Posts Tagged "landscaping"

What Not to Cut Back This Fall

Posted on October 2nd, 2021

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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Why are my pines turning yellow?

Posted on November 2nd, 2018

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?” The answer is, thankfully, no. All trees and shrubs renew their foliage annually in the spring and summer and shed old, unneeded foliage in the fall. While this is most […]

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Aster ‘Purple Dome’

Posted on October 18th, 2018

With the end of summer’s heat comes the beginning of fall’s color.  I love asters and fall brings lots of them.  A favorite of mine is Aster novae-angliae ‘Purple Dome.’  Nova-angliae is botanical Latin for New England where this aster is most happy. The flowers are a clear rosy-purple and the foliage is a healthy […]

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Fantastic Fall Favorites

Posted on August 31st, 2018

It’s always a good day for the team when we can take a minute to talk about some of our favorite plants. Fall is a fantastic time to plant, and an even better time to admire the landscape. We put pen to paper and came up with a few of our favorite Autumn plants. If you […]

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Let’s Put a Little Labor Into Those Lawns

Posted on August 30th, 2018

Labor Day is here.  Let’s get out there and put a little bit of labor into our lawns.  The summer heatwave has kept us sadly looking at our stressed-out lawns from the inside out.  I know, it has been too darn hot to think about doing much in the yard, except for sitting under the […]

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Plants to Prune right now!

Posted on June 28th, 2018

Fourth of July is often used as a marker for pruning some shrubs, perennials, and annuals. Knowing when to prune is an important step in keeping your plants healthy and thriving. Now is the perfect time to  prune the following : Evergreen trees and shrubs Rhododendron Azalea Weigela Viburnum Forsythia Lilacs Spiraea Andromeda Privet Mock […]

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Bloom Time!

Posted on June 7th, 2018

The perennial department at Van Wilgen’s lives at an interesting crossroads. We watch as the nursery yard fills up with evergreen interest, and the Greenhouse loads up on pansies, and we poke and prod our plants, waiting for the day that they too might be in bloom. Then the evergreen gives way to the spring […]

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Top 8 Perennials to plant right now!

Posted on May 31st, 2018

Every spring our gardeners tell us they want to expand their perennial gardens to offer new colors and plants to make them fresh. For those of us that work in the Perennial department, it’s no different. We are always on the lookout for something different or even ‘new to us’. Here are a few Perennials […]

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Companion plants for hydrangeas

Posted on May 25th, 2018

There’s no doubt that hydrangeas can hold their own in the garden. With big colorful blooms and beautiful green foliage, summer’s favorite flower makes a bold statement in any garden. But, why not pair them with delicate foliage, bold flowers, or subtle ornamental grasses for more variety? If you’re looking for ways to make your […]

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Let the Hunt Begin

Posted on May 11th, 2018

(Why beneficial insects really are beneficial!) Release the hounds!  Not literally, but I do want you to release the Ladybugs, Lacewings, Praying Mantids, and Nematodes.  They are fantastic hunters and a huge benefit to your lawn, flower garden, and veggie garden. These beneficial hunters have many things in common.  They are meat-eaters.  They never eat […]

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