

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
May 6, 2025
May 6, 2025
10 min
This week, Ken and Lisa Lain answer your questions about best practices for growing in raised bed gardens, how much sun and the best soil for your roses to thrive and bloom, and how to help your fruit trees get the best start in life for years of enjoyment.
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, #FruitTrees, #Best Container Soils, #RaisedBedGardening, #RoseGardening
May 5, 2025
May 5, 2025
10 min
Learn from the experts about the tips that will make your vegetable garden the envy of all this season! All about how to make sure you have enough zucchini to send your neighbors running for cover, the most luscious tomatoes, the best salad veggies, and so much more!
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https://themountaingardener.podbean.com/
🥕Ken Lain, The Mountain Gardener
#WattersGardenCenter, #GardeningTips, #TheMountainGardener, #KenLain, #Tomatoes #Growing Vegetables, #BetterGardenVegetables
May 4, 2025
May 4, 2025
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:
- 8 Stunning Plants for the Native Landscape
- How to Grow Tree Roses in Containers
- 3 Types of Yucca for Every Garden Style
- Updated Container Styles With Spring Flowers
- Douglas Forst, Armstrong Growers: What’s New for 2025
- Garden Therapy: What I Love Most About Gardening!
Subscribe to The Top 10 Gardener Podcast today and get your hands dirty with their 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, #SpringGardening, #ContainerGardenTips, #PestControl, #NativePlants, #PrescottGardens, #Yucca

May 3, 2025
May 3, 2025
5 min
Ken Lain talks about moisture cycles in the Central Highlands, and how spring moisture will cause those early blooms (and weeds) to take off! Learn about fertilizing and weed control, turning on your drip irrigation, and the lure of garden therapy – how spending time in the garden will elevate your outlook and lower your stress levels!
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 Lain, The Mountain Gardener
Subscribe for The Mountain Gardener updates!
https://themountaingardener.podbean.com/
#WattersGardenCenter, #GardeningTips, #TheMountainGardener, #KenLain, #SpringMoisture, #DripIrrigation, #SpringWeedControl, #GardenTherapy

May 2, 2025
May 2, 2025
11 min
Douglas Forst of Armstrong Growers joins us today to talk about how he got into the business, his favorite plants, and how Armstrong Growers brings the newest and best flowers, perennials, vegetables and herbs to Garden Centers each year. Learn what’s new for 2025 from one of the foremost growers in the business!
🎥Ken Lain, The Mountain Gardener
Subscribe for The Mountain Gardener updates!
https://themountaingardener.podbean.com/
#WattersGardenCenter, #GardeningTips, #TheMountainGardener, #KenLain, #New2025Plants, #Perennials2025, #ArmstrongGrowers, #DouglasForst

May 1, 2025
🪴Updated Container Style with Spring Flowers
May 1, 2025
May 1, 2025
10 min
Perennials in containers add gorgeous color and interest to your landscape, and they are easy to grow with less weeding, watering and care required. But sometimes these containers get tired and need rejuvenation. Ken and Lisa talk this week about replenishing soil, and livening up or even replacing container plants.
🪴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, #Containers, #Best Container Soils, #RejuvinatingPerennialsinContainers, #ContainerGardening

Apr 30, 2025
🌵 3 Types of Yucca for Every Garden Style
Apr 30, 2025
Apr 30, 2025
6 min
🌵 3 Types of Yucca for Every Garden Style
This segment is all about Yuccas, Agaves and Century Plants! These native beauties are perfect for the Arizona Central Highlands, and they’re stunning additions to your landscape! Many varieties and colors with gorgeous blooms are available. Learn how easy these plants are to grow and maintain!
Subscribe for The Mountain Gardener updates!
https://themountaingardener.podbean.com/
🌵Ken Lain, The Mountain Gardener
#WattersGardenCenter, #GardeningTips, #TheMountainGardener, #KenLain, #Yuccas, #Agaves, #Century Plants

Apr 29, 2025
🌷 How to Grow Tree Roses in Containers
Apr 29, 2025
Apr 29, 2025
10 min
Ken and Lisa Lain Watters Lain talk all about growing tomatoes, peppers and more in containers. Learn what kind of soil to use and when to change it out, the ideal size of container, the right kind of fertilizer, and more. Are the bugs and other foliage problems showing up? Drop a sample into a plastic bag and bring it into the Garden Center for diagnosis!
Not already a Garden Club Member?
Click to Join and be notified of Plant Preorders and other Special Offers!
🌷Ken & Lisa Lain, The Mountain Gardeners
#WattersGardenCenter, #GardeningTips, #TheMountainGardener, #KenLain, #TomatoesandPeppersin Containers, #Best Container Soils, #PlantBugandDiseaseDiagnosis, #roses

Apr 28, 2025
🌱8 Stunning Plants for the Native Landscape
Apr 28, 2025
Apr 28, 2025
10 min
Learn about naturally growing plants native to Arizona’s Central Highlands. Ken Lain shares his eight favorites, in bloom right now at Watters Garden Center and ready to plant in your landscape. Marginal soil, wind, cold and heat – these native beauties will thrive in our ever-changing conditions!
Subscribe for The Mountain Gardener updates!
🌱Ken Lain, The Mountain Gardener
#WattersGardenCenter, #GardeningTips, #TheMountainGardener, #KenLain, #NativePlants, #ArizonaCentralHighlands, #ReadytoPlant

Apr 27, 2025
Apr 27, 2025
52 min
Hey garden enthusiasts, Ken & Lisa Watters Lain, The Mountain Gardeners here!
This week, we're exploring fantastic plant choices for our Arizona landscapes. We'll delve into the top 10 native plants that thrive here, discover the best fragrant gardenias for mountain gardens, and highlight the ideal Desert Willow varieties. Plus, we'll explore the most aromatic and beautiful lavenders, gain insights from Monrovia Nursery expert Jim Rupe, and define what truly makes a landscape native to our region. Let's get growing with these top tips!
Included in this week’s episode:
- Top 10 Native Plants to Grow in Arizona
- Best Gardenias for the Mountain Garden
- Native Desert Willow and the Best Variety for Your Yard
- Best Lavenders for Fragrance and Beauty
- An Interview with Jim Rupe from Monrovia Nursery
- The Definition of a Native Landscape
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!
Subscribe to The Top 10 Gardener Podcast today and get your hands dirty with their expert tips and tricks. You'll find it on all your favorite podcast platforms.
Subscribe for Top 10 Gardener updates!
🎙️Ken & Lisa Lain, The Mountain Gardeners
#WattersGardenCenter, #WattersGardencenterAZ, #TheMountainGardener, #GardeningTips, #KenLain,
#NativePlants, #FragrantFlowers, #DesertGardening, #MonroviaNursery, #ArizonaGardens

Apr 26, 2025
🌵The Definition of a Native Landscape
Apr 26, 2025
Apr 26, 2025
5 min
Okay, folks, let's talk natives! Ken Lain the Mountain Gardener here, and I know many of you are curious about creating a truly Arizona landscape. So, what exactly is a native plant? It's one that naturally grows right here, in our unique climate. Think Arizona Cypress, the sturdy windbreak, or the elegant Silverberry, a low-care evergreen.
Folks often seek natives for their low maintenance and water-wise nature – perfect for our RV adventures! Plus, many, like Silverberry and Manzanita, are naturally resistant to deer and Javelina. While some natives might not be showy at first glance, their long-term beauty and adaptability shine through.
At Watters, we're making it easier to find the right natives for your yard, grouping them by low-care, animal resistance, and size. Let's create a landscape that thrives naturally!
🌵Ken Lain, The Mountain Gardener
Subscribe for The Mountain Gardener updates!
#WattersGardenCenter, #Top10Gardener, #TheMountainGardener, #GardeningTips,
#NativePlants, #ArizonaLandscaping, #LowMaintenanceGardening, #DroughtTolerant,

Apr 25, 2025
Apr 25, 2025
11 min
Hey gardeners, Ken Lain here! This week on the Mountain Gardener, I’m chatting with Jim Rupe of Monrovia Nursery, a real giant in the plant-growing world! We’ll get the inside scoop on where those beautiful plants at your local garden center come from.
Jim shares Monrovia's passion for quality and what it means to work with a company with a 100-year history. We’ll explore the journey of plants from their farms to your garden, and why that matters.
For all you Arizona gardeners, you'll learn which plants truly thrive in our unique climate.
🎥Ken Lain, The Mountain Gardener
Subscribe for The Mountain Gardener updates!
#WattersGardenCenter, #TheMountainGardener, #GardeningTips, #KenLain, #MonroviaNursery, #PlantGrowers, #GardenCenter, #PlantQuality, #ArizonaGardening

Apr 24, 2025
🪴The Best Lavenders for Fragrance and Beauty
Apr 24, 2025
Apr 24, 2025
10 min
Ken and Lisa Lain, The Mountain Gardeners here! Okay, let's talk fragrant lavenders, friends!
To guide you to olfactory bliss in your own backyard. We've got a delightful selection blooming right now at Watters!
For that classic lavender scent, you can't beat English Lavender. 'Goodwin Creek offers a taller, shrub-like form with gray leaves and intensely fragrant purple spikes. 'Munstead is more compact, perfect for smaller spaces, and has equally aromatic purple blooms.
Then there are the unique Spanish Lavenders! 'Princess' boasts unusual violet-pink flowers with that signature lavender fragrance. 'Ghostly Princess' offers silvery foliage and pink blooms. And 'Purple Medley' has green leaves and pineapple-like purple flowers.
All lavenders love sun (at least 6 hours) and well-drained soil, thriving even in containers. They're also wonderfully deer—and rabbit-resistant. Plant a few, and let that soothing fragrance fill your garden!
🪴Ken & Lisa Lain, the Mountain Gardeners
Not already a Garden Club Member?
Click to Join and be notified of Plant Preorders and other Special Offers!
#WattersGardenCenter, #TheMountainGardener, #GardeningTips, #KenLain, #lavender

Apr 23, 2025
Apr 23, 2025
6 min
Hey gardeners, Ken Lain here! Looking for a tough, beautiful native that hummingbirds adore? Let's talk Desert Willows! These beauties thrive from Prescott to Sedona, offering willow-shaped leaves and orchid-like flowers.
The native variety boasts lovely pink blooms, but be warned – it produces bean pods that can limit flowering. That's where the new introductions shine! Look for named varieties like 'Timeless Beauty' or 'Bubba' – these have been bred to be bean-less, giving you continuous waves of stunning flowers from late spring through autumn.
Plant them in full sun, water to establish, and then let them go – they're super drought-hardy. Their airy foliage and vibrant blooms make them a fantastic, low-care addition to any Arizona yard.
Subscribe for The Mountain Gardener updates!
🌳Ken Lain, The Mountain Gardener
#WattersGardenCenter, #TheMountain Gardener, #GardeningTips, #KenLain,
#DesertWillow, #NativePlants, #HummingbirdGarden, #DroughtTolerant, #ArizonaGardening

Apr 22, 2025
🌼Best Gardenias for Mountain Gardens
Apr 22, 2025
Apr 22, 2025
10 min
And we are back with Lisa Watters Lain. Many folks are surprised to learn we can grow fragrant gardenias right here. The secret is choosing hardy varieties! We carry two that brave our winters: one with a classic double flower and another with a lovely star-shaped bloom, both boasting that intense gardenia fragrance.
Now, don't expect them to get as big as they do in the South; here, they'll likely stay around knee-high, perfect for containers. Plant them on the east or north side of your home for morning sun and afternoon shade. They also do well under covered patios.
Fertilize with Flower Power monthly, and you'll enjoy those beautiful, fragrant white blooms starting in May and lasting all season. Deer and rabbits tend to leave them be, making them a delightful, fragrant addition to your mountain oasis.
Not already a Garden Club Member?
Click to Join and be notified of Plant Preorders and other Special Offers!
🌼 Ken & Lisa Lain, The Mountain Gardeners
#WattersGardenCenter, #TheMountainGardener, #GardeningTips, #KenLain, #Gardenia