Category: Garden Tips

by Ken Lain, the mountain gardener There are lots of annuals grown for their foliage, like coleuses and caladiums, but blooming plants remain the most popular annuals. That’s because annual plants bloom repeatedly, giving undemanding joyous color throughout our warm…

by Ken Lain, the mountain gardener With so many students home from school and families seeking interesting things to do that are healthy, safe, and educational, this column is dedicated to you. Our family’s fondest memories are of gardening, collecting…

By Ken Lain, The Mountain Gardener Spring weather signals the start of specific gardening tasks that are essential to maintaining a vital, healthy garden. I’m a list type of gardener, and the following is my springtime procedural list in order…

by Ken Lain, the mountain gardener High altitude gardening is different from gardening at lower elevations.  Combine our altitude with Arizona’s dry climate, bright air, and ever-present mountain winds, and you pretty much can forget what you learned from gardening…

Preparing Garden Soils for Spring Planting Once you’ve tried digging the first planting hole in a mountain garden you learn that our native soils are HARD !!!  Skimp on spring soil preparation to “soften” the ground and your garden’s production…

By Ken Lain, the mountain gardener Eggs are naturals for a gardener’s breakfast, lunch, or dinner, and the resultant empty eggshells are very good for the garden! Instead of throwing away all those shells, make good use of them as…

by Ken Lain, the mountain gardener Garden Alert! Frozen soils can take a noticeable toll on the landscape. The heaving of the earth breaks tender new roots and causes the roots of some plants to come right up out of…

By Ken Lain, the mountain gardener Many of us have gardened in places where the soil is rich, its pH perfectly balanced, the climate blessed with consistent rainfall, gentle sun, and plant-coddling humidity.    Mountain soil and climate present the opposites…

By Ken Lain, the mountain gardener Gardening is a hobby, and like all hobbies, it’s easy to get carried away beyond hobby-budgeted funds. Even after you have the necessary tools and supplies, there always are new plants, hats, gloves, and…

by Ken Lain, the mountain gardener Time seems to drag when the voices of stress repeat themselves in my head, but stress is never an issue in the garden. Gardening is my escape from a hyper-connected world of Facebook, inbox,…