Start with a good quality potting mix. We recommend Lambert. All Purpose Potting Mix is ideal for all your indoor and outdoor gardening needs. A ready-to-use soil, perfect for potting and repotting a wide variety of plants in small pots to very large containers.

Northwest Ohio typically has a frost free safe planting date after Mother's Day.

Healthy, well-rooted starters establish faster, withstand environmental stress better. Quality seedlings are stronger and better equipped to resist pests and diseases.

Hardening off is the crucial 7–14 day process of gradually acclimating indoor-grown seedlings to outdoor sun, wind, and temperature fluctuations to prevent shock, stunted growth, or death. Although it is time consuming, new seedlings including perennials are not ready for the real world yet.

Check the soil temperature early in the morning before the sun has warmed it. Cool season crops (spinach, lettuce, cabbage etc.) prefer 40- 50 degree soil temperatures whereas warm season vegetables (peppers, tomatoes, squash) and annuals prefer a soil temperature of 60 to 70 degrees.

Plant tags contain valuable information regarding height and width of mature plants. One of the easiest mistakes to make is to plant so that it looks great now. Give your plants proper room to grow in a container and a landscape bed.

Water deeply at the base of the plant to encourage root growth, rather than shallowly on leaves.

Apply mulch to retain moisture, regulate soil temperature, and reduce weeds.

Monitor your containers and gardens for feeding needs and pest control.