Think about how it feels when your feet hit icy water in a river. Then consider how they feel if they are plunged into a warm foot bath. It’s the same with your plants and it’s the reason that fall really can be the very best time for planting many things. As air temperatures drop, […]

A whitefly infestation can be one of the most annoying problems in the plant world. These little white, fly-like insects love houseplants, vegetables, annuals and many other things, and they can be difficult to eliminate. There are many varieties of these pests and greenhouse whiteflies are the most common here. They are small but easy […]

If you notice what appears to be small holes in the bark on your trees, you might have a woodpecker in residence, but most likely you’ve got borers. It’s important to identify these pests because if they are left untreated, they can kill not only the original tree, but spread to many around it. Spruce […]

Even though the summer monsoons have begun, I’d be willing to bet that we’re going to get hit with another bout of hot weather before the summer ends. Now that you know what signs of heat stress to look for in your plants, I want to give you some ways to reduce that stress in […]

It has already been a hot summer and plants, like the rest of us, don’t always take the heat well. They will respond in several ways and this week I’d like to talk about how to recognize heat stress in your yard. Heat stress occurs when a plant loses water faster than it can replace […]

There’s a tiny thing that’s bugging your garden this summer. So tiny in fact, that you can’t see it with the naked eye. Think minuscule, but with a big impact. I’m talking about Western Flower Thrips and they can be devastating to a garden. Even though their official name is Western Flower Thrips, they like […]

If there’s one thing that’s thriving throughout this drier than usual summer, it’s the bugs. Aphids are especially prolific and we’ve seen them on plants that we’ve never seen them on before. Sadly the beneficial insects that would help fight infestations are all but impossible to obtain, but there are some other ways to win […]

One of the easiest things you can do to help you garden successfully during a dry year is to simply add a layer of mulch once you’ve finished planting. Mulches do a great deal more in your yard other than just improve its appearance. The biggest benefit of a good layer of mulch is that […]

If the concept of xeriscaping brings to your mind visions of brown, dry landscaped areas, then it’s time to re-think your idea of this trend. Xeriscaped yards don’t have to look like something from the desert. Many people think of xeric landscaping as that which contains plants that are only found in very dry areas […]

As planting season approaches, like anyone who lives in our high desert climate, we are keeping a close watch on the water situation this summer. At the garden center, one of the most frequent comments we’ve heard lately is about gardening in a dry season but the good news is yes, you can still have […]