Breathe Deeply: 10 Fragrant Roses That Will Fill Your Garden

03/28/2024 Ken Davis

by Ken Lain, the mountain gardener Roses are synonymous with beauty, romance, and their captivating scent. Choosing the most fragrant roses can be overwhelming, with hundreds to choose from at the garden center this spring. Fear not, rose enthusiasts! This…

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Bite into 7 Successes: Growing Bountiful Apples in Zone 7

03/22/2024 Ken Davis

by Ken Lain, the mountain gardener Zone 7, with its fluctuating temperatures and varied precipitation, presents opportunities and challenges for aspiring apple enthusiasts. But fear not; homegrown orchards are within reach! Following these key steps and exploring popular varieties, you…

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5 Clever Ways to Use Coffee Grounds in Your Garden

01/12/2024 Ken Davis

by Ken Lain, the mountain gardener If you make a daily pot of coffee, you have a fabulous source of the organic matter right at your fingertips. Coffee grounds can make your garden happier in several ways, and not just…

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Make Sense of Autumn Fall Fertilizer Labels

10/04/2023 Ken Davis

by Ken Lain, the mountain gardener When walking down the fertilizer aisle at Watters Garden Center or any home improvement store, you can’t help but notice the dizzying array of plant foods: bags, bottles, powders, granules, sprays, and concentrates. You…

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Top 10 Things Smart Gardeners Do in June

06/07/2023 Ken Davis

by Ken Lain, the mountain gardener June is considered perennial month in the mountains of Arizona. This is the top time to find big, bold perennials at the garden center. These are the flowers that come back bigger and better…

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Everything the May Gardens Need Now

05/03/2023 Ken Davis

by Ken Lain, the mountain gardener Mother’s Day is the historic last chance of frost, and summer plants can go in the gardens safely. It’s time to plant your garden tomatoes, pepper, squash, and herbs without risk. You wlll also…

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Top 10 Spring Cleaning Every Garden Needs

02/21/2023 Ken Davis

By Ken Lain, the mountain gardener Serious gardeners are in the garden on the first warm day of spring. While there is no harm in cleaning up fallen branches and debris, wait until the soil is no longer wet enough…

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The Most Important Garden Tasks of February

02/03/2023 Ken Davis

by Ken Lain, the mountain gardener February gardens yearn for Spring. The Short days of January get brighter every day until springs break. It is also our best month for snow, yet flowers bloom even in snow. You can feel…

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Fertilize Everything in the Yard Before Halloween

10/14/2022 Ken Davis

by Ken Lain, the mountain gardener Walk down any aisle of your local garden center, and you can’t help but notice the dizzying array of plant foods. You’ll see bags, bottles, powders, granules, sprays, and concentrates. Furthermore, you’ll discover more…

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Two Steps for Blockbuster Fruit Harvest in Spring

09/19/2022 Ken Davis

by Ken Lain, the mountain gardener On the Go Answer – Readers Digest Condensed Version of this Article Before Halloween, fruit trees should be fed with 6-4-4-7 Fruit & Veggie Food and sprayed with Horticultural Oil. Again in April. October…

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