Espalier gardening is the ancient horticultural art of training trees, vines and shrubs to grow into a pattern along a trellis, fence or solid wall.
 
Adding espalier to your garden or landscape will add a dramatic, living focal point that can last more than a decade with minimal care and maintenance. They also are suited ideally to small spaces.
 
Planning Your Espalier Garden
 
The secret to this ancient technique — believed to be practiced first by the Romans! — is thorough planning.
 
Identify the location for your plants as well as the design scheme you prefer. Some classic patterns include numerous variations of the Belgian fence design, a classic goblet, candelabra or fan shape, diamond patterns and the cordon shape, where each branch is trained horizontally.
 
You can see examples of these and other designs here.
 
Next, determine which plant species are most appropriate. Many gardeners enjoy growing espaliers that produce fruit, but you can choose ornamental species as well. Choose plants that will branch and spread naturally and that are well-suited to the growing conditions of your location.
 
Many gardeners recommend using woody plants or trees grown on dwarf root stock.
 
Creating the Pattern
 
Based on your chosen design, string heavy-gauge wire between nails inserted in the wall or fence or through notches cut into the fence panels.
 
When planting, place each tree about a foot from the wall or fence, with its two strongest shoots or branches situated to follow your design. Take your time to ensure your plants are spaced precisely the same distance apart.
 
Belgian fences, for example, typically require the trees to be planted 18 inches apart, on center.
 
Training and Maintaining the Espalier
 
Your design and plant species will determine your specific pruning and training approach; however, the basic steps are the same no matter what design you select.
 
Prune the central trunk of the tree down to the first row of wire. This will cause the plant to branch at that location. As those branches grow, simply attach them to your wires or support structure when they reach six inches in length.
 
Alternatively, leave the trunk intact and remove all but the two strongest branches and attach those to the wires. As the central trunk grows, remove new shoots until the trunk reaches the next level of wires. Allow two more shoots to grow and attach. Continue in this manner until your design is filled in.
 
Easy to Maintain
 
Depending on your plant species and design, your espalier will fill in and mature in two to three years. Once it reaches maturity, rub away any new buds or shoots and keep the ends of each shoot or branch trimmed. Otherwise, simply care for the plant normally.
 
In Salt Lake City, Utah, Millcreek Gardens has everything you need for your garden, including landscaping trees, shrubs and outdoor plants. Stop by today and let our knowledgeable staff help you get started with the delightful pursuit of espalier gardening.

While we wait out the cold, how about some gardening tips to help you plan for the spring growing season?

Everyone keeps an eye on the bottom line these days. While cultivating your garden may take time and dedication, it shouldn’t break the bank. Check out our top low-cost gardening tips.

Think Local when Choosing Plants

The most cost-effective plants you can grow are those that are native to your area.

Local plants will thrive best in their native climate and soil conditions. Cultivating species from other geographical areas, means more water, fertilizer and effort to keep them healthy.

Whenever possible, also select plants that were grown locally. This means skipping the big box stores and buying from a local nursery. Keeping your dollars in your own community makes good financial sense for everyone!

Quality Trumps Savings

Choosing cheap plants may seem like the best way to save money, but it’s really not.

Plants from a local garden center may cost a few dollars more than those from the home center, but you can rest assured that they’re also higher quality. Even though the home center offers a guarantee if the plant dies, you’ll spend more time, effort and money finding the receipt, digging up your dead plants and taking them back to the store for a refund.

Practice Safe Growing

Protecting your garden from pests and weeds is one of the most effective ways to keep your costs low. Use barriers to keep critters like deer and squirrels away.

Adopt organic and natural practices for pest and weed control. You’ll save money and help the environment by skipping the chemicals.

Use Soil Amendments and Fertilizer

You can drop your plants in the ground as-is and hope for the best, but it’s more cost-effective to ensure that they have optimal conditions in which to grow.

Save even more by adopting organic and natural fertilization methods, and use compost to improve your soil quality.

Make Your Own Compost

Making your own compost is not only cost-effective, but it’s good for the environment as well.

Put your grass clippings, kitchen scraps and coffee grounds to work in the compost pile and you’ll never have to pay for fertilizer or soil amendments again!

Choose Perennial Species

It may seem obvious, but choosing plants that will live year after year will save you money on buying and planting annuals every spring.

Millcreek Gardens is the Salt Lake City area’s premier locally owned and operated nursery and garden center. Here you will find the highest-quality products and the most friendly, helpful staff in the area. Stop by today and let us give you more gardening tips to help save you money!

Outdoor plants don’t have to be planted in the ground; they can thrive in containers too. This way you can enjoy them all year long, instead of just during the summer months.

Simply plant your favorite plants in containers and follow these helpful potting tips and tricks, and you’ll keep them blooming and beautiful all year long.

The Container

The containers you choose for your precious plants must have drainage holes — they allow extra moisture to drain from the soil, ensuring a healthy plant.

If you can’t find containers with holes, you can drill them yourself, unless the pots are clay. Clay pots without holes will require a liner pot with drainage holes.

You must also consider size when choosing a container. When you re-pot a perennial plant, pick a container that is one size larger than the container it’s in. Annuals should be planted in containers that they will fit in as fully grown plants. This will save you from having to repot it several times during one season of growing.

The Soil

• The soil you use depends largely on the type of plant you select.
• Houseplants grow best in a standard potting soil.
• Cacti and succulents need a quick-draining cactus soil mix.
• Vegetables and annuals require a moist standard mix.

Avoid soils comprised of:

• Sedge peat
• Pure compost
• Garden soil

These types of mixes drain poorly. You can use compost if you like, but mix it with potting soil. If you want to mix your own blend, add equal parts sphagnum peat, perlite and compost. This will work for most plants.

How to Plant

Most plants require potting with the crown, or part of the plant where the stems emerge from the roots, sitting at or just above the soil level. When potting the plant, remember these important steps:

• Fill the container with one-third potting mix.
• If the soil falls through drainage holes, line the pot with a coffee filter before adding the soil.
• Set the plant in the container, then add or remove soil until the crown is 1 or 2 inches beneath the pot’s rim.
• Add more soil around the roots without covering the crown.
• Water the soil thoroughly after potting, so it can settle around the roots properly.

Caring for Your Container Plants

After potting, you may notice the plants wilt slightly or grow slowly. This is normal, as the roots recover from handling and become established in the container. Make sure to:

• Provide daily sunlight (based on the plant variety).
• Shade from intense afternoon light for at least the first three to four days after planting.
• Water plants when the top inch of soil feels dry.

Millcreek Gardens, northern Utah’s favorite family-owned garden center, has all the materials and supplies you need for any garden or landscape project. Stop by today and let our friendly, helpful staff assist you with all your indoor and outdoor plants.

Utah’s winters can be brutal, especially on shrubs and other plants.
 
The winter sun, when combined with the brutal northern Utah wind and cold, can scorch foliage, damage bark and kill or injure branches, flowers and roots. Snow and ice do their own types of damage by breaking branches and sometimes even bringing down large limbs or an entire tree.
 
More damage can be done by the salt used to make roads safe from ice as well as by scavenging rodents and deer who will feed on your shrubs and plants whenever food is scarce.
 
Keep reading to find out how to protect your plants and shrubs most effectively this season.

The First Step to Cold Weather Protection

A healthy plant is a one that can withstand the winter. You can best accomplish this by keeping your plants in good condition throughout the other three seasons of the year. After you’ve accomplished this arduous task, you can take a few additional steps to protect your plants from the brutalities of winter.

Helping Plants and Shrubs Fight the Cold

Your shrubs, vines and trees need an opportunity to harden in order to avoid the damage that comes with freezing temperatures. Hardening can be encouraged in two ways, by:

• Withholding water
• Fertilizing with a low-nitrogen, high-phosphorus and potassium fertilizer

As you fertilize your plants, inspect the state of tree stakes and lattices to ensure they will stay secure through winter’s punishing winds. Put mulch around the root areas of your shrubs to keep the dirt from freezing and to help encourage root growth throughout the winter season.
 
You may wonder if pruning is appropriate in the cold and the answer is yes — sort of.
 
The only vegetation you should prune during the winter is shrubbery and deciduous trees. Prune them around the first of the year, when you know they’ve gone dormant. Evergreens and desert plants don’t require pruning until early in the spring.

Deer and Rodent Damage

Some friendly creatures will only take a little nibble from your shrubs and plants to sustain themselves, but most of the time rodents and deer will make an all-you-can-eat buffet out of your plants and shrubs if you aren’t careful.
 
If you have a lot of deer where you live, then you may need to place wire mesh cages around young plants as well as those that are deer favorites. You can also buy spray-on deer repellent for extra protection.
 
Rodents will nest in your mulch and chew on plant stems and roots under the snow. To prevent this damage, place mulch a minimum of four inches away from the base of your plants. You can also use plastic tree guards around some of your more vulnerable trees and shrubs as well as newer plants.
 
If you have questions about how best to protect your plants and shrubs this winter, drop by and visit us at Millcreek Gardens in Salt Lake City. We have a wide array of plant safeguarding materials, mulch and all the tools you will need to protect your landscape, trees and shrubs this winter.

Winter is a perfect time to try your hand at container gardening! And what better way to spice up those dreary winter nights than with fresh peppers and picante chilies?
 
Read on to learn more about how to start and maintain a chili pepper container garden!
 
So Many Varieties
 
Sweet and spicy peppers and chilies are one of the easiest plant species to grow in a container — you’ll be growing big, beautiful peppers before you know it.
 
Some popular varieties you may want to try include:

• Chinese ornamental
• Red rocoto
• Chiltepin
• Orchid
• Chinese five color
• Pimenta biquinho
• Mini chocolate bell
• Trinidad perfume
• Purple beauty

Mind you, these are not your standard, garden-variety peppers, so you may need to look around a bit for them in greenhouses and nurseries that grow these varieties. Or, of course, you can select your own favorites to add to your wintertime garden!
 
Be sure to choose the more compact types or those specifically designed for growing in containers. Hot peppers are great to for containers because they won’t get too tall or need any additional support.
 
Getting Started
 
Consider these two very important ingredients for successfully growing your peppers:

• Light: Your pepper garden will need five or more hours of direct sun each day. The more light you can provide for them, the better they will do for you.
• Water: Your pepper plants will depend on you for all their water, so place your containers in an easy-access location that you won’t forget about.

The Recipe for Planting
 
The type of soil you choose for your container planting is very important. Choose a rich, organic potting soil specifically labeled for pots and container gardening. Other mixes may have too much peat moss in them, which will compress during the growth process and won’t provide enough room for the roots to grow. Consequently, your plants won’t develop properly or hold enough water to thrive and bear fruit.
 
You also may wish to select a soil that comes with the fertilizer already incorporated. Pepper plants will survive without regular feedings, but their growth may be slow and the yield may be sparse.
 
You also can use a time-released fertilizer to feed your plant. Just follow the directions on the fertilizer for container size.
 
The Right Watering Formula
 
As we mentioned before, your pepper plant will be completely dependent on you for water. Water your spicy progeny frequently, at least once a day if the temperature is above 65 degrees (twice a day if you move it outside during the summer and the temp is above 80 degrees).
 
Remember that your home is drier during the winter, so take care not to let your plants dry out between waterings.
 
Reap What You’ve Sown and Enjoy!
 
Once your peppers begin to grow, harvest them just as soon as they ripen. This will allow the plant to use its energy to grow even more peppers. Do make sure you leave them on the plant until they are fully colored, however, for the best flavor.
 
If you have more than you can use, your home-grown peppers and chilies make great gifts, or you can preserve them for future use!
 
Millcreek Gardens is Salt Lake City’s premier locally owned and operated plant nursery, garden center and greenhouse. Stop in today for all the supplies you need to get your spicy container garden growing this winter.

One of the most important gardening basics is learning the best tips and tricks to protect your outdoor plants. This can seem like a never-ending battle, as you fight off weeds, pests and wildlife intent on devouring your vulnerable garden and landscape.
 
Freely roaming neighborhood cats and dogs can pose a risk to your plants, but even your own pets may sometimes be intent on digging up your flower beds. The draw of soft, moist soil and enticing smells may be just too much for your pets to resist, and who can blame them?
 
Read on for some helpful hints for protecting your plants from Fido and Fluffy.
 
Barrier Methods for Keeping Pets Away
 
The simplest approach is to erect a perimeter barrier around your planting beds. You can do this simply and inexpensively with chicken wire or plastic webbing; however, if you prefer a more aesthetic approach, you can select from a wide array of decorative wrought iron or heavy-duty PVC borders.
 
If you prefer to forego perimeter fencing, you can keep pets from walking or lounging in the garden by driving short stakes or spikes into the dirt at regular intervals or by laying down thorny branches.
 
Some gardeners swear by implanting plastic forks (or sporks!) with the pointy ends up.
 
Assault on the Senses
 
If you prefer a more subtle approach, you can use pets’ sensitive noses to your advantage. Plant strong-smelling herbs like sage and rosemary throughout your garden area to keep kitty far away. Coffee grounds scattered throughout the garden will have a similar effect.
 
Spicy substances work to keep dogs at bay. Spread a mixture of spicy mustard and red pepper flakes around plants for protection. Dogs have a similar distaste for coffee grounds and bitter orange.
 
Some gardening enthusiasts swear by sprinkling orange or grapefruit peelings around, or by grinding up the rinds and some water in a blender and pouring the mixture around. Take care to avoid making this mixture too strong or pouring it directly on plants, as this can damage or kill them. You also run the risk of adding a distinct citrusy taste to fruits and vegetables if you overdo it.
 
One important note: Never use mothballs in the garden (or anywhere else for that matter). The persistent urban legend attached to this approach won’t seem to go away, but these little oily, smelly balls are toxic to animals as well as people, and they should never be used around pets, children or wildlife.
 
Decoys and the Water Method
 
Most animals prefer to devastate your landscaping in private, which means they’re less likely to invade if they believe another animal has already staked out the territory. Animal decoys, although perhaps not as attractive as the traditional garden gnome, can be effective for this purpose.
 
You can also purchase solar-powered “night eye” devices that shine two red, glowing orbs of LED light at night, to simulate the eyes of a fierce predator. Finally, water is an exceptional deterrent for garden-invading pests. Motion-activated sprinklers are the easiest and most effective way to employ this method.
 
In northern Utah, Millcreek Gardens has everything you need to grow beautiful, healthy gardens and landscaping. Our friendly, experienced staff can answer all your questions and help you master all the gardening basics.

Outdoor plants present a challenge to northern Utah residents, thanks to our unique climate. Ideally, you want to select plant species that will provide an attractive addition to your landscape during all four seasons.

 
Our weather extremes, especially the frequently harsh winter conditions, can make it difficult to find plants that will survive.
 
Tackling Utah’s Winter Landscape Challenges
 
When cold weather sets in, temperatures plummet and harsh winds from the north exert a brutal force on delicate plant species. For those who want plants that survive for more than one growing season, proper plant selection is critical.
 
Equally important is landscape design and layout — these can increase your plants’ chances for survival. Providing windbreaks, such as large rocks, landscape walls and trees, will provide effective protection. Encouraging deep root growth with proper watering techniques will reduce the likelihood of freezing.
 
Finally, the right soil amendments introduced deep into the planting area provide the nutrients your garden needs to thrive, season after season.
 
Here a few of our favorite freeze-friendly ornamentals.
 
Evergreen Holly
 
A popular favorite, especially this time of year, is the evergreen holly (ilex). Its shiny, green leaves and showy red berries will provide a unique bright spot all winter long, especially against a dramatic snowy backdrop. Holly is also drought-resistant, an important trait, considering our arid summer conditions.
 
Snowdrops
 
Snowdrops (Galanthus nivalis) are perfect for livening up your landscape just when you think you can’t take another minute of winter. Their delicate stems and white, bell-shaped blooms will pop up through the snow to brighten your day. Plant snowdrops at the base of trees and other areas that may be bare from too much summer shade. Every few years, you can dig up the bulbs and divide them, spreading the little beauties even further around your garden.
 
Bergenia
 
The shiny, evergreen leaves of bergenias (Bergenia cordifolia) have a distinctive leathery quality. During the spring, they produce brightly colored clusters of flowers. With the onset of cooler weather, the bright green foliage takes on a dramatic red-bronze color that persists throughout the winter, turning again to green when warm breezes return.
 
This hardy species is an ideal groundcover or a delightful addition to your rock garden.
 
Millcreek Gardens, serving Salt Lake City and the surrounding communities, offers a breathtaking variety of ornamental flowers, shrubs and trees to enhance your landscape. Stop by and talk with our expert staff today. We can help you select the ideal perennial outdoor plants for your garden.

Organic gardening is a popular phenomenon among rural and suburban families across the country.

People enjoy spending time in the garden, growing their own fruits and vegetables. The added bonus of being kind to the environment — and knowing your produce is free of harmful chemicals — is fueling the organic approach.

But city dwellers enjoy this trend as well, despite the added challenges of limited space. Anyone living in an apartment, condo or urban setting with limited space should read on for some fun and helpful tips for starting your organic garden.

Container Gardening for City Dwellers

Containers offer the perfect opportunity for anyone to grow their own fruits and vegetables, and they lend themselves well to a natural approach. Containers allow you to control the soil conditions as well as the exposure to sunlight and potentially damaging cold temperatures.

Other advantages include fewer weeds and the ability to protect your harvest from pests that plague traditional gardeners. You can even make your own natural soil amendments in a small space, using one of the many small-scale composting systems available today.

Raised Bed Gardens for Tiny Yards

Many condos and townhouses feature small patio areas that are perfect for building small raised beds. Construct your raised beds around the perimeter of your patio area, just as you would for decorative landscaping. But instead of ornamental plants or flowers, create a beautiful raised border of small-scale edibles.

Colorful lettuces are as decorative as they are edible. Both blueberries and strawberries make colorful additions to your raised beds too. Add a mix of delicate and hardy herbs to scent the air. You can even add miniature fruit trees in containers to add height and interest as well as flavor!

The right mix of plant species creates an unfriendly environment for weeds and pests, helping to ensure that your garden stays chemical-free.

Pocket and Park Gardens

One of the hottest gardening trends today is the organic pocket or park garden. Resourceful urban dwellers work in conjunction with their city to convert small, unused spaces into community gardens. Some cities even agree to set aside space in municipal parks for environmentally friendly gardens.

If your area doesn’t already have a pocket garden, find some like-minded neighbors to join with you in starting your own. This is a perfect example of adaptive reuse and a great way to help you meet your neighbors.

You can even combine your food scraps with your neighbors’ to create a community compost pile in the garden, and share in the benefits of this natural soil amendment.

Here at Millcreek Gardens, we strive to ensure that everyone in the Salt Lake City area has the opportunity to grow their own fruits and vegetables in a natural and healthy way. Stop by and see us today for all the supplies and advice you need to get started on your own urban organic gardening project!

Raised bed gardening, in which edible or ornamental plants are grown in elevated garden boxes rather than directly in the ground, is a popular alternative to traditional methods.
 
In a raised bed environment, plants enjoy improved soil conditions, better drainage and more effective weed and pest control. At the same time, gardeners get an increased yield and easier access to their plants.
 
Herbs are especially well-suited for this type of growing environment, and one creative application is the herb spiral. Spiral bed gardening adds a creative and distinctive element to any home, and would make a delightful addition to your garden.
 
The Herb Spiral Is the Perfect Growing Environment
 
This spiral garden is shaped like a snail shell, starting at a central point and gradually widening in a continuous curve. The inner tip of the spiral has the highest elevation, and the planting space gradually slopes downward as the curve widens. This allows some of your plants to enjoy a northern exposure while those that need more sunlight are planted on the south slope.
 
The soil is driest at the top (just right for rosemary) but becomes more moist in the lower portions (ideal for bay leaves). A spiral can be sized to fit any area, and because of the shape of the structure and the elevation of the soil, the herbs can be more densely planted. Also, your plants can be situated in varying soil depths, according to their needs.
 
Materials Needed for an Herb Spiral
 
Construction materials used for this type of raised bed gardening can vary, but all spiral gardens require certain basic elements. Cardboard or a weed mat provides a base for the structure and helps stop weeds and pests from invading the soil. The walls can be built with purchased or found bricks, rocks or natural stones.
 
Organic matter, such as compost, straw or mulch and soil will form the bed of the garden, and fertilizer can be used to add nutrients to the soil. And, of course, you will need any herb seeds or seedlings that you plan to grow.
 
Creating the Spiral
 
Herb spirals look quite impressive, but they are actually rather simple to build. To start, identify the central point for your spiral garden and place a stake in the ground there. Tie a string to the stake, then extend the string and draw a circle in the soil to mark the outer edge of the structure.
 
Next, lay the base to cover the entire circle, plus an extra foot beyond the edge for weed protection.
 
Once the base is in place, start laying your rocks, bricks or other building materials around the outer edge of the circle. Gradually work inward, creating a spiral shape, adding additional vertical layers to the walls until you reach your desired height. Next, add the organic materials and soil to bring the planting level to just below the exterior wall. Finally, plant your herbs, and prepare to enjoy!
 
This versatile growing environment is a fun and efficient way to augment your garden, and to ensure that you have fresh herbs for all your kitchen creations.
 
You can find dozens of creative designs online, and you’ll find all the materials you need at Millcreek Gardens in Salt Lake City. Stop by today and let our friendly, knowledgeable staff help you get started with raised bed gardening.

Edible landscaping describes a hybrid approach to landscaping and gardening, using food plants in conjunction with ornamental or decorative plants to create and enhance the lawns and gardens around your home.
 
This approach doesn’t just beautify your home; it also provides you with a bountiful harvest of fruit and vegetables for your family to enjoy. Follow these tips to get started on your own edible and aesthetic landscape design.
 
Start with a Little Research
 
Fruit trees, berry bushes and vegetables can be planted alongside flowers, ornamental grasses and deciduous or evergreen trees with eye-catching results. But in order for your edible landscaping to grow successfully, spend a little time researching the plants you would like to use. It is important to evaluate the soil, water and sunlight requirements for each type of plant, so that you can group them with other food plants or ornamentals that require similar growing conditions.
 
Annual vegetables and fruit trees need a great deal of sun and rich soil. Consequently, they could be paired successfully with other sun-loving plants like marigolds, lavender or daisies.
 
Other edibles like herbs are suitable for drier, rockier soil, and might do well paired with deciduous shrubs and ferns. Do your research and you’ll end up with a healthy and successful garden.
 
Consider the Landscape Design
 
Edible landscaping uses the same design principles as ornamental landscaping. When making a plan for where to put any plant, it is essential to consider the existing landscape’s elements.
 
You may want to enhance the look of a flagstone path, for example, or add some ground cover around a shade tree. Or, you might want to remove certain elements, like an out-of-place hedge or a patch of lilies or violets that are taking over the garden.
 
Analyze your landscape, thinking vertically and horizontally, to determine which edible and ornamental plants can best enhance your home’s features.
 
Make a Blueprint
 
When designing edible landscaping, it can be helpful to create a blueprint. With a scaled-down map of your property, you can plan out where each type of plant will go. This provides a comprehensive view of the complete landscape, and better allows you to integrate edible plants along with various decorative trees, shrubs, vines and other plants. If your yard is large, start small with a single section.
 
Keep in mind that edible plants often require more care than ornamental varieties, not only with maintenance, but also in the form of harvesting and cooking or preserving the food.
 
By starting small, you can get an idea of the amount of work you will need to put in to care for the plants. You can always scale up and spread the edible landscaping to other areas of your garden next year.
 
A great way to research this exciting concept is to talk with your local garden center. If you are interested in learning more about planting edibles along with ornamentals for a prosperous and beautiful landscape, stop by Millcreek Gardens. In the Salt Lake City area, we are the premier, locally owned and operated garden center. We have everything you need, including expert advice, to help you bring your dream for edible landscaping to life.