Vanessa Roush

Gluten and Dairy Free Peach Cobbler

August 26, 2017 by Vanessa Roush

Having someone over for dessert but you have no idea what to feed them because they’re Gluten Free, Dairy Free, or Vegan? Here’s a recipe for gluten and dairy free peach cobbler that will be sure to impress those with or without food allergies. And this recipe is just in time for the ripening of your Red Haven peaches from your tree.

INGREDIENTS

2 cups sliced fresh, frozen, or canned peaches
1-2 tsp lemon juice
3 Tbsp coconut oil
1/2 tsp almond extract
dash of cinnamon (optional, but highly recommended)
3/4 cups sugar
2/3 cup almond flour or brown rice flour
1/3 cup tapioca flour
1 tsp baking powder
dash of salt
1/2 cup coconut milk
1 tsp xanthum gum (you can omit this if you don’t have it, it just makes the flours stick together since they don’t have gluten in them)

DIRECTIONS

Peach preparation:

First, peel and slice your fresh peaches and place fruit in 2 1/2 quart dish and drip lemon juice over them. If you use canned peaches, drain and dump in dish.

Batter:

Cream together melted coconut oil and sugar, then add almond extract.
Add in coconut milk, then rice/almond flour, tapioca flour, baking powder, xanthum gum and dash of salt.
Mix well and spread over fruit. This will be thick and a tad lumpy.
After this, I like to lightly sprinkle the top with a little sugar and a little freshly ground salt.

Bake at 350 degrees F for about 25-30 minutes. I bake the cobbler until it starts to look caramelized on top, which gives a bit of a crunch to go with the chewy middle.

Serve warm plain or with frozen ice cream of choice. I personally like it served up with a little bit of coconut milk if I don’t have any dairy free ice cream on hand. My husband tells me it’s delicious with vanilla ice cream.

This recipe works great with using brown rice flour, or almond flour. After trying both, our favorite is the almond flour version.

Careful, it’s addicting and you might want to eat this entire dish of gluten and dairy free peach cobbler.

NOTE: Cobbler can be made with canned peaches, but it is always best made with fresh picked peaches from your peach trees from Western Gardens. Fall is a good time to plant trees.

Six Favorite Shade Trees to Beat The Heat

August 17, 2017 by Vanessa Roush

Welcome Gardeners! Looking for a good shade tree?

With the heat of summer quickly approaching, check out our six favorite shade trees that will help you stay cooler as you enjoy being outside longer. These favorites are easy to care for and do well in our mountain desert climate once established.

Favorite Shade Trees List:

Autumn Blaze Maple (Acer x freemanii)

Our number one favorite shade tree Autumn Blaze Maple is a cross between a red and a silver maple. It is fast growing (up to 3ft per year), tolerates a variety of soils and is easy to care for. In the fall, the leaves turn bright red for which it gets the name “autumn blaze”. This maple variety can grow up to 50 feet tall and 40 feet wide and prefers full to part sun. This tree is a great option if you’d like a fast growing, easy to care for tree with show stopping colors in the fall. An easy pick for our top favorite shade trees list.

Japanese Zelcova (Zelkova serrata)

The Japanese Zelcova is an underutilized species that has started to become more popular. It is considered a shade tree, but also showcases an ornamental quality with its vase like shape. Zelvocas look similar to an elm, but are disease and pest resistant. Once they are established, they are also drought tolerant. Mature height is around 60 feet tall with yearly growth between 1-2 feet. It does best in full to part sun. Zelcovas are ideal for planting by driveways or side walks because their roots will not disrupt the concrete like other trees root systems. The leaves also showcase deep red and orange hues in the fall. A beautiful choice and will be part of your favorite shade trees to have in your yard.

Honeylocust (Gleditsia triacanthos)

honeylocust leaves are small, light, and airy.

Photo by: David J. Stang – WikimediaCommons

Honeylocust, both thorn and thornless, is yet another tree that is fast growing and tolerant of many soil types. Mature height is between 30-70’ tall, and grows up to 2 feet per year. It provides lightly filtered shade. Honeylocust have small delicate leaves that turn a bright yellow in the fall and then blow away, leaving very little to rake up. They can also be used to stabilize hillsides and control erosion.

Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba)

The Ginkgo is an underutilized species here in Utah, and has many unique characteristics to it. It is actually considered a living fossil, and some trees can live as long as 3,000 years! It grows 25-50 feet tall in maturity with a vase-like canopy reaching 25-30 feet wide. Yearly growth rate is 13’’-24’’ per year and tolerates a variety of soils. It is best if planted in full sun to part shade. This is another tree that grows well next to driveways and concrete. One of the unique features of this tree is its fan shaped leaf. Female trees do bear a fruit that can be messy, so ask your local gardening expert to pick out a male tree.

Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis)

The Eastern Redbud is the magenta flowering beauty blooming in spring. It’s the first tree we see in spring which makes people say, “Wow! Look at that tree’s color.” It’s unique green heart shaped leaf turns yellow in the fall. As a moderate grower, it will peak up to 20-25 feet tall and 20 feet wide. It is tolerant of most soils and likes even moisture throughout the season, being less drought tolerant than our other favorite shade trees. This native Eastern American tree offers four seasons of unique beauty, following up in winter with a beautiful branch structure and course bark.

Tulip Tree (Liriodendron tulipifera)

The unique Tulip Tree is another shade tree for your yard.

Photo: Pixabay

Another native North American tree, the Tulip Tree is a wonderful majestic beauty. Considered a perfect stand-out front yard tree, it also is often used for shade in the back yard. The wonderful shade tree is long lived, fast growing, tolerant of most soils, and very cold hardy. The yellow tulip like bloom opens in late spring and it’s leaves turn yellow in autumn. Be ready for its unique structure to reach 40-60 feet high and be 15-25 feet wide. Once established it is drought tolerant.

How to Create a Green Privacy Screen

August 10, 2017 by Vanessa Roush

Welcome Tree Lovers! Want a green privacy screen in your yard?

Sometimes a six foot fence doesn’t provide the kind of a soft green privacy screen you’d like in your yard. You may want to block out an unwanted view like a neighbor’s second story. Or you just want to create a feeling of your own private retreat in your backyard. My mother’s favorite bumper sticker is “Trees are the answer.” A green privacy barrier can make for a beautiful soft addition to your yard while doing the job you create it for. Trees to the rescue!

First consider if you want a “green” fence year round (evergreens), or if you’re ok with a seasonal “fence” aka “deciduous” meaning that in the winter the trees lose their leaves and the barrier consists of trunks and branches. Below are some suggestions for creating a beautiful “green” fence to add interest, privacy and height to your yard.

Evergreens

Columnar Norway Spruces (Picea abies ‘Cupressina’)

These are one of my favorite trees, with dark green needles and a columnar shape. Mature height at 10 years is 20 feet with widths of 5-6 feet. Can grow to 30 feet tall. These are fast growing, and require full sun. Plant 5-6 feet apart for more of a hedge look. If you’d like the branching to stay tight, look for a “wellspire” variety of the Columnar Norway Spruce.

Hicks Yew (Taxus x media ‘Hicksii’)

These are an evergreen shrub with a slow growth rate. Mature height is 10-12 feet tall and 3-4 feet wide. These also do well as foundation plantings and require partial to full sun. They have delicate dark green foliage. In the above photo, the hicks yew add height and privacy to a 6′ iron and stone fence. Beautiful!

Pyracantha

This is a fast growing shrub or tree, that does well in sun, part shade, or shade. It has green foliage year round, and berries that attract birds. Be warned, it has sharp thorns that are great at keeping unwanted people/animals out. Pyracantha is fast growing and if you begin trimming it, you will continue painfully doing so every 4 weeks forever. Letting to grow naturally (without trimming), will quickly give you a high green privacy screen. The variety Yukon Belle grows to 8-10 foot high privacy screen. It grows 6-8 feet wide so be wise where you plant. Some varieties grow to be 12 feet tall and wide. Ask your local expert at Western Gardens what variety is best for your yard. There are several.

Berries of the pyracantha entice birds to your yard. Photo by: Pixabay

Deciduous

Hornbeam (Frans Fontaine or Fastigiata)

Another favorite tree for creating green privacy screens or hedges is the Hornbeam. It is a moderate growing, hardy tree with heights (depending on variety) of 30-45 feet in height and 10-35 feet in width. It does well in a variety of soils and isn’t too picky about sun exposure. You can plant this in a row and leave untrimmed or you can trim it into a neat hedge. The branching can get fairly dense, which provides a great privacy screen even in winter months. Once established, it is drought tolerant. The Frans Fontaine variety will stay more columnar in shape (30 feet tall and 10 feet wide) while the Fastigiata, also known as a European Pyramidal, has more of a triangular or pyramid shape. Some varieties get a beautiful golden fall color.

Swedish Aspen

Not to be confused with quaking aspen, Swedish Aspen are columnar fast growing trees. At maturity, these trees can reach 35-40 feet tall and 10 feet wide. They do well in full sun and have beautiful leaf colors in the fall. These are great for narrow spaces like lining a driveway, and they are quite hardy once established.

Planting your tree fence or hedge

Spacing the trees of your green privacy barrier depends on the type of tree or shrub you select. You must keep in mind the width and height at maturity. For example, you don’t want to plant a tree one foot from an existing fence. Chances are that eventually, sooner or later, either your tree or your fence will have to move! Your gardening experts at Western Gardens can help you decide how close to a fence or property line to plant as well as the spacing between each tree for your green privacy screen.

Planting New Trees 101- Secrets to Help Your New Tree Thrive!

July 26, 2017 by Vanessa Roush

Welcome Friends! Glad you dropped in.

In Utah, spring and fall are the best times for planting new trees. Here are a few secrets to help you find success with your new investment that will beautify and make your yard and home more enjoyable for a long time.

Planting New Trees Begin With Buying an Appropriate Healthy Tree

The first step to a healthy tree is to purchase from a quality local independent garden center or nursery. Big box stores tend to get trees that look okay for a season but suffer down the line because of poor soil, crowding, root chopping, inadequate root ball size, rough handling, and poor care. Often these warehouse stores don’t own the plant inventory; it is on consignment, so less care is given to the material. A local independent store, like Western Gardens, also has experts who can help you pick the right tree for the conditions at your house and your growing Zone. Check for trees that have 10’’-12’’ of root ball per inch in diameter of the tree trunk. When selecting a tree, take into account the mature height and width. Material from a quality grower usually has a tag indicating the mature height of the tree. Some trees may look cute now planted a few feet from the house and close to another one, but after a few years this can become very problematic. Also consider planting a tree of an underutilized species in your area.

Transport Your New Tree Home

Local independent gardening stores can deliver your tree for a nominal fee, and you can have the peace of mind knowing that it was transported carefully. If you are transporting your tree home yourself, make sure that it is properly secured and avoid going on the freeway or driving at high speeds. It’s preferable to transport them on their side in the back of a truck so that the leaves aren’t taking the brunt of the air flow as you drive. This can desiccate the leaves and put the tree into shock. As the tree is lifted in and out, be careful to handle gently. Dropping or rough handling can also put your tree into shock.

Evaluate the Branching of Your Tree and Decide Which Way It Should Face

This is often an overlooked step, or an after thought most of the time. Every tree has different branching and some have a better side than others when it comes to aesthetics. First place the tree in the spot where you’d like to plant it and turn it until the branching is how you like it . Take a few steps back, walk around, and look at it from different viewing angles. Consider the main viewing point for the tree, or other things like proximity to fences, driveways, side walks, and power lines.

Dig the Hole and Fill with Water

Dig the hole twice as wide and twice as deep at the root ball. If you are planting a tree that likes well drained soil, but you have clay soil, then be sure to dig the hole much wider and supplement with some good soil. Bumper Crop mixed in with your soil is one of our favorite recipes. The hole should not be deeper than the root ball itself. Use your hose to fill the hole with water and let soak down a bit. This insures that there will be good moisture deep down for the roots of your tree to take hold.

Planting New Tree in Hole – Rotate and/or Straighten

If your tree came out of a bucket, check to make sure the roots are not root bound, or circling around itself. If they are, take a razor blade or knife and cut an X on the bottom and make 4 cuts along the sides. If it was wrapped in burlap and/or with twine, remove any plastic twine because this will not decompose. Loosen the burlap. These steps are important so that the roots do not become wrapped around itself causing the tree to girdle itself and die. Place the tree in the hole and backfill it around the sides. Around the trunk, mulch can be 1’’ thick and then increase in depth up to 4’’ toward the outer edge of the rootball. Check and make sure the tree is straight. Also make sure that you can see the flare of the trunk; it should not be covered.

http://www.gardeners.com/how-to/tree-planting/8741.html

Image Credit: Gardeners.com

Watering A New Tree

Planting new trees into the ground isn’t the end. Watering is very important. The amount of water varies on the type of tree and soil conditions at the planting site. If you are unsure, ask your local gardening expert. Trees should be watered when planted and also the following day. Then follow with every 3 days or so. The first 2 years of the tree’s life are the most important for establishing roots. When you water, try to do a slow drip so that it can soak down deep and encourage deep roots. Some sprinkling systems may provide adequate watering, but try to avoid high pressure sprinkler heads from spraying the trunk of your tree. It’s not necessary to fertilize trees during their first season.

Monitoring Tree Growth and Health

Don’t forget to monitor the health of your tree as time passes by. If you notice the leaves or needles look sick, take a sample of the problem or at least a photo to Western Gardens where their experts there can diagnose most problems just by examining your sample. They can give you suggestions for chemical and/or organic methods to resolve the issue.

Planting new trees is a wonderful experience because you are investing in the future.

Garden Grow Box – Kids Friendly

April 11, 2017 by Vanessa Roush

WELCOME GARDEN FRIENDS, HAPPY TO SEE YOU!

Want to have a garden this year? Wondering where to begin? Start with this simple garden grow box that you and your children can create together. Here are some simple guidelines that worked for me.

Before heading to your local lumber yard, decide what size of box you want or have room for. For this example, we are building a 4 foot by 6 foot box, which is a great size just right for the new little gardeners who will help to create it. However, you can make it the size that fits the space you have.

Garden grow box SUPPLIES:

SUPPLIES: 2 10′ boards cut into 2 six feet and 2 four feet lengths. Smaller hands can handle the 4′ boards!

SUPPLIES: Deck screws, drill bit, power drill and/or screw driver, and those helping hands.

1. Two 2’’x8’’ x 10’ long pressure treated beams: (approx. $14 each) Make sure they are straight by pulling them out and looking down the side of them. Also make sure they aren’t severely bowed or have big knot holes. If you don’t have a chop saw at home, have someone at the lumber yard cut both of your boards at 6’. You will be left with two 6’ pieces and two 4’ pieces. This also makes it easier to transport them home. You can also rummage through your scrap wood at home and see if you have something that is at least 6” in depth.

2. A package (or at least 12 pieces) of #9 2 1/2’’ Deck screws: (approx $10 or less) You could also use #10 3’’ screws. They come in a few different colors so you can get a box to match the wood so they are less noticeable. Most of these screws have a star driver head. Some boxes come with a bit to fit them, but check just to make sure.

3. Drill bit a little smaller than your screws (optional but highly recommended): For a #9 screw, a drill bit size of 3/32 is recommended. Pre-drilling holes prevents the wood from splitting and ruining the board. If this sounds like Greek to you, take your screw and look for a drill bit that is slightly smaller in diameter. Or ask someone at the lumber store; they’d be more than happy to help! This is an essential step if you’d like to involve kids. You pre-drill the holes, and then let the child drive in the screws.

4. Weed block or Landscape fabric: If you have an area that is prone to a lot of weeds, put down some weed block or landscape fabric before you set your box in place. Layers of old newspaper in the bottom of your box can work too. Another option is to spray the weeds using Killz-All or Weed-Free Zone. If you do this, make sure not to cover the sprayed weeds for 7-10 days giving the chemicals time to kill the weeds. There is no problem using these products on edible vegetable gardens. The product only works to kill the unwanted plant via the plant’s leaves.

5. Power Drill and/or Screw Driver.

Garden grow box ASSEMBLY:

Putting the box together is easier if you have an extra set of hands, but some rocks or a wall will do if you’re doing this project solo. Enlist the help from a child by asking them to hold one of the boards up for you. The box can be assembled in a few different ways, or styles.
Option A: Assemble each board on the outer part of the corner on one end, and then inner part of the corner on the other.

Option B: Assemble the shorter 4′ boards on the outside of of the 6′ boards or vice versa.

Step 1: Take a 6’ board and a 4’ board and put them together at a right angle. Make sure they are flat against each other. Using your drill bit, pre-drill 3 holes in a line at the top, middle and bottom of the side.

Step 2: Then switch to your screw bit or use a screw driver and drive 3 screws into the holes you just drilled. You should now have two boards creating a right angle or an “L” Shape.

Step 3: Now add the other 6’ board and repeat the pre-drilling and driving the screws.

Step 4: Repeat with the last 4’ board.

Step 5: Set your box in its place. To help cut down on weeds, place a layer of landscape material from your independent garden store.

The fun has just begun. Fill with quality soil and get those seeds and plants ready! The box is!

Now you are ready to fill with a high quality dirt. Bumper Crop from your local independent garden center, like Western Garden centers, is an experienced gardener’s favorite!

Bumper Crop for your soil is a gardener’s favorite.

Stay tuned for the next episodes of this Kids in the Garden experience. Their love for gardening is growing, but see what plants these two choose to grow in their grow box!