Main Location, North Branford 203-488-2110
Clinton Garden Center 203-433-5555
Guilford Garden Mart 203-204-1540
Milford Garden Mart 203-298-0716
Old Saybrook Garden Mart 860-339-5345
Holiday Picture Time
It’s that time of year here at the garden center when we peek through the holiday greens on the patio and spot families trudging through our tree fields, decked out in their Sunday best, bags of pre-wrapped gifts or other props in hand. Everyone’s in search of the perfect spot to take the annual family […]
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Preparing Your Plants for Winter
Winter is on the way, which means it’s time to prep your plants for snow, cold weather, and pesky winter critters. Lucky for you, protecting your plants takes just a few easy (we promise!) steps. Rose Care Some roses are more hardy than others. If you see a root graft at the base of the […]
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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 […]
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Putting Your Veggie Garden to Bed
So you’ve had a bountiful veggie season, and harvested your crops, and now that temperatures are beginning to drop, that’s it, right? Well, not quite. If you want to have a successful season next year, you can take a few extra steps now to treat your soil and ensure your plants will do just as […]
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Fall Fertilization
One of the most overlooked, yet most important, fall gardening tasks is fertilization. As the temperatures drop and everything begins to go dormant, you might think your plants and lawns don’t need to be fertilized. Not so! Fertilizing in the fall sets your plants up for success in the spring. Roots will hang on to […]
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Pumpkins 101
What is the number one must-have for fall decorating? It’s the pumpkin of course! It’s a mandatory staple for Halloween, but 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 for […]
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Mum Buddies 101
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 […]
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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 […]
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What Not to Cut Back This Fall
Fall is here which means cool weather and frosty mornings are headed our way. Unfortunately for your plants, there’s no heater or jacket that can help keep them warm, and as a result, some of your plants will begin to look a little sad once temperatures start to drop. If you’re like many gardeners, that […]
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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 […]
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