It's Time to Plant that Flower and Vegetable Garden
By Ken Lain, The Garden Guy

The warm days of April always have a powerful effect on every gardener, bringing on that intense urge to get out and start digging and planting. Consequently, every year at this time I have to remind folks how cold the nights can be here in the mountains of Arizona, and how that's the reason we have to wait to plant vegetable gardens and summer flowers. Long-time local gardeners repeatedly have advised me to wait until Mother's Day to plant my warm weather gardens. It's a good rule of thumb and certainly was good advice for this year.

That said, the good news is that having checked the long-range weather forecast for our area, I think it's time to start planting those gardens! The days are warm and the nights are nice; so: Ready.....Set.....Garden!

One of the most important tips I can give when planting a spring garden is to use the liquid rooting hormone, Root Stimulator. I use it on everything I plant in our yard. Whether for plants in the ground or in containers, it is much more effective than the traditional B-1. Root Stimulator reduces transplant stress and promotes rapid, healthy root growth, exactly what our new plants need.

The most frequently asked question at the garden center this week has been, "What is that lacy tree loaded with those absolutely gorgeous dangling clusters of flowers?" It's the Purple Robe Locust, Robinia pseudoacacia,an outstanding choice for Yavapai County. It has moderate to low water requirements, and I haven't found many insects or diseases that bother its soft lacy foliage. It grows quickly to a height of 35 feet with a beautiful round canopy.

This classic shade tree delivers beauty that changes with the seasons. When the sun shines through its golden-colored leaves in fall, it has the same striking effect as an aspen or silver leaf maple. In spring the entire canopy is covered with flower clusters that remind me of wisteria blossoms, all in breath-taking shades of lavender to pink. If you haven't seen these in bloom around town, drop by the nursery and I'll be glad to show them to you.

Without hesitation, I choose the dahlia as my favorite summer flower. Dahlias comprise a huge family of plants with desirable common characteristics: they all produce huge flowers of the most vivid colors that bloom continually from now through the first of November. If you are looking for a "WOW" factor plant for your containers or flower beds, dahlias fill that description. They always get two thumbs up from this gardener.

Garden centers sell dahlias as annuals, but the dahlias in my garden come back every year. Our climate must be ideal for them to perform as perennials, so we get more plant for our money. Dahlias are available in every color imaginable. One of my favorite dahlia combinations is the ruby red "Dalina" planted beside the yellow "Mystic Illusion". Plant these together in a brightly-colored container and you have a visually stunning show.

I like dahlias so much that I have them grown to be in the center ready to go for Mother's Day. This year is no exception. So this weekend you'll find our shelves overflowing with dahlias of every color.

Which brings me to an important reminder: Mother's Day is tomorrow!

Many of us are tired of gifting Mom with the traditional ol' boxes of candy and bouquets of short-lived flowers. When that's the case, keep in mind that many mothers love garden center gift cards. They'll have a good time picking out just the right container, garden ornament, or pre-planted hanging basket. If you know that your mother will get that large shrub or small tree she's been wanting, be sure to include your personal "gift card" to plant it for her. The personal gift card has always been a big hit when I've done it!

I know for a fact that my wife, Lisa, mother of our four children, would enjoy a garden center gift card IF...... If she weren't our garden center's inventory controller! She knows everything on our shelves and even knows the price of every item we have in stock!! So, I've decided that this year she'll get to enjoy a meal at Murphy's Restaurant as well as a gift card for a pedicure at her favorite salon.

I would like to know your questions, comments, or suggestions for topics relating to this garden column. Submit them to me at Watters Garden Center, 1815 Iron Springs Road, Prescott, AZ, 86305. If you prefer, you may contact me through our web site, www.wattersonline.com. Just click on the 'Ask a Question' link on the left of the page and let me know what you're thinking.

Until next week, I’ll see you in the garden center.

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