Pick up a Tomato Success Kit and set yourself up for a great harvest! From nutrient-packed soil to organic fertilizer, you’ll get everything you need to grow strong, healthy plants. We hand-picked these items to help solve the most common tomato-growing challenges. Kits are available now at any of our locations for $75 ($90 product value)!

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KITS INCLUDE:

15 gallon pot: Allow tomato plants plenty of space for roots to grow – this will help them retain water and nutrients, so you won’t have to water quite as often.

Tomato Cage: A big tomato cage gives great support but also helps protect the fruit. Fruit lying on the ground is susceptible to fungal disease and animal damage.

1 bag NEW VW Super Compost: This compost has everything but the kitchen sink and is the best organic soil mix for vegetable gardens! Contains Biochar, Bark Fines, Earthworm Castings, Peat Moss, Lobster Compost, Leaf and Bark Compost, and Cow Manure. The lobster compost is a great source of calcium to help prevent blossom end rot! Mix in with your potting mix to create the perfect soil base for tomato plants.

2 bags Natural & Organic Potting Soil: Made with Peat Moss, Aged Bark Fines, & Compost. The peat moss is designed to hold as much water as possible to keep water available to your plants as constantly as possible. There is an exceptional amount of compost compared to other soil mixes. The nutrients and organic material from the compost provide an excellent jumpstart for your plants and long-term organic material.

8lb Tomato Tone: Our tomato plants provide us with a lot of food… they need a lot of food too! Tomato tone is an organic fertilizer specially formulated for plump, juicy tomatoes. Use to enhance the soil during planting and apply twice per month, May through August.

Rot Stop: Ready-to-use spray that helps balance calcium deficiency to help prevent blossom end rot. Spray after periods of excessive rainfall or growth to the point of runoff.

As a general rule, animals tend to stay away from strong smells and fuzzy/textured foliage. If you know you have problems with rabbits and deer eating everything in your yard, try to plant varieties they don’t like. A few good choices include Yarrow, Salvia, Nepeta, Artemesia, Boxwood, and Lamb’s Ear.

Remember that if the critters are hungry, they will eat ANYTHING! Rabbits especially seem to be an issue this year. If you find this is the case, test out one of the repellents below! It’s also a good idea to switch up the repellents you use regularly so you don’t accidentally encourage animals to build up a tolerance.

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Messinas Animal Stopper

A favorite of Van Wilgen’s and very effective at deterring rabbits! All natural, plant extracts that are dry clear, and odor-free. Repels groundhogs, rabbits, skunks, raccoons, and other garden animals. Available ready-to-use in both liquid and granular form.

Liquid Fence Deer & Rabbit Repellent

This product is great for keeping deer and rabbits away. The repellent works through scent and therefore is harmless to animals and the plants it’s applied on. Offered in sprays and concentrate with hose hook-ups.

I Must Garden Mole & Vole Repellent

Ultra-strong mole and vole deterrent! Simple to apply, rain-resistant, and pleasant-smelling. Earth, people, and pet-friendly with all-natural ingredients.

The best way to keep your flowering plants in bloom and get a good harvest from your fruit and veggies is by feeding them. This is a great habit to get into to ensure planting success! What to use for each type of plant can be confusing, so we make it easy with our own line of soil and fertilizers for everything from annuals to trees & shrubs.

Annuals & TROPICALS

Van Wilgen’s All Purpose Slow Release 13-11-11

A true controlled release formula that feeds plants gradually and evenly. Apply every 2 months in a pot or 3 months in the ground. It is virtually impossible to burn plants with this, and it contains valuable minerals in addition to the big 3 (Nitrogen – Phosphorus – Potassium).

Van Wilgen’s Super Bloom Booster 10-52-10

The BEST KEPT SECRET that shouldn’t be a secret! Our bloom booster truly dissolves in water and has a high phosphorus number, which promotes root growth and blooms. Feed with this every 2 weeks to get the most out of your tropicals and annuals.

Herbs & Veggies

Van Wilgen’s Fish & Seaweed 3-1-1

Grow your edibles organically so you know your food is safe to eat, even on the day of harvest, and add some hard-to-get micronutrients found in the sea. Apply this every 2 weeks!

Espoma Organic Garden Tone 3-4-4 or Espoma Organic Tomato Tone 3-4-6

Use Garden Tone on all herbs and veggies! For herbs, apply during planting and after a large harvest. For vegetables, apply during planting and once per month from May through August. If using Tomato Tone instead (great for all tomato varieties and other fruiting crops like peppers, squash, & melons), apply 10-14 days after planting, and twice a month from May through August for established plants.

ROSES

Van Wilgen’s JumpStart 4-10-3

This starter fertilizer has a higher middle number, which is phosphorus. Phosphorus promotes root growth and helps get plants established fast. This formula is complete with IBA Root Stimulant that enhances rooting and reduces transplant shock. JumpStart is not just for when planting or transplanting, use it for any plants in the landscape!

BioAdvanced All-in-One Rose & Flower Spray

While there are many disease-resistant varieties available now, generally, roses can be magnets for disease and insects. This is why protection is an absolute must for all roses! Use this product every 1-2 weeks during the growing season to treat or prevent disease, insects, and mites.

Espoma Organic Rose Tone 4-3-2

Use this organic fertilizer for bigger blooms and deep green foliage! Apply during planting new roses, and about once a month from May through September.

PERENNIALS, SHRUBS, & TREES

Van Wilgen’s JumpStart 4-10-3

This starter fertilizer has a higher middle number, which is phosphorus. Phosphorus promotes root growth and helps get plants established FAST! Complete with IBA Root Stimulant that enhances rooting and reduces transplant shock. JumpStart is not just for when planting or transplanting, use it for any plants in the landscape, and it will benefit them too.

Espoma Organic Plant Tone 5-3-3 for perennials, trees, and shrubs

Use this organic fertilizer for greener foliage and faster growth! Apply when planting, and about once a month during the growing season.

Espoma Organic Holly Tone 4-3-4 for acid-loving trees and shrubs

Use this organic fertilizer for deep green color and bigger blooms. Helps keep hydrangeas blue! Feed in the Spring and late Fall at half the Spring rate.

Espoma Organic Tree Tone 6-3-2 for fruit and shade trees

Use this organic fertilizer for greener foliage, faster growth, and bigger blooms! Apply once in the Spring and Fall.

Tips:

1. Many plant signs around Van Wilgen’s have a little key on the bottom right corner with our suggested soil blend and fertilizer. These are there to help you pick the correct products to ensure the success of your plants!

2. Follow the recommendations on the bag. Remember like medicine, just because it says 1 tablespoon on the directions doesn’t mean that 2 is twice as good!

3. Our Jumpstart fertilizer isn’t just for perennials, trees, shrubs, and roses at the time of planting. You can use Jumpstart on ANYTHING, including containers and houseplants, and don’t be afraid to use it throughout the season!

4. Feel free to use Van Wilgen’s All Purpose Slow release for trees and shrubs, perennials, and more! It will provide a reliable slow feeding for all plants and can be safely used in combination with Espoma products.

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Our Houseplant Highlight for May is the Orchid. This plant is well known for its unique flowers that come in a variety of sizes and colors! Orchids symbolize love, beauty, and thoughtfulness, making them great gifts (Don’t forget Mother’s Day is coming up on the 11th!). They are also long-blooming, lasting much longer than a cut flower bouquet.

LIGHT NEEDS

• Loves bright to medium indirect light
• Southwest exposure is great
• Avoid direct sun

WATER NEEDS

• Water once a week, letting the water run through the pot
• Never use ice cubes!
• Avoid excess water at the bottom of the pot

Additional Tips

• Repot every 3 years to replace the potting medium
• Feed every other week with an Orchid fertilizer
• Ideal temperature is between 60 and 80 degrees

COLOR

While Orchids are thought to symbolize love, beauty, and thoughtfulness, different colors have unique associations. Here are the three most common colors you’ll see:

Yellow – Friendship, hope, and new beginnings

Pink – Femininity, grace, joy, often associated with celebrations of affection

White – Purity, innocence, elegance, often used in weddings

Rhododendron trouble? You’re not alone! This winter was long and harsh, especially on broadleaf evergreens. The dry fall caused many plants to go into the colder months without enough water.

WHAT TO DO:

Determine what is dead vs. damaged. Dry, crunchy brown leaves and stems will not recover and should be pruned off. If you have areas like those in the photo above, be patient! Browning leaves on more flexible stems will flush new growth if given the chance.

Fertilize: Now is a great time to use Holly Tone and Van Wilgen’s All-Purpose Slow-Release fertilizer! These will provide the nutrients your plants need to flush out and recover from winter stress.

GET AHEAD FOR NEXT YEAR!

• Make sure your plants are well watered going into winter, and give them extra attention when there’s little to no rain
• Use Wilt-Pruf! This product helps your plants retain their moisture and is especially effective for evergreens

Our Houseplant Highlight for April is Calathea! These neat houseplants are called “Prayer Plant” because they tend to fold their leaves upward during the night (like a prayer) and unfurl in the morning. Calatheas are pet-safe and come in many stunning, colorful varieties. They also make perfect bathroom or kitchen plants as they prefer indirect light!

Light Needs

• Prefers bright indirect light
• Avoid direct sun

Water Needs

• Keep soil moderately moist (dig into the soil with your finger to check it once or twice a week)
• Loves humidity

Notable characteristics

• Great bathroom/kitchen plant
• Pet-safe
• Lots of stunning varieties
• Fertilize once a month with slow-release fertilizer
• Slow grower (Grows to 1-1/2ft tall)

Popular Varieties

Cathathea has tons of varieties, but here are some of our favorites!

Rattlesnake Plant

Reaches 12-30 inches

Calathea Rosy

Reaches 1-2 feet

Fishbone Prayer Plant

Reaches up to 20 inches

Calathea ‘White Fusion’

Reaches 1-2 feet

Spring is officially here! After a long, cold winter, add some color back into your space with spring container combos. It’s always a good idea to choose a variety of textures and heights for added interest, but don’t be afraid to try a new color palette or plant to get creative!

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Check out some of our favorite options for containers!

HELLEBORES

Perennial option for interest that can be planted in the garden after use in a container

PANSIES/Violas

Perform great in cold weather and come in a variety of beautiful color combinations

BULBS

Classic choice! Daffodils, Hyacinth, Ranunculus, Tulips, and Lillies are all great options that come in a bunch of bright colors

MARTHA WASHINGTON GERANIUMS

Large showy blooms look great in containers!

CUT WILLOW OR FORSYTHIA

Curly, Fantail, and Pussy Willow are great options for added interest and height. You can also cut a few Forsythia branches from your yard!

We get this question all the time, so we put together a list just for you! Keep in mind that these are estimated dates that depend on the weather. Scroll down for a quick guide to when you can expect our most anticipated plants to be in stock!

MARCH

WEEK OF 3/17

WEEK OF 3/24

April

WEEK OF 4/1

WEEK OF 4/14

WEEK OF 4/29

MAY

WEEK OF 5/5

WEEK OF 5/12

WEEK OF 5/19

Break out those gloves and pruning shears and clean up your garden because spring will be here in less than two weeks! With the weather beginning to warm up, it’s a good idea to jump on pruning tasks before plants come out of dormancy. You’ll also want to address winter breakage/damage due to heavy snow, salt, and plows!

CLEAN UP & PLAN AHEAD

• Look for heavily damaged branches and foliage and prune them off (Be patient when waiting for plants to recover from winter! It may just take some extra time for buds to break)
• Apply Gypsum to any areas with heavy salt damage
• Plan what and where you want to plant this year and start seeds indoors if you haven’t already!

LAWN

• Test your soil pH: Make sure your soil is in excellent condition before it comes time to plant new grass seed
• Great time to put down lime if needed to increase your soil’s pH
• Keep in mind that soil temps need to be at least 50 degrees for seed to germinate

Potted Plant Care

• Begin fertilizing houseplants and overwintered plants as they come out of dormancy
• Use Van Wilgen’s All Purpose Slow Release for healthy plants
• Check any bulbs for growth and water if the soil feels dry

FRUIT TREES

• Prune fruit trees now before bud break. Peach trees typically leaf out before other fruits, so it’s a good idea to prune those first
• Spray Dormant Oil and Copper Fungicide now BEFORE issues start to show. Avoid spraying during blooming time
  • Dormant Oil pre-treats pest and disease issues and smothers overwintering insect eggs and larvae
  • Copper Fungicide pre-treats issues like fire blight, cedar apple rust, and peach leaf curl

SUMMER BLOOMING TREES & SHRUBS

• Prune summer-blooming plants at the end of winter or early spring before they flush out
  • Butterfly Bush
  • Rose-of-Sharon
  • Crape Myrtle
  • Caryopteris
  • Panicle & Smooth Hydrangeas
• Be careful about which hydrangea you prune. DO NOT cut Mophead Hydrangea or they will not bloom

ROSES

• Roses like to be pruned once per year in late winter/early spring after your last frost date

Our Houseplant Highlight for March is Money Tree (pachira-aqatica)! Large, star-shaped leaves and braided trunks make this mini tree a beautiful year-round mood booster. Known as one of the luckiest houseplants, Money Trees are often given as gifts on birthdays, anniversaries, and during Lunar New Year. This plant is also non-toxic, making it a perfect option for families with pets and/or young children.

Light Needs

• Prefers bright indirect light
• Can adjust to lower light

Water Needs

• Water approximately once per week
• Prefers to be on the drier side (prone to root rot when overwatered)

Notable characteristics

• Great housewarming plant!
• Non-toxic (pet and child safe)
• Symbolizes positive energy, good luck, and fortune in feng shui
• Reduces stress and anxiety
• Good choice for beginners; forgiving if you occasionally skip watering
• Trunks can be braided for a unique look
• Can reach up to 6 feet tall indoors