The Best Small Trees for Tiny Yards

03/30/2023 Ken Davis

By Ken Lain, the mountain gardener We don’t all have room for a mighty Maple or the outstretched branches of a native Sycamore in our backyard. After this article, you will have the fantastic few that outshine the rest in…

Read More

How to Grow Redbud Trees

02/25/2021 Ken Davis

by Ken Lain, the Mountain Gardener Celebrate the end of winter with an explosion of pink blossoms. At just 16′ feet tall, this local native is super easy to grow. Vibrant, red flowers cloak the branches of early spring. Luscious…

Read More

How to Grow Prescott Autumn Blaze Maple

09/30/2020 Ken Davis

by Ken Lain, the mountain gardener The extreme growth of 3 feet or more each year. The fall color glows like embers in a blazing hot fire, thus the name. There is no better maple to plant in Arizona. It…

Read More

How to Grow Raywood Ash

09/03/2020 Ken Davis

by Ken Lain, the mountain gardener Raywood Ash is a bright source of autumn color and super drought hardy. A good street tree that, with age, provides considerable shade. Plant as a single specimen, in a grove for more widespread…

Read More

How to Grow Sensation Maples

06/17/2020 Ken Davis

by Ken Lain, the mountain gardener This stunning shade tree thrives in severe garden conditions without skipping a beat. A member of the Maple tree family is a native selection, so you know it will do well! Faster growing, the…

Read More

Planting Trees in Winter?!?

12/28/2018 Ken Davis

by Ken Lain, the mountain gardenerGenerally, the best time for planting trees is late winter through early spring.Typically this period is followed by a season of moderate weather, giving new transplants time to become established.  For gardens above 6500 feet,…

Read More

Summer Shade with the Best Trees

06/16/2012 Ken Lain, mountain gardener

I can’t think of many things that affect us as diversely as trees do. For starters, they contribute to numerous influences on our surroundings. They improve our environment by providing protection from wind and dust, by shading us from our…

Read More