To avoid construction-related detours, turn onto 1300 West from 90th South. Enter at Gate #2

The Very Real Benefits of Gardening Therapy

As a family business that has been serving 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.

Not only do we want to provide the best products and service for your gardening needs, but also give you all the information you need to succeed and your garden to thrive.  Why?  Well, one thing we know, which has been forefront in our minds over the last few years, 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, these past few years has made the THERAPY of gardening a very real part of our daily lives. We now all know from personal experience the benefits of garden therapy.

There are untold benefits from gardening for our mental health. 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. And just this year this article came out exploring research that shows gardening may help reduce cancer risk AND boost mental health.

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. Whether you grow at home or in a community garden, your garden is your own. This makes it much more enjoyable to spend time outside in the yard. If you’re new to gardening, we highly recommend working with a landscape designer to give some expert guidance and avoid costly mistakes. Garden design is personal but a landscape architect will work with you to create your dream landscape.

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. 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.  Come and visit Glover Nursery to see what veggies and herbs are available and ready to plant now.

4. Gardening is a Good Workout

I don't know about you but 30 minutes of gardening sounds like a whole lot more fun than 30 minutes at the gym. There is always exercise in the garden. 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!

A study in the Preventative Medicine Journal reported the results of a meta-analysis of research examining the effects of gardening, including horticultural therapy, on health. They found substantive evidence to suggest that gardening can "improve physical, psychological, and social health, which can, from a long-term perspective, alleviate and prevent various health issues facing today's society."

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.

We will keep you updated on everything we have coming in this spring to make this gardening season, the best yet!

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

 

Other useful links and resources:

June is Perennial Gardening Month

Gardening It's All in the Family

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:

• What type of seed you want to plant
• When to start planting your seeds
• How to care for your seedlings

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!

What Type of Seeds to Plant

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.

When to Start Your Seeds

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.

How to Start Your Seeds

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!

April days are upon us. Those long spring days spent outside in our gardens are ahead of us. The temperatures are warming up and we start to see more and more buds and blooms. Now is the time when our garden to-do lists seem never-ending…and we couldn’t be more thrilled!

There are no days in the whole round year more delicious than those which often come to us in the latter half of April... The sun trembles in his own soft rays... The grass in the meadow seems all to have grown green since yesterday... though there is warmth enough for a sense of luxury, there is coolness enough for exertion. 

~Thomas Wentworth Higginson, "April Days”

Check these April gardening tips off of your April to-do lists and check back in with us next month for more! 

If our missed March’s list, you can find it here.

Tree Care Tips 

• Remove all winter tree wraps to avoid overheating of tree bark
• Wrapping your tree with burlap or tree guard helps you reduce the chances of harsh winter weather ruining the tree’s bark - and keeps the deer from having a nibble. But, once the winter season is done it’s time to say goodbye to the tree wrap. Leaving it on for too long can be harmful to the tree’s trunk and encourage pests and disease. Removing the wrap in April is a good rule of thumb as the likelihood of seeing another frost is low. 

Fertilize Shade and Fruit Trees Tips

• Make sure to apply fertilizer to your trees to help them stay healthy. Just like humans, trees need important nutrients to grow and for their overall health. Think of the fertilizer as their daily vitamin.  Some trees may need an application again in May. We recommend using G&B Citrus & Fruit Tree Fertilizer for fruit trees and G&B All Purpose Fertilizer for established shade trees and shrubs, we have both products are available now.

Deep Soak Trees And Shrubs, Especially If The Winter And Spring Have Been Dry.

• As temperatures start to warm up in early spring, start deep soaking your trees and shrubs.  The ground will likely be dry after winter, so a routine of 1 time per week is good to start.
• Always check the weather first! You don’t need to deep soak during a week that you have significant precipitation. You can always check Conserve Water for their weekly watering guide to see up-to-date watering recommendations for your area.
• If you do need to deep soak, here is what that means:
• 1- Turn your hose on a slow trickle and place it 4-6” from the base of the plant.  
• 2- Let the hose run between 10-30 minutes (this will be determined bythe size of the root ball, 2-3 gallons per inch diameter of the trunk.). 
• Deep soaking with a hose is the best way to water your new plants, trees, and shrubs to ensure they are getting enough water for the proper establishment of the root system.

Weeding, Pruning, Fertilizing

• Prepare Your Garden
• Get your garden ready for spring by removing any winter mulch from around your perennials and roses. Rake out debris from flower and shrub beds and move shrubs, if necessary, before things start to bud.  This will prevent mold and fungus from developing and spreading.  Fresh compost can be added to flower beds if the soil has dried out enough.

Prepare for Weeds & Pests

• Thinking ahead helps you avoid disaster further down the road. In April, systemic insect controls can be applied to shrubs and perennials. Keep the weeds in check by regular weeding before they take and start to spread. Check for and control insect infestations before they become a problem. When controlling pests and weeds, consider using biological controls before other harsher chemical treatments.  We carry a large variety of products to help with weed and pest prevention, bring photos of your plants and we’ll make sure you get exactly what you need. 

Lawn Care Gardening Tips

• Lawn Preparation
• Early preparation of your lawn will help keep it green with less water use through the season. Rake your lawn to remove winter debris and then aerate. This will reduce the chance of fungus growing, and will allow for the roots to get a head start with a deeper structure that will keep your lawn healthy and strong with less water.  Always check your sprinkler system to make sure nothing has broken over the winter.  Apply pre-emergent and fertilizer at the end of March and early April unless you plan to overseed your lawn.  We recommend Fertilome Weed Free Zone plus Lawn Fertilizer.

Watering Tips 

• You actually should not need to water your lawn in March or April unless you are watering in fertilizer. If it does seem particularly dry, water it every two weeks. Again, checking the guide from ConserveWater.Utah is a great way to make sure you’re doing your part to conserve water while giving your lawn the support it needs

Further Reading: Top Three Tips for Maintaining Lawns

Happy gardening to you! heck out our seasonal gardening tips for even more information and come on over to see us with any questions or to grab the products you need to help your lawn and garden thrive

 

Other useful links and resources:

Gardening It's All in the Family

Creative Gardening Pairings from Monrovia

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”: 

Prune and Spray Your Trees

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. 

 

Prepare Your Garden Soil & Beds

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

 

Clean up Flowers

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

 

Sharpen Garden Tools & Equipment 

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

 

Other useful links and resources:

Early Spring Recommended Products

5 Things to do While Waiting for Spring

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.

 

Other useful links and resources:

Garden Plant Helleborus: The First Blooms of Spring

Creative Gardening Pairings from Monrovia

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

• Prep your tools! It is so much easier to get 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.
  • 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 start, it is important to get that debris off the ground.
  • Decomposing leaves create spots where fungus and mold can thrive.  It’s easier to clean them up early than to spend the months ahead fighting the effects. Toss them into the compost bin to break them down in a manner that won't create problems for your lawn or garden.
• Trim your deciduous trees, shrubs and roses as directed below.  Evergreens should be trimmed after they have flushed out with new growth, which is later in the spring. There are timings which are better for each type of plant, however, if there are any injured areas, go ahead and prune anytime to prevent further damage or potential disease.
  • Deciduous Trees and Shrubs can be pruned in January / February while the plants are fully dormant.
  • Fruit Trees should be trimmed in February / March to encourage vigorous spring growth and better fruit yield.
  • Roses should be pruned when the first buds start to swell, which can be March or April, depending on winter weather.  Part of the reason you should wait is to see if there has been any significant winter dieback (which will only show when buds start swelling on living canes). Another reason is directional pruning. Identifying bud angles can help you avoid poor structure within the rose shrub.
• 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.

 

Other useful links and resources:

Glover Nursery on Good Day Utah: Early Spring Edition

Get Ready for Spring: March Gardening Tips