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Utah gardening

Best Plants for Seniors – Beginner Gardening

June 29, 2020 by Wendy Pettit

Senior gardening woman Edu Carvalho from Pexels

by Danielle K. Roberts

Spring has rolled in, which means it is time to get your garden ready! Doctors and psychologists have stated that gardening can have significant health effects on a person’s mind and body. There are many health benefits for senior citizens who plant gardens, such as managing your stress levels and creating a positive mindset. Gardening in retirement can also help build up your physical strength that can also improve your motor functioning. When creating an outdoor garden or a flower pot garden, some plants are easier for beginners.  Read on to learn what we think are great plants for seniors, just starting with gardening.  Enjoy our excellent planting guide for Utah vegetable gardens.  Even if you missed the first planting in spring, a second planting guide is included!  

senior man in garden

Photo Credit: AKA Ralph at Pixabay

VEGETABLE GARDEN FOR SENIORS

Growing your vegetation is a great hobby and can be cost-effective in the long run. If you have never tried homegrown vegetables, then your taste buds have a lot coming! While picking out which type of vegetables you would like to plant and grow in your garden, remember that you only want to plant vegetables that you will eat. Do not plant squash if you do not like to eat squash!

Certain vegetables are known for beginner gardeners that are easy to keep alive and maintain.

Cucumber

Cucumbers are a natural vegetable to grow and do not require a lot of maintenance. Whether you choose to plant cucumbers in the ground or a container, you will want to ensure that the soil will drain well. Cucumbers are a vine plant, so keep in mind while planting that the vine will need a place to climb.

cold crop vegetables for utah

Lettuce

Lettuce is a great beginner vegetable to plant because it grows at a fast rate; therefore, you can see results quickly! When planting lettuce, make sure that it receives enough water and that it is in a shaded area during the summertime.

Old woman gardening Piqsels

Photo Credit: Piqsels

Green Beans

Whether you want to plant pole beans or bush beans, both are low maintenance that can grow well with just water. The difference in planting the two types of beans is the amount of room they both need. If you decide to plant a pole bean, you will need to invest in a trellis on which to grow the beans. If you would like to plant a bush bean, you will need about two feet of room for it to grow (but no individual support is required.)

tomatoes on vine

Photo: Pixabay

Tomato

The most popular vegetable (or fruit) to grow! There is a wide variety of tomatoes that you can grow, such as grape tomatoes or heirloom tomatoes. The key to growing fresh tomatoes is by watering them in the morning, provide lots of sunlight, and not overcrowd them while they develop.

Click here to read up on five green veggies for a fall garden.  Or view a good list of warm versus cool-season vegetables.

pink petunias in utah garden

FLOWER GARDENS FOR SENIORS

Having a flower garden will bring bright, vibrant colors for you and your neighbors to gawk at. When having a flower garden outside your home, you can create an aesthetic appeal to your property. Caring for certain flowers can be difficult, as most flowers are very delicate. You will want to steer clear of exotic flowers, considering that they have special requirements for the up-keep and require a lot of attention. With that said, there are certain species of flowers that are perfect for beginner gardeners. 

sunflowers in utah garden

Photo Credit: by Vijayana Rasimha at Pixabay

Sunflowers

There is a minimum up-keep when planting and growing sunflowers. The sunflower seeds are large, which makes them easy to handle. After planting the seeds, you will need to water them consistently for 20 days. During the sunflowers growing season, you will want to fertilize the sunflowers with a water-soluble fertilizer.

elderly woman in flowers

Photo Credit: Edu Carvalho at Pexels

Zinnias

Zinnias resemble flowers like daisies and dahlias. But, do not be fooled – this unique flower comes in a variety of colors (except blue) and different heights. Zinnias will need space in the garden bed and lots of sunlight to fulfill their full potential.

marigolds yellow and orange in utah garden

Marigolds

Marigolds thrive in the summer sun, and their colors can range from yellow, red, and gold. Whether you choose an American or African marigold, they can grow up to be five feet tall, but here in Utah, you will find shorter varieties of all kinds. When watering, you will want to allow the soil to dry between each time you water them.

woman hold bowl of bulbs

Photo Credit: Sjozb at Piqsels

Daffodil Bulbs

You can plant daffodil bulbs in the spring or fall, and they will burst with intense colors and bloom like no other plant. Daffodils also produce a great fragrance to where you will watch yourself gravitating to them each time. Daffodils require lots of water, so as soon as they are planted, you will want to water them immediately. Once they start to bloom, you can put a halt to watering them. Don’t limit yourself to daffodils.  There are gladiolas, calla lilies, tulips, crocus, hyacinths, and more.

soil and seeds to put in their newspaper cheap gardening pots

Gardening doesn’t have to be expensive! Be creative and go for it!

To Sum it Up

You are never too old to plant a garden of sorts. Planting your garden can bring stimulation to the mind in many ways. Creating and maintaining a garden, even a small garden, is a great hobby for any age, and it will also keep you present in the day with a special award at the end.

senior woman in garden

Photo Credit: Anna Auza from Unsplash

Filed Under: Flowers, Gardening, health, Utah Gardening, Vegetables Tagged With: beginner gardening, best plants, cucumbers, flowers, marigolds, senior gardening, sunflowers, Utah gardening, vegetables

GARDEN CENTER IS NOW OPEN!

April 25, 2020 by Wendy Pettit

utah garden center open to public

Dear Valued Customers:

We have opened our gates to the public!  Store hours on Saturday are 10-6 pm.  Beginning Monday the 27th, store hours will be 9-6 pm.

Please know that we take Covid-19 seriously and aim to protect YOU AND OUR EMPLOYEES.  Therefore, we are doing the following:

  1. Sanitizing common surfaces continually throughout the day.  This includes shopping carts. 
  2. Installing plexiglass barriers at checkout stands.
  3. Requesting our employees AND customers to adhere to the CDC recommendation to wear a mask or a fabric covering while in our store.  A bandana can work just fine.
  4. Requesting our employees AND customers to adhere to the CDC recommendation to maintain a 6-foot social distance as much as possible. We have 6 feet markers throughout the store. One way to figure is that one of our shopping carts is approximately 3 feet, imagine 2 carts.      ***PLEASE*** when picking out your favorite plant, be aware of your spacing.  We all need to be patient during this crazy time!  If you need to pass someone in the aisle, walk past and do not stop to talk.  Using common sense and being courteous will help everyone have a good experience.
  5. Use CREDIT CARDS if possible.
  6. No Public Restroom and drinking fountain.
  7. Customers may still order via email with parking lot pick up the same day or next business day.  Due to the heavy volume, no more phone orders or in-the-parking-lot orders can be accepted. All our employees are busy inside servicing the in-store customers.

Salt Lake Store: [email protected]

West Valley:  [email protected]

No Garden Consulting at this time.

We appreciate your cooperation to protect our employees and our other customers. It means a lot to us.

We remind you of the other CDC recommendations:

  1. If you are sick, PLEASE STAY HOME, get better, and then come to visit us!  We want to see you healthy!  Should you choose, you can email your order and have someone pick it up for you.
  2. If you need to sneeze (we know it is ALLERGY season), sneeze into your elbow with your mask on!
  3. Wash your hands regularly with soap & water.  A liberal rubbing with hand sanitizer is the next best thing. 
  4. Remember to not touch your face if you haven’t washed your hands. 

Covid-19 doesn’t have wings to fly on its own.  It is transferred by contaminated hands or with droplets when we talk, sneeze or cough.  Hence washing hands, wearing a mask when social distancing isn’t always possible, coughing/sneezing into an elbow, and keeping the 6-foot social distance are important, and very doable!  We can do this!

THANK YOU for your cooperation and patience during this challenging time.  We are grateful that we offer an essential service to the community and wish for your best success in growing your own food, beautifying the community, remaining healthy physically and mentally, and tending your gardens and yards this season.

Happy shopping and happy planting,

Western Garden Centers

Feast your eyes on this sampling of temptations!

wall of peonies waiting to open

A wall of peonies loaded with buds waiting to open

Healthy tomato plants

Ingrid Bergman Hybrid Tea Rose

Giant succulent plants

Sun-Believable Brown Eyed Susan

Iceberg Floribunda Rose

Marigolds of all varieties

Ruffled Red Echeveria

Begonias

Gorgeous petunias

Good As Gold Hybrid Tea Rose

Anna’s Promise Grandiflora Rose

Rosie the Riveter Floribunda Rose

Celestial Night Floribunda Rose

Filed Under: Covid-19 updates, Flowers, Fruit, Gardening, Herbs, Lawn Care, Perennials, Products, Tomatoes, Tools, Trees, Utah Gardening, Vegetables, Yard Care Tagged With: covid-19, garden center open, safe shopping, shop the nursery, social distancing, Utah gardening, wear mask

A Guide to Vertical Gardening

April 17, 2020 by Wendy Pettit

A Guide and Tips to Vertical Gardening in Utah

By Connie Pelton

The lack of a large space discourages many would-be gardeners. But if you can’t go out, perhaps you should consider going in a different direction: up.

Vertical gardening is a highly efficient way to make the most of a small area.  Vertical gardeners enjoy higher yields per square foot than their traditional counterparts. They also have an easier time with pest control and harvesting. Whether you dream of bountiful blooms or tangy tomatoes fresh off the vine, you can make a vertical garden work. Here is a guide to vertical gardening to get you started.

Vertical gardening in utah

Source

Location and Orientation

Plants, like people, are particular about where they like to live. Some love full sun, and others want a smattering of shade. If you follow the rules, you’ll have a successful vertical garden. Most vegetables and herbs thrive in as much sun as possible; morning sun is essential. If you have a south-facing wall, fence, or railing, this is your spot.

Planting Systems

vertical gardening with baskets

Source

You have numerous vertical gardening systems to choose from.

  • Pocket systems hang on walls.
  • Modular systems stack atop one another.
  • Pallets are made with upcycled materials, with one side covered in fabric or plywood, then leaned against a fence or wall and filled with soil.
  • Ladder-like shelves hold potted plants leaning against a wall.
  • Hanging baskets are linked together in a chain.
  • Rain gutters let you plant strawberries in them and hang on a fence.
  • Trellises can be shaped like a teepee or A-frame and arranged over a soil-filled bed.
vertical gardening using plastic bottle

Photo by Luisgopa at Pixabay

vertical garden wood letter box

Photo by Dieneves at Pixabay

Feeling overwhelmed?  No worries!  See some tips for early spring gardening here.

Layering and Light

Because vertical gardening involves trellises and tiers, be mindful of plants that will cast shade on one another. You can underplant vining veggies such as tomatoes and squash with herbs such as mint, chives, tarragon, cilantro or parsley, which can handle a bit of shade. Try to plant varieties that are close to the same height and grow at the same rate to avoid crowding and shading. Sweet corn has such a solid stalk structure that you can use it to support climbers like beans. “Companion planting” is actually an ancient crop tradition.

Caring for a Vertical Garden

DIY vertical gardening with drawers

Source

Vertical gardens have some special needs. If you have trellises, you’ll want to keep a close eye on your climbers and do a bit of training to make sure vines stay where you want them. If you’re using containers or a raised bed, check the soil moisture often to make sure your plants don’t get dehydrated. You’ll also want to add a heavy layer of mulch – 2-4 inches– over the soil surface of raised beds. This helps the garden retain water during the hottest months of summer.

It’s easy to spot pest problems since many of your plants’ leaves will be exposed and closer to eye-level. Using organic pest control will ensure that your harvests are free of chemicals. If you see signs of aphids or other pests, you should treat them immediately. Hand-picking is your first line of defense against large pests such as caterpillars and beetles. For smaller insects, your approach may vary. Biological pest control is an organic, ecologically friendly way to combat garden pests on your lawn or in your garden.  By attracting or placing predator insects (praying mantids, ladybugs, lacewings) into the garden, you can let nature take care of your pest problems.

cages and drawers for utah vertical gardening

Source

Harvesting

Whether you use a tiered or trellised system, most vertical gardeners enjoy the relative ease of vertical harvesting. Rather than having to bend or crouch, you can harvest from a vertical garden while standing upright. This makes it a preferable option for the mobility-impaired or elderly gardeners.

Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just developing your green thumb, vertical gardening is a beautiful way to take your gardening to the next level. Onward and upward!

harvesting a vertical garden

About the author:  Connie Pelton is a retired teacher who spends most weekends gardening with her grandchildren. Together, they built and planted an indoor vertical garden wall taller than both of them.

Filed Under: Container Gardening, Gardening, Herbs, How To, Tips & How To's, Utah Gardening, Veggie Gardening Tagged With: garden vertical, utah gardeners, Utah gardening, vertical gardening

Get Better Sleep with Houseplants

October 4, 2019 by Wendy Pettit

better sleep with utah houseplants

Utah gardeners enjoy breath the “fresh air” in the yard and watching nature in the garden or patio. We find it adds to a healthy living. But have you thought about the 6-8 hours that pass in the night? Can we get better sleep with plants in our bedrooms? The answer is yes!

I used to think that the mattress, the sheets, and pillow I used was what affected my sleep. I later learned that room temperature and personal stress are also factors to the quality of my sleep. But now I consider another one, plants!

snake plant for better sleep

Have you ever linked the tradition of taking a flowering plant to a hospital patient in  recovery? Now I understand why. Flowering plants have significant benefits for patients. If it can help patients with their recovery, then logically, and biologically, placing plants in your bedroom can make a difference.

Houseplant Studies

Many comprehensive studies have been conducted by NASA and others to explore this phenomenon. Scientists have discovered individual plants can clean the air more than others. Some plants help people sleep longer, and different plants are better at cleaning certain toxins from the air. Toxins like formaldehyde and carbon monoxide. For example, one “study suggests Gardenia is as effective as valium.”

I read several articles about getting better sleep, including 10 Plants That’ll Help You Sleep Better by Martha Stewart, 7 Bedroom Plants that Improve Your Sleep, and my favorite article on the topic – 10 Plants that Help Sleep by Tuck. Tuck is a very comprehensive resource on sleep. They are worth the read. The articles discuss the qualities of several houseplants and how they can influence your rest. Did you know that English Ivy is known to help with sleep apnea or reduce allergens like airborne mold! Some of the tests could be great science projects for young ones.

Care and Access to Houseplants

Most of these houseplants are easy to care for inside a home or apartment. Of course, remember the general rule of the Finger Tester.  Water your plant when you can stick your finger in the soil and it comes out dry.  Over watering is often the culprit for disaster. Find houseplants for sleeping at your local garden center like Western Gardens. They have a fantastic selection of these and other houseplants.  

Better Sleep is Around Corner 

We gardeners realize the immense satisfaction of getting our hands dirty to create a piece of heaven to view or taste the fresh grown foods all summer.  That endorphin created with labor are real and do help us be more healthy.  Therefore, this fall, while you are putting your Utah garden to bed, consider what you can bring into your bedroom to help with your winter sleeping hours! Outdoor gardens and indoor houseplants truly can be medicine for the soul and body all year round.

Recommendations of Houseplants for Better Sleep

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TipsBulletin.com has another list of wonderful hanging houseplants.

Filed Under: Container Gardening, health, Utah Gardening Tagged With: allergens, better sleep, gardening health, healthy gardening, house plants, mold, sleep, utah gardeners, Utah gardening

Garden To-Do List for September

August 31, 2017 by Wendy Pettit

September Gardening To-Do List

Welcome friend, thanks for stopping by!

Garden To-Do List for September Western Gardens

Aw! It’s September and you may be feeling excited to work in your yard or garden.  We’ve put together a garden to-do list for this cooler month along the Wasatch Front in Utah.

You may not need to do everything on this list.  For example, if you don’t have roses, then you won’t need to worry about letting the hips form.  Just pick what applies to your yard and plan out when you will do it all throughout the month!

Garden To-Do List for September

➺Spend Labor Day Enjoying your garden.  You’ve put in a lot of effort and now enjoy!

➺Plant Trees & Shrubs – Fall is a great time to plant container nursery stock.  Plus take advantage of fall sales.

➺Watch Reports For Frost Warnings and cover tender crops if necessary.

➺Work Mulch & Organic Matter into your garden and flower beds.  Grass clippings or shredded leaves by the lawn mower work well.

➺Stop Dead-Heading roses and let hips form.

➺Purchase and Plant Spring Bulbs from your local nursery.  Ex:  Tulips, daffodils, crocus, etc.  Remember quality makes a huge difference.  Bigger bulb means bigger bloom.  Be sure to plant at proper depth with a complete fertilizer.

➺Plant Pansies & Primrose along with your spring bulbs for earlier spring color!

➺Launch a Final Battle Against Snails and Slugs – Fall is the best time to take care of them before they lay eggs and they go into hibernation for the winter.  {check out THIS article for 3 simple ways to control snails!}

➺Last Treatment for peach twig borer

➺Treat Lawn Weeds with weed spray.

➺Lay Seed for a new lawn, or lay sod.

➺Divide & Transplant Spring and Summer Blooming Perennials – if necessary.  May divide fall blooming perennials once they are done blooming.

➺Visit State Fair for some true inspiration from fellow citizens and gardeners.

➺Start Feeding Wild Birds, if you stopped in the spring.

➺Don’t let Fallen Leaves Accumulate on your Lawn – Rake them up, pile them elsewhere and use them as mulch in your next year’s garden.  Leaves left on the lawn can invite disease if not kill your grass.

Be sure to check out October’s Gardening To-Do List too!

plant new lawn seed in the fall

September Gardening To-Do List...to make taking care of your yard easier!

Filed Under: Gardening, To-Do List, Utah Gardening Tagged With: garden to-do list, september garden, Utah gardening

3 Simple Tips for Picking Ripe Cantaloupe

August 22, 2017 by Wendy Pettit

tips for picking ripe cantaloupe

If you’re like me, you can use some tips for picking ripe cantaloupe, because it can be hard to tell when it’s ready to eat!

I find it disappointing to be preparing a cantaloupe for dinner, only to take one taste and it is bland and flavorless.  I’ve learned my lesson and discovered how to choose or pick a cantaloupe that is ripe and ready to eat.  Now when I’m either picking fruit at the store or from my own garden, there are three simple tips to remember to help you wisely spend your money and time.

vine ripened cantaloupe

Follow these simple tips to choose a melon that is ripe and ready to eat.

  1. LOOK – Cantaloupe should be a nice golden yellow color.  Don’t pick cantaloupe that are greenish.  They are not ready!  Don’t worry about rough spots that may be on the outside of your cantaloupe.  They don’t mean anything as to the ripeness.
  2. FEEL – You should be able to feel the edges of the outer skin.  A smooth skin means it is not ripe.  The flower end (the end not attached to the vine) is soft.  You should be able to press it gently in.  If it springs back out after pressing, your cantaloupe is ready.
  3. SMELL – Place the flower end or the “button” of the cantaloupe just under your nose and take a whiff.  A strong sweet aroma indicates the cantaloupe is ready.  Sometimes you will smell the strong aroma without smelling the button.  If it doesn’t have a scent, don’t pick it or buy it.  It is not sweet.

Cantaloupe from the store or market can be yummy, but my favorite is freshly picked from my garden. Now when I eat cantaloupe, it is like a little slice of heaven. Picked right off the vine, it is heavy, fragrant, juicy, and still warm from sitting in the sun.  I love to garden!

TIP FOR GROWING:  Be sure to begin your seeds indoors early spring so you can have good healthy larger plants when it is warm enough outside.  Melons like a long hot growing season!

Filed Under: Fruit, Gardening, How To, Tips & How To's, Utah Gardening Tagged With: Cantaloupe, Gardening, melon, ripe fruit, tips, Utah gardening, Western Garden Centers

Five Green Veggies for Fall Gardens

July 28, 2017 by Heather Leister

five green veggies for fall gardensThe calendar may still say “Summer” but believe it or not, it’s time to start thinking about planting your fall garden!  I tend to think of planting my garden as a springtime activity but there are many plants that thrive in cooler conditions and will produce a harvest of healthy foods. Here are five green veggies that you can plant now and enjoy when sweater weather truly kicks in!

Broccoli- Broccoli is a cool weather crop that can take approximately 50-70 days to mature. It grows well in areas that get at least six hours of daily sunlight and have well-drained soil.  Broccoli does very well when it is planted in late summer and allowed to grow through the fall.

Broccoli is one of our five green veggies for planting in your fall garden

Photo Credit: Pixabay

Cabbage –  Another cool weather vegetable, cabbage varieties can take anywhere from 55-100 days to grow to maturity. When choosing your variety, it’s important to look at your growing window and the predicted frost dates for your area. Like broccoli, cabbage does best in locations with sunlight and well-drained soil.

cabbage is a good green vegetable with lots of nutrients

Photo Credit: Pixabay

Lettuce – Lettuce is a quick growing vegetable that thrives, and often tastes better, when grown in the fall.  Lettuce plants will grow the fastest in full sunlight but unlike other fall garden vegetables, they can also tolerate shade. Lettuce can be grown in small spaces or containers but it’s important to make sure the soil is well-drained

five green veggies for fall planting includes lettuce

Photo Credit: Pixabay

Spinach – Spinach is another cool weather crop that does well in the Utah fall. Spinach plants prefer full sunlight but will tolerate partial shade. Spinach is a fast growing plant and will yield many leaves in the mild, cool, fall weather. 

spinach should be planted in cool weather

Photo Credit: Pixabay

Swiss Chard – Swiss Chard is a plant that can be left in your garden without worry when light frost begins to appear. The leaves from Swiss Chard will add interest to your fall salads. Growing the plant in cooler weather, instead of in the high heat of summer, helps the plant avoid gaining a bitter taste.

swiss chard is a wonderful green veggie to plant in fall weather

Photo Credit: Pixabay

Your local independent garden centers, like Western Gardens in Salt Lake City and West Valley, Utah, will have the varieties of seeds and seedlings that will do well in the Utah climate.  Plan now and come see us.

independent garden centers know the best

Shop your local independent garden center!

Filed Under: Gardening, Vegetables Tagged With: broccoli, cool crop garden, fall planting, green vegetables, lettuce, swiss chard, Utah gardening, vegetables

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

July 26, 2017 by Vanessa Roush

Welcome Friends! Glad you dropped in.

Planting New Trees 101: Don't forget the basics!

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.

Planting new trees can be easy and satisfying.

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.

Evaluate the branching of the tree before planting new trees.

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.

Filed Under: Gardening, How To, Tips & How To's, Trees, Utah Gardening Tagged With: fall planting, planting new trees, Planting trees, Planting trees in the right spot, spring planting, tree planting, Utah gardening

Harmful Garden Insects: Organic Management

July 18, 2017 by Marjorie Carter

 Welcome, Friends! Glad you’re here for some tips to organically manage those pesky harmful garden insects so you’ll have produce left to harvest!

Harmful garden insects can be managed organic methods

All yards and allotments will have harmful garden insects every year; it’s part of nature.  These insects need to eat in order to feed the beneficial insects.  Eliminating ALL the harmful insects from your garden would be time, labor, and resource intensive. You also run the risk of depleting the food source for beneficial insects and other animals that feed on the harmful critters.

Wise Goal – An important and wise goal is to control the harmful garden insects enough to reduce the damage to your garden to a manageable level.  Meaning that by harvest time, there is something left for you to eat.  Losing one or two tomatoes is manageable and probably hardly noticed, but an entire decimated crop means there’s a problem to address. 

aphids are harmful garden insects that can be easily controlled

Aphids – One year we had aphids on our herbs which was easily treated by spraying the affected plants with neem oil, a wonderful organic product found at Western Gardens.  This significantly reduced the number of bugs.  They were further kept at bay by some helpful ladybugs, also found at your garden shop. 

Neem Oil is safe organic product. Read label

We were careful to thoroughly wash our herbs before eating them to remove any remaining aphids. Washing anything you harvest before eating it is always a good idea anyway.

Harmful garden insects include the Leaf Miner

Leaf Miner – Last year, our challenge was leaf miner larvae on our Swiss chard.  In this case, we simply discarded any leaves that had been extensively chewed.  Otherwise, we snipped off the parts that didn’t look as appetizing, like anything that had a visible egg attached to it (usually on the underside of the leaves), washed everything, and then enjoyed our tasty green salad.

tracks of leaf miner on pepper plant leaves

This year, now that we know to look for the leaf miner eggs on the leaves, we were more attentive with our starts for our garden and inspected them daily, looking for them or other harmful garden insects.  We found eggs on our pepper plants and did our best to remove them when the plants were small.  We used a piece of duct tape wrapped around a finger to remove the eggs.

duct tape wrapped around one finger helps lift off insect eggs from plants

We found that using a gentle fingernail was still too rough for the tender young leaves, so gently touching the tiny eggs with the sticky duct tape easily lifted them off.  

Eggs of the leaf miner on pepper plants

Once the plants were more mature and could withstand a little insect activity, we were less vigilant at egg removal, but still mindful of looking for eggs once in a while.  Read more on homemade remedies for treating leaf miners by clicking here.

harmful garden insects also include squash bugs

Squash Bug – This year, we planted pumpkins for the first time.  We had heard of the dreaded squash bug and had been looking for them but hadn’t seen any damage to the plants.  Then, just last week (late June), one of our pumpkin plants was nearly devoured overnight by something.

Squash bug eggs are easy to spot and remove.

We assumed it was the infamous squash bug.  This assumption was reinforced when, upon closer inspection of the plant, we found a mating pair of squash bugs with a third one waiting on the side-line and eggs attached to the underside of the remaining leaves and the stem. We posted photos of the damage to a Facebook gardening group and learned of some other likely culprits.  That night my husband went out with a headlamp and a bottle of neem oil to investigate.

earwigs are harmful but also beneficial

Earwigs – Someone suggested the damage looked like the work of earwigs.  My husband found several earwigs eating on the plant and a swarm of them hiding in a nearby crevasse. Earwigs are a complicated insect in the garden.  They are not only harmful, but also beneficial.  They aid in breaking down organic matter (composting) and they also eat aphids and other harmful insects. However, when there are too many of them around a young susceptible plant, they can be very destructive.  We could also see evidence of earwigs damage on a few leaves of nearby tomato plants.  This minimal damage doesn’t pose a risk to a plant that has hundreds of leaves to perform.  In comparison, the pumpkin plant had only a dozen leaves to start with and most of those were very damaged. 

earwigs eating pumpkin plant leaves

My husband sprayed neem oil on the earwigs on the plant, in the swarm nearby, and even in their nest. It’s still uncertain whether the plant will survive though it already shows signs of new growth. We monitor it closely to prevent another insect attack that would probably kill it.

Another organic alternative that works to kill earwigs is diatomaceous earth, which also now offers a nice dispensing bottle which helps cut down on waste and mess.  Check it out at Western Gardens.

diatomaceous earth is a natural organic product to control crawling insects in the garden.

As for the squash bugs, not the main culprits to the pumpkin plant, they were probably snacking on it also.  We’re still removing eggs as we find them (using the duct tape trick mentioned above) and killing any adults.  Their numbers can quickly get out of hand. Again, diatomaceous earth works well to control squash bugs.

Beneficial vs Harmful Insects – Lady bugs, praying mantis, and birds are a few examples of creatures that feed on the harmful garden insects; hence, we like to see these around around the yard.  When considering how to handle any harmful garden insects, the first reaction should generally not be total annihilation.  Rather, try to reduce their numbers and also allow the beneficial insects and animals to do their part until the plant is mature enough to withstand the damage. 

Good luck and happy hunting!

CLICK HERE to read about beneficial insects you want in your garden.

10 beneficial insects you want in your garden! If you spot these in your yard, you're in good shape!

Filed Under: Flowers, Gardening, How To, Insects, Tips & How To's, Utah Gardening, Vegetables, Veggie Gardening, Yard Care Tagged With: Gardening, harmful garden insects, harmful insects, How To, organic management, organic pest controls, Utah gardening, Western Gardens

Fresh From The Garden Gift Tags

July 12, 2017 by Jenn Crookston

gift tags for garden produce for neighbor gifts
We’re heading into the very best time of the year when it comes to fresh fruits and vegetables.  If you’ve got a garden you know how quickly, once things start to ripen, you can end up with lots of extras.  These Fresh from the Garden gift tags may be incentive to get out and share your joy!

I have loved sharing my bounty with friends and neighbors over the years.  It’s always nice when something I’m not in need of brings a smile to someone else’s face.

July 15th is National “Give Something Away” Day.  I created these bright “Fresh from the Garden” and “From our Garden to You” printable tags to celebrate this fun day.  Grab a small basket (or large, depending on your bounty), fill it with garden fresh fruits and veggies, print off a cute tag and deliver to one of your favorite people.

This would also be a cheerful tag to use with a fresh loaf of zucchini bread or other garden fresh treat.
Ready to print garden gift tag for giving fruits and vegetable away from your garden.

Click HERE for the Fresh From the Garden tag.

Garden gift tag "From Our Garden to You!" - ready to print

Click HERE for the From Our Garden to You tag.

I think sharing is one of my favorite things about having a garden (and having chickens, I love sharing fresh eggs).  In the past, a few neighbors and I were very intentional with our gardening.  We looked at the things we knew we wanted to grow and used a lot of and then sort of split up the planting.  Why would everybody in the neighborhood plant zucchini plants when we knew a couple well maintained plants would supply more than enough for us all.  Same with tomatoes and cucumbers.  As I’m trying my hand more at canning having a couple plants each of my own has been awesome and there is still plenty to share.
Fresh from the garden gift tags to use on a basket of produce for someone in need.
I hope you take advantage of National Give Something Away Day this July 15th.  Remember while these fresh from the garden and from our garden to you tags are created for you to gift something from your garden this is also an opportunity for other ways to give something away.

Give Something Away Idea – Go through your home, find those items that are still in good repair that are just not being utilized by you or your family, then donate them as well!

Give Something Away Idea – Put together your own little farmer’s market where neighbors can gather and share their bounty.

Give Something Away Idea – Create a little swap-n-shop where people can bring things they no longer need and look through things others have brought that might be a perfect fit in their home.

You can download the free printable tags here and here.  We’d love to see how you use them!
Happy Summer!!

Filed Under: Crafts, Gardening, Holidays, Tips & How To's, Utah Gardening Tagged With: DIY, eat your garden, fresh produce gifts, garden gifts, Gardening, national holidays, tips, Utah gardening, Western Garden Centers

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