

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.
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
Jul 4, 2025
Jul 4, 2025
10 min
You’ve learned about the five kinds of lavenders, and perhaps added some of them to your garden. They’re beautiful and hardy, but a little extra care will ensure they’ll provide a lovely backdrop in your garden into the fall. Learn from Mountain Gardener Ken Lain how to keep these garden staples blooming and thriving into the fall!
🌺Ken Lain, The Mountain Gardener
Subscribe for The Mountain Gardener updates!
https://themountaingardener.podbean.com/
#WattersGardenCenter, #GardeningTips, #TheMountainGardener, #KenLain, #DeadheadingFlowers, #LavenderCare, #ChoosingAndPlantingLavender
Jul 3, 2025
Jul 3, 2025
11 min
Rabbits are cute, but they can decimate your garden, especially if you have a lot of these critters in your landscape! Now you can enjoy the wildlife and your garden at the same time!
Mountain Gardeners Ken and Lisa Lain tell us the best, most beautiful plants that the rabbits will leave alone!
🪴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, #RabbitProofPlants, #FlowersRabbitsLeaveAlone, #Wildlife&Flowers
Jul 2, 2025
Jul 2, 2025
6 min
The right organic fertilizer can make a spectacular difference in the health and beauty of your garden, from flowers to vegetables to trees and shrubs. Learn from Mountain Gardener Ken Lain about the organic fertilizers at Watters Garden Center, formulated for our area and safe for the environment. Learn how you can have your best garden ever with these plant foods.
Subscribe for The Mountain Gardener updates!
https://themountaingardener.podbean.com/
Ken Lain, The Mountain Gardener
#WattersGardenCenter, #GardeningTips, #TheMountainGardener, #KenLain, #WattersOrganicFertilizer, #WattersHumic, #WattersFlowerPower
Jul 1, 2025
Jul 1, 2025
10 min
Aspen trees are known for their distinctive, shimmering leaves. They also have smooth, greenish-white bark, and their leaves turn a vibrant yellow in the fall. These distinctive, medium-sized deciduous trees add a lovely touch to your landscape. But which one is better for your landscape – a single or multi-trunked variety? Mountain Gardener Ken Lain shares how to pick the right aspen for your landscape and how to care for it for years to come!
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, #QuakingAspen, #SingleTrunkedAspen, #MultiTrunkedAspen, #CaringforAspens
Jun 30, 2025
Jun 30, 2025
10 min
Lavender is the perfect fragrant, flowering plant for Central Highlands gardens. If you have one of these in your landscape, you’ll want more. Mountain Gardener Ken Lain shares the five best Lavender plants for local gardens, and how to keep them blooming all season.
https://themountaingardener.podbean.com/
🥕Ken Lain, The Mountain Gardener
#WattersGardenCenter, #GardeningTips, #TheMountainGardener, #KenLain, #FrenchLavender, #EnglishLavender, #SpanishLavender, #SweetLavender, #FernLeafLavender, #LavenderCare
Jun 29, 2025
Jun 29, 2025
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:
🌳 How to Bring Your Stressed Trees Back to Life
🌺 Q and A: How to Keep Flowers Blooming Through Summer
🌳 How to Tell if a Tree is Truly Dead
🌺 Summer Flowers That Bloom in Hot Sun
🌸 Best Growing Vines for Beauty, Hummingbirds and Arbors
🍅Up Your Garden Game With Free Summer Classes!
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/
🎙️Ken & Lisa Lain, The Mountain Gardeners
#WattersGardenCenter, #WattersGardencenterAZ, #TheMountainGardener, #GardeningTips, #KenLain, #GardenTreeCare, #RevivingTrees, #SummerBloomingFlowers, #BestVinesforHummingbirds&Arbors, #FreeGardenClasses
Jun 28, 2025
🍅Up Your Garden Game With Free Summer Classes!
Jun 28, 2025
Jun 28, 2025
5 min
Are you new to the area, or have you been here for awhile and still want to learn to garden better in the unique conditions of the Central Highlands? Join Watters Garden Center each Saturday through the summer for Free classes that will help you to become a garden expert! You’ll learn something new each week from Watters garden experts and be able to ask your garden questions.
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, #FreeGardenClasses, #WattersFreeGardenClasses, #GardenQuestions
Jun 27, 2025
Jun 27, 2025
10 min
🌸 Best Growing Vines for Beauty, Hummingbirds and Arbors
Would you love to add an arbor to your garden, want to attract more hummingbirds, or simply enjoy the beauty of climbing, flowering vines? Mountain Gardener Ken Lain tells us the most beautiful vines for arbors, attracting hummingbirds and pollinators, and how to plant and care for them.
🌺Ken Lain, The Mountain Gardener
Subscribe for The Mountain Gardener updates!
https://themountaingardener.podbean.com/
#WattersGardenCenter, #GardeningTips, #TheMountainGardener, #KenLain, #GardenArbors, #BestVinesForArbors, #ChoosingAndPlantingVines, #FloweringVines
Jun 26, 2025
🌺 Summer Flowers That Bloom in Hot Sun
Jun 26, 2025
Jun 26, 2025
11 min
If you love sitting in your garden and enjoying the colors and fragrance of your blooming flowers, you might be looking at which flowers can take harsh summer conditions and still bloom with vigor. Mountain Gardener Ken Lain shares the summer flowers that add spectacular color and fragrance to your garden and still bloom in summer’s heat.
🪴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, #SummerFlowers, #FlowersThatLoveTheSun, #FlowersThatLoveSummerHeat
Jun 25, 2025
🌳 How to Tell if a Tree is Truly Dead
Jun 25, 2025
Jun 25, 2025
6 min
If you have a hard time giving up on a tree that appears to be dead, take heart! Sometimes they are just sick! Mountain Gardener Ken Lain shares how to tell if your tree is really dead, or if it just needs some tender loving care. Learn about this and other tree care tips in today’s podcast.
Subscribe for The Mountain Gardener updates!
https://themountaingardener.podbean.com/
Ken Lain, The Mountain Gardener
#WattersGardenCenter, #GardeningTips, #TheMountainGardener, #KenLain, #TreeDiseases, #WateringTrees, #ReviveSickTrees
Jun 24, 2025
Jun 24, 2025
10 min
It’s so satisfying to see your garden work coming to fruition with big, colorful blooms, but it’s sometimes hard to keep them blooming through summer’s heat, wind and dry conditions. Mountain Gardeners Ken and Lisa Lain share with us how to keep your garden vibrant, healthy and colorful through the summer, and answer more garden questions!
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, #SummerFlowers, #BestSummerBlooms, #SummerGardenCare, #SummerGardenColor
Jun 23, 2025
🌳 How to Bring Your Stressed Trees Back to Life
Jun 23, 2025
Jun 23, 2025
10 min
Arizona’s Central Highlands have challenging weather conditions of wind, drought and poor soils that can stress your trees. Learn this week from Mountain Gardener Ken Lain how to give your trees a new lease on life, and the best trees to plant for our unique climate and soils!
https://themountaingardener.podbean.com/
🥕Ken Lain, The Mountain Gardener
#WattersGardenCenter, #GardeningTips, #TheMountainGardener, #KenLain, #LandscapeTrees, #TreeStress, #TreeFeeding&Watering, #TreeCare
Jun 22, 2025
Jun 22, 2025
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 Vines that Cover Fast
🌳 Q and A: Top 10 Screening Plants for Windy Locations
🫛Growing Better Beans & Peas in the Garden
🌺 Top 10 Shrubs for Summer Sizzling Fragrance
🌳 Top 10 Trees for Fast Shade in the Backyard
🐛Garden Alert: Pests are Ready to Destroy Your Plants!
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/
🎙️Ken & Lisa Lain, The Mountain Gardeners
#WattersGardenCenter, #WattersGardencenterAZ, #TheMountainGardener, #GardeningTips, #KenLain, #GardenPestControl, #DroughtTolerantShadeTrees, #GrowingBeans&Peas, #FastGrowingShadeTrees, #FloweringShrubs, #FragrantShrubs
Jun 21, 2025
Jun 21, 2025
5 min
Are you seeing signs of destruction in your garden? Curling leaves and flowers, something eating your fruits and vegetables, plants and leaves not thriving? It could be the army of pests just waiting to feast on all of your hard work! Mountain Gardener Ken Lain shares all of the hungry pests wreaking havoc on your garden – aphids, thrips, worms, squash bugs, and more. But the good news is that Ken has the answers to solve your pest problems so your garden will thrive again!
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, #GardenTour, #GardenPestControl, #ControllingAphids&Thrips, #OrganicPestControl
Jun 20, 2025
🌳 Top 10 Trees for Fast Shade in the Backyard
Jun 20, 2025
Jun 20, 2025
10 min
In Arizona’s sometimes brutal heat, great shade trees can make your yard a comforting oasis. If you’ve moved to a new or different home, or you’d like to have more shade in your landscape, Mountain Gardener Ken Lain tells us the best quickly growing shade trees and how to plant and care for them.
🌺Ken Lain, The Mountain Gardener
Subscribe for The Mountain Gardener updates!
https://themountaingardener.podbean.com/
#WattersGardenCenter, #GardeningTips, #TheMountainGardener, #KenLain, #DroughtTolerantShadeTrees, #FastGrowingShadeTrees, #ShadeTreesforArizona