You’ve got a brown thumb. It’s OK; we all start somewhere. The good news is that you don’t have to be born with a green thumb; you can grow one. All it takes is understanding a few things about our high-desert environment and using them to your advantage. It’s about working with our climate, not against it. Understanding Arizona’s Garden Zones and Frost Dates Growing Zones - Arizona is vast, and its climate varies significantly. Here in Prescott, we are located in USDA Plant Hardiness … [Read more...] about Brown Thumbs Bootcamp: A Plant Killer’s Guide to Success
Watters garden Center
Twice the Bloom, Half the Work: The Magic of Reblooming Iris
My grandmother’s garden was famous for its iris beds. Growing next to the Prescott National Forest, they were a magnificent spectacle each spring. I believe it was one of the few flowers the javelina and deer left alone. She always said the irises’ superpower was how they hugged the surface of the garden, a trick that kept their blooms spectacular. She replanted her beds every two to three years to ensure the rhizomes were always positioned perfectly. I want to share her insider tips with you … [Read more...] about Twice the Bloom, Half the Work: The Magic of Reblooming Iris
Enjoy a Brighter Fall Garden in Five September Steps
August is the hottest month in the gardens. Vegetable and flower gardeners relish in the bounty the heat and monsoon rains offer. Others long for the calm, cool autumn nights for which Arizona is so famous. September is a transition month with some critical garden needs at hand. Keeping up with fall maintenance ensures both the health of your garden in spring and a shorter maintenance list later. September starts a season of change with the most pleasant mountain weather. The hot summer days … [Read more...] about Enjoy a Brighter Fall Garden in Five September Steps
Butterfly-Friendly Herbs for the Garden
With increasing awareness of the risks of certain pesticides to essential pollinators like butterflies and bees, modern gardeners are turning to plant selections that foster these beneficial insects by providing attractive habitats and food sources free from harmful chemicals. To entice butterflies, gardeners should focus on vibrant blossoms and establish a safe haven where these insects can feed on nectar and find shelter and hydration. Butterflies and bees thrive in organic environments free … [Read more...] about Butterfly-Friendly Herbs for the Garden
Popular Rose Colors You Can Grow
The colors of roses stun gardeners in their tracks. Thousands of roses are offered at the garden center in dozens and dozens of fragrances. Choosing the perfect one can be overwhelming, but not after you read this. Plant experts are hard at work developing new hues and colors while improving the vigor and brilliance of garden roses. From the calm vibes of an all-white garden, the contrast of the color wheel, or the free-spirited look of a cottage garden, there is a rose color to suit … [Read more...] about Popular Rose Colors You Can Grow
Designing a Garden for Low Water-Use Plants
Watters Garden Center offers a large line of low use water and low maintenance plants and trees. Oregon Grape is one of the most popular in this category, but if growers are looking for something taller for more privacy, the Red Cluster Berry Cotoneaster will fill the need. Junipers are low water-use and low maintenance and will grow tall enough to block out the neighbors’ RVs. Arizona Cypress is a solid and thick evergreen. Ken Lain, who owns Watters along with his wife, Lisa, says that all … [Read more...] about Designing a Garden for Low Water-Use Plants
Learning the Art of Pruning Fruit Trees in Seven Steps
Every tree needs a little TLC now and then, and winter is the perfect time to give your apple trees some attention. Think of it as a spa day for your trees! The first step is to remove any unproductive wood that might be causing problems. It’s easy to prune an overgrow tree if you follow these seven steps in sequence. I hope you find this helpful. Step #1: Remove Unproductive Wood that Attracts Problems Start by taking out any dead, damaged or diseased branches. Dead wood is usually pretty … [Read more...] about Learning the Art of Pruning Fruit Trees in Seven Steps
Nature’s Night Owls: Stunning Plants that Love the Dark
Adding plants is my favorite way to add life to any room. Having plants indoors makes everything feel lighter, brighter and more alive. Houseplants add color and texture, purify the air and look nice. Basements and dark corners challenge houseplants through winter. Many plants like it dark, and the short winter days only make them happier. Here’s the list and their best care. The Biology of Low-Light Indoor Plants Large leaves are designed to soak up more light. Others have a waxy outer layer … [Read more...] about Nature’s Night Owls: Stunning Plants that Love the Dark
Beyond Pumpkin Spice: Fall Tips for a Lush Landscape
Autumn gardening is a great time to look back on garden successes and disappointments. There’s still plenty of time to do some garden maintenance. Fall gardening takes advantage of cooler temperatures and fewer weeds and insects. Putting the garden to bed is not as hectic as waking it up in the spring. You’ll have time to really see how your plants are doing. Here are some tasks to do now, to make next year’s garden brighter and better. Enrich garden beds with Watters Barnyard Manure. … [Read more...] about Beyond Pumpkin Spice: Fall Tips for a Lush Landscape
Watters Garden Center Cultivates the Next Generation
Families often hope that their children are able to make a good living without having to move away from their community. McKenzie Lain is fulfilling that dream as the third generation to dispense plants and local growing advice at Prescott’s Watters Garden Center. In 1962, Harold and Lorna Watters expanded their landscaping company to include a plant nursery on Plaza Drive. As it grew, the garden center at one time included a pet store and flower shop. The couple’s four daughters all pitched in … [Read more...] about Watters Garden Center Cultivates the Next Generation
