The heat is here and it reminds us how lucky we are to have beautiful, waterwise perennials in our garden. With the increasing population here in Utah, conserving water is definitely a top priority.

There are many great resources in Utah for guidance on water conservation while gardening.  We've shared many of these programs with you over the years: Utah Department of Water Resources, Conservation Garden Park, USU Extension Services, Red Butte Conservation Garden and Localscapes are all programs or resources we love.  They all have Utah specific guidance with truly beautiful results.

Glover Nursery’s own landscape department participates in the Localscape design program.  If you have done a Localscape design, you might have even worked with one of our experts to create your own waterwise oasis!

Our Top 7 Waterwise Perennials

These make our top 7 for a number of reasons: beauty, aromatic, quick to establish, pollinators love them, season round interest, and of course, water-wise.  We were going to just do 5, but it was impossible to narrow the list down that far.

1. Lavender -

   Commonly used for aromatherapy, Lavender is also an amazing plant for attracting pollinators.  The purple flower wands bloom prolifically. The flowers create a lovely compliment to their grayish-green leaves and stems. Lavender loves the full sun and, once they are established, can tolerate a great deal of heat and drought.

2. Upright Sedum – 

   Distinctive, fleshy foliage combined with bright flowers, Sedum is a great, waterwise addition to your garden design. They do better with more sun, tolerate low water well, and add a bright pop of color later in the season.  The texture and color of the leaves prior to flowering add some visual interest and contrast in the mix.

3. Agastache (Hummingbird Mint) –  These aromatic, showy, long blooming plants may as well be called “Hummingbirds love me”.  They attract those elusive birds the second they start blooming.  There are many varieties of Agastache available, some of them with very distinct black licorice smelling flowers in bright reds, yellows, purples, oranges and pinks. 
4. Echinacea Coneflower – This waterwise flower is a classic for a reason, Echinacea (aka Coneflower) makes top 5 lists frequently.  The blooms are beautiful, they are easy to grow, available in all sorts of colors (we have 28 varieties of Coneflower right here at Glover’s!).  Plus, it is well known for it’s healing medicinal properties – an effective immune system booster, very welcome these days!
5. Coreopsis – A repeat bloomer is a great addition to any area needing summer color.  The bright flowers pop all season long and, added bonus, in addition to being water-wise, is extremely low maintenance. Blooms come in a wide variety of colors make this an easy choice for any color scheme.
6. Yucca – Rosettes of evergreen, tough, sword-like leaves are extremely popular in desert areas for a reason, these are water-wise superstars.  The come in a variety of colors and sizes and make a unique accent piece, especially when they bloom.  During their bloom season, though it is shorter than the others on this list, the spectacluare sight of the tall stalks with bunches of white or cream flowers seem to hover above the leaves. 
7. Helianthemum – This waterwise flower is also commonly known as Rock Rose or Sun Rose. This is a great ground cover style perennial that resembles a flower carpet in mid to late summer.  When this flowers, it is a show stopper. Deer resistant, disease-resistant, easy to prune, beautiful foliage when it isn’t blooming and truly breathtaking blossoms when it does, added to that list it is also a water-wise perennial…it is clear to see why we couldn’t leave this off the list.   

One other plant category to consider are perennial grasses – while it is ‘grass’, they are not the lawn.  Perennial grasses are waterwise and they add striking visual interest with nice contrast that compliments the blooming perennials listed above. 

Of course, there are loads more waterwise plants to choose from than just these 7 (ok, 8) that will work for your project.  Still, we hope this gives you a good starting point for your new park strip. 

If you're interested in learning more about waterwise solutions for your garden check out the “Flip Your Strip” rebate program. This wonderful program gives an easy way to start moving toward a waterwise yard. You can check out the guidelines and qualifications here.  If you are eligible, you even get money for swapping out your lawn for some truly beautiful perennials.

While they do have a few fantastic examples of how you could design your park strip, the design options are limitless.   

And, as always, if you have any questions, we are here to help.   Come on down and see us at 9275 South 1300 West.

Happy Gardening!

True Love and

Homegrown Tomatoes

We’ve got to agree with John Denver, there really is nothing like homegrown tomatoes. It’s tomato time here at Glover Nursery which means we have literally hundreds of tomato varieties for you to choose from. 

Tomatoes come in all shapes and sizes and each has a unique flavor. They are fun to grow too! If you need a little help getting started check out this video we have on How to Transplant a Tomato Plant.

Check out these fun facts about tomatoes then come down to our garden center and pick out your favorite varieties for your garden. 

Fun Tomato Facts

1. While we carry dozens of tomato varieties, it doesn’t put a dent how many exist. Worldwide, there are over 10,000 types of tomatoes. We wonder if anyone has tried them all! 
2. The Guinness World Record for largest tomato ever grown is held by Dan Sutherland from Walla Walla, Washington. The tomato weighed in at 10 lbs 12.7ozs which is bigger than most newborn babies! It was of the Domingo variety. Who wants to try and beat his record?
3. While it is officially classified as a fruit, New Jersey named the tomato its official state vegetable but it’s also the official state fruit of Tennessee. Not wanting to choose sides, Arkansas named the South Arkansas Vine Ripe Pink Tomato as the official state fruit and vegetable. 
4. If you don’t like eating tomatoes, maybe you’d enjoy throwing them. Every year the La Tomatina festival is held in Spain during which participants, all 40,000 or so of them, toss tomatoes at each other in a huge food fight. They usually throw around close to 150,000 tomatoes. There’s a copycat event in Reno, Nevada every year as well, to benefit the American Cancer Society!
5. When you picture a tomato, it's usually red, right? Well that’s not always the case. Tomatoes can come in a variety of different colors like white, purple, or even yellow like the “Yellow Pear” tomato. 

With so many tomatoes to choose from, let one of the experts at Glover Nursery help you with your selection. We love to help you achieve all of your gardening goals. Stop by soon! 

Winter felt extra long this year and we are itching for spring. These first few months of the year provide us with a great opportunity to plan ahead to ensure a successful gardening season. Now that March is upon us, we can lay the groundwork for vegetable container gardening.

Many of our customers grow their own vegetables in container gardens, but even if you don’t already, now is the perfect time to start! There are so many benefits to having your own vegetable garden. You can grow your own food, have more nutrient rich veggies, and minimize your environmental impact. Plus, every gardeners favorite reason, it's fun to play in the dirt!

To help you get started we are sharing three great products that will set your vegetable container garden up for success. Check out our list then come down and see us at our garden center in Utah. We have veggie and herb starts available now but come and get them quick because they won’t last long! 

Veggie Container Gardens Love... Osmocote

The small balls, or prills, of Osmocote fertilizer have a polymer coating that is made from resin and vegetable oil. Because of this coating there is a slow release of the nutrients. so that you don’t have to regularly apply fertilizer to your garden. This fertilizer is great plant food for annuals and perennials, as well as houseplants, and can significantly increase your vegetable yield. 

Veggie Container Gardens Love...

Humic Acid

Humic Acid is a really easy tool to apply in your garden to help set the soil up for success. It plays a key role in transporting the nutrients in the soil to your plants, can improve soil structure, and help to hold water. When you are starting your plants as seedlings or adding new plants to your landscape, a small amount of humic acid can do wonders. Humic Acid can be applied in a liquid form by adding it to your watering can or in a granular form as a soil amendment. 

If you want to learn more about the benefits of adding Humic Acid to your container gardens, read up on our blog, Diamonds for Your Soil.

Veggie Container Gardens Love...

Harvest Blend Supreme

The key to a successful garden is helping out your soil so that it can do all the heavy lifting of growing your veggies. It just needs a little assistance sometimes in the form of  weeding or added nutrients. Harvest Blend Supreme is a premium soil amendment packed with your growing vegetable plants’ favorite foods. Harvest Blend Supreme is particularly great for vegetable and flower beds and is available at our plant nursery in Utah. 

It’s time to get growing! For more vegetable container gardening help, check out our library of videos full of tips and tricks from the garden experts here at Glover Nursery. 

Hanging baskets can add vibrance to an otherwise dull and drab area. Fortunately, making your own hanging basket isn’t as hard as it seems if you follow these steps and tips.  And, for something unique, we suggest putting perennials in your hanging basket this year.

1. Choose a hanging basket, or make your own.

Baskets come in different sizes and materials. You may choose from wicker, plastic, wire, or DIY baskets. Having a plant in mind for your basket is helpful as it makes it easier to determine your basket’s ideal size.

2. Select a plant 

Colors and types of flowers will depend on your preference and creativity. Experiment with colors, scent, or a theme, but keep in mind to combine perennial plants that work well together. For instance, putting sun loving plants with shade loving plants is not going to work very well. This list of the best flowers for hanging baskets will give you some ideas on suitable flowers to combine.

When selecting plants,  you want to have a variety in your basket. We like to call it the key three; Thrillers, Fillers, and Spillers. 'Thrillers' ensure that your basket has height and a strong visual.  'Fillers' are those plants that will ensure your basket seems to be overflowing with flowers. And, 'Spillers'  are trailers softens the basket edges and gives a creative flair to your piece.

Glover Nursery, the best plant nursery in Utah, provides a variety of perennial plants to choose from, we have deliveries of fresh perennials coming in weekly.

3. The fun part: planting.

Set up a liner in your basket. Cocoa liners or super moss work well for wire-framed baskets. This is essential for regulating water retention in the soil. 

Place just the right amount of soil on the liner. We recommend four to five inches of soil from the base of the basket. 

Gather your plants once the soil is in place. Start by arranging the Thrillers in the center, then add the Spillers around the edge, and lastly fill in the remaining areas with the, you guessed it, the Fillers.  When placing the plants, be sure to look at the basket from all sides that will be visible when it is hung up.

Be as creative as you can get with arranging the plants. Play with color and a variety of flowers for added decorative detail. For a fuller-looking arrangement, you may opt to fill soil in between gaps. 

Once it's all planted, give that basket a good soaking to water in the plants and settle in the soil.  You may need to add some extra soil after the first watering to ensure the plants are nestled in securely.

Now you get to hang it!  On a tree, on your porch, or wherever you see fit. This beautiful new basket you created will instantly change the mood and ambiance of your home. 

After successfully making a perennial hanging basket, it is important to take note of the following steps to maintain its beauty:

1. Water the hanging baskets when they are dry.  If the soil is wet, they can skip a watering. 
2. Deadheading will promote more blooms, keeping your basket beautiful all season long.
3. Adding fertilizers will help promote growth and blooms. 
4. Make sure your basket gets the appropriate amount of sun or shade, depending on your selection of plants.

Make sure to visit our plant nursery in Utah for some of the best plants for your perennial hanging basket.

We look forward to seeing you.

The Very Real Therapeutic Benefits of Gardening

Here we are in the middle of a pandemic talking about gardening therapy.  It’s funny to think that sentence isn’t the start to some bizarre SNL skit but is, in fact, our current reality.  As a family business that has been part of the Salt Lake valley for over 130 years, one of the things we are constantly evaluating is what we can do to help our community.  We are all working very hard to be safe and stay healthy during this unprecedented time in our collective history. As gardeners, the thing we keep coming back to is the very real therapeutic benefit of gardening.

The phrase “Garden Therapy” is one that’s been used for decades for a variety of reasons. Often it was a bit tongue-in-cheek when we bought a few more perennials than we told our spouse we would.  However, this year has brought the THERAPY of gardening to the forefront.  There are untold benefits from gardening. From digging in the dirt, caring for plants, watching them grow, harvesting our own food or maybe even creating beautiful bouquets to enjoy around the house.

Entire programs have been built around the physical and psychological benefits of working in a garden.  There are some truly interesting studies being done in the field of horticultural therapy. This article from Psychology today hits the nail on the head.

Though we are not trained therapists, we are trained gardening experts. Within the overall theme of “gardening therapy” are dozens upon dozens of reasons that we’ve found create a sense of peace and wellbeing.  We did a poll recently in our Glover Gardening Group on Facebook to see what people found to be the most beneficial aspects of gardening. Here are the top 4 answers from you our gardening community.

1. Gardening is Your Personal Oasis

Be it English style or traditional Japanese Zen, your garden reflects your own tastes and preferences. This makes it much more enjoyable to spend time in your yard.  If you’re new to gardening, we highly recommend working with a landscape designer to give some expert guidance and avoid costly mistakes.

2. Gardening Is Beautiful

From early spring blooms like Crocus or Pansies to late fall blooms like Coneflower or Mums, there is something that will bring color and texture to your garden all season long.  Flowers bring a sense of joy with their blossoming. There are other benefits to be had as well – tinctures, cooking, aromatic satchels, or just a bright bouquet on the dining table.

3. Gardening Allows You to Grow Your Own Food

During a regular year it is nice to pick your own tomato or gift a neighbor with some of the extra zucchini you’ve grown by hand.  But during a year like this, there is something deeply comforting in growing your own veggies, herbs and fruits.  It’s a fun experience, but also a deeply satisfying one. When your first harvest is ready and you get to enjoy the fruits of your labor (pun intended) you will not regret the time spent in your garden.  Check this link to see what veggies and herbs are available and ready to plant now at Glover Nursery.

4. Gardening is a Good Workout

Gyms are closed, parks restricted, it can be tricky to find a way to be active while we wait for things to normalize. Being in the garden, digging, pulling weeds, and planting all are great forms of exercise. You'll be working different muscle groups and burning some calories.  No, it’s not the same as a Crossfit session, but it’s better than nothing!

If gardening is something that appeals to you we are here to help,. No matter your experience level, whether you are a novice who has no idea where to get started or an expert that would love something new to bring to your experience, there's the perfect gardening task for you.

Keep updated with our onsite and online business practices here.  We want to make sure you know what we are doing to keep our team and you and your family safe during this crisis.

We look forward to seeing or speaking with you soon. Happy Therapy!

4 Steps to a Bountiful Harvest with Your Victory Garden

While we are all going through this time of recalibration together, yet “socially distanced” from each other, one of the things we notice trending again are Victory Gardens.  Though we are not at war, the effect of this pandemic certainly feels like it at times.

Gardening has become one of the few activities we are allowed to do and, in fact, are encouraged to do. Victory Gardens will allow you to exercise both your mental and physical well-being.

Our homes and gardens are our safe havens right now and as a result we are seeing a growth in….well, in growth.  As far as the timing goes, it couldn’t be a more appropriate.  Spring is upon us and it is time to plant.

As we do not know how this crisis will affect us long term, a number of people have started growing their own food source – some are doing it for recreation, and some as a genuine way to ensure fresh food for their families throughout the season.

If a Victory Garden is something that appeals to you, we are here to help.

Step 1 – Where to Plant Your Victory Garden?

• Decide what area you have that you can convert to growing veggies, herbs and fruits.
• For a family of 4, a 3-by-6 foot area can meet much of a family’s needs if it is laid out properly.
• Window boxes, container gardens, even rooftops can all be utilized for growing.
• Alternatively, you can grow your edibles in areas around your existing trees, shrubs and flowers.
• Wherever you decide to plant, it is important that the area get plenty of sunlight.

Step 2 – What to Grow in Your Victory Garden?

• Do you love fresh salads? Roasted potatoes?  Making your own salsa or tomato sauce? Make a list of favorite foods and start with growing those.
• It is always fun to experiment with new ingredients, but if you just do not like rhubarb, probably best not to grow any.
• Keep in mind, some types of edibles do not bear a harvest in the first year. A short term goal of food production for this season vs. long term for years to come will have different strategies.
• Veggies and herbs, for the most part, will be prolific in their harvest this season. See our full list of available fruits, veggies, and herbs here.
• Fruit trees and some fruit bearing shrubs will take a couple of years to establish before you see a significant yield.

Step 3 – When to Grow?

• Every plant has a different timing for when it is ideal to start from seed vs. starts.   Both methods are effective, it depends on what you prefer and your patience with seeding.
• Seeding isn’t difficult, but it does take a bit of extra work and the timing of when to seed takes some planning.  Learn more here.
• Veggie starts are ready to pop into the ground, you can start planting now. We've got a great variety of starts available to pick up now. See our full list here.
• Pay attention to the weather as any unexpected freezes need to be guarded against.
• Wall-o-Waters are a great resource to help protect your starts from unexpected cold in the earlier part of the growing season.

Step 4 – When to Harvest Your Victory Garden?

• Every type of produce has a different growing season.  There are 3 categories to consider when you are planning so by the time you get to the harvesting, you have crops available on a rolling basis
• Short-season go from seedling to harvest in around 40 days and include: arugula, lettuce, radishes, salad mix, spinach, turnips
• These should be replanted again after the heat of summer passes for another crop later in the year.
• Mid-season go from seedling to harvest between 40-80 days and include: beans (bush and pole), basil, beets, bok choy, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, cilantro, collards, corn, cucumber, dill, eggplant, fennel, kale, kohlrabi, okra, parsley, peas, peppers, potatoes, scallions, summer squash, swiss chard, tomatillos, tomatoes.
• These make up the bulk of a garden to harvest in the summer, it is best to balance them with early and late harvests.
• Late-season go from seedling to harvest between 80-120 days and include: asparagus, beans (dry), Brussels sprouts, celery, dill seed, edamame, garlic, leeks, melons, onions, parsnips, peppers, pumpkins, shallots, sweet potatoes, winter squash.
• Though they take longer, they are well worth the time and effort.

It’s a lot of information, we know.  If you haven’t grown your own food before, it can feel overwhelming.  But, that is why we are here.

You can view what is currently available to start getting ideas for what you may want to plant in your own garden.  If you're looking to start anything from Strawberries to Onions to Cole Crops we've got what you're looking for in our Veggies, Fruits, and Herbs page.

We have the plants and expertise to help you start your own garden with everything needed for success. Now, that is a Victory indeed.

Find details on how we are safely conducting business under the “Stay Home, Stay Safe” directive on our website, link here.

We are open from 8am-5:45pm Monday through Saturday at 9275 South 1300 West.

See ya soon.

Ahh, Spring.  We can feel it coming though it is still a few weeks away.  But, we are eager to be back in the garden!  So, in anticipation of the season, here are a few things you can do to prep your yard for a great start to growing in 2020:

• Prep your tools! It is much much much easier to get all our gardening chores done with sharp and clean tools.  Sharp blades and spades give cleaner cuts that will allow for faster healing around any needed trims.  And, you definitely will want to disinfect anything that might have residue of disease or fungus from last year – cleaning your tools will prevent spreading the disease again this season.
• Clean up the leftovers. We all do our best to get the leaves and spent perennials up and off the lawn and garden beds before the snow fell, but sometimes the snow catches us and those items stay frozen under the snow all winter.  While the ground is frozen, it isn’t a big deal, but once the thaws have started (which, they have), it is important to get that debris off the ground.  Reasons for this are all those decomposing leaves create spots where fungus and mold can thrive.  It’s easier to clean them up now than to spend the months ahead combating the effects.
• Trim your trees, shrubs and roses before they start to bud. While you should NOT trim any flowering trees this time of year (it can impact the blooms) anything else should get pruned in advance of the coming buds.  Trim out any injured areas and go ahead with any shaping that is required – either for aesthetic or structural reasons.  As for trimming your roses, now is a great time but be sure to watch this video by our resident rose expert, Cassandra.
• Seeds, glorious seeds! Part of the fun we have this time of year is starting our seeds for the season.  Vegetables, flowers, herbs….a plethora of options and such a fun project while we wait for the last of the winter doldrums to fade away.  Read our blog on seeding advice, and come pick up those fabulous little seed packets today.  We are fully stocked and ready to help you get that garden growing.
• Systemics are key. As the ground thaws, those roots will start reaching out to absorb nutrients in the soil to send up to the branches.  As such, it is an incredible time to put down any systemic products (things you pour into the soil) so those roots can grab onto the product and shoot it up the plant.  3 of our favorites to use this time of year:
  • Monterey Once a Year Insect Control; can be applied as long as the ground is not frozen, or overly saturated, at the time of application.  This product controls a wide range of insects including several types of borers.  It offers control over an entire season.
  • Monterey Garden Phos; can be applied as a soil drench, foliar spray or basal bark drench.  Covers a large number of diseases including Fireblight, Verticillium Wilt and Root Rots.  Can be applied several times a year.
  • Bioadvanced All-in-One Rose & Flower Care; contains fertilizer, systemic insecticide and systemic fungicide.  Apply in March at the first sign of bud growth and every 6 weeks after for 3-4 applications a year.  This product can be used on flowers and shrubs as well as roses.

And, as always, we are here for you.  Stop by or give us a call, we look forward to seeing you soon.

Busting the Myths!

Why Autumn is a great season for planting.

Myths about planting in the fall:

• “All the leaves are falling off so I won’t know if the tree is still alive.”
• “If the tree is going dormant, I should wait and plant in the spring.”
• “I’d rather see the shape of the tree with all the leaves before I plant it.”
• “It’s too cold to plant.”
• “My system is turned off for the winter, but I guess water from snow is enough.”

These are a few myths we want to bust about planting trees and shrubs this time of year.  They aren’t true!  Fall is one of the BEST times of year to get those beauties in the ground. We are going to share the nitty gritty of why with you right here, right now.

Myth #1 - I don't know if the tree is alive.

The leaves, yes, will be falling off deciduous trees and shrubs over the next month or two.  But your plant is still alive.  In fact, Trees and Shrubs do 80% of their rooting in the fall!  80%!!!  All that energy that had been going into keeping those leaves green and strong is now being directed into the root systems.

Planting new items in the fall, with proper watering techniques, ensures that you are giving the best possible focus on establishing those new plants faster. And because the plants are focused on rooting they will have stronger and deeper roots. Come spring, the leaves will be back – better, stronger and faster for having given the roots some focused time to proliferate.

Myth #2 – If the tree is going dormant, I should wait and plant in the spring.

While you can plant any time of year, and spring is a great time to do so, we highly recommend planting in the fall.  New plants focus their energy into the root system rather than the leaves. This means they will establish themselves more quickly in the fall.  The main difference between fall planting and spring planting is the price. In the fall you have an amazing selection to choose from, but it’s all on sale.

Glover Nursery brings in truckloads of fresh product specifically for fall and we immediately put it on sale.  Why do we do this?  Well, we love our customers.  We love having a huge selection year-round for our beloved customers.  And, we LOVE helping give these beautiful plants the best possible start to their new life in your yard (and as we mentioned they do 80% of their rooting in the fall, so…..it’s a win-win-win, major, jumbo, love-fest for us all).

Myth #3 – I won't know the shape of the leaves.

The shape of the tree with or without the leaves on it is going to change, drastically so, over the next few years.  No matter what size tree you buy now, the canopy will develop, branch out and expand.  The full-grown shape for a tree will always be the direction the tree grows, but the tree you buy today will not be the same in a year – it will literally branch out.

We find that choosing the tree without leaves better allows you to select a tree with strong structure and balanced branching. This bare bones beauty will only be enhanced when the leaves come on in spring.  And, the faster it establishes a strong, healthy root system, the faster it will grow those leaves. (we are noticing a theme here now, aren’t we?  Spring=flowers, Fall=rooting powers)

Myth #4 – It’s too cold to plant.

Is it though?  Unless the ground is frozen and you can’t dig a hole, you can still plant a tree or shrub.  If you are able to dig up the soil, those roots will be able to grow into the soil.  And, maybe this is TMI, but I sure do prefer all that sweaty work when the temps are lower. Actually, I have my brothers do it for me because they are the best….but, even still, cooler weather makes them happier to help.

There really isn’t a reason to let the cooler weather stop you from planting. Unless, that is, you just do not like being outside if it dips below 60 degrees.  In which case, we raise our cup of hot cocoa to you. We will be here in the summer when you are ready to be outdoors again.

Myth #5 – You don't need to water in winter.

Winter watering is a concern.  Many people think that snow melt is enough to water trees and shrubs, but it really isn’t.  That soft, fluffy snow melts down into very little water and does not reach those roots.

It’s important to remember that the ground does not stay frozen all the time, it thaws and refreezes throughout the season. When it thaws, those little roots are active and searching for a water source.  Even trees you planted in spring will still need winter watering.  The snow melt won’t do the trick.

Turning your sprinklers on in winter isn’t necessary, in fact it is detrimental. However, getting some deep soaking into those roots at least once a month is imperative. If you don’t want to hook up your hose in winter, there is a great trick that Rod Glover recommends: dump a few tumblerfuls of ice around the root zone – this way, when it does thaw enough to melt, the ice will water the tree at the exact right time.  And, most folks have ice makers that keep those glossy cubes coming all day, so it takes barely any time or effort.

SO, there you have it.  Myth-busting complete.  Combine this with Ryan's video on water saving techniques, pop in some gorgeous fall blooming perennials, and you have the powerful formula for true fall gardening success.

And, as always, we are here to help with any questions you may have.

See you soon!

Are you considering planting in the heat?

A lot of people think that you can't plant in the summer/early fall. We have a lot of people ask us is it safe to plant in the heat? Can I still plant? The answer is yes you can! And, you can be very successful. As Ryan Glover likes to say, "if you can dig, you can plant." If you like to dig in the late summer/early fall then why not add some instant shade?

All of the plants and trees we have in the nursery are ready to plant. If you're looking to add a few more trees and shrubs to your yard for some cooling shade, now is a great time to do it. You will want to keep in mind Ryan's 5 tips for planting in the heat.

Ryan's Quick Tips for Planting in the Heat

1. Dig the hole as deep as the rootball, no deeper.  But 1.5x as wide.
2. When backfilling the hole after placing the tree (or shrub) use 80% soil to 20% mulch.
3. Use the hose to settle the soil and saturate the root ball when you first plant.
4. Hand water with your hose on a slow for 15 to 20 minutes 3x's a week in the heat. (drip systems and sprinkler systems do not tend to saturate the root ball properly)

Learn more about watering techniques here....Remember slow, deep watering is best to give your new plants a great start.

Don’t Water More, Water Smart

Glover Nursery's Top 5 Water Saving Tips to Reduce Water Waste

Summer is here and that means so is the heat. We get a lot of people wanting to reduce wasted water, which is awesome. We have five easy water saving tips for you. Don't be nervous about depriving your much-loved plants and potentially causing them harm. Our top 5 tips to help save water will have both your water bill and your plants happy.

There are many small adjustments that add up to significant progress for water conservation. Some big tasks like installing a drip system may be more of a long-term goal project. However, there are also many small things you can do today to make a large difference in saving water.

Helping our water supply while saving money on your water bill…that's the goal. AND, extra bonus, you'll be giving your plants the best possible support. Many of these recommendations are actually the best thing for your plants.  That’s like winning the plant lottery and water lottery at the same time! Here are our top 5 ways to help you save water.

1. Water Early

Water your lawn early in the morning, between 4-7am.  When we water lawns in the middle of the day, the majority of that water goes straight into the air and evaporates before it ever hits your lawn. Many sprinkler heads turn water into tiny drops and those tiny drops evaporate fast in the heat.

When you water before the air is hot more of the water will actually reach the lawn, and therefore the roots, where the water is needed. The result, less time is needed to water and therefore less water is used (and wasted).  For more lawn specific ideas, check our last blog post, Summer Lawn Tips.

2. Check Your Sprinkler System

Your sprinkler system can be adjusted to work smarter. You can make quick changes to your sprinkler system like correct where the heads spray, adjust clocks throughout the year as seasons change and make sure none of the lines are broken. These quick changes will save hundreds of gallons of water in one season. The simple things can really add up! Monitoring your sprinkler system is the simplest way to start.

    Some quick questions to ask yourself:

• What season is it?

  • Less water is needed in spring and fall.

• Is it Raining?

  • If it’s raining, turn off the system entirely.
  • Rain sensors are available at local stores. They can be hooked up to your system to make this even easier.

• Did you split the cycle?

  • Avoid unnecessary water runoff by splitting a cycle. This trick allows water to absorb deeper into the soil.
  • If your system is set to run a 40-minute cycle, do 20 minutes, wait for 10, run another 20 minutes.
  • This simple adjustment can eliminate the need for an entire cycle once a week.

A great resource for other sprinkler related recommendations to reduce water waste can be found at scienTurfic Sod.

3. Water Low

Water at the base of your trees, shrubs, and perennials to save water.  Spraying the leaves and trunks can actually cause damage in the heat. Plus, it doesn’t solve the problem of the water reaching the roots where it is needed.

New Plants

It is extremely important to deep soak new plants during their establishment phase.  To deep soak new plants, turn your hose to a very slow trickle. Place the hose about 4-6” from the base of the stem or trunk of your new plant. The length of watering time needed depends on the size of the root ball. For smaller 1-5 gallon size plants, 10-15 minutes twice a week should be sufficient. For larger trees and shrubs, we recommend 10 minutes per inch caliper on the tree (i.e. a large 4” caliper tree requires 40 minutes of soaking).

Established Plants

Established plants are plants that have been in your landscape for a year or more. Two years or more for larger trees. We recommend installing a drip system or micro-emitter. The benefit of these systems is there is zero water waste. All of the water is put directly into the soil where it is needed. These systems emit water at such a slow rate that the water absorbs deeper and deeper into the soil. Achieving our ultimate goal, getting the water to those grounding roots.

    By watering your plants directly at the roots you will:

• Put the water exactly where it is needed.
• Help to establish deeper, stronger roots.
• Waste very little, if any, water as it is going directly to the area needed.

4 . Don’t water wet soil.

This might seem obvious, but if your soil is still wet from previous watering it likely can wait another day or two. This includes rain-storms. The recommended way to check if your soil is wet is what my grampa called “the finger test”.  It is a very simple water saving test. Stick your finger in the soil up to your second knuckle. If you feel moisture, no need to water. This simple check will save you hundreds of gallons of water waste.

5 . Know your soil type.

Clay soil holds more water, sandy soil dries faster. If you have more clay base, you do not need to water as often. Clay base soils do need to be watered deeper.

Sandy soil needs less watering at any given time. But it will need slightly more frequent watering. Knowing your soil type will save you water, time, money and hassle. And, your plants will thrive when you combine proper watering technique with the appropriate soil type.

There are loads more ways you can reduce, or even eliminate, water waste.  looking for even more ideas to help save water? There are wonderful local resources available. Check out some of the following.

• Utah Division of Water Resources
• Conservation Garden Park
• Red Butte Gardens
• Or, you can check out this fun link by HGTV

If you have any great tips that you don’t see, let us know!  There are probably loads of great water-saving inventions out there we haven’t seen yet and would love to share.  After all, when it comes to reducing water waste, we are all in it together.