Utah's First
Family Nursery
Myths about planting in the fall:
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.
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.
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. There are some key advantages to planting in each season, in spring the variety and size options tend to be greater, though we do bring in truckloads of fresh product specifically for fall planting.
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).
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, mature shape of a tree (or shrub) will always be how the tree will grow, 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)
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.
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. Unless we have another winter like 2022/2023, you will need to have a plan for winter watering.
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 early spring of this year will still need winter watering - a little 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!
How Planting Trees Affects Air Quality
It’s Planting Time: Start Seeding Indoors!
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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. 
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. 
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!
5 Things To Do In Your Summer Garden
Glover Nursery on Good Day Utah: Early Spring Edition
Get Ready for Spring: March Gardening Tips
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.
Learn more about watering techniques here....Remember slow, deep watering is best to give your new plants a great start.
Garden Plant Helleborus: The First Blooms of Spring
Glover Nursery's Top 5 Water Saving Tips to Reduce Water WasteSummer 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.
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.
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.
A great resource for other sprinkler related recommendations to reduce water waste can be found at scienTurfic Sod.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
How Trees Can Help With a Waterwise Landscape
Watering 101: How to Water Your New Plants
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
Create a Backyard Wildlife Habitat
Your To-Do List: April Gardening Tips
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
Happy Gardening!
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.
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.
Let your lawn breathe. Aerating your lawn keeps the soil from compacting and gives the grass roots room to expand as they grow.
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.
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.
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.
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 BladesGrass 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.
Natural Ways to Cool Your Yard\
Create a Backyard Wildlife Habitat
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
