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Hey gardeners, Ken Lain here! It's time to give your evergreens some love!
After protecting them from pests, remember to nourish them with a good fertilizer.
Avoid synthetic options; they can harm our environment and beneficial soil life.
Instead, choose an organic, all-natural fertilizer like my 7-4-4 All-Purpose Plant Food. Its blend of cottonseed meal, guano, and iron is perfect for our alkaline soils and hungry plants.
Add soil sulfur to acidify the soil for an extra boost, leading to brighter colors and more vigorous growth. Spread the fertilizer over the root zone, let the rain and irrigation do their work, and watch your garden thrive!
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Ken Lain, The Top 10 Gardener
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Ken and Lisa Lain, the Top 10 Gardeners, are here! Spring has sprung, and vibrant blooms are painting the landscape!
It's time to introduce delightful companions for your garden – Champagne Bubbles Poppy and Snapdragon. These beauties thrive in cool nights and bright days, unfazed by frost.
The Champagne Bubbles Poppy, with its large, multi-colored flowers, adds a cheerful burst of color. Pair it with the tall, elegant Snapdragon, available in an array of colors, and enjoy its resilience against those pesky critters. Plus, they practically reseed themselves!
Don't forget to check out new arrivals like the fragrant Sweet Tea and Sweet Star Gardenias, and the unique Virtual Violet Lilac with its purple-ringed leaves. Happy gardening!
🌻Ken & Lisa Lain, The Top 10 Gardeners
#WattersGardenCenter, #Top10Gardener, #GardeningTips, #KenLain, #SpringFlowers, #PoppyLove, #Snapdragon, #GardenCompanions, #NewPlants
Ken Lain here! Friends, the early warmth has awakened our gardens and, unfortunately, the pests, too.
Bark beetles are attacking Ponderosa and Austrian pines, while pine scale decimates Piñon pines. Look for pinholes on Ponderosas and small dots on Piñon needles.
These pests can kill mature trees if untreated. Fortify your pines with a 7-4-4 all-purpose fertilizer now. Then, apply a systemic drench at the tree's base; it's a simple, effective solution that lasts a year.
Don't wait—protect your trees now to avoid costly removals later. A healthy tree is a resilient tree.
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🐛Ken Lain, The Top 10 Gardener
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Ken and Lisa Lain here each week to answer your garden questions! Spring's arrival brings fragrant peonies, a garden favorite.
If you're eager to cultivate these beauties, remember they crave well-draining soil and plenty of sunshine—at least four to five hours daily.
Amend heavy clay soils with ample compost or consider raised beds. Peonies are long-lived perennials, so choose their location wisely.
For those battling deer, rejoice! Peonies are deer-resistant. And if you're looking for a hardy, deer-proof hedge, consider Elaeagnus ciliaris, also known as silverberry. Its dense, evergreen foliage and resilience make it a fantastic choice.
Let's make your garden bloom!
🪻Ken & Lisa Lain, The Top 10 Gardeners
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Hey garden enthusiasts! It’s Ken Lain, and spring is bursting with life.
Now is the perfect time to start your tomato and pepper seedlings for a bountiful summer harvest.
Here in Northern Arizona, with our cool nights, starting seeds indoors six to eight weeks before our late April/early May planting window is crucial.
Use quality seed trays, good potting soil, and provide consistent warmth for germination. Consider early producers like the 'Early Girl' tomato and 'Jalapeño Zing' or 'Serrano Spice Shot' peppers for delicious, homegrown Pico de Gallo.
Remember, the right varieties and timing make all the difference. If indoor starting isn't your style, Watters Garden Center has a wide selection of established plants ready for your garden. Get your seeds or plants now, and let's grow together!
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🍎Ken Lain, The Top 10 Gardener
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Hey, fellow gardeners, Ken and Lisa Watters - Lain here!
This week, we're all about prepping for spring! We'll explore the telltale signs of the season, like blooming daffodils and buzzing bees, and discover the best ways to spruce up those containers with cool-season flowers like pansies and snapdragons. We’ll also highlight the most amazing shrubs for early spring color, like Forsythia and Lilacs, and share expert tips on planting new trees and preparing your soil for a successful growing season. Let's get those gardens growing!
Included in this week’s episode:
Ken and Lisa will also answer listener questions about gardening in Arizona's high country.
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.
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🎙️Ken & Lisa Lain, The Top 10 Gardeners
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Hey fellow gardeners, Ken Lain here! Get your garden beds ready for spring planting!
It's time to nourish your soil and give your plants the foundation they need to thrive. Start by fertilizing with Watters 7-4-4 All-Purpose Plant Food, an excellent organic choice that strengthens plants and feeds the soil. It's easy to apply - simply sprinkle it around the drip line of your plants, where the feeder roots are located.
For an extra boost, consider adding a layer of compost or manure to your garden beds. This will help improve soil structure, increase water retention, and provide additional nutrients for your plants. And remember, healthy soil is the key to a healthy and productive garden.
With a little preparation and the right nutrients, you'll be enjoying a vibrant and bountiful garden all season long!
👨🌾Ken Lain, The Top 10 Gardener
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#WattersGardenCenter, #Top10Gardener, #GardeningTips, #KenLain, #SoilPreparation, #Fertilizing, #OrganicGardening, #SpringPlanting,
Hey gardeners, Ken Lain here! Spring is just around the corner, and it's time to get your landscape ready for a spectacular show.
Here are three key tasks to tackle now:
First, feed your plants. Just like us, plants need nourishment to thrive. Fertilize everything in your landscape with a good quality organic or all-natural plant food. Avoid synthetic fertilizers, as they can harm beneficial soil organisms and pollute our waterways.
Second, focus on the drip line. When fertilizing, remember that the feeder roots of your plants are located at the drip line, or the outermost edge of the canopy. Sprinkle the fertilizer evenly around the drip line for optimal absorption.
Finally, choose the right fertilizer. At Watters Garden Center, we offer two excellent organic fertilizers: our 7-4-4 All-Purpose Plant Food and our 6-4-4-7 Organic Fruit and Vegetable Food. Both are pelletized for easy application and provide slow-release nutrients for healthy growth.
By following these simple steps, you'll be setting your landscape up for a vibrant and productive spring season. Happy gardening!
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🌸Ken Lain, The Top 10 Gardener
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Hey tree lovers, Ken Lain here! Spring is the perfect time to add new trees to your landscape, and at Watters Garden Center, we've got a fresh batch of beauties ready to enhance your yard.
We just received a shipment of stunning Oklahoma Redbuds, Krauter Vesuvius Plums, and a variety of Crabapples, including new varieties like the Ivory Spear and Raspberry Spear.
Remember, planting early is key to maximizing your spring blooms. Choose the right location, amend the soil with compost and mulch, and water regularly. With a little care and attention, your new trees will thrive and bring you years of beauty and enjoyment.
Happy planting!
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🌳Ken & Lisa Lain, The Top 10 Gardeners
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Hey gardeners, Ken Lain here! Spring has sprung in the Central Highlands, and it's time to add some vibrant color and fragrance to your landscape. While those early blooming trees are a must-have, don't forget the amazing shrubs that shine in early spring!
Here are a few of my favorites:
Remember, planting early is key to maximizing your spring blooms. So, grab your shovels and get those shrubs in the ground!
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🪴 Ken Lain, The Top 10 Gardener
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From the publisher's feed
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:
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.