Mountain Gardener with Ken & Lisa

🪴The Best of the Summer Blooming Shrubs in the Backyard 🪴

Ken & Lisa Lain, the Top 10 Gardeners, here! We're diving into the best summer-blooming shrubs for your backyard.

Let’s start with Moscheutos Hibiscus, a robust cousin of the Rose of Sharon. Unlike its relative, Moscheutos resets underground each year, growing to hip height and width. It’s a tremendous grower, setting spectacular flowers from now through fall. Also known as the Confederate Rose, its Latin name is Hibiscus mutabilis. This shrub is a showstopper, perfect for adding a splash of color and unique charm to your garden.

Another standout is Caryopteris, also known as bluebeard or false spirea. This plant is not only beautiful but also a great pollinator attractor. If you're looking to bring bees and butterflies into your garden, Caryopteris is the way to go. It resembles Russian sage but is more shapely and less weedy, blooming just as well, if not better. Its vibrant blue flowers and aromatic foliage make it an excellent alternative to Russian sage.

Both Moscheutos Hibiscus and Caryopteris are in limited supply and available at garden centers now.

Enhance your garden with these summer beauties and enjoy a season full of color and life.

 

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🌼Coaching Flowers to Bloom Again and Again 🌼

Ken Lain, the Top 10 Gardener, here! Let's dive into the art of coaching your flowers to bloom again and again.

Imagine a garden where flowers like yarrow, meadow sage, and Jupiter's beard are in constant bloom. It's possible with a few simple steps! As your blooms start to fade, grab your shears and deadhead those spent flowers. This encourages the plant to produce more blooms instead of focusing on seed production.

Next, feed your plants with an all-purpose plant food (7-4-4) to provide essential nutrients. To really boost flowering, add super phosphate (0-18-0). This high middle number in the fertilizer encourages robust flower production. With a little rain or a quick watering, you'll see a vibrant display of blooms in just a few weeks.

Don't forget to experiment with new plants in your garden. One of my new favorites is Merlot Euphorbia. This hardy perennial is part of the same family as gopher plant and gopher spurge but offers stunning purple foliage that adds a pop of color year-round. It's drought-resistant and perfect for rock gardens and sunny spots.

Remember, a well-tended garden is a blooming garden. Keep deadheading, feeding, and trying new varieties to enjoy a colorful and lively garden all season long.

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🌺How to Grow a Backyard Crape Myrtle 🌺

Hey there, Watters friends! Ken and Lisa Lain here, Growing a backyard Crepe Myrtle is a rewarding journey that transforms your garden with vibrant blooms and lush foliage.

Start by choosing the right variety for your climate. Look for hardy options like 'Dynamite' or 'Tonto,' which thrive in both heat and cold. Plant your Crepe Myrtle in a sunny spot with well-drained soil, ensuring it gets at least six hours of sunlight daily.

Water deeply but infrequently to establish strong roots. Prune in late winter to shape and encourage growth, cutting back any dead or weak branches. Mulch around the base to retain moisture and regulate soil temperature.

Remember, extreme temperatures can turn a Crepe Myrtle tree into a bush. Instead of investing in a tree, consider purchasing a bush variety, which is more suited to handle the temperature fluctuations and will still provide beautiful blooms.

Visit us at Watters Garden Center to explore our selection of Crepe Myrtles with stunning purple foliage and bright pink, red, or white flowers. We'll help you choose the perfect plant to enhance your backyard oasis.

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🍅Coaxing Tomato and Pepper Plants to Set More Fruit in the Summer Heat 🍅

Ken Lain, the Top 10 Gardener, here! If your tomatoes and peppers are slacking in this summer heat, you're not alone. These plants, just like us, slow down when temps hit 95°. But don't worry, the monsoon rains are nature's remedy! Clouds offer shade, humidity rises, and BAM – your plants are back in business.

Give 'em a boost with Watters Flower Power (48% phosphorus) to encourage blooms and fruit. And remember, a little extra TLC goes a long way.

Remember your flowers! If your containers are looking sparse, fill them up! We've got heat-loving beauties like Lantanas, Pentas, and Mandalas ready to thrive.

 

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🌱A Better Way to Feed Plants Organically 🌱

Ken Lain, the Top 10 Gardener, here! Feeding your plants organically is key to taking full advantage of the growing season.

Fertilize now to boost growth during the monsoons, ensuring vibrant blooms and strong, healthy plants.

Organic fertilizers, rich in natural nutrients like cottonseed meal and bird guano, not only nourish your plants but also enhance soil health by encouraging beneficial organisms. Avoid synthetic fertilizers that can harm your soil and groundwater.

You create a thriving garden environment that supports robust growth and vibrant colors by embracing natural options. Take action now and enjoy the benefits of organic gardening throughout the monsoon season.

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🌺The Biggest Flowers in the Summer Perennial Garden🌺

Ken & Lisa Lain, the Top 10 Gardeners, here! June is upon us, and you know what that means? Time for the summer perennial superstars to take center stage!

These beauties aren't just colorful companions in your garden beds, they're powerhouses of blooms that'll keep your yard dazzling all season long. Forget the tiny green blobs you see in spring – these perennials are exploding with life!

Let's talk about some of the biggest and brightest on the block:

• Coneflowers (Echinacea): These Arizona favorites are all about heat tolerance and low maintenance. They come in a stunning range of colors, from the classic purple to fiery orange and sunny apricot varieties like 'Sangrita' and 'Fresco Apricot.' Pinch off the spent blooms to encourage even more flowers throughout the summer.
• Delphinium: While typically known for cooler shades, the 'Red Lark Delphinium' brings a vibrant salmon pink to your garden. This beauty thrives in partial shade and adds a unique touch to shady areas.
• Daylilies: June is prime time for daylilies! These versatile perennials come in a vast array of colors beyond the traditional yellow. Look for stunning burgundy varieties with yellow edges, perfect for sunny spots.
• Agastache (Hyssop): This low-maintenance wonder boasts beautiful orange and pink blooms that attract hummingbirds like crazy. Unlike Russian sage, Agastache doesn't spread aggressively and features a delightful licorice scent that keeps deer and rabbits at bay.
• Hypericum (St. John's Wort): Don't let the complicated name fool you! This sunshine-loving perennial offers cheerful yellow blooms that transform into bright red berries as summer fades. The dark green foliage creates a striking contrast, and the whole plant attracts butterflies and hummingbirds.

These are just a taste of the incredible summer perennials waiting for you at Watters. So come on down and let's create a blooming masterpiece in your yard together!

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🌿The Dirty Little Secret about Vinegar as a Weed Killer 🌿

Ken Lain, the Top 10 Gardener, here! Let's talk about vinegar as a weed killer.

Vinegar can be a handy tool for getting rid of small weeds, but there's a catch: vinegar alone might not be strong enough to tackle the whole job. Vinegar can be effective in killing small weeds and young weeds, but it mostly targets the leaves and won't kill the roots. That means those pesky weeds will be back in no time!

Here at Watters, we recommend a safer option: Decimate. This product kills the entire plant, roots and all, and is much more effective in the long run. Plus, it's safer for you, your pets, and the environment.

So, skip the vinegar and head down to Watters for a long-term weed solution to pick up some Decimate. Happy weed-free gardening!

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🌳What Yellowing Leaves Mean for Summer Trees 🌳

Hey there, Watters friends! Ken and Lisa Lain here, and I know some of you might be seeing yellow leaves on your summer trees. Let me tell you, it's not always a sign of fall coming early.

Those pale leaves could be a cry for help from a hungry tree! Sometimes, our summer beauties struggle with iron deficiency, especially if the soil's pH is a little high. But don't worry, there's a simple solution!

Head down to Watters and grab a bag of soil sulfur. It'll help lower that pH and get your tree back on track. Plus, throw in some of our fantastic 7-4-4 All-Purpose Food to really give it a boost.

Within a week or so, you'll see those leaves turning a rich, healthy green, and your tree will be shading you in style all summer long. Remember, happy trees are green trees, so take care of them!

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🪴Why Plants Grow Faster with Summer Rain 🪴

Ken Lain, the Top 10 Gardener, here! The monsoon season is in full swing here in Northern Arizona, and the difference in plant growth is astonishing. It's not just the rain, but the humidity, shade, and charged atmosphere that make plants go wild.

Summer rain is like a second growing season. It's easier to start plants now than in spring. The warm, moist soil is perfect for trees, shrubs, and fruit trees. The increased humidity also helps existing plants thrive.

This week, I measured over two inches of rain in my gardens! Did you know that the average thundercloud dumps nearly 300,000 gallons of water? That's almost an acre-foot of rain!

Now is the time to take advantage of the monsoon season. Trim back your perennials, clean up your annuals, and fertilize for a second flush of blooms. If you have new plants, give them a boost with humic acid. It activates the soil, attracting beneficial microbes and encouraging strong root growth.

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🎙️Welcome to 'The Top 10 Gardener Podcast' with Ken and Lisa Lain! 🎙️

Included in this week’s episode:

• How to Force Tomatoes to Set More Fruit
• How to Keep Flowers Blooming Through Summer
• The Easiest Roses Anyone Can Grow
• Summer Flowers that Bloom in Hot Sun
• Top 10 Trees for Summer Shade

• The Most Important Feeding of Summer is Before Independence Day

Ken and Lisa are eager to hear from you! They'll be answering listener questions about gardening in Arizona's high country, so don't hesitate to share your queries and experiences.

Ready to catch Ken and Lisa's gardening bug? They're brimming with knowledge and passion for growing beautiful things, and they're excited to share it all with you. Don't miss out on this opportunity to elevate your gardening game!

 

Subscribe to The Top 10 Gardener Podcast today and get your hands dirty with their expert tips and tricks. It's available on all your favorite podcast platforms.

 

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🎆The Most Important Feeding of Summer is Before Independence Day 🎆

Ken Lain, the Top 10 Gardener, here! As we approach Independence Day, it’s time for the most crucial feeding of the summer.

Your trees, shrubs, and flowers need a nutrient boost to stay healthy and vibrant. Apply an all-purpose plant food to keep them strong, especially if they’re showing signs of stress like leaf damage.

Additionally, humic acid, like our Humic product, can help plants develop deeper, stronger roots. This combination will rejuvenate your garden and ensure lush growth. Aim to fertilize everything in your yard—trees, shrubs, flowers, and roses—by the end of June or the first part of July.

By doing this, you’ll give your garden the best chance to thrive and even encourage a bit of rain. Happy gardening!

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🌳Top 10 Trees for Summer Shade 🌳

Ken Lain, the Top 10 Gardener, here! Summer shade can transform your yard into a cool oasis.

Here are the top 10 trees to consider planting for ample shade.

The Maple tree tops our list with its fast growth and vibrant fall color. Sycamores grow quickly and are affordable, making them popular in subdivisions, but they can be messy. A better choice for fall color and neatness is the Arizona Ash or its cousins, the Modesto Ash and Raywood Ash. Golden Locust and Purple Robe Locust are excellent choices, offering unique beauty and dense shade.

When selecting, walk through our garden center to pick the tree best suited for your yard's unique needs. Avoid trees that shed leaves over extended periods and instead opt for those that drop their leaves all at once for easier cleanup. Embrace the journey of finding the perfect tree for your backyard haven.

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🌺Summer Flowers That Bloom in Hot Sun 🌺

Ken & Lisa Lain, the Top 10 Gardeners, here! If you want your garden to burst with color despite the scorching summer sun.

We've got just the tips for you. Choose plants that love the heat, like Lantanas. These beauties thrive in containers, offering vibrant pinks and yellows that brighten any space. Plus, they come in both annual and perennial varieties, so you can enjoy them year after year.

Another fantastic choice is Pentas, which not only blooms brilliantly but also attracts butterflies. For a touch of fragrance, consider Daphne and Gardenias. Though they prefer a bit of shade, they fill your garden with delightful scents.

For stunning, long-lasting blooms, plant these heat-loving flowers and watch your garden thrive even in the hottest summer months.

 

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🌹The Easiest Roses Anyone Can Grow🌹

Ken Lain, the Top 10 Gardener, here! Let’s talk about the easiest roses anyone can grow.

Choose ever-blooming varieties for constant blooms. Unlike old-school roses that bloom once and disappear, these modern beauties offer wave after wave of flowers throughout the season.

In our garden, we love the Easy Elegance series and Grace ‘n Grits. These varieties resist mildew and pests, making them almost carefree. Just prune all your roses in March and fertilize with a systemic rose fertilizer. That’s it! The plants take care of the rest, rewarding you with spectacular blooms.

Remember, it's not your fault if your roses aren't re-blooming. You might have been sold an outdated variety. Upgrade to modern, repeat-blooming roses, and your garden will look like a Rosarian's paradise.

 

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🌼How to Keep Flowers Blooming Through Summer 🌼

Ken & Lisa Lain, the Top 10 Gardeners, here! Today, we’re diving into how to keep your flowers blooming vibrantly all summer long.

The secret lies in proper watering. Start by adjusting your pressure regulator to 20-30 pounds per square inch—this ensures a smooth flow without overwhelming your plants.

I recently had a faulty valve in my backyard that was wreaking havoc on my beloved Chitalpa trees. After replacing it, the transformation was incredible! The flowers are now more vibrant than ever because they’re getting the right amount of water. Remember, your plants will show you when something’s off -trust their signals and adjust accordingly.

Check your irrigation system regularly, ensuring all valves and pressure settings are accurate. This simple step can make a world of difference. Happy gardening!

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