How to Grow Prickly Pear Cactus

08/16/2023 Ken Davis

By Ken Lain, the mountain gardner Large, beautiful yellow flowers rest on the outer edges of spine-covered pads. The pads often turn a rich purple color in winter and return to a soft blue-gray through the growing season. An excellent…

Read More

12 Low-Maintenance Landscape Tips & Tricks

07/19/2023 Ken Davis

by Ken Lain, the mountain gardener Every landscape needs some upkeep. Many are labors of love for the outdoors, nature, and all plants that grow in the yard. Water by hand and mowing take up large amounts of time and…

Read More

Top 10 Sedums Planted as Cround Cover

06/21/2023 Ken Davis

by Ken Lain, the mountain gardener Most gardeners remember their grandmother’s tall Autumn Joy growing in the Most gardeners remember their grandmother’s tall Autumn Joy growing in thehottest parts of the garden. Their joyous cousins spread and creep with the…

Read More

9 Places for the Best Desert Groundcovers

12/15/2021 Ken Davis

by Ken Lain, the mountain gardener What are the best ground cover plants for desert landscapes? Drought tolerant ground cover you can walk on. Where should you plant ground cover? Arizona ground cover plants. Xeriscape ground cover Neon Sedum Creeping…

Read More

Ideas To Enhance Side Yards

11/18/2021 Ken Davis

By Ken Lain, the mountain gardener  Many mountain homes have a side yard that is not only long and narrow but treacherously steep. Good landscape design for such a layout is complicated at best, but when done well, it can…

Read More

Best Heat Tolerant Shrubs for Desert Landscapes

06/11/2021 Ken Davis

by Ken Lain, the mountain gardener What plants can take full sun and heat? Sun tolerant shrubs. What shrubs plants do best in full sun? Low maintenance heat drought tolerant shrubs. What is a good bush to plant in front…

Read More

Mountain Lavenders Explained and Simplified

07/09/2020 Ken Davis

by Ken Lain, the mountain gardener On the Go Answer – Readers Digest-type Condensed Version of this Article 17 types of Lavender grow locally: English, French, Spanish, sweet, fernleaf, and lavandin. Lavender grows best in the hot sun and well-drained…

Read More

Portulaca (Moss Rose) and Where they Grow

05/20/2020 Ken Davis

by Ken Lain, the mountain gardener Portulaca plants grow to 8 inches tall, and spread 1 to 2 feet to create a dense mat, making this bloomer the perfect groundcover, or ideal at spilling over containers and sunny hot raised…

Read More

Five Water-wise Flowers You Can’t Kill

08/10/2017 Ken Davis

by Lisa Watters-Lain, Arizona’s garden gal Your yard doesn’t have to look like the Sahara Desert  in order to have a low-maintenance and water- wise landscape. You can have a summer garden that is full of beautiful, colorfully flowering plants…

Read More

5 Plants You (Almost) Never Have to Water

07/22/2017 Ken Davis

by Ken Lain, the mountain gardener Every plant needs water, but drought-resistant varieties need only dainty sips once they’re established. They are perfect for low-rainfall areas, or low-energy gardeners. Native plants have the best chance of surviving dry summers or…

Read More