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

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!

Other useful links and resources:

5 Things To Do In Your Summer Garden

Top 5 Summertime Favorites

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

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!

 

Other useful links and resources:

How Planting Trees Affects Air Quality

It’s Planting Time: Start Seeding Indoors!

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.

 

Other useful links and resources:

Garden Plant Helleborus: The First Blooms of Spring

Planting a Tree 101

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.

 

Other useful links and resources:

How Trees Can Help With a Waterwise Landscape

Watering 101: How to Water Your New Plants

Hummingbird Season is Upon Us!

We love these jewels of the sky! These beautiful birds arrive in Utah in late April/mid-May and stay through September. It's best to prepare your habitat before hummingbirds arrive. However, it's not too late to attract these fascinating birds to your yard.

Many migratory hummingbirds, the breeding natives, arrive in Utah sometime in April or early May. It varies year to year depending on changing environmental factors. Like many wild animals, the male of the species is much more flashy than the female. They normally have colorful throats and tails and sometimes will whistle as they fly. 

The best way to attract these jewels of the sky is to provide the necessities for their perfect habitat. The more of these you can provide in your own backyard the better chance you will have of daily hummingbird visitors. We've put together 5 guiding principles to make the perfect Hummingbird Habitat in your Utah yard.

Nectar

When you bring up hummingbirds most people think immediately of red sugar water. But, that's not the only way to attract hummingbirds. A hummingbird feeder is a great way to supplement native sources of nectar in your yard. However, using native and non-native plants is the best source for these active birds.

Thoughtful plantings of native nectar sources can provide an uninterrupted food source throughout their stay. Because hummingbirds are well adapted to native plants they are the best way to invite hummingbirds to your yard. Native plants also make your yard a perfect nesting spot year after year.

Consider adding the following fantastic sources of nectar to your landscape.

Native Nectar Sources

• Aquilegia formosa                      
• Aquilegia chrysantha                
• Aquilegia scopulorum    
• Asclepias tuberosa
• Campsis radicans 
• Chilopsis linearis
• Heuchera parvifolia  
• Ipomopsis aggregate
• Lobelia cardinalis
• Lonicera involucrate 
• Monarda fistulosa
• Penstemon barbatus
• Penstemon cyanthus
• Penstemon eatoni
• Penstemon palmeri
• Penstemon pseudospectabilis
• Penstemon strictus
• Ribes aureum
• Symphoricarpos albus
• Zauschneria garretii
• Zauschneria latifolia

Excellent non-native Nectar Sources

• Agastache
• Crocosmia
• Hesperaloe
• Hibiscus
• Hosta
• Kniphofia
• Lonicera japonica
• Lychnis chalcedonica
• Phlox
• Salvia

Hummingbird Feeder Solution

We have the best Hummingbird Feeder Recipe. Again, we want to make sure and point out that a hummingbird feeder should be used as a second source of food for these busy little birds.

Supplemental feeders should be filled with a solution of four parts water to one part white sugar. Feeders can ferment if left too long. Keep your feeder fresh by cleaning them well and replacing sugar water before it begins to ferment.

Sometimes hummingbirds become territorial of a feeder. To avoid this behavior feeders should hang at a distance from each other or out of sight from one another.

Water

Shallow water attracts hummingbirds. Traditional birdbaths tend to be too deep for these tiny birds. As a solution, you can fill your birdbath part way with pebbles and rocks to make them more suitable. We have a variety of birdbaths available at the nursery and filler too! 

Hummingbirds also like moving / natural bird baths. They will bathe in sprinklers, misters and water droplets that have collected on large leaves. Planting Cannas and Hostas in your yard will create a natural birdbath for hummingbirds.

Perching Sites, Nesting Sites and Nesting Materials

Hummingbirds will create their home in a place with natural materials readily available. Providing perching sites, nesting sites and nesting material is a great way to encourage hummingbirds to take up residence in your yard. And keep them from using your yard as just a pass through.

Trees, shrubs and vines offer protection from predators. These are also the perfect place to build a nest. Preferable nesting materials include moss, lichens, and fur. Pappus from seeds such as dandelions, thistle, aster and asclepias cotton also make great nesting materials. Surprisingly, spider webs are an especially important nest component. 

Organic Gardening Practices

Nature is it's own best exterminating system. Spiders and insects are a protein-packed meal for hummingbirds. We knew we loved these busy little birds!

Hummingbirds also use spider webs for nest building. Keeping an organic garden will allow nature to work at it's best. A well-balanced backyard ecosystem is essential for providing sources of protein. 

For more information on hummingbirds visit

www.worldofhummingbirds.com

www.hummingbirds.net

www.hummingbirdsociety.org

www.extension.usu.edu

 

Other useful links and resources:

Create a Backyard Wildlife Habitat

Your To-Do List: April Gardening Tips

Passing the love of gardening on to the next generation.

My 3-year old niece came tearing into gramma’s house the other day screaming, with delight, “My plants are growing, Gramma!  My plants are growing!!”.  She was so excited she could barely contain herself. She kept running around the house in circles, absolutely over the moon that “her” plants had grown.

It was one of those moments that, as a 5th generation member of a family whose business it is to help gardens thrive, made we wonder...how do we get kids to have this kind of love for gardening at such a young age?  What was it that made my little niece want to jump back out into the dirt with her colorful shovel and help gramma grow her tomatoes?

We did a bit of polling among our gardening experts. Drumroll Please! It seems like there are a few ways to get the entire family gardening, and actually enjoying it, together!

Top 4 Ways to Get Your Kids to Love Gardening

Involve the kids in the planning.

Whether you are laying out an entirely new landscape design, planting a veggie garden or just refreshing a flower bed with a few annuals, let the kids be involved.  If they get to select the tree you take home, or even just one small annual, they feel important. That feeling of ownership will have them more invested in the success of that plant.  Plus, with their creative minds, they may pick a color or texture you would never have thought of. Sometimes a new perspective can make the landscape stand out even more beautifully.

Give them their own kid-size plot.

Let your kids plot out a bit of dirt to take care of themselves.  Even if they are too little to properly plant something, they can help in small ways. Suggest they pick up little sticks or debris (leaves, etc.) that may have fallen in the garden.  If they are a little older, and with a bit of direction, they can help with weeding, cutting flowers for indoor décor and harvesting when the time has come. Then, of course, for the eldest, there is the all-important mowing of the lawn.

Kids will love being part of the process from start to finish. They might even be more excited about eating the veggies they have taken such good care of throughout the season.

Kid-Size Gardening Tools

Little hands need little tools. Gardening tools that fit their hands and are easy to use will make your kids excited to get dirty. There are some really cute gardening toys out there that are light-weight, durable and actually work!  Kids can truly help with digging without yielding an overly heavy shovel designed for big hands.

We love and use Melissa & Doug for our little gardeners, they make great, long-lasting products.  We even started carrying them, available now in our main store.  However, there are others available on the market that will work and make it fun. We've seen good sets at local drug stores and Target.

Everyone Loves a Challenge

Make the project a good challenge for their age, but not so overwhelming they end up unable to finish.  While this is different for every family and every child, you'll know your child's skill level best.

Of course, there are some givens, a 3-year old won’t be able to mow the lawn and a 14-year old will likely get very bored picking up sticks.  Find a project that challenges them enough to make them feel successful.

The Family That Gardens Together...

Grows together! Enjoy the side effects of spending time with your family in the garden. You will have given your kids something to be proud of while exposing them to nature, taught them where their food comes from and instilled in them a sense of accomplishment and pride. And, maybe just shortened your personal chore list a bit in the process.

Nest step? Use that extra time to cuddle up and watch a movie together before a rest-filled bedtime. Because, as we all know, physical activity helps promote deeper sleep and better rest.

Give them the gift of gardening and build their love of gardening right alongside yours.

We hope this short list triggers some ideas. We'd love to know how you get your kids involved in the garden in a fun and easy way.

As always, if you have any questions, we are here to help.

Monday - Saturday 8am-6:45pm

Sunday 10am-5pm.

Happy Gardening!

 

Other useful links and resources:

Gardening Therapy

Creative Gardening Pairings from Monrovia

We know, it's spring, and it's so easy to get caught up with all the beautiful spring flowers that add an instant pop of color to your yard. However, with a little bit of prep work on your lawn, you can have the perfect, lush green yard as a backdrop for your garden beds.

We'll be doing a quarterly blog about lawns this year to help you make the most of your yard in every season here in Utah. Here are our top 7 tips for a lush green yard in Utah.

1. Rake

This may seem self-explanatory but the best way to start your lawn off for spring is by exposing it to the sun! Leftover winter debris can create problem areas on your yard and welcome bacteria and disease.

2. Aerate

Let your lawn breathe. Aerating your lawn keeps the soil from compacting and gives the grass roots room to expand as they grow.

3. Check Your Sprinklers!

Sprinkler systems, just like AC and heating units have a tendency to break right when you need them the most. It's a good idea to check your sprinkler system for any weak spots or breaks that happened over the winter. A broken sprinkler system won't help your grass and you'll end up

wasting water. It's also a good idea to check where your sprinklers

are spraying. Try and keep the water off of driveways and sidewalks.

4. Battle Those Weeds

Late March / Early April is a good time to apply pre-emergent and fertilizer to your lawn. Pre-emergent will prevent perennial weeds like dandelions, morning glory and thistle from taking root in your lawn.

We love Fertilome Weed Out Pro Turf because it feeds the lawn, kills Dandelions and stops Crabgrass germination in one easy application.

5. Over Seed

The beautiful white blanket of snow that was here this winter may have left some brown spots on your lawn. Mid-April is the perfect time to over seed these brown spots in your lawn. If you are going to over seed you should not apply a pre-emergent.

6. Water Sparingly

Early springtime in Utah is a fairly wet season and nature will provide most of the water that your lawn needs. In general, you should not need to water your lawn in March and very little in April unless you are watering in fertilizer. If you think your lawn seems dry you can water every two weeks. A good test to see if your lawn is dry is to use a screwdriver to test your lawn. If the screwdriver comes out with a little soil attached it's good.

7. Sharpen Your Lawnmower Blades

Grass tends to grow quickly in early spring and a good trim once a week will help your lawn focus it's energy on growing a strong root system. Well-sharpened lawnmower blades help make a clean cut of your lawn and prevent tearing of the blades and roots.

With these 7 tips for a lush green yard under your gardening belt, you should be well on your way to the summer-perfect green football lawn that we all love. Have a lawncare secret to share? We'd love to hear it! Join us on our Facebook page and share your top lawncare tips.

 

 

 

Other useful links and resources:

Natural Ways to Cool Your Yard\

Create a Backyard Wildlife Habitat

We can, and do, go on and on about the many wonderful ways to garden.  Though spring gets the most attention for it's blooms and greenery, Fall is not to be overlooked.

This is the time of year that the golds, oranges, yellows, reds, purples and everything in between make their spectacular debut.  Did you see this amazing footage of Ogden Valley made by Justin McFarland?  In 60 seconds he captures everything we love about fall.

And, if the colors of the changing season aren't enough, we get the brilliant pansies, mums, coneflower, hydrangea, and so many more fall flowers that bloom right up to winter.

Add in the cooler temperatures to make being outdoors even more enjoyable, and you have a delightful combo that just won't quit!

One of the best things to do this time of year is start thinking about next year.

I know, I know your first thought is "What the heck, isn't it time to sit back and relax in the garden, what do you mean think about next year?"  Well, as things are winding down for the season, it is the perfect time to evaluate where your needs are and do a bit of pre-planning for next year.

- Was there an area that had too much sun and you'd like some shade next year?
- Did you want to put in a water feature, but just couldn't figure out the best way to go about it?
- Is it time to move out the old swing-set and you have no idea what to put in it's place?

It's a great time to think about design elements as you won't feel any pressure to hurry up and do it in the spring - you can take time to really evaluate what you want, and, what you need.  Plus, if you want help with ideas, design experts usually have openings in their calendars for consultations...which means, more attention is available to give your project.  Our design team has some of the best in the business, you can submit a request here to get started.

Now, if your landscape is exactly where you want it to be, that is amazing!

Hopefully you are taking advantage of the season, relaxing in your yard and enjoying all the fruits of your labor.

If there is a small area that needs a pop of color or a place where you'd really like to add something for texture, it's a great time to plant.  Trees and shrubs establish well this time of year as they are focusing their energy on root growth.  The cooler temperatures help to prevent transplant shock...and, let's be honest, it's much nicer to dig when the sun isn't giving us 100 degree days, isn't it?

There is always something to do in the garden, planting, trimming, mulching, picking berries or pulling carrots - our garden is the gift that keeps on giving.

If you have any questions or need any help, we are always here and ready to assist.

We're open from 8am-6pm Monday through Saturday. See you soon!

 

Other useful links and resources:

Annual Christmas Tree Season

Garden Plant Helleborus: The First Blooms of Spring

Hard to believe, but the dog days of summer are here!  My goodness, time flies when you’re having fun – and hopefully everyone has been having a lot of summertime fun!

We here at Glover Nursery never stop, and that includes planting and enjoying the flowers that also just won’t stop this time of year.  There are so many to choose from, and as ever, ask a plant expert what their favorite late summer blooms are and you get a list longer than your arm!  Still, we did a little survey of our team and came up with 10 End of Summer Blooms that we just can’t live without.

1. Coneflower – Oh the gorgeous Coneflower, how we love this one! Botanical name Echinacea, this pretty plant serves multiple functions. It blooms throughout the summer and will keep going right through fall.  Coneflower is one of the plants that pollinators can’t stay away from so if you are looking to attract bees and butterflies, this is the plant for you.  It comes in a wide variety of colors and it is also known for its medicinal properties – Echinacea tea is often used to combat colds.  What a powerhouse of a plant!

   

2. Hibiscus – Also called Rose Mallow or Swamp Rose, Hibiscus is a great plant to add for a unique, almost tropical, texture. Though they look delicate, they can withstand cold climates and bloom year after year. One of our favorites this year is the tree form Rose of Sharon, which you can read more about here.

   

3. Sage – Also known as Salvia, these flowers are extremely popular for many reasons, the main one being that there are so many varieties! This popular plant comes in every color of the rainbow and blooms through the fall making it a great addition to any landscape. Sage (Salvia) comes in both annual and perennial varietals, each having their own benefits depending on your gardening goals. It is another that the butterflies love, so if that is a goal for your garden, be sure to add this amazing plant to your list.

   

4. Desert Four O’Clocks – This Utah native is the plant that won’t stop, but in a very welcome way. It is a perennial, so you know it’s coming back next year. It’s native to Utah, so it does extremely well in our climate.  It blooms abundantly until the cold sets in. And, once it is established, it is naturally water-wise.  Plus, the blooms are a beautiful magenta color making it a great accent piece.

   

5. Hydrangea – We have written about of these bonanza of blooms in other blogs, but they just keep blooming, and we just keep loving. Read about why Rod Glover puts them in his top 5 here.

   

6. Black-eyed Susan – This daisy-like flower is a winner year after year. The bright petals against the dark ‘eyes’ really stand out in both gardens and floral bouquets. They bloom until hard freeze hits, and they bloom abundantly. Black-eyed Susan is part of the Rudbeckia family, which has a number of varieties with different sizes and colors.  This is a great addition to any yard, but as it is heat and drought tolerant, if you are seeking water-wise flowers, grab some today.

   

7. Butterfly Bush – The beloved Butterfly Bush, known to some as Summer Lilac, is a gorgeous blooming shrub that we can’t get enough of! They come in blue, purple, white, pink, magenta and have a delicious fragrance that you will enjoy throughout the season. And, they are called Butterfly Bush for a reason, butterflies love them almost as much as we do! These are shrubs so will get to be a bit larger (between 4-15’ depending on the variety), which make them a great way to fill in a larger area in your yard.  They do need a bit of dead-heading to keep the blooms going strong.

   

8. Bluebeard – Deer resistant, drought tolerant, blooms through fall, attracts birds and butterflies, comes back year after year….what more could we ask of a plant? These fragrant flowers have light bluish/purple blooms with a unique shape that catches the eye. In addition, the foliage itself lends the plant much distinction as it can range from bluish/green to gray/silver.

   

9. Daylilies – Yes, we know we already shared daylilies as a favorite earlier this year (click here to read), but these gorgeous blooms capture our hearts and we had to put them on the list. There are so many day lilies out there, from reds to purple to two-toned colors. They bloom and bloom and bloom and are easy to split as they grow.  They thrive in Utah soil, they come back year after year, they make great cut flowers and, well, they are just amazing flowers.

   

10. Tiger Eyes Sumac – Um, ok. This isn’t a flower. BUT, we are putting it on our top 10 end of summer blooms blog for a reason – it is just SO pretty!  The leaves on this little tree go head-to-head against any bloom.  New growth is a vibrant chartreuse which quickly changes to yellow as they grow.  Combine those bright colors with the rosy-pink leaf stems and you will think you may have found a secret gardeners delight – which, you have!  The branches angle upward but the lacy leaves drape down giving this plant a sweet yet dramatic presence.  They get to be about 6’ at their largest so make for a great fill in a larger area. And, they are a good choice for water-wise gardens (once they are established).

    

So, there they are, our top 10 picks for end of summer blooms.  Narrowing this down was a Herculean task, but it makes for a great start if you are wondering what to add for some new texture, color and shape this time of year.  But, if none of them tickle your fancy, come on down and see us.  We will be delighted to show you the dozens and dozens of plants that are on our back up list!  As you know, we love talking about our favorites and love sharing them even more.

We still have an amazing selection and will keep our beautiful 10-acres filled to the brim, so you can keep your garden growing all season long.

 

Other useful links and resources:

7 Late Summer Stunners for Your Garden

Top 10 End of Summer Blooms