Utah's First
Family Nursery
We love plants. We love to help our customers succeed with growing their new plants. So, we thought we’d share a bit more about the products we recommend using whenever new plants are planted.
It can seem overwhelming at first.
“Why should I add all these powders, liquids, and blends to my soil?”
“Shouldn’t my plants know what to do naturally without all this extra stuff?”
The answer to both these questions can seem complex, so we wanted to break it down for you to understand why we recommend these products and how they truly do help your plants succeed.
First off is “the little blue tub” that we always recommend for eligible trees and shrubs called, aptly named, “MYKE Tree & Shrub.” Yes, it extends the warranty from a 1-year to a 5-year, but why?
MYKE Tree and Shrub is an all-natural growth supplement that contains biological fungi called mycorrhizae which is an inoculant that stimulates the existing mycorrhizae in the soil to produce more mycorrhizae.
Soil is naturally teeming with bacteria and fungi, though most are neither beneficial nor harmful. Still, they play a subtle, yet vital, role in plant health by boosting the number of helpful organisms in the soil. By adding helpful bacteria or fungi to take up those tiny spaces, you minimize the risk of dangerous microorganisms taking up residency and potentially harming your plants. An easy-to-understand comparison would be an inoculation humans receive to ward off undesirable diseases, sort of like a flu shot.
When applied correctly, which is close to the roots during the transplantation (we recommend patting it directly on the root ball), Mycorrhizal fungi will start to germinate in the soil and make their way to the nearest roots. The roots are then colonized by the fungi and mycorrhizae is established. Upon establishment, mycorrhizae assist the root system through a more efficient uptake of water and nutrients for the plant.
While MYKE has minuscule amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium in it, it is not to be confused with fertilizer. It’s true that those minuscule amounts may be of minor help to the plant, but it is not a replacement for a good plant starter fertilizer such as Fertilome Root Stimulator.
No, for new plants with tender roots, you want to use something formulated specifically for root growth. Fertilizers that are for established plants have higher concentrations of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, which can burn the tender root systems of new plants.
Fertilome Root Stimulator is recommended when transplanting to stimulate early root formation and development. It is perfect to use when transplanting trees and shrubs. In fact, it can also be used on berries, fruit trees, and flowers. In addition to the gentle fertilizer needed to give the plants a healthy, but not overwhelming, boost of nutrients, it includes an active ingredient called Indole-3-butyric acid.
Indole-3-butyric acid is a plant hormone used to initiate root formation. It should be used one time after initial planting at the rate of 3½ tablespoons of root stimulator in one gallon of water. We recommend using this product for new plantings at the initial planting, then again in the fall when plants start going dormant and push their energy into root growth. Do not use this product excessively or in amounts higher than recommended as it can lead to root burn, nutrient toxicity, or dry and damaged roots.
Awww, OK, that all makes sense. But with those products, why would I also need to amend my soil?
Unfortunately in the Salt Lake area, the soil structure needs help to allow for proper drainage along with nutrient density. We used to be a lake bed, a salty lake bed, so we have high alkalinity, poor drainage, heavy clay or sandy soil, and not a lot of organic matter to help break down the clay or hold moisture levels appropriately.
This is why, in addition to a mycorrhizal inoculant and a root stimulator, we recommend one of the following soil amendments to give your plants the best start possible, depending on which area you are in.
These blends are fully composted composts with few or no raw wood products in them and create a wonderful soil environment for strong plants and healthy root growth. Additionally, they are OMRI listed for organic gardening and great for breaking up hard clay soils and improving drainage, which in return will promote healthy root development. We have found the best ratio for use is 1 part soil conditioner to 3 parts native soil.
Note: Using a product that is not fully composted will steal nitrogen from the plant you are trying to grow in the process of composting the raw wood in the material, so you will end up needing to add a nitrogen fertilizer to supplement the soil
In summary, key factors that will help your new plant to establish properly and successfully include a mycorrhizal inoculant, a root stimulator, and a soil conditioner.
Be sure to check out our other informational pages on how to properly plant and water your new tree.
Happy Gardening!
The Glover Diagnostics Department
Though it always depends on the weather, in general gardening is cyclical. Even if the season starts early, or late, the basic “to-dos” will be pretty much the same. So, we’re sharing a recap of our helpful July gardening blog posts throughout the years for all your summertime gardening needs.
Looking for some tasks to keep you busy this summer? We’ve got some ideas to help maintain your trees, shrubs, flowers, and more! Check out the below two lists and see how many tasks you can tackle this month.
Your To-Do List: July Gardening Tips
5 Things To Do In Your Summer Garden
We love the vibrant colors of flowers and plants that pop up during the hotter months of the year. From the ever popular roses, to drought-tolerant and waterwise plants, learn more about some of our favorite summer finds here.
Top 7 Waterwise Perennials for Summer
Top 5 Drought Tolerant & Resistant Plants
If you’re looking to explore more plants or to see if we have specific ones, check out our catalog here.
An important reminder for all humans and greenery this summer: Stay hydrated! Whether you’re a beginner gardener or a seasoned expert, check out these helpful blog posts about watering, maintaining your lawn, and how to use less water.
Watering 101: How to Water Your New Plants
5 Ways to Reduce Water Waste in Utah
4 Products to Achieve a Greener Lawn & Use Less Water
Top 3 Tips for Maintaining Your Lawn
Landscaping, Your Top 5 Rules for Success
Gardening is a fun solo activity, but is always more exciting when you have others to share your passion with, especially those who are local! To interact with like-minded gardeners, join the Glover Nursery Facebook Group, where community members share images and questions about their home gardening and landscaping projects. We hope to see you there.
Happy Gardening! 🌱
Get ready to spring forward! Let's start planning your vegetable garden.
Even though Punxsutawney Phil said there would be 6 more weeks of winter, spring planting season will be here soon.
In this blog, you’ll learn which vegetables will thrive in Utah and 3 harvest seasons to be aware of.
When it comes to planning your vegetable garden, there are a number of growing styles to keep in mind to utilize your space effectively. Some of the most common are Root, Bush, and Vine.
Root vegetables, you guessed it, are the root of a plant. Some, like carrots, are taproots which will only yield one or two vegetables per seed or start. And some, like potatoes, are tubers that will yield multiples of a vegetable.
So, if you are growing taproot vegetables, you’ll need to plan for rows of multiple plants. Although for tuber style, you can plant just a few starts for a hearty harvest.
1 - Potatoes
2 - Beets
3 - Carrots
4 - Radishes
Bush vegetables grow on one plant that’ll stay in a shrub form throughout the season. They are great options for smaller gardening spaces, or even for patio gardens.
1 - Tomato
2 - Beans
3 - Peppers
4 - Leaf Lettuce
Vine-grown vegetables tend to need more space, though some DIYers have found success with growing on trellises in smaller areas.
1 - Pumpkins
2 - Squash
3 - Pole Beans
4 - Zucchini
Every type of produce has a different growing season. You see, 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 goes from seedling to harvest in around 40 days and includes:
1 - Arugula
2 - Lettuce
3 - Radishes
4 - Salad mix
5 - Spinach
6 - Turnips
These should be replanted again after the heat of summer passes for another crop later in the year.
Mid-season goes from seedling to harvest between 40-80 days and includes (amongst many more):
1 - Beans (bush and pole)
2 - Beets
3 - Bok choy
4 - Broccoli
5 - Cabbage
6 - Carrots
7 - Cauliflower
8 - Corn
9 - Cucumber
10 - Fennel
11 - Kale
12 - Peas
13 - Peppers
14 - Potatoes
15 - Summer squash
16 - 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 goes from seedling to harvest between 80-120 days and includes:
1 - Asparagus
2 - Beans (dry)
3 - Brussels Sprouts
4 - Celery
5 - Garlic
6 - Melons
7 - Onions
8 - Peppers
9 - Pumpkins
10 - Shallots
11 - Sweet Potatoes
12 - Winter Squash
Though they take longer, they’re well worth the time and effort.
So are you ready to bring a little green into your life?
As planting season is around the corner, it's the perfect time to start planning your vegetable garden.
Don't worry if you're a seasoned or new gardener, Utah offers a bounty of options for your flourishing garden. You have hearty root, simple bush, and fun vine vegetables to choose from.
At Glover Nursery we have everything you need to get started, from soil and seeds to tools and expert advice. So you can enjoy a steady supply of fresh, delicious produce all three harvest seasons long.
Are you ready to try your hand at growing your own veggies this year?
Tell us what you plan to grow in our Glover Nursery Facebook Group. You may just get inspired by others who are cultivating their own bountiful gardens.
Hello fellow gardeners! It's hard to think of spring when we're surrounded by so much SNOW! But here we are, reminding you that no matter how much snow is on the ground it will melt away come spring. And when that happens, one of the most important steps in getting our gardens ready is starting our seeds. After all, the growing season is right around the corner!
There are a few things to consider when starting your seeds, including:
In this blog post, we'll explore all of these topics. You'll be prepared to start your seeds and have a successful growing season!
First, let's talk about how to pick seeds for your garden.
When selecting seeds for your garden, it is important to consider what type of climate you live in. If you live in an area with a short growing season, as we do here in Utah, you will want to choose plants that can be started indoors and then transplanted outdoors. Some examples of plants that can be started indoors and then transplanted outdoors include tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, and herbs.
If you live in an area with a long growing season, you can start your seeds outdoors. Some examples of plants that can be started outdoors include squash, cucumbers, watermelons, and pumpkins.
It is also important to consider the amount of space you have available. If you have a small space, you can choose plants that thrive in containers or raised beds. Some examples include tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, herbs, and lettuce.
If you have a large space, you can grow just about any type of plant. However, it is still important to consider the amount of sunlight and water that your plants need.
Once you have considered these factors, you can choose the specific varieties of plants that you would like to grow. To find out more about specific plant varieties, consult a gardening book, online gardening resource or one of our experts here at Glover Nursery.
Next, we move on to the all-important question of when to start your seedlings. Here at Glover Nursery, we recommend taking the last average frost date and counting backward as to how long that seed would need to germinate.
According to the Farmer's Almanac, the average last frost date in West Jordan Utah is April 25. So, to get a good start ready for transferring outdoors we have an easy equation to help you. We recommend looking at how long something takes to germinate and adding a couple of weeks of growth onto that before transplanting it into the garden.
Here's a quick equation.
(Average Last Frost Date - Germination Time) + 2 Weeks = When to Start Your Seeds
Now that you know what to plant and when to plant it, you may be interested in learning how best to take care of your lil baby starts.
There are a few key things to keep in mind when caring for your seedlings. The first is to make sure that they have enough light. Seedlings need a minimum of six hours of direct sunlight per day. If you do not have a place in your home that gets six hours of direct sunlight, you can use grow lights.
The second key thing to keep in mind when caring for your seedlings is to make sure that they have enough water. Seedlings should be watered daily, making sure to keep the soil moist but not soggy.
Finally, the third thing to remember when caring for your seedlings is to fertilize them regularly. Seedlings should be fertilized every two weeks with a balanced fertilizer.
If you're growing seeds for an herb garden we suggest you check out our blog post here. Herb gardens flourish with these specific guidelines.
By following these simple tips, you can ensure that your seedlings have a happy and healthy start to the growing season!
The seeds have arrived at Glover Nursery and we can hardly stand all the promise that the rows and rows of seed packets are giving off here.
If you're overwhelmed or looking to try something new this year we encourage you to stop by and chat with our knowledgeable staff. We love pointing out our favorite seeds for our local climate here in the Salt Lake City Valley. We may even have one or two surprises for the seasoned gardener.
Seedlings need a lot of care, but if you follow these simple tips you can ensure a happy and healthy start to the growing season!
Welcome to July, gardeners! Summer is in full swing and the days are heating up after a wet, cool spring.
"And so with the sunshine and the great bursts of leaves growing on the trees, just as things grow in fast movies, I had that familiar conviction that life was beginning over again with the summer."
~ F. Scott Fitzgerald
Check these July gardening tips off your to-do lists. It’s always helpful to know what to do in the garden this month! If you missed our tips last month, you can find them here.
Temperatures are rising and insects are getting hungry! Keep an eye out for diseases and pests including powdery mildew, peach twig borers (on peach, nectarine, cherry, and apricot trees), and codling moth (on apple and pear trees). The codling moth’s larvae are the ones to blame for wormy apples.
Watch out for red spider mites. If you suspect that you may have spider mites, flick a branch or leaf onto white paper and look carefully to see if any of the specks move. 
There are a few options when it comes to getting rid of spider mites. Consider using a hard spray of water to knock them back, dormant oil, or organic insecticides.
Continue deep soaking newly planted trees and shrubs 2 to 3 times per week and fully established plants 2 to 3 times per month. Check out our watering guide for more tips.
Remove faded flowers from annuals and roses to promote re-blooming. Removing the spent flowers will encourage the plants to produce more and more beautiful blooms. You can also remove spent flowers from your perennials, though it likely won't help to extend their bloom season.
It may not be your favorite chore, but keep up on the weeding! A little prevention by pulling them early prevents weeds from going to seed. Once they go to seed they’ll start growing like…well, weeds.
Give your Hanging baskets and planters a refresh. . They may need some sprucing up. Cut back overgrown plants and replace any spent plants as needed. A few pops of new color mixed in with the cleaned-up flowers will keep your planters and baskets looking as beautiful as the day you bought them.
Hanging baskets may need extra water in the summer heat so test the soil in the morning and again in the evening.
A lot of folks are reducing (or even eliminating) lawn from their yards these days. But, one thing to keep in mind - a healthy lawn does help to keep the yard cooler.
Lawn care doesn’t have to use up excessive amounts of water. Creating a strong root system with healthy soil allows your lawn to look great with far less water than you might think. Now is also a good time to apply products like Revive, Groundbreaker, Hydretain, and TurfMax - four products to help your lawn in the heat.
For more tips, check out our Seasonal Tips page.
How crazy was the weather this spring?
It was certainly far from typical and it’s impossible to predict what's coming up. Let’s take a look at what this weather has done to our plants, and what to look for moving forward.
This spring has been particularly cool and wet, especially compared to last year when we experienced one hundred-degree weather in the middle of May with almost no precipitation. While this spring has had significantly more rain we are still experiencing a drought so we recommend reviewing local watering guides.
Because of the cooler spring weather, many plants took longer than normal to break dormancy. . For example, maple trees usually are fully leafed around mid-April but this year didn’t break dormancy until nearly the second week of May.
Redbuds also had a rough go of this spring. Hard freezes arrived during its two major growth times, killing the flower buds and delaying the leaf buds from opening in their normal time frame
Additionally, it wasn’t warm enough for many Perennials to wake up and bloom when they normally would, so you still may not be seeing some of your favorites in the garden. The good news is, that doesn’t mean that they’re dead. It just means patience is key so give things a bit more time to catch up.
Many people use Mother’s Day as the season marker for planting. However, this year we had a hard frost after that target date. You might have experienced damage in your veggie gardens, even if they were covered. This will result in a shorter crop season, but you will still likely get a decent harvest
Tomatoes typically have a 10-12 week harvest season. This year it will most likely be closer to 6-8 weeks, especially if we get frost in September.
Though it is almost at an end, June is known as Perennial Month. While temps are starting to warm up for summer, it is still a great time to add perennials to the garden to enjoy the summer blooms and feed the pollinators. As perennials all have different bloom times, it’s a great idea to add throughout the season so you can have a variety of colors throughout the year.
With hot temperatures becoming more regular, it’s important to keep an eye on your plants for signs of heat stress. The shock of the temperature swing from the cooler spring can be too much for your plants. Signs of heat stress include:
The best cure is always prevention. When possible, water your plants prior to 10 am, provide permanent shade, and mulch your plant beds and trees to keep the roots cooler.
Morning watering is preferred so your plants don’t lose water to evaporation in the afternoon sun. Evening watering makes your plant more susceptible to fungus and pests overnight.
It’s also worth looking into growing water-wise plants that are able to withstand extreme temperatures.
Take a look at 7 Waterwise summer blooms for your garden here.
What can you do if your plant has already experienced heat stress? It is possible for many plants to recover.
Heat stress can happen to plants in temperatures starting at 85℉ so keep an eye on your thermometers.
For more information about how the strange spring weather will affect this year’s growing season, make sure to join the Glover Nursery Facebook group and watch this live with Erica.
If you have any questions about how your plants have been reacting to the weather, please feel free to reach out to the experts at our Utah garden centre as well!
March brings with it the glorious days of spring - the first official day of spring is March 20th. We are springing forward, days are getting longer, and plants will start peeking their way up through the soil. While we enjoy a few late winter blooms, like Hellebore and Pansies, it is time to start prepping your garden for the growing season. Below are some tips and tricks to help you get ready.
Add these tasks to your March gardening “To-Do List”:
Early March is the time to prune peach, plum, cherry, and apricot trees. If you didn't prune your apple trees or other deciduous trees in February, prune them now as well. Apply Dormant Oil, also known as Horticultural Oil, to ornamentals, fruit trees, shrub and shade trees to help control insects such as aphids, scale, and mites that will be coming back in the spring.
Ideally, you will spray when temps are above 40 degrees with no precipitation for 48 hours after application. You can also spray Copper Fungicide this time of year, either 24 hours prior to the Dormant Oil application, or you can even mix them together and spray both products at the same time, just be sure to mix the proper ratio for each product separately before combining them in a sprayer.
As the snow melts away, it’s time to remove the winter layer of mulch from around perennials and roses. Rake out debris from your flower and shrub beds. If you are planning on moving your perennials, do it now before they start to bud.
Once the soil has dried out enough, nutrient-rich compost can be added to flower beds. Don’t work the soil if it’s too wet because it causes compaction (cement-like texture in the soil).
Apply fertilizer to your shrubs and perennials. Some garden beds may also need an application of iron in March. If you do not plan on starting anything from seed, it's a great time to put down some Pre-Emergent to help prevent weed seed from germinating. You can apply a granular formula or a liquid formula, depending on what is best for your circumstances.
You may also like to read: 5 Things to do While Waiting for Spring
Now is the time to prune your rose bushes, look for bud swell as your signal to prune. It is also a great time to start pruning back the perennials leaves, stems and seed heads that were left over winter. Summer flowering shrubs like potentilla and many spireas can be pruned at the end of March or early April.
Start begonias, dahlias, and other tubers indoors for earlier blooms. For more on starting bulbs indoors, check out How to Start Seeding Indoors
Another useful resource: Growing from Seed
Before you need them, make sure your garden tools are still working and in good shape. Service your power equipment and sharpen your lawnmower blades. Now is also a good time to organize your tool sheds and storage areas so that come gardening time you won’t waste any time finding what you need.
Getting back out in the garden has numerous benefits for our mental and physical health. Take care of these gardening items in March and springtime will be here before you know it. If you’re a newbie ready to start a garden, the team here at Glover Nursery are eager to help. Consider joining our Facebook community for a wealth of shared knowledge and be inspired by your fellow gardeners.
You might also be interested: Planning Your Garden
Early Spring Recommended Products
5 Things to do While Waiting for Spring
We are inching closer and closer to spring!
It’s not spring yet but I swear we can already smell it. February is another month of maintenance and preparation to help ensure a successful growing season. We are gearing up at the nursery with new shipments of gardening tools, seeds, water plants, and more! We’re also bringing on new team members to help better serve the Utah gardening community come March and April.
If you think you, or someone you know, would make a great fit here at the garden center, make sure to send in an application.
Here are some of our top monthly tips for February but definitely check out even more seasonal planting tips & tricks.
The end of February is the time of the year to prune your shade trees because they are dormant and less susceptible to bugs and disease. You can also prune apple and pear trees. When you prune, you will cut off broken or dead branches and trim the top branches. Make sure that your cuts are angled and clean. Pruning your trees encourages new growth so your tree can provide even more shade in the summer month.
Related Reading: Need more shade in your backyard? If you live in Utah you're in luck. Our shade trees will turn your backyard into an instant oasis for all your summer activities. We've got a wide variety of instant shade trees and we deliver and install them too!
Read more: Instant Shade For Your Yard
Check Your Garden Ponds
There are a few things to keep an eye on in February when it comes to your pond. Make sure to check the heaters and aerators often to make sure that they are working properly. Ponds also must have a hole in the ice to release noxious gasses that form from decomposing matter in the pond. Pond owners will also want to check for ice dams. Ensure they are not forming on waterfalls or streams that might divert water level over the liner.
Related Viewing: In this video, Glover Nursery's water garden manager, Shane, gives you a quick checklist to go through when preparing your pond for winter. Watch here
New seeds are rolling into the garden nursery all the time! Now is the time to look through plant catalogs for plants and ideas you may want to incorporate like companion plantings into your garden beds. Order / come pick out your seeds or plugs now to get them started early indoors and for the best selection.
Growing plants from seeds is an exciting and fulfilling undertaking. If you haven’t done it before, Glover Nursery is here to help. Utah gardeners now’s the time to start your seeds inside (also known as seeding indoors). We’ve got you covered with all the tips and tricks (& seeds!).
You may also check out our seasonal tip videos here.
We are available for all of your gardening questions - that’s what we do! Come down and visit us at the garden center, give us a call, or reach out on social media.
Updates, Sales, and Gardening Tips
9275 S. 1300 W. West Jordan, UT 84088
Phone: (801) 562-5496
Fax: (801) 562-5595
Email: [email protected]
Updates, Sales, and Gardening Tips
