Mountain Gardener with Ken & Lisa

What Homeowners Love & Hate about Gardening

Things homeowners love about gardening:

• The satisfaction of growing their own food: There's nothing quite like the feeling of picking a ripe tomato or fresh herb from your garden.
• The beauty of flowers and plants: Gardens can be a beautiful addition to any home and can also help improve the air quality.
• The sense of accomplishment: Gardening can be a challenging but rewarding hobby, and it's a great way to get some exercise.
• The peace and quiet: Gardening can be a great way to relax and de-stress.
• The connection to nature: Gardening can help us to connect with nature and appreciate the beauty of the world around us.

Things homeowners hate about gardening:

• The time commitment: Gardening can be a time-consuming hobby, and it's essential to be prepared to commit the time and effort necessary to keep your garden healthy and thriving.
• The expense: Gardening can be an expensive hobby, especially if you purchase tools, seeds, and plants.
• The pests and diseases: Gardens can be susceptible to pests and conditions, which can be a major headache for homeowners.
• The weather: Gardening is at the mercy of the weather, and there's nothing more frustrating than having your plans ruined by a sudden hailstorm or unseasonable heat wave.
• Physical labor: Gardening can be physically demanding, especially if you have a large garden.

Overall, gardening is a rewarding hobby that can benefit homeowners. 

Here are some tips for making gardening a more enjoyable experience:

• Start small: If you're new to gardening, start with a small garden and gradually increase the size as you gain experience.
• Choose the right plants: Choose plants suited to your climate and growing conditions.
• Plan your garden carefully: Plan your garden layout before you start planting. This will help you to avoid making mistakes.
• Take care of your plants: Water your plants regularly and fertilize them as needed.
• Be patient: Gardening takes time and effort. Expect to have a beautiful garden after a while.

With a bit of planning and effort, you can enjoy the many benefits of gardening without getting overwhelmed by the challenges.

When Can Trees be Moved in the Yard

The best time to move trees in the yard is during their dormant season when they are not actively growing. This is typically in the winter or early spring (before leaves have emerged).

 

For deciduous trees, the best time to move is late winter, January through March. This is because the roots are less active, and the tree is not actively losing water through its leaves. The soil is also cooler, which helps to reduce transplant shock.

 

The best time to move for evergreen trees is in the early spring. This is because the roots are starting to become active, but the tree still needs to actively grow. If you are moving a huge tree, it may be necessary to move it in the winter, when the tree is dormant and the soil is frozen.

 

Here are some additional tips for transplanting trees:

• Choose a sunny spot with well-drained soil.
• Dig a hole that is at least twice as wide as the tree's root ball.
• Backfill the hole with soil mixed with Watters Premium Mulch.
• Water the tree well after transplanting.
• Mulch around the tree to help retain moisture and suppress weeds.

With proper care, a tree that is transplanted at the right time of year will have a good chance of survival and thrive in its new location.

Controlling Bindweed Before it Invades the Gardens

Welcome to another episode of the Top 10 Gardener Podcast. Today, we're talking about bindweed, a notorious and difficult-to-control weed. I'm your host, Ken Lain, and I'll talk to you about identifying and controlling bindweed in your garden.

Bindweed is a vine found in many parts of the world. It's characterized by its heart-shaped leaves and white or pink flowers. Bindweed can be a major problem in gardens, as it can quickly take over and smother other plants.

**Here are some tips on how to identify bindweed:

• The leaves are heart-shaped and have smooth edges.
• The flowers are white or pink and have five petals.
• The stems are thin and wiry and can climb over other plants.
• The roots are long and can spread underground.

**If you think you have bindweed in your garden, it's important to take action to control it. Here are a few methods you can use:

• Hand pulling: This is the most effective way to control bindweed if you have a small infestation. Be sure to pull up the entire root, as any pieces left behind will regrow.
• Digging: This can be effective for larger infestations, but it's important to be careful not to break the roots, as this will only make the problem worse.
• Using a hoe: This can be used to cut the bindweed stems at the soil surface. This will weaken the plant, but it won't kill it.
• Using a weedkiller: There are a number of commercial weedkillers that can be used to control bindweed. Be sure to read the label carefully and follow the directions.

No matter which method you choose, it's important to be persistent. Bindweed is a tough weed, and it may take several treatments to get rid of it completely.

Gardening with Backyard Animals & Javelina

Do you live in an area with javelina or other backyard animals that love to eat your plants? If so, this podcast is for you!

In each episode, we'll talk about different ways to deter these animals from your garden, including:

• Using physical barriers, such as fences or electric wires

• Planting animal-resistant plants

• Using scent deterrents

• Managing your yard to make it less attractive to animals

We'll also share tips on how to coexist peacefully with these animals, and how to protect yourself and your pets from them.

So whether you're a seasoned gardener or just starting out, this podcast is a must-listen!

Listen to the episode today!

Stressed Plants Back to Life

We'll cover the following topics:

• Identifying the signs of a stressed plant

• Diagnosing the cause of the stress

• Treating the stress

• Preventing future stress

We'll also share some tips for keeping your plants healthy in the first place.

So whether you're a seasoned plant parent or a beginner, this episode is for you!

Gardening with Javelina & Backyard Animals

Do you live in an area with javelina or other backyard animals that love to eat your plants? If so, this podcast is for you!

In each episode, we'll talk about different ways to deter these animals from your garden, including:

• Using physical barriers, such as fences or electric wires

• Planting animal-resistant plants

• Using scent deterrents

• Managing your yard to make it less attractive to animals

We'll also share tips on how to coexist peacefully with these animals, and how to protect yourself and your pets from them.

So whether you're a seasoned gardener or just starting out, this podcast is a must-listen!

Best Fall Plants for Autumn Long Flowers, Color & Blooms

"Are you looking to add autumn color and blooms to your garden? In this episode of the [podcast name], we'll discuss the best fall plants for long-lasting flowers. We'll cover a variety of plants, including mums, roses, dahlias, pansies, and more. We'll also talk about choosing the right plants for your climate and how to care for them.

So whether you're a seasoned gardener or just getting started, this episode is for you. Tune in to learn more about the best fall plants for autumn-long flowers, color, and blooms."

Ornamental Grass Should be Blooming

One of the things that people love about ornamental grasses is their flowers. Many ornamental grasses produce plumes, which are airy, feathery flower clusters. Plumes can be white, pink, purple, or yellow. They typically bloom in late summer or fall.

If you want to encourage your ornamental grasses to bloom, you can do a few things. First, make sure they're getting enough sun. Most ornamental grasses need full sun to partial shade. Second, water them regularly, especially during hot, dry weather. Third, fertilize them in the spring with a balanced fertilizer.

If you're looking for an easy way to add beauty and interest to your garden, ornamental grasses are a great option. And if you follow these tips, you can encourage them to bloom for months.

In this episode, we'll discuss some of the most popular ornamental grasses, how to care for them, and how to force them to bloom. We'll also share some tips for using ornamental grasses in your garden design.

So whether you're a gardening beginner or a seasoned pro, this episode is for you. Tune in now to learn more about ornamental grasses!"

You can also add a call to action at the end of your script, such as:

"If you're interested in learning more about ornamental grasses, check out our website or blog. And don't forget to subscribe to our podcast so you don't miss any future episodes."

 

Best Privacy Screen Arizona Cypress or Dedor Cedar

The Arizona cypress and the Deodar cedar are good choices for privacy screens but have different advantages and disadvantages.

The Arizona cypress is a native plant to the southwestern United States, so it is well-adapted to the hot, dry climate. It is also a fast-growing tree, reaching a mature height of 20-30 feet in just a few years. The Arizona cypress has a dense, conical shape that provides good privacy, and its blue-gray foliage is attractive year-round.

The Deodar cedar is a larger tree, reaching a mature height of 50-70 feet. It is also a fast-growing tree but not as drought-tolerant as the Arizona cypress. The Deodar cedar has a more spreading growth habit than the Arizona cypress, and its silvery-green foliage is also attractive year-round.

Here is a table comparing the two trees:

Feature	Arizona Cypress	Deodar Cedar
Native range	Southwestern United States	Himalayas
Mature height	20-30 feet	50-70 feet
Growth rate	Fast	Fast
Drought tolerance	Good	Fair
Growth habit	Conical	Spreading
Foliage color	Blue-gray	Silvery-green

 

Ultimately, the best tree for you will depend on your specific needs and preferences. If you are looking for a fast-growing, drought-tolerant tree native to the southwestern United States, the Arizona cypress is a good choice. If you are looking for a larger tree with a more spreading growth habit, then the Deodar cedar is a good choice.

 

Second Hand Smoke Kills the Vegetable Garden and How to Prevent the Disease

The tobacco mosaic virus attacks various vegetables, including tomato, pepper, eggplant, tobacco, spinach, petunia, and marigold. On tomatoes, virus infection causes light and dark green mottled areas on the leaves. The dark green areas tend to be somewhat thicker than the lighter portions of the leaf. You will be a vegetable pro after this week's show. 

How to Save Money at a Garden Center Nursery

As garden centers change their seasonal plant mix, they liquidate the previous season's plants at a discount.  This is a unique chance to save some serious landscape money on great plants.  We share when the saving seasons are and how to cash in on the savings. You will be a landscape pro after this week's show. 

Preventing Green Tomato Worms in the Gardens

As the summer garden matures and the harvest is picked for use, a large green caterpillar devours tomatoes, pepper, and other vegetables in the garden.  In this episode, we cover what to look for and how to control insects organically. 

Perennial Flowers that Draws in Hummingbirds and Butterflies

Perennial flowers grow back for years of enjoyment.  This list of 7 key flowers that hummingbirds are especially fond of.  You will be a hummingbird pro after this week's show.  

How to Save Money when Buying Plants at a Garden Center

As garden centers change their seasonal plant mix they liquidate the previous season's plants at a discount.  This is a unique chance to save some serious landscape money on really great plants.  We share when the saving seasons are and how to cash in on the savings. You will be a landscape pro after this week's show. 

Trumpet Vine and How to Grow the Big Red Vine in Arizona

Trumpet Vine is a natural summer vine that grows fast, easily, and beautifully.  A hummingbird dream flowers for summer-long color on this heat, wind, and sun loving plant.  You will be a vining pro after this week's show.