

Stop Guessing. Start Growing. Welcome to the Ultimate Garden Blueprint.
Body Copy: Most big-box store advice will get your plants killed. The intense sun, the heavy wind, and the local wildlife require a completely different set of rules.
I'm Ken Lain, "Top 10 Gardener," and every week, I share the exact "un-killable" strategies we use to cheat the heat and build vibrant, blooming sanctuaries in USDA Zones 5–8.
Don't waste another season on generic advice. Hit that '+ Follow' button right now to get your weekly dose of mountain gardening success. Let's put some roots in the ground together.
Whether you are trying to force your mountain roses into non-stop blooms, figure out why your evergreens are dropping needles, or reclaim your patio from summer pests, we give you the hyper-local science to make it happen.
When you tune in, you'll discover:
- The Overlooked Truths: Fast diagnostics and 10-second pruning tricks that flatlander gardeners know nothing about.
- Seasonal Urgency: Exactly what to plant right now to guarantee roots get established in our Prescott soil.
- Insider Access: First dibs on our custom plant arrivals and premium garden kits before they sell out on our online store.
Don't waste another season on generic advice. Hit that '+ Follow' button right now to get your weekly dose of mountain gardening success. Let's put some roots in the ground together.
Episodes
24 minutes ago
24 minutes ago
7 min
If you’re looking to save a little money and upgrade your garden at the same time, now is the perfect opportunity! Master Gardener Ken Lain shares the ways to save money in the garden center this time of year, including shopping at the Watters Monster Monsoon Sale!
Subscribe for The Mountain Gardener updates!
https://themountaingardener.podbean.com/
Ken Lain, The Mountain Gardener
#WattersGardenCenter, #GardeningTips, #TheMountainGardener, #KenLain, #SaveMoneyattheGardenCenter, #MoneySavingGarden, #GardenBargains, #MonsterMonsoonSale
2 days ago
2 days ago
11 min
Arizona Cypress and Deodor Cedars are two similar trees that add beauty to your Central Highlands landscape. Master Gardeners Ken and Lisa Watters-Lain help you to pick the best of the two or your landscape, and why, along with other garden questions received this week.
Not already a Garden Club Member? Click Below to Join and be notified of Plant Preorders and other Special Offers!
https://wattersgardencenter.com/pages/garden-care-advantages
🌹Ken & Lisa Lain, The Mountain Gardeners
#WattersGardenCenter, #GardeningTips, #TheMountainGardener, #KenLain, #ArizonaCypressTrees, #DeodorCedarTrees, #TreePrivacyScreens
3 days ago
3 days ago
10 min
This time of the year, gardens begin to look a little weather worn. A little pruning will not only restore order to your fall garden, but it will set your trees and shrubs up for success through the winter. Mountain Gardener Ken Lain shares the way to prune for winter beauty.
🌺 Ken Lain, The Mountain Gardener
Subscribe for The Mountain Gardener updates!
Not already a Garden Club Member? Click Below to Join and be notified of Plant Preorders and other Special Offers
https://wattersgardencenter.com/pages/garden-care-advantages
#WattersGardenCenter, #CentralHighlandsGardening, #LateSummerPruning, #FallTree&ShrubPruning
4 days ago
4 days ago
53 min
Hey garden enthusiasts, Ken & Lisa Watters-Lain, The Mountain Gardeners here!
Get ready to catch Ken and Lisa's gardening bug! They're bursting with knowledge and passion for growing beautiful things, and they're ready to share it all with you.
Don't miss out on this chance to level up your gardening game!
Included in This Week’s Show:
🌼 Hot Weather Blooms for Vibrant Prescott Gardens
🌳 Q&A: Which is Better: Aspen or Birch?
✈️ The Cost of Travel to Your Gardens
🌺 Q&A: The Biggest Perennial Flowers of Summer.
🌻 4 Garden Blunders to Avoid at All Cost
🪵Wood Chips can Kill Your Garden
Subscribe to The Top 10 Gardener Podcast today and get your hands dirty with expert tips and tricks. You'll find it on all your favorite podcast platforms. To Watch the Entire Podcast Show, Tap or Click on the Link Below Subscribe for Top 10 Gardener updates!
https://themountaingardener.podbean.com/
#WattersGardenCenter, #WattersGardencenterAZ, #TheMountainGardener, #GardeningTips, #KenLain, #WattersGardenClasses, #WattersOnlineStore, #WattersOnlineExclusives, #CentralHighlandsGardening, #WattersGardenCenter, #GardeningTips, #TheMountainGardener, #KenLain, #SummerPlanting, #PlantProblems, #StressedPlants, #MonsoonRains&Gardens, #HighDesertGardening, #HabitsforDesertGardening, #DesertGardeningBestPractices, #LateSummerFlowers, #HotWeatherBlooms, #AspenTrees, #BirchTrees, #TreeCare, #LeaveGardenduringTravel, #GardenCareinAbsence, #GardenCaretakers, #GardenWoodChips, #BestGardenWoodChips, #BestGardenMulch, #SummerBloomingFlowers, #BestSummerPerennialFlowers

4 days ago
4 days ago
4 min
There's nothing better in summer than a fresh tomato straight from the garden. But if your tomatoes have a very thick skin, rot or cracks, there is a problem. Mountain Gardener Ken Lain shares these tomato problems and their solutions, so you can enjoy your harvest.
5 days ago
5 days ago
5 min
The right kind of wood chips, properly applied, can be a helpful addition to your garden. But the wrong wood chips applied the wrong way can literally kill your plants! Master Gardener Ken Lain shares the best kind of wood chips and how to apply to benefit your garden.
https://themountaingardener.podbean.com/
🥕Ken Lain, The Mountain Gardener
#WattersGardenCenter, #GardeningTips, #TheMountainGardener, #KenLain, #GardenWoodChips, #BestGardenWoodChips, #BestGardenMulch
6 days ago
6 days ago
10 min
There’s no doubt that the Central Highlands is a challenging gardening environment. Mountain Gardener Ken Lain shares the four blunders that can make or break your garden success in the Central Highlands!
Subscribe for The Mountain Gardener updates!
https://themountaingardener.podbean.com/
Ken Lain, The Mountain Gardener
#WattersGardenCenter, #GardeningTips, #TheMountainGardener, #KenLain, #HighDesertGardening, #GardenBlunders, #GardeningBestPractices
7 days ago
7 days ago
10 min
While summer is fading into fall, Mountain Gardeners Ken and Lisa Watters-Lain share the trees that can be planted now to bloom with vigor and add beauty in your landscape.
🪴Ken & Lisa Lain, the Mountain Gardeners
Not already a Garden Club Member? Click Below to Join and be notified of Plant Preorders and other Special Offers!
https://wattersgardencenter.com/pages/garden-care-advantages
#WattersGardenCenter, #GardeningTips, #TheMountainGardener, #KenLain, #SummerBloomingFlowers, #BestSummerPerennialFlowers
Aug 19, 2026
Aug 19, 2026
7 min
You’ve worked hard to make your garden thrive this summer, and now you’re planning a trip. That’s enough to induce anxiety in most gardeners who love their plants! Master Gardener Ken Lain shares ways to enjoy your trip without worrying about your garden the entire time!
Subscribe for The Mountain Gardener updates!
https://themountaingardener.podbean.com/
Ken Lain, The Mountain Gardener
#WattersGardenCenter, #GardeningTips, #TheMountainGardener, #KenLain, #LeaveGardenduringTravel, #GardenCareinAbsence, #GardenCaretakers

Aug 18, 2026
Aug 18, 2026
4 min
You work hard to make your garden successful, and you're probably not too happy about having hordes of snails snacking on your produce! Mountain Gardener Ken Lain shares the organic way to control those voracious eaters!
Aug 18, 2026
Aug 18, 2026
10 min
Aspens and Birches are two similar trees that add beauty to your Central Highlands landscape. Master Gardeners Ken and Lisa Watters-Lain help you to pick the best for your landscape, and why, along with other garden questions received this week.
Not already a Garden Club Member? Click Below to Join and be notified of Plant Preorders and other Special Offers!
https://wattersgardencenter.com/pages/garden-care-advantages
🌹Ken & Lisa Lain, The Mountain Gardeners
#WattersGardenCenter, #GardeningTips, #TheMountainGardener, #KenLain, #AspenTrees, #BirchTrees, #TreeCare
Aug 17, 2026
Aug 17, 2026
10 min
This time of the year, gardens begin to look a little weather worn. But it’s also the time we want to spend in the garden, and it’s sad to see the blooms begin to fade. Mountain Gardener Ken Lain shares some hot weather flowers that will bloom in late summer and add some pizazz to your landscape.
🌺 Ken Lain, The Mountain Gardener
Subscribe for The Mountain Gardener updates!
Not already a Garden Club Member? Click Below to Join and be notified of Plant Preorders and other Special Offers
https://wattersgardencenter.com/pages/garden-care-advantages
#WattersGardenCenter, #CentralHighlandsGardening, #LateSummerFlowers, #HotWeatherBlooms

Aug 16, 2026
Aug 16, 2026
3 min
Want to know the secret to making your flowers bloom over and over? Mountain Gardener Ken Lain shares how in this Follower Behind the Scenes Bonus!
Aug 16, 2026
Aug 16, 2026
53 min
Hey garden enthusiasts, Ken & Lisa Watters-Lain, The Mountain Gardeners here!
Get ready to catch Ken and Lisa's gardening bug! They're bursting with knowledge and passion for growing beautiful things, and they're ready to share it all with you.
Don't miss out on this chance to level up your gardening game!
Included in This Week’s Show:
🦟 Keeping Mosquitos and Flies off the Patio and Out of the Gardens
🌳 Q & A: Monsoon weeds and erosion control
🌧️ How Deep Does Rain Soak into the Garden
🌳 Pretty Blooming Trees Best Planted in Summer
🌵5 Habits of Successful Desert Gardeners
🌻 Bug Free Blooms for Stunning Gardens
Subscribe to The Top 10 Gardener Podcast today and get your hands dirty with expert tips and tricks. You'll find it on all your favorite podcast platforms. To Watch the Entire Podcast Show, Tap or Click on the Link Below Subscribe for Top 10 Gardener updates!
https://themountaingardener.podbean.com/
#WattersGardenCenter, #WattersGardencenterAZ, #TheMountainGardener, #GardeningTips, #KenLain, #WattersGardenClasses, #WattersOnlineStore, #WattersOnlineExclusives, #CentralHighlandsGardening, #WattersGardenCenter, #GardeningTips, #TheMountainGardener, #KenLain, #SummerPlanting, #OrganicPestControl, #PlantProblems, #StressedPlants, #Weeds, #WeedControl, #Mosquitoes, #Flies, #GardenPests #ControllingGardenPests#MonsoonRains&Gardens, #SoakingRain, #BloomingTrees, #SummerBloomingTrees, #HighDesertGardening, #HabitsforDesertGardening, #DesertGardeningBestPractices, #BugFreeGardens, #ControllingGardenPests
Aug 15, 2026
Aug 15, 2026
10 min
Our Central Highlands gardens are spectacular this time of year, but just at the time you want to have guests over to enjoy your handiwork, flies and mosquitoes are prolific enough to ruin the enjoyment. Master Gardener Ken Lain shares how to turn the tables on those mosquito and fly pests!
https://themountaingardener.podbean.com/
🥕Ken Lain, The Mountain Gardener
#WattersGardenCenter, #GardeningTips, #TheMountainGardener, #KenLain, #Mosquitoes, #Flies, #GardenPests, #ControllingGardenPests