February is winding down and the first day of spring is JUST around the corner! If you're just as antsy as we are to get your hands into the soil, here are some tasks you can tackle right as spring rolls around. Check & Restock Supplies Most gardeners of all skill levels can identify with having an assortment of gardening tools, supplies, pots, fertilizers, and whatever else laying around. Now is the perfect time to take inventory and get organized! There's nothing worse than going to start a task just to realize you don't have the correct tools for the job or that the tools aren ..read more

Harvest season is upon us which means it's almost time to put your garden to bed for the year! While your garden is starting to wind down, there's one major task you can do to set yourself up for another successful season next year. Feeding your acid-loving ornamental trees & shrubs during mid-to-late fall gives them the nutrients they need to prepare for winter dormancy. (Note: for a list of acid-loving plants - see the chart below!) Think of it as helping your plants bulk up before winter - the extra food helps strengthen the root system which in turn provid ..read more

Take a look at our seed starting schedule for an idea of when you should be starting your vegetables indoors (or sowing them directly in the ground)!      ..read more

One of the most common questions we get around the holidays is: are poinsettias poisonous? The short answer is NO! But how did this common myth populate in the first place? In 1944, author Harry L. Arnold, MD published a book called Poisonous Plants of Hawaii which, as the name states, lists details about poisonous and dangerous plants found on the island. In one excerpt he states: “The milky juice and the leaves are poisonous. The two-year-old child of an Army officer at Fort Shafter died from eating a poinsettia leaf in 1919.” With little other research or knowledge of the plant a ..read more

This time of year here in NJ we are ramping up with the heat and humidity, and some of our plants are starting to feel it. One of our most frequently asked questions here in the nursery is: "can you tell me what's going on with my plant?!"  We've compiled a list of our most frequently seen ailments and how you can treat each! Black Spot If you're noticing the foliage on your shrubs & perennials are starting to look like this: You've got black spot. Black spot is a common fungal disease that attacks the foliage of many fleshy plants under the right conditions ..read more

We're nearing the end of March and we've been so fortunate to have a taste of warm, sunny days over the past few weeks! Our last frost date here in Zone 7 is April 15th, which means we are currently at the mercy of potential cold snaps until then. We always recommend waiting until Mother's Day before planting, as longtime gardeners will know - Mother Nature can be fickle during this time of year and she often reminds us not to plant too early ? Our forecast (as of Friday March 25th) is calling for freezing overnight temperatures: Sunday night (March 27th) Monday night (March 28th) T ..read more

One of the most appealing things about living in the garden state is that we are presented with the unique opportunity to grow fruiting trees. Fig trees are especially neat, as they are not native to our area. However, with the proper care, they can and will thrive here!  Where and when can I plant my tree?  Figs are native to the fertile lands of the Mediterranean and parts of Southern Asia. Despite this, we can cultivate them right here in zone 7! The soil you choose to grow your tree in will dictate its success. The soil should ide ..read more

As we transition from the balmy days of early summer to the blaring heat of mid-summer, you may start to see your plants become discontent with the rising temperatures, lack of rain, and scorching sun. Fear not! Below you will find some tips to help you navigate how best to prepare your plant friends for the hotter days ahead, and keep them looking their best for the rest of the season.  Annuals & Tropicals For hanging baskets, or plants in pots that get leggy (like sweet potato vine, petunias, calibrachoa, etc.), you want to cut the p ..read more

If you have houseplants, you have probably been confronted with having to re-pot them at one point or another. For some plants, these milestones of growth come sooner rather than later. For example, if you have a Snake plant, Dracaena, or ZZ plant, these moments are few and far between. On the opposite end of the spectrum, if you own a plant like a Philodendron, Ficus, or Fern, you have to up-size your pots relatively often. Whatever plant you have or plan to buy, they will eventually have to be potted in a larger pot or container, and with this comes a multi ..read more

When most people think of landscaping their yards, their minds often jump to planting swaths of bright, sunny annuals or exotic-looking perennials with off-season interest. While plants like petunias, buddleia, impatiens, and salvia are garden staples, there are plants that grow naturally right here in New Jersey that are beautiful and often overlooked!  If you have ever taken a stroll through the Pine Barrens in the Springtime, you may have noticed some unusual looking vegetation peppered in throughout the Pitch Pines and Blueberry bushes. Plants l ..read more