I’m a salsa gardener, and proud of it! The bulk of my gardens are dedicated to tomatoes, tomatillos, cilantro, onions, chives and peppers. The most exciting, tastiest, most versatile of new plants for a kitchen garden are peppers. Sweet or spicy, too hot or soothingly mild, peppers can be used for salsa, savory jelly, and for my favorite dish…stuffed and grilled. Because Prescott and its surrounding area have a limited growing season for peppers, they should be started indoors eight to 10 … [Read more...] about Growing Peppers: Hot, Hotter, Extreme
Ken Lain
Five Herbs Best Grown in Mountain Gardens
Many herbs are perennial, meaning they can be planted once and left to grow for many years. Perennial herbs take some of the heavy lifting out of garden design by returning year after year. They are comfortable and always look attractive. A perennial bed also allows you to divide and expand your herbal plants as they mature. When designing your garden, plant these herbs for a long-lasting, fragrant garden. Echinacea is useful for healing, but it is also a beautiful accent for any garden. … [Read more...] about Five Herbs Best Grown in Mountain Gardens
Planting the Hardiest Perennials in Local Gardens
Gardening may be one of America’s favorite hobbies, but it does have a downside. Imagine investing dozens of hours and hundreds of dollars redecorating your bedroom, only to have it crumble to ashes in less than a year! That is a good analogy to planting and nurturing a garden that withers away after one season. Fortunately, not all plants will go belly-up each fall/winter. By choosing those vigorous perennial plants that tolerate a wide range of growing conditions, you can be assured that your … [Read more...] about Planting the Hardiest Perennials in Local Gardens
Planting the Hardiest Perennials for Local Gardens
Gardening may be one of America's favorite hobbies, but it does have a downside. Imagine investing dozens of hours and hundreds of dollars redecorating your bedroom, only to have it crumble to ashes in less than a year! That is a good analogy to planting and nurturing a garden that withers away after one season. Fortunately, not all plants will go belly-up each fall/winter. By choosing those vigorous perennial plants that tolerate a wide range of growing conditions, you can be assured that your … [Read more...] about Planting the Hardiest Perennials for Local Gardens
Eight Fragrant Shrubs for Mountain Gardens
What is the most fragrant plant? Which flower has the best smell? What is the most fragrant flower in the world? What is the most fragrant lavender? What is the most fragrant rose? Shrubs have many uses in the landscape, but gardeners who appreciate sweet-smelling plants will be especially drawn to the most fragrant of these shrubs. Whether cold-hardy or tropical, bushes in this group are valued for scenting the air and thereby diversifying the enjoyment of your yard. The blooms on many of … [Read more...] about Eight Fragrant Shrubs for Mountain Gardens
Planting Wildflowers is Easy
At Watters Garden Center, we often hear questions about wildflowers: When is the best time to plant wildflower seeds? Do wildflowers grow back every year? Do wildflowers need full sun? How do you plant a wildflower garden? Do deer eat wildflowers? Wildflowers are best planted in winter. Plant only perennial wildflower seeds to come back in spring. Most flowers prefer at least six hours of sun per day. Use hydromulch, a blend of wildflower seed in Watters Premium Mulch, and spread. Keep … [Read more...] about Planting Wildflowers is Easy
Holiday Evergreens are Ready for Planting
During the coldest months of the year, evergreens are the anchors that hold together our landscapes. Up to 25 percent of any mountain landscape should be allotted to evergreens. Get this ratio wrong and that winter landscape will appear bare, especially if neighboring yards have evergreens galore. This is a good time to assess the balance of your yard and, if it’s found lacking, plant new evergreens. They are at their best now through March, as the chilly months are when they show off their … [Read more...] about Holiday Evergreens are Ready for Planting
The Secret Garden: Using Plants as a Natural Screen
As the autumn colors drop the last of their leaves, the gardens can feel naked. Without strategically placed evergreens in the yard, it easily feels like prying eyes look right through your home. Not only does your privacy seem to disappear, but that neighbor’s debris pile can be witnessed through winter. The solution to both of these unwanted invasions of privacy is not rocket science. November is an ideal time to plant a wall of living trees to block the messy view and to create the privacy … [Read more...] about The Secret Garden: Using Plants as a Natural Screen
Autumn Perennials are Helping Birds
Birds bring beauty and sound to the garden. It’s nice to put out bird feeders with seed and suet to attract birds to your yard. But birds still like to forage and find their own food and it’s especially important to have food for them to find when the feeders are empty. There are many wonderful shrubs and trees with fruits and berries in the fall and winter months. Less often talked about are the common garden flowers with seeds that most birds seem to gobble up. Let the last blooms stay on … [Read more...] about Autumn Perennials are Helping Birds
Flowers that Help Sell Your Home
Of all the ways to boost your home's curb appeal when you put it on the market, what could be quicker or less expensive than installing some colorful garden flowers? Watters Garden Center conducted a survey to discover which flowers are most appealing to house hunters. In addition to trimming your trees and shrubs and freshening up your mulch, consider adding value to your home by adding one or more of these flowers to your perennial beds or front porch containers that add fragrance and wow … [Read more...] about Flowers that Help Sell Your Home