I was out at the View Point in Prescott Valley earlier this week and noticed the Spanish Broom, Genista hispanica, is in full golden yellow bloom. The one I saw was so stunning I had to take a moment and truly appreciate its beauty. Every stem was covered in rich yellow blossoms. You couldn’t see the shrub underneath, and was a showpiece for the front of this yard. If you happen to be walking by one make sure to take a moment a smell the flowers, they are sweeter than a rose or a honeysuckle vine.

Brooms are a large family of plants that range from ground covers, to large round shrubs. Spanish Broom grows to about six feet and is drought hardy, although the one I saw was obviously on a drip system and very happy. You need to be careful not to over water then out in the Yavapai Hills area with all their rock, and in Prescott Valley with all their clay soil that drains painfully slow.

I lived in Prescott Valley for years and had a gorgeous Broom in the back yard that I finally had to take off the drip system. It was on the edge of a flower bed that saturated the soil next to the Broom. When the drip system came one once a week the plant would drown. I cut the drip system off and the plant rebounded and grew like a weed.

My favorite ground cover broom that has the same stunning effect when it’s in bloom is the Vancouver Gold Broom, Genista pilosa. It is a tough little plant that grows like a carpet across the landscape or bank plantings. Each plant is about three foot wide and six inches high. It’s a nice evergreen until this time each year when it turns bright golden yellow. It’s trailing stems create undulating mounds.

About Watering 

It’s starting to feel hot in some parts of your yard. Be careful not to over water. We’ve started to see signs of plants being killed with to much love out in the community. Shrubs and trees do not like to be watered every day. Bigger plants like to dry out for several days before they are watered again. Even plants like Roses don’t care for too much water.

With more and more customers coming into the garden center asking for drought hardy plants. I know there are a lot of plants out their that will simply curl up and die if you water these hardy native varieties every day. Once a week is enough, twice if you just can’t stand not watering your plants.

The key to watering most of your shrubs and all of your trees is to water a lot when you do water, but cut down on the frequency. Drip systems should be left on for 2-4 hours at a time when run. This principle holds true for established plants that have been growing for at least one season.

Newly planted shrubs and trees will need more frequency or supplemental watering that first year. The root ball has not pushed into the surrounding soil yet and therefore doesn’t have as much soil to pull from. New plantings should be watered approximately twice a week.

Flowers and lawns are completely different. As we get closer to June and the 90 degree weather to come, these shallow rooted plants will need lighter watering than trees and shrubs, but more frequent.

I never water anything every day. My lawn will be watered two times per week even on the hottest of days, but I have a Fescue lawn which is more drought hardy than a Prescott Mix or Blue grass lawn. These lawns probably need water every other day when we reach the high 80’s and 90’s of June.

Watering is not an exact science. The soil in each yard is different and can even change in the same yard. The key is to find a balance for the different types of plants you have in the yard and the different types of soil. Keep deep rooted shrubs and trees on a separate water schedule from your flowers and lawn.

More water doesn’t make them grow faster, and wilty leaves on your plant may actually mean the plant is being over watered, not under watered. If you are a person who loves to make a hobby out of watering don’t be afraid to let your plants go on the dry side before dousing them again with the hose.

Mother's Day Is Tomorrow! 

Guys, remember mothers love gift cards to garden centers. If the gift is for your wife, don't forget to include the coupon worth all the free planting service she wants from Juan's pool and planting service. It always works for me, especially when I play the role of Juan for the day.

I would love your thoughts, concerns or questions about this garden column or future topics to cover by submitting them to Watters Garden Center, 1815 Irons Springs Road, Prescott, AZ 86305, or simply ask a question by logging onto my web site at www.wattersonline.com and click the ask a question link on the left. Each comment is delivered directly from your desk top to mine.

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

Ken Lain is the owner of Watters Garden Center in Prescott and a certified nursery professional, master gardener and has gardened extensively throughout Yavapai County.

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