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This week, we're exploring various topics to help you create a thriving and fulfilling garden. We'll delve into the mysteries of plant dormancy, discover solutions for view-blocking plants, and unveil the perfect companion plants for January, featuring the Winter Gem Boxwood. Plus, we'll share tips for designing your landscape and explore the joy and happiness of gardening.
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
#WattersGardenCenter, #WattersGardencenterAZ, #Top10Gardener, #GardeningTips, #MountainGardenerPodcast, #KenLain, #kedj, #Dormancy, #LandscapeDesign, #CompanionPlanting, #FruitTrees, #GardeningJoy
Hey gardeners, Ken Lain here, your friendly neighborhood gardener! After a busy holiday season, I'm back in the garden, and it feels great!
There's something truly fulfilling about getting my hands dirty, planting new life, and connecting with nature.
Whether I'm pruning, planting, or simply enjoying the fresh air and birdsong, gardening brings me joy and a sense of peace. It's a chance to nurture and care for something outside of myself, and watch it grow and thrive.
Gardening also keeps me active and engaged, both physically and mentally. It's a constant learning process, with new challenges and discoveries everywhere. And there's nothing quite like the satisfaction of harvesting fresh produce or enjoying the beauty of a blooming flower that I've nurtured from seed.
So, if you're looking for a way to boost your mood, reduce stress, and connect with the natural world, I encourage you to try gardening. It's a rewarding journey that brings happiness and fulfillment, one seed at a time.
😊Ken Lain, The Top 10 Gardener
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Hey DIYers, Ken Lain here, ready to empower you to create the landscape of your dreams! Whether you're starting from scratch or refreshing your garden.
I've got some tips to help you design a truly stunning landscape.
First, remember to include plants that shine in every season. Think vibrant spring bloomers like Forsythia and Lilacs, followed by summer showstoppers like Crape Myrtles and Roses.
Don't forget the fiery hues of fall with Maples and Aspens, and the year-round beauty of evergreens.
Create depth and visual interest by layering your flowers. Place taller plants like Snapdragons at the back and shorter ones like Pansies in the front. Combine the long-lasting beauty of perennials with the vibrant, non-stop blooms of annuals like Petunias and Geraniums.
And don't forget about foliage! Add interesting textures with plants like Nandina or Euonymus for year-round appeal. Remember to choose plants suited to our mountain climate and consider the intense sun at our higher elevation.
Finally, aim for a balanced mix of plants and non-living elements like patios and fences. Visit TopPlants.com to research plants and learn how they grow in our unique climate.
With a little planning and these simple tips, you can create a landscape that brings you joy for years to come. Happy gardening!
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🌾Ken Lain, The Top 10 Gardener
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Hey fruit tree fans, Ken Lain here with Lisa Watters Lain! Spring is just around the corner, and that means it's time to start thinking about planting fruit trees.
At Watters Garden Center, we're getting ready for our first truckload of the season, and I'm excited to share some of the unique varieties we'll be offering.
This year, we're featuring combination fruit trees, also known as cocktail trees. These innovative trees offer multiple varieties of fruit on a single tree, perfect for small spaces and diverse harvests. Imagine enjoying apples, pears, and plums all from the same tree!
We'll also have a fantastic selection of dwarf fruit trees, including peaches, nectarines, and apricots. These compact trees are ideal for patios, containers, and small gardens.
And don't forget about our fruit salad combo, a unique tree that features a mix of pitted fruits like peaches, plums, and nectarines, all ripening at different times for a continuous harvest.
So, if you're dreaming of fresh, homegrown fruit, visit Watters Garden Center soon and choose your favorite varieties. Happy planting!
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Click to Join and be notified of Plant Preorders and other Special Offers!
🍎Ken & Lisa Lain, The Top 10 Gardeners
#WattersGardenCenter, #WattersGardencenterAZ, #Top10Gardener, #GardeningTips, #MountainGardenerPodcast, #KenLain, #kedj, #FruitTrees, #SpringPlanting, #CocktailTrees, #DwarfFruitTrees
Hey gardeners, Ken Lain here! Even though it's the middle of winter, your garden can still be a vibrant and colorful space. This January, I'm featuring the Winter Gem Boxwood and its perfect companion plants.
Winter Gem Boxwood is a fantastic evergreen shrub with glossy green foliage that looks great year-round. It's low-maintenance, drought-tolerant, and deer-resistant, making it a perfect choice for busy gardeners.
To create a stunning winter display, combine Winter Gem with other hardy plants that thrive in our mountain climate. The Red Clusterberry Cotoneaster adds a pop of color with its bright red berries, while the Mint Julep Juniper offers a contrasting texture with its silvery-blue foliage. For height and structure, include the Arizona Cypress and Austrian Pine.
These companion plants create a dynamic and beautiful landscape that will add interest to your garden throughout the winter months. Visit Watters Garden Center to see these beauties and get expert advice on planting and care.
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🪴 Ken Lain, The Top 10 Gardener
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Hey there, backyard buddies! Ken and Lisa Lain, the Top 10 Gardeners, here, to answer your gardening questions! It happens to the best of us - a once-loved tree or shrub now dominates your landscape and blocks that stunning view. But don't worry, there are solutions!
First, identify the culprit. Is it an overgrown evergreen or a sprawling shrub? Once you've pinpointed the problem, consider your options. Pruning can help manage size and shape, but sometimes removal is necessary.
When replacing the plant, choose wisely! Consider mature size and growth habits. Opt for varieties that complement your view instead of obscuring it.
Remember, framing a view is like composing a painting. Use columnar plants like Aspens to draw the eye, or create layers with shorter shrubs and perennials.
And if you're unsure about the best approach, visit us at Watters Garden Center! We're always happy to offer expert advice and help you create a landscape that showcases your views, not hides them.
Not already a Garden Club Member?
Click to Join and be notified of Plant Preorders and other Special Offers!
🌸Ken & Lisa Lain, The Top 10 Gardeners
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Hey gardeners, Ken Lain The Top 10 Gardener here! What happens when plants go dormant? It's like they're taking a long winter's nap to recharge for the next growing season!
Deciduous trees lose their leaves in a beautiful autumnal display, while evergreens slow down their growth and conserve energy. Beneath the soil, roots are also taking a break, but they're still alive and active. Think of it as a time of preparation for the burst of growth and blooms that await in spring.
Learn how to care for your dormant plants, including proper watering and protection from the cold. And don't forget to fertilize those spring bloomers like forsythia and lilac now to encourage a spectacular show! With a little understanding and care, you can help your garden thrive through the winter months and emerge even stronger in the spring.
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🌱Ken Lain, The Top 10 Gardener
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This January, embrace the diverse world of gardening, from nurturing your soil with coffee grounds to understanding the symbiotic relationship between cypress and companion plants. Learn how snow benefits wildflowers, discover strategies for gardening in harmony with local wildlife like deer and javelina, and find inspiration from 17 showstopping shrubs to enhance your landscape. Finally, cultivate your green thumb with free garden classes at Watters Garden Center.
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.
Subscribe for Top 10 Gardener updates!
🎙️Ken & Lisa Lain, The Top 10 Gardeners
#WattersGardenCenter, #WattersGardencenterAZ, #Top10Gardener, #GardeningTips, #MountainGardenerPodcast, #KenLain, #kedj, #Gardening, #ArizonaGardening, #WildlifeGardening, #JanuaryGardening, #FreeGardenClasses
Hey gardeners, Ken Lain here, your friendly neighborhood gardener! We're excited to announce our upcoming free garden classes. We'll cover everything from houseplants to landscape design, so there's something for everyone.
In this week’s class, "Landscape Design Basics," we'll explore the principles of creating a beautiful and functional outdoor space. Next week, in "Wildflowers: The Perfect Addition to Your Garden," we'll discuss the best wildflowers for our region and how to plant and care for them.
All of our classes are free and open to the public. They will be held on Saturdays at 9:30 AM at Watters Garden Center. We hope to see you there!
📝Ken Lain, The Top 10 Gardener
Not already a Garden Club Member?
Click to Join and be notified of Plant Preorders and other Special Offers!
#WattersGardenCenter, #WattersGardencenterAZ, #Top10Gardener, #GardeningTips, #MountainGardenerPodcast,#KenLain, #kedj, #FreeGardenClasses, #DIYGardening, #CentralArizonaGardening
Hey garden enthusiasts, Ken Lain the Top 10 Gardener here. Want to add some wow-factor to your yard?
Shrubs are the backbone of any great landscape, bringing color, texture, and structure to your outdoor space. While I could talk about ALL 17 of my favorites, here are 7 show stopping shrubs that truly shine in the Central Highlands:
Tune in the see the rest of the list.
These shrubs are all winners in my book, and they'll bring you years of enjoyment in your mountain garden. Happy planting!
Subscribe for Top 10 Gardener updates!
🌱Ken Lain, The Top 10 Gardener
#WattersGardenCenter, #WattersGardencenterAZ, #Top10Gardener, #GardeningTips, #MountainGardenerPodcast, #KenLain, #kedj, #MountainShrubs, #SouthwestGardening, #DroughtTolerant, #PollinatorPlants
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.