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3/20/2026 1 Comment Seed-Starting Do's & Don'ts Seed Starting Do's and Don'ts
As Walt would say, 'Gardeners, start your engines'! It's time to begin gathering seeds and supplies for starting them indoors. There is a wealth of information available on seed-starting techniques, but here are some basic do's and dont's: DO use a heat mat. It adds at least an extra 10 degrees of warmth right where you need it - the bottom of your seed tray which speeds germination. DO invest in good lighting. DON'T keep the germination dome on too long. As soon as you see them sprouting, remove the dome. DO read the seed packet. There's a wealth of helpful information there. Botanical Interests seed packets even have info on the inside of the packet. DON'T start your seeds too early. If you seedlings became too leggy in the past, it could be a lighting issue, but it could also be that you started them too early. Read the recommended start date on the packet. Many refer to the average last frost day as a benchmark which in our area is May 17. DO water from the bottom if possible. DO provide some air movement. Even a small fan near the seed trays will keep air moving and help prevent damping off. DO use a sterile seed starting mix. It's been formulated and screened to give seeds a good start. We recommend HSU Germination Mix. It's organic and a Wisconsin byproduct of the ginseng industry. DON'T be afraid to try something new. If you tried starting seeds in the past without much success, give it another try. Analyze your conditions and determine what needs to be improved. DON'T be intimitated by the process. Start simple and start small. One last don't: Don't be afraid of failure - that's one way we learn! It's totally worth discovering the joy of watching a seed sprout, grow, and bloom!
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3/9/2026 4 Comments Spring Pruning Every year about this time, gardeners stand in their yards with pruners in hand, ready to cut, whack, saw, and do the meatball. But wait! Not all woody plants should be pruned the same way or at the same time. Other gardeners are intimidated by pruning, get out the hedge shears, or prefer to do nothing. No matter which you are, these helpful tips will boost your confidence and arm you with the know-how to make the right cuts. Pruning Basics
The Unprunables * Some shrubs can be intimidating even for experienced gardeners. Elderberry, Flowering Quince, Forsythia, Mock Orange, and Weigela can be pruned using three different techniques. One is known as rejuvenation, which involves cutting all the branches back hard to about 6" from the ground. This stimulates an explosion of new growth and is best used when shrubs have grown out of control. If this is too drastic for you, break it into a three-year plan. Every year for three years, remove one-third of the oldest canes to the ground level. By year three, you'll have a completely new, nicely-shaped, healthy shrub. The other two methods for the unprunables are described here. Other Tips & Resources
 Fruit Tree Care in Spring
We get lots of questions every spring about fruit trees, including when and how to prune. The following should help answer your questions:
Tracy Hankwitz, Horticulturist and General Manager at Burlington Garden Center. |
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