

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
Aug 14, 2026
Aug 14, 2026
11 min
There’s no doubt that the Central Highlands is a challenging gardening environment. It’s not that you have a brown thumb, it’s just that gardeners here must do things a little differently! Mountain Gardener Ken Lain shares the habits and wisdom that make high desert gardeners successful!
Subscribe for The Mountain Gardener updates!
https://themountaingardener.podbean.com/
Ken Lain, The Mountain Gardener
#WattersGardenCenter, #GardeningTips, #TheMountainGardener, #KenLain, #HighDesertGardening, #HabitsforDesertGardening, #DesertGardeningBestPractices
Aug 13, 2026
Aug 13, 2026
10 min
The Central Highlands is home to many beautiful trees that show off in the heat of summer. 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, #BloomingTrees, #SummerBloomingTrees
Aug 12, 2026
Aug 12, 2026
6 min
You just had a big monsoon storm, with maybe an inch or more of rain! Is that enough to thoroughly water your garden? Mountain Gardener Ken Lain shares the mysteries of monsoon rains and when it’s enough for your landscape, and when you still need to water.
#WattersGardenCenter, #GardeningTips, #TheMountainGardener, #KenLain, #MonsoonRains&Gardens, #SoakingRain

Aug 11, 2026
Aug 11, 2026
4 min
All gardeners hate the chore of weeding, but Mountain Gardener Ken Lain shares some tips on making weeding easier!
Aug 11, 2026
Aug 11, 2026
10 min
Mountain Gardeners Ken and Lisa Watters-Lain share the ins and outs of controlling those fast growing monsoon season weeds! Ken and Lisa also share how to control the erosion caused by torrential monsoon rains.
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, #MonsoonRains, #GardenErosionControl, #WeedControl
Aug 10, 2026
Aug 10, 2026
5 min
A garden full of flowers is a wonder to behold, but when the bugs begin to munch, it’s beyond frustrating! Mountain Gardener Ken Lain shares how you can reclaim your garden from those hungry and destructive bugs.
🌺 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, #BugFreeGardens, #ControllingGardenPests
Aug 9, 2026
Aug 9, 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:
🐛 Javelina to Hornworms: Your Guide to a Pest Free Garden
🌳 Q & A: Shady Shrubs for Shady Gardens
🪴What to Do When Plants Die in the Garden
🌲 Slim Sentinels: The Elegance of Narrow Trees
🌿Fast Growing Groundcovers for Hills and Rock Lawns
🌿 Stop Working so Hard at Killing Weeds
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, #Grubs, #Hornworms, #GardenPests, #OrganicPestControl, #Javelina, #Deer, #Hydrangea, #Holly, #Gardenia, #Shrubs, #ReviveDyingPlants, #PlantProblems, #StressedPlants, #NarrowTrees, #Shrubs, #SmallTrees, #TallNarrowTrees, #Groundcovers, #PlantsforRockLandscapes, #PlantsforHills, #QuickGrowingGroundcovers, #Weeds, #WeedControl
Aug 8, 2026
Aug 8, 2026
5 min
Weeds are the bane of most gardeners, especially when monsoon rains come and they grow exponentially! Mountain Gardener Ken Lain shares how you can eradicate the weeds in your landscape without working so hard at it!
🌺 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, #Weeds, #WeedControl
Aug 7, 2026
Aug 7, 2026
11 min
Hills and rock areas in your landscape can create a unique growing challenge. But don’t worry - Mountain Gardener Ken Lain shares fast growing, beautiful ground covers that will solve your hilly and rocky landscape problems!
Subscribe for The Mountain Gardener updates!
https://themountaingardener.podbean.com/
Ken Lain, The Mountain Gardener
#WattersGardenCenter, #GardeningTips, #TheMountainGardener, #KenLain, #Groundcovers, #PlantsforRockLandscapes, #PlantsforHills, #QuickGrowingGroundcovers
Aug 6, 2026
Aug 6, 2026
10 min
Do you have a narrow space in your landscape that could use some beautification? Mountain Gardeners Ken and Lisa Watters-Lain share the best trees with a narrow growing habit. These trees will fit your landscape and add beauty and interest!
🪴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, #NarrowTrees, #Shrubs, #SmallTrees, #TallNarrowTrees
Aug 5, 2026
Aug 5, 2026
7 min
Do you have a brown thumb? Or maybe it’s a little green, but some of your plants die anyway! Mountain Gardener Ken Lain shares what to do when your garden plants begin to stress or worse!
#WattersGardenCenter, #GardeningTips, #TheMountainGardener, #KenLain, #ReviveDyingPlants, #PlantProblems, #StressedPlants
Aug 4, 2026
Aug 4, 2026
10 min
Mountain Gardeners Ken and Lisa Watters-Lain share the varieties of beautiful shrubs that will grow well in the shady areas of your landscape and how to care for them. Ken and Lisa share other garden wisdom during this segment.
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, #Hydrangea, #Holly, #Gardenia, #Shrubs
Aug 3, 2026
Aug 3, 2026
10 min
You work too hard to have a thriving garden to surrender your plants to destructive pests like hornworms, grubs and other critters like javelina that love to munch on your garden! Master Gardener Ken Lain shares how to spot and keep those summer garden pests at bay with organic pesticides that won’t harm the soil, and plants that critters don’t like!
https://themountaingardener.podbean.com/
🥕Ken Lain, The Mountain Gardener
#WattersGardenCenter, #GardeningTips, #TheMountainGardener, #KenLain, #Grubs, #Hornworms, #GardenPests, #OrganicPestControl, #Javelina, #Deer
Aug 2, 2026
Aug 2, 2026
52 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:
🌻 Top 10 Plants for Summer Garden Success
🍓Q&A: How to Grow Better Berries in the Landscape
🪴Where Does all the Soil Go?
🪴Where Does all the Soil Go?
🦗 7 Pests that Destroy Summer Flowers and Vegetables
🌺 Free August Advice for Better 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, #WattersOnline, #OrderWattersOnline, #PlantsShippedtoYourDoor, #Flowers, #Shrubs, #Perennials, #MonsoonRains, #FreeGardenClasses, #WattersSip&Shop, #Raspberries, #Blueberries, #Blackberries, #Berries, #ContainerGardening, #GardenSoil, #DisappearingSoil, #GardenPests, #Grasshoppers, #Gardening for Newcomers

Aug 1, 2026
Aug 1, 2026
1 min
California Poppies are such a bright spot in your landscape, and you may wish they'd continue blooming! Mountain Gardener Ken Lain shares how you can have a second bloom of these beautiful wildflowers!