New Forsythia Discovered for 2024 Gardens

03/15/2024 Ken Davis

by Ken Lain, the mountain gardener A unique plant explicitly grown for this weekend’s Spring Open House is SpringShine Forsythia. Gardeners will drool over this 2024 introduction. Better than your grandfather’s forsythia. Springshine delivers years of instant cheer to your…

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Blooming Beauties Early Flowers for the Garden

03/08/2024 Ken Davis

by Ken Lain, the mountain gardener The crispness of early spring and autumn holds a unique charm for gardeners. While many focus on perennials, cool-season annuals offer a stunning display, filling empty winter containers and adding vibrant color to the…

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Lush and Lasting: 15 Evergreen Shrubs to Transform Your Landscape

03/01/2024 Ken Davis

by Ken Lain, the mountain gardener Autumn colors are spectacular. The colors and textures are unique to the four seasons of the mountain west. As we wrap up the last Autumn leaves, the landscape can feel naked and bare. Deciduous…

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Spring To Do List for Better Gardens

02/22/2024 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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Gardening for Newcomers to Mountain Landscapes

02/07/2024 Ken Davis

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…

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Experience the Joy of Growing Your Own Fruit Trees for Better Health

01/31/2024 Ken Davis

By Ken Lain, the mountain gardener On the Go Answer – Readers Digest Condensed Version of this Article Fruit trees are easy to grow in the Mountains. Apple, pear, peach, plums, apricot, nectarine, grapes, and blueberries all grow locally. Plant…

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Garden Soils Best Prepared in January

01/24/2024 Ken Davis

By Ken Lain, the mountain gardener On the Go Answer Condensed Version of this Article January is the month to amend garden beds Turn 2” layer of organic Manure & Mulch in one shovels depth Spread Fruit & Veggie Food,…

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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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Perennials to Cut Back in Autumn & How to Grow Them

10/31/2023 Ken Davis

by Ken Lain, the mountain gardener Most perennial hibernate underground through winter. Some are downright ugly after our first hard frost and harbor pest and disease unless cut back by the end of the year. You protect these perennials for…

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11 Fall Tips for Better Gardens

10/12/2023 Ken Davis

by Ken Lain, the mountain gardener Autumn gardening is a great time to look back on garden successes and disappointments. There’s still plenty of time to do some garden maintenance. Fall gardening takes advantage of cooler temperatures and fewer weeds…

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