The Plant Connection LLC

09/10/2026

Still time to plant perennials, shrubs and trees for a beautiful spring garden. Stop in to The Plant Connection in Ishpeming to see the perfect perennial for your garden.

09/08/2026

Saffron in containers? Yes please. 🌱✨ Drainage is everything when planting crocus corms—get that right and you'll be rewarded with those prized red threads. Link in Bio for the full how-to and tips from our recent batch.

09/08/2026

Did you take your houseplants outside to enjoy the summer? It is time to start acclimating them to come back inside.

Before temperatures drop too low, follow these steps to make their transition smooth and pest-free:
• Check for Hitchhikers: Give your plants a thorough inspection. Check the undersides of leaves and the soil for any bugs that enjoyed the summer just as much as your plants did. A gentle spray with a hose or a treatment with insecticidal soap can help clear away unwanted pests.
• The Slow Transition: Plants can go into shock if moved from bright outdoor sun directly into a dimmer indoor room. Bring them inside for a few hours a day, gradually increasing their indoor time over a week or two to help them adjust to lower light levels.
• Hold the Fertilizer: As daylight hours shorten, your plants' growth will naturally slow down. Hold off on feeding them until spring.
• Adjust Your Watering: Indoor environments have less air circulation and lower light, meaning your plants won't dry out as quickly. Check the soil moisture before watering to prevent root rot.

Stop by the garden center this week to pick up pest prevention supplies, fresh potting soil, or a new indoor planter to get your green friends ready for winter. What plants did you move outside this summer? Let us know in the comments.

09/07/2026

Want a fall gardening project that actually pays off? Planting saffron crocus in containers is surprisingly simple—and you can harvest the real saffron threads come bloom time. Key tip: drainage is everything to prevent corm rot. Read my quick guide with photos and step-by-step tips to get started this season. https://wix.to/MBMVIQ3

If you're looking for a fall gardening project that pays off in a big way, saffron crocus (Crocus sativus) might be exactly what you need. Yes, the same saffron that costs a small fortune at the grocery store. We recently planted a batch in containers, and wanted to share what was learned along the....

08/28/2026

If the leaves on your shrubs and perennials are turning yellow, they might just be hungry. Heavy summer growth and frequent watering naturally deplete nutrients from the soil, leaving foliage looking pale and washed out. You can easily restore that lush green color by applying a water-soluble fertilizer, which delivers a fast pick-me-up directly to the roots and leaves.

If the leaf tissue is yellow but the veins stay dark green, look for a formula with chelated iron to fix the deficiency quickly. Just remember to water your plants thoroughly the day before fertilizing to protect the roots from stress. Stop by the garden center this week to pick up the right formula and keep your landscape finishing the season strong.

08/21/2026

Late summer is the perfect time to introduce a new color to your landscape. While early flowers fade, a variety of exceptional plants are just reaching their peak, ensuring your garden stays vibrant well into autumn.

Here are three excellent additions for reliable late-season color:

Dynamic Perennials: Add plants timed to shine now. Color-coded Coneflowers (Echinacea) and Summerblaze Black-Eyed Susans (Rudbeckia) offer fresh blooms that last for weeks.

Show-Stopping Shrubs: Panicle hydrangeas like Limelight Prime or Quick Fire Fab are late-summer stars, producing massive blooms that transition from white to rich pink and burgundy.

Continuous Fillers: Fill gaps with long-blooming selections. Superbena verbena provides low-growing color clusters, while Rockin' salvias offer striking upright flower spikes until frost.

Stop by the garden center this week to browse our selection of late-season stars and extend your garden's peak performance.

08/11/2026

By August, summer containers can look tired from the heat. Don’t replace the whole pot. A quick mid-season tune-up will keep them beautiful through autumn.
Here is your 3-step refresh plan:
1. Trim: Snip off faded blooms and cut back leggy, overgrown trailing plants to encourage fresh, bushy growth.
2. Feed: Frequent summer watering flushes nutrients from container soil. Apply a water-soluble fertilizer to jumpstart late-summer performance.
3. Swap: Gently remove any dead or spent plants. Replace them with fresh, heat-tolerant options like marigolds, ornamental peppers, or coleus to instantly fill the gaps.

Mixing fresh late-summer arrivals with your established plants creates a lush look that bridges the seasons beautifully.

Stop by the garden center this week to grab fresh soil, browse our favorite heat-loving plants, or get advice on the best picks for your space.

08/11/2026

The Plant Connection explains why fall is a great time to plant perennials and shrubs: Come to the Plant Connection in Ishpeming to see the perennials and shrubs I have for fall planting.

While spring brings warmer weather, it also brings harsh summer heat right as young plants are trying to settle in. Fall offers a far gentler transition

08/04/2026

Is your garden showing signs of summer stress? Between intense heat and peak pest season, July can be tough on your landscape. A quick round of mid-summer triage will get your plants right back on track.

Start by deadheading spent flowers to encourage a fresh flush of blooms, and trim away any yellowing foliage.

Next, check your hanging baskets and containers. They dry out rapidly in the summer sun and need regular, water-soluble fertilizer to replenish lost nutrients.

Need help diagnosing a plant problem? Bring a photo of your troubled plant, and our team will help you find the right remedies to revive your garden!

07/29/2026

Is your garden feeling the summer heat? Mid-July is the perfect time for a quick mulch refresh. A fresh two-inch layer of mulch instantly tidies up your landscape while doing some heavy lifting for your plants. It will help retain moisture so you water less, cool root systems during high-heat days, and block out pesky summer weeds. Plus, fresh mulch creates a clean backdrop that makes your current summer blooms instantly pop.