spending time around nature – lowers stress levels, reduces blood pressure, and has an overall relaxing effect on the body.

Tending to Plants Teaches Us Self-Care

As some struggle with their mental health, it’s a comfort to know something as simple as watering a plant or giving your green babies some food is a boon for your mental state. Sabrina Romanoff, Psy.D., working at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City, found that habits formed while caring for plants lays the foundation of doing these things for yourself. They create a positive mental feedback loop. “Plants are a metaphor for ourselves: tangible evidence of what can happen when we are consistent, do what needs to be done, and adapt to our environmental needs. Plants teach us the outcome is worth the effort and that we are constantly growing and evolving.”

Plants Boost Creativity

There are so many benefits to having indoor plants, especially as people are working from home more and more. As we stare endlessly at the walls of isolation, we need a double dose of creative energy. This includes improved cognitive function and creativity. A Texas A&M study found having indoor plants in the workplace dramatically enhances idea generation and creative problem-solving, and boosts concentration. The Dutch have a name for this: “gezellig.” This translates to coziness, comfort and relaxation that provides a sense of well-being.

Houseplants Increase Productivity

It is hard to stay focused with endless screen time and long Zoom calls. Plants provide much-needed mojo. The presence of plants in the workplace leads to increased productivity, positive perceptions of air quality, and higher levels of concentration, according to Dr. Romanoff. “They observed increased workplace satisfaction [and] increased productivity as a result of plants in the workplace.” She continues, “this is a testament to how plants enrich our environments, mood and well-being.”

Reduces Anxiety with a Boost to Mood

Adding more houseplants to your windowsill is a low-effort way to ease your mind and lower stress levels. “Exposure to indoor plants has positive effects on mental health. When we’re in the presence of indoor plants, the activity of our sympathetic nervous system, which is the fight-or-flight portion of our nervous system, decreases,” says Dr. Janelle Louis. “Indoor plants promote a sense of relaxation, comfort and calm.”

Many of us are not lucky enough to walk through a forest. Houseplants are the perfect escape. Research showed active interactions with houseplants such as repotting, pruning, touching and smelling have the same stress-reducing effects as spending time in a forest.

If you are not into owning houseplants, try heading to your local park, a tree-lined path, or a grassy field. “Spending time in green space has positive effects on mental health. Being exposed to green space for as little as 20-30 minutes leads to a significant drop in our levels of the stress hormone cortisol,” says Dr. Louis. “High levels of cortisol for prolonged periods are associated with mood swings, anxiety, depression and other mental health concerns.”

Until next month, I’ll be helping gardeners relax with more houseplants here at Watters Garden Center. QCBN

By Ken Lain

Ken Lain can be found throughout the week at Watters Garden Center, 1815 W. Iron Springs Road in Prescott, or contacted through his website at WattersGardenCenter.com or Top10Housplants.com.

Best Evergreen Shrubs for a Greener Winter

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Not to worry, you will find the best selection of winter evergreens at Watters Garden Center now, and it’s an excellent time to plant one of your own.

Autumn colors are spectacular. The colors and textures are unique to the four seasons of the mountain West. As we wrap up the last autumn leaves, the landscape can feel naked and bare. Deciduous plants, which lose their leaves through winter, often expose you to prying eyes, vehicle glare and a yard that feels empty. Evergreens take center stage for the next few months, and you can feel when the landscape doesn’t have the right mix of evergreen trees and shrubs.

Not to worry, you will find the best selection of winter evergreens at Watters Garden Center now, and it’s an excellent time to plant one of your own.

Here are the Top 15 most popular evergreen shrubs planted through winter.

Blue Star Juniper – This is strictly a foliage plant. If you like the look of a blue spruce tree but lack the space for something that big, merely scale down and grow a Blue Star Juniper. With its short blue needles, it looks terrific when planted next to shrubs with golden foliage.

Boxwood – This is a small, rounded evergreen that forms tufts of growth resembling clouds if left unpruned. This slow-growing dwarf form is ideal for edging borders along pathways or around flower beds. It is well-suited for topiary and containers and resistant to boxwood leaf miners.

Gilt Edge Silverberry – A splendid Arizona native, this shrub sports a combination of golden-yellow margins on bright green foliage that provides incredible year-round landscape interest. It’s superb as a hedge or low screen that tolerates heat and wind and requires little maintenance. Tiny, fragrant, silvery flowers followed by ornamental red fruit. Impervious to both javelina and deer.

Heavenly Bamboo is an evergreen with bright red highlights through winter. Bamboo-shaped foliage is graced with clusters of white flowers in spring that form red berries as summer heat arrives. Think versatility with this 3-foot-tall plant, as it is happy in any amount of sun, most soils, and tolerates any amount of cold or heat.

Holly is a broadleaf evergreen that usually grows 6 to 8 feet tall. The holly leaves develop a darker color that contrasts nicely against the bright red berries. It is perfect for north-facing borders, screens, hedges, and for foundation plantings. Easy to grow and impervious to mountain wildlife.

Indian Hawthorn – This easy-to-grow evergreen produces vast clusters of fragrant, pearl-pink flowers. Perfect for planting along driveways and parking medians where reflected heat is an issue for many other plants. This spring-blooming evergreen loves Arizona heat!

Mugho Pine – With its dense, symmetrical growth and compact, rounded form, this dwarf pine is perfect for confined spaces. Stunning green foliage takes on a golden hue during colder months. Its slow habit makes this evergreen an ideal specimen in smaller gardens or massed to make a bold statement in more significant landscapes.

Oregon Grape Holly – This is the perfect mountain evergreen, often mistaken for holly. Solar yellow flowers cover the entire plant in spring, followed by a summer berry that is attractive and edible. Heading into winter, the leaves turn a mixed cranberry and orange color that remains until spring blooms. This plant loves sun, heat, wind and requires less water than many natives.

Red Cluster Berry Cotoneaster – With white flowers in spring evolving to red berries that remain on the plant through winter, this plant is a welcome food source for feathered friends hanging around after welcoming in the new year. Growing 10 feet tall and wide, it loves the sun and is easy to grow.

Spreading Yew – This plant has rich green needles that border on black. The 4- to 6- foot spread is used as a hedge, screen or border in a shaded or dapple sunspace. Scarlet berries show off against all the wintergreen and are highly attractive to birds. QCBN

By Ken Lain

Ken Lain can be found at Watters Garden Center throughout the week, 1815 Iron Springs Road in Prescott, or contacted through his websites at WattersGardenCenter.com or Top10Shrubs.com.

Insider Secrets Your Landscaper Won’t Share

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Until next month, I’ll be helping locals design better landscapes here at Watters Garden Center.

Whether you are having hardscape features installed, performing chores or selecting plants for the yard, it’s helpful to understand the insider secrets landscapers won’t share. Thinking like a professional saves lots of money, time and frustration. Best of all, unlocking these pro tips help transform your plantings from a mere collection of plants into a sophisticated landscape design.

Hardscaping is everything non-living, like irrigation, raised beds, ponds and retaining walls. Hardscape features are captivating, but not all are equally necessary. Some types of hardscapes are exceedingly expensive; it is essential to prioritize landscaping on a budget. Give priority to those projects critical to your enjoyment.

Everyone gets excited about the idea of having an elite terrace complete with an outdoor kitchen. You may not enjoy it much when baking in the sun though. A straightforward patio roofed with a covered pergola is often a better investment. It offers a permanent, shaded retreat for dining, chatting with friends, or simply enjoy the flower beds planted nearby.

Save Time with These Lawn-Care Hacks

Lawn care can be a chore. Here are some hacks those in the know use to save considerable time by laying down a mowing strip and using a mulching mower.

After you lay down a mowing strip and see how much time it saves, you’ll kick yourself for not discovering this landscaper’s secret sooner. It consists of a row of pavers separating the grass from an adjacent area or structure. You run the wheels on one side of the mower on top of this strip, giving you a clean cut along the border. No need to go back later to edge and touch up.

Save additional time by using a mulching mower rather than mowing with a bag attachment. No more emptying those dirty grass clippings. The finely mulched grass acts as lawn fertilizer, saving the time required to buy more fertilizer.

Strike a Balance Between Monotony and Variety

Every homeowner prefers variety in a landscape. A way to add style to your design is to vary the viewer’s sightline rather than keeping everything flat on one plane. A landscape berm is the easiest, but intelligent plant selection will also do the trick. Grow a variety of plants that differ in terms of height. Provide transitions between them for a smooth flow.

Let’s say a row of landscape trees line the northern property line. To bring the viewer’s eye level down a notch, plant shrubs in front of them. Complete the three-tiered design with an edging of ground cover plants at the front.

A secret landscape designers swear by here at Watters Garden Center is planting a group of plants together in odd numbers and repeating this grouping elsewhere in the yard. This could be three Gold Star Potentilla grown together in a flower border at the driveway, complemented by a group of five more in a foundation bed. Each group achieves a more significant impact than a solitary shrub, while the repetition brings unity to the design, bringing different parts of the yard together.

Keep Your Plants Healthy.

The best autumn advice I can give you is to feed and care for the plants you do have. The most important feeding of the year is applied in the fall. Feed everything in the yard with Watters 7-4-4 All Purpose Plant Food for better autumn colors and healthier plants next spring. Second, treat your evergreen pine and spruce with Plant Protector. This easy-to-use plant drench keeps the bugs out of your trees and larger evergreens for the year to come.

Feed and Prevent at the same time or over several weekends. The two easy chores make for better gardening this fall and into next year.

Until next month, I’ll be helping locals design better landscapes here at Watters Garden Center. QCBN

By Ken Lain

Throughout the week, Ken Lain can be found at Watters Garden Center, 1815 W. Iron Springs Rd in Prescott, or contacted through his website at WattersGardenCenter.com or Top10Plants.com.