Main Location, North Branford 203-488-2110
Garden Mart, Guilford 203-204-1540
Garden Mart, Milford 203-298-0716
Garden Mart, Old Saybrook 860-339-5345
Fall Watering
Well we all made it through another rainy spring and summer. Mother Nature was a huge help in keeping all of our plants wet with minimal hand watering. With summer now winding down things are now showing signs of drying out. As we get into the fall planting season make sure that all your plants are properly watered […]
Read More
Why Are My Evergreens Dying?
One of the most common questions we get here in the fall at Van Wilgen’s is, “Why are my pines turning yellow? Are they sick?” Thankfully, the answer is “no”. All trees and shrubs renew their foliage annually in the spring and summer, and shed old, unneeded foliage in the fall. This is most apparent […]
Read More
Is It Too Late To Plant?
This time of year, we frequently have people wondering if it’s too late to plant. We’re happy to report that fall is a FANTASTIC time to plant! Why? Well, there are a number of reasons. Cool nighttime temperatures, moderate daytime temperatures and warm soil temperatures create favorable conditions that allow for rapid root establishment. Combine this […]
Read More
Fall Decorating
As our days get shorter and the nights get cooler, it’s time to start thinking about fall colors and decorating for the season! One of our staple fall plants here at the garden center is traditional fall mums. They’re available in a wide range of colors, which means you can create a beautiful fall container […]
Read More
What Not to Cut Back This Fall
Nothing says fall is fully here like realizing that mornings start with a frosty car and cranking the heat to get the windows clear. Unfortunately for your plants, there’s no heater to keep them warm, and right about now, some of your plants are probably looking pretty sad. If you’re like many gardeners, that means […]
Read More
Decorating with Pumpkins
Oh my gourd, pumpkins are here! That means it’s time to get decorating for fall! To get you inspired, we’ve rounded up a few of our favorite ways to use pumpkins inside and out this season. Traditional Carving Okay, we can’t have an article about decorating with pumpkins without mentioning pumpkin carving. Carving is […]
Read More
How long will my mums last?
Everyone knows chrysanthemums as the classic autumn annual, but people often wonder just how long they will last, and when all those buds are going to open. The answers to these questions depend heavily on temperature and the intensity and duration of sun exposure. However, we can narrow down a window where you can expect […]
Read More
Funky Pumpkins
What is the number one must-have for fall decorating? It’s the pumpkin of course! It’s a mandatory staple for Halloween, but unique pumpkins are versatile when it comes to decorating, and they can take you all the way through the fall into Thanksgiving! Most of you are probably familiar with Howden pumpkins which are ideal […]
Read More
Low-Light Houseplants
Do you have that one room in your home where all of your houseplants wind up because all the others are too dark? Or have you been avoiding houseplants altogether due to poor natural light? For those dark rooms and homes we’ve rounded up a list of our favorite low-light houseplants that’ll thrive even if […]
Read More
Bringing in Houseplants
As we head into the fall, and as temperatures start to drop, it means closing up those beautiful outdoor spaces we’ve spent all spring and summer creating. (Raise your hand if you’ve had your own staycation in your personal patio paradise.) One silver lining to this situation is that any houseplants which had been relocated […]
Read More