This is the season when evergreens sparkle in the winter landscape. Here is a list of the top seven evergreen trees that stand up to mountain wind and winter cold and resist the naturally occurring insects and diseases found at higher elevations. You will find each at the garden center. We offer pros and cons and information for further research so customers can learn and buy directly from our farm. Colorado Spruce – When customers don’t know the name of this tree, they refer to it as “The … [Read more...] about Best Evergreen Trees for Mountain Landscapes
Watters Garden Center Prescott
Five Ways Houseplants Improve Mental Health
There is a good reason those fiddle leaf figs are flying off the shelves. Houseplants are a boon for your mental health. Stoneside Blinds and Shades surveyed nearly 1,000 people to see how their plants influenced their stress levels with some fascinating results. They found some of the top reasons for purchasing plants are to beautify living spaces (65%), with 54% noting they wanted “to have something else to focus on.” Talking to your plants is apparently normal, with 55% responding that they … [Read more...] about Five Ways Houseplants Improve Mental Health
Best Evergreen Shrubs for a Greener Winter
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 plants, which lose their leaves through winter, often expose you to prying eyes, vehicle glare and a yard that feels empty. Evergreens take center stage for the next few months, and you can feel when the landscape doesn’t have the right mix of evergreen trees and shrubs. Not to worry, you will find … [Read more...] about Best Evergreen Shrubs for a Greener Winter
Insider Secrets Your Landscaper Won’t Share
Whether you are having hardscape features installed, performing chores or selecting plants for the yard, it’s helpful to understand the insider secrets landscapers won’t share. Thinking like a professional saves lots of money, time and frustration. Best of all, unlocking these pro tips help transform your plantings from a mere collection of plants into a sophisticated landscape design. Hardscaping is everything non-living, like irrigation, raised beds, ponds and retaining walls. Hardscape … [Read more...] about Insider Secrets Your Landscaper Won’t Share
Twelve Low-Maintenance Landscape Tips, Tricks
Every landscape needs some upkeep. Many are labors of love for the outdoors, nature and all plants that grow in the yard. Water by hand and mowing take up large amounts of time and resources. Weeding and pruning require seasonal time and energy as well. Many ornamental plants need care to keep them looking vivacious and their best. Low maintenance landscapes have many of the same traits. Here are time-tested techniques that save you time and energy while still having a stunning yard. … [Read more...] about Twelve Low-Maintenance Landscape Tips, Tricks
Identifying Best Smelling Plants for Outdoor Gardens
Arizona is famous for outdoor activities. When all this activity brings the party to your deck, patio or pool’s edge, the fragrance of the garden should be positive and uplifting to the friends that gather. This is the perfect place to add sweetly scented plants for ambiance. Forget the candles and citronella. The right plants remind us why the mountains of Arizona are meant to be enjoyed outdoors. The fragrance of many plants intensified at night are yet another reason to relax under the … [Read more...] about Identifying Best Smelling Plants for Outdoor Gardens
Identifying Nine Vegetable Blunders
As we progress into the vegetable planting season, the potatoes, garlic, kale and lettuce are already planted. The summer edibles will take center stage with the last frost quickly approaching. Garden success often depends on things out of our control, including rainfall, temperature and soil type, to name a few. Here are the personal mistakes I wish readers to avoid as we plant the spring gardens. Mistake #1: Starting Too Early Gardener and impatient are used in the same sentence. The … [Read more...] about Identifying Nine Vegetable Blunders
Are Fruit Trees a Good Investment?
You used to need a lot of land to grow fruit trees. Dwarf and semi-dwarf fruit trees have allowed growing them in just about any yard. Most standard-sized fruit trees mature at a height and width of between 18-25 feet. Not only will this require a big chunk of your yard, but it also makes them tall to prune and spray without using a ladder. Even with smaller trees, growing fruit is a long-term investment. Fruits can take anywhere from two to 10 years to bear fruit. If you plan to be … [Read more...] about Are Fruit Trees a Good Investment?
Top Seven Spring Cleaning Tasks Every Garden Needs
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 to form a ball in your hand before walking on it and compacting. But start your cleanup quickly. It’s much easier to cut plants back before the old growth gets tangled up in the new growth. Here are the insider tips for a gorgeous garden this spring. #1 Remove Mulch and Prune Your Perennial Flowers The first task … [Read more...] about Top Seven Spring Cleaning Tasks Every Garden Needs
Spring 2023 Free Garden Classes taught at Watters Garden Center
January 14 @ 9:30 am: Happy, Healthy Houseplants with Professional Style You'll learn the top plants grown indoors and how to care for them. Learn best practices for watering, light placement, and how to treat and prevent pests and problems. January 21 @ 9:30 am: Top Local Landscapes with Flare Students learn the best local companion plants—flowers, evergreens, and more--for maximum seasonal color, and the right places to place them for gardening success. January 28 @ 9:30 am: Why … [Read more...] about Spring 2023 Free Garden Classes taught at Watters Garden Center