Pruning Lilacs on the Old Homestead - What I Learned...

Before Pruning

It is late winter in the Treasure Valley, and you live in a rural area in an older home. The poplars have aged out and there are several stumps in the yard. The silver maples bordering the pasture are taking over. The cottonwoods are huge and messy. You play pick up sticks after every storm. The sumac is long and leggy and the one and the only lilac has been ignored for a long time. It attacks you when you mow and is curling under the eaves. There is a plan to paint the house this summer, so a plan is required to minimize the lilac’s size, so I began my research!

The best time to prune a lilac is in the spring a month after it blooms. This gives the plant plenty of time to develop buds for the following year. If flowering is your main priority, this is a good time to prune.

Lilacs can also tolerate a “hard prune” also known as rejuvenation pruning when dormant, which is cutting all the old stems to within 6-12 inches from the ground. In the spring new stems will grow. The advantage to this is that it really does not require much skill. The disadvantage is that it could take up to 3 years to bloom again.  This is best for lilacs that are overgrown and no longer flowering.

Selective heading cuts are best for managing the size of the lilac. Heading cuts are made by pruning the terminal part of 30% of younger stems back to a bud. This will help maintain its natural shape.

An alternative to the “hard prune” is to thin the oldest lilac stems by 30% also known as renewal pruning, using the “Three-year Plan”, when dormant to open up the shrub and contain it in its allotted space. This will also increase light penetration and air circulation.

 This is what I chose. I planned to prune 30%, but not to top it using the following steps:

After Pruning

1.Remove dead and diseased limbs. Remove the debris. It already looks better.
2. Remove crossing branches.
3. Working from bottom, thin 30% of stems to open up the tree.

I laid a tarp on the ground for clippings and tried to evaluate how much I had removed. It has been suggested to me to take a picture before and after pruning to help determine when I had reached my 30% goal, remembering that 30% is an ‘eyeball’ estimate. Less is more as they say. There is always next year.

Leafed out and Bloomed!

How does the lilac look? Better, but not perfect. Leafing out will help it a lot. I checked it yesterday (03/26/26) and it is starting to leaf out, and I can see buds on the branches. If there is not hard freeze, it will bloom this season. Some sources advise fertilizing and mulching after pruning, but there was a substantial mulch of cottonwood leaves around it, and I can fertilize once water is available.

Conclusion: Reading about pruning and doing it are two different things. It didn’t turn out to be as daunting as I had feared. 

Organic Gardening – What are the Benefits?

An organic gardener promotes natural ecosystems, focuses on soil health, composting and biodiversity.  They also avoid synthetic fertilizers, pesticides and genetically modified organisms.  What are the benefits of gardening this way?  Can I still get a bountiful crop of food from my home garden if I use these methods? Here's some guidelines!

Environmental benefits include building the soil, avoiding harmful chemicals, using nature as a teacher and protecting our pollinators.  Did you know that our pollinators are responsible for 1 out of 3 bites of food that we eat!  

What about soil building?  Using compost is an excellent way to introduce organic matter into the soil.  This feeds the microorganisms in the soil and helps the soil to be healthy and full of the nutrition your plants need to thrive.  What about using nature as a teacher?  We learn from hands-on experience, our successes and our mistakes.  

In the Treasure Valley, organic gardening offers unique regional benefits due to the area’s semi-arid climate and alkaline soils. By incorporating organic matter like compost, gardeners can improve soil structure, increase water retention, and reduce the need for frequent irrigation during hot, dry summers. 

Mulching is especially helpful in conserving moisture and regulating soil temperature. Additionally, choosing drought-tolerant and native plants can lead to more resilient gardens that thrive with fewer inputs. 

What about insect and disease control?  While there are safe, organic products to use in your home garden, there are also things you can do to prevent diseases and manage the insects in your garden.  Timing matters when planting and when using organic products to help your plants thrive.  Prevention is also key.  Pay attention to your garden, this way you can stop a small problem from becoming a big problem.  Educate yourself on what to look for.  Practice, experience and learning from others will help you to start implementing some of these practices in your own home garden.

Organic gardening is a great way to familiarize yourself with how things grow, when plants might need some help to thrive, and why our pollinators and our soil are so important to the success of gardening. 

Successful Transplanting Tips

Measure and record the soil and air temperatures in your garden or use a trusted local source for tracking temperatures like The Growing Degree Day Calculator, developed by UI Extension Educator Jemila Chellappa. Using this real-time information to determine planting dates every year will limit risk of frost damage. 

Whether you’re planting in plugs from the local nursery, potting up seedlings, or moving young plants in and out of your own greenhouse you can and should follow a few simple steps to successfully transplant vegetables and flowers this spring. As the days grow longer and the warmth of the spring sun fuels new life, remember that giving your plants extra attention during this stage is critical to ensuring they’ll thrive! Here are some easy tips to keep your garden happy: Rely on average soil and air temperatures rather than your zone frost dates when you’re ready to start outdoor plantings. 

 

Gradually acclimate young plants and plugs to their new space over the course of a week after any risk of frost if possible. Carefully prepare the planting holes paying close attention to depth to ensure roots are fully covered. This is a good time to add a small amount of mycorrhizal inoculant and organic fertilizer to each planting hole.

Hardening off process is next. “There are no hard and fast rules. Over a period of about a week, gradually increase the time the plants are in full sun, exercising care if a day is particularly hot or windy. Be sure to keep the seedlings well-watered, and avoid locations that might attract animal or insect pests.” (The Master Gardeners of Santa Clara, 2026) 

Now that your plants have hardened off and become familiar with their new home it’s time to pick a calm afternoon for planting. Be sure the planting area is well watered before beginning, carefully remove the plant from its container with clean hands and tools, place in the planting hole so the soil levels are even. Gently fill in with soil around the roots and firm it in place. Always water in plants after transplanting, even if the ground is moist, as this helps the root mass settle into the new soil. Settling new soil is very important to avoid air pockets around the root ball that can be fatal to a plant. Proper transplanting practices will lead to healthier more vigorous plants that require less maintenance.  

Warm Winter? Watch for More Pests

Preparing for Pest Pressure After a Warm Winter

If your garden seems overrun with insects after a mild winter, you're likely spot-on. Mild winters, while enjoyable for us, often lead to heightened pest challenges come spring. Warmer-than-normal temperatures allow more insect pests to survive the cold season, resulting in earlier activity and potentially larger populations throughout the growing season. Typically, harsh winters act as a natural check on pest numbers. Many insects overwinter as eggs, larvae, pupae, or adults in protected spots like soil, leaf litter, plant stems, or bark crevices. Prolonged freezing kills off a portion of these populations, keeping numbers in balance. But during a warm winter, survival rates rise significantly. Pests such as aphids, mites, scale insects, caterpillars, and certain beetles can emerge sooner and in greater numbers. Warmer spring conditions accelerate their development, enabling faster reproduction and sometimes additional generations per season. For instance, experts note that milder winters reduce stress on overwintering insects, boosting spring survival and often giving pests a head start as plants green up earlier.

This dynamic also affects the predator-prey balance. Beneficial insects—like lady beetles, lacewings, and parasitic wasps—overwinter in similar garden debris, such as leaf litter or hollow stems. While many survive mild conditions too, pest populations frequently rebound quicker, creating a temporary imbalance where pests gain an advantage. Both harmful and helpful insects rely on these overwintering sites, so the key isn't total removal of debris but strategic management.

Gardeners are increasingly advised to delay heavy cleanup until spring, waiting until temperatures consistently hit around 50°F (10°C) to allow beneficials to emerge first. This protects pollinators and natural enemies while still permitting thoughtful tidying. Removing everything in fall or early spring can disrupt these helpful populations.

The best defense against elevated pest pressure is vigilant monitoring. As plants break dormancy, check regularly for insects or damage—focus on new growth and leaf undersides, where many pests congregate. Early detection makes control far easier, whether through hand-picking, water sprays, or targeted interventions before outbreaks escalate. Bolstering beneficial insects helps too. Plant diverse flowering species to supply nectar and pollen year-round, sustaining predators and parasitoids. Minimize unnecessary pesticides to preserve these allies, which naturally suppress pests. Healthy plants also fare better: ensure proper watering, sunlight, and soil nutrition so they withstand minor damage more resiliently.

A warm winter doesn't doom your garden to chaos, but it raises the odds of increased insect pressure. By staying proactive—monitoring closely, delaying cleanup thoughtfully, nurturing beneficials, and prioritizing plant health—you can manage challenges effectively while fostering a thriving, balanced ecosystem.

Additional Reading:
https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/how_insects_survive_cold_the_potential_effect_of_a_mild_winter
https://yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/article/2024/03/what-do-warm-winter-temperatures-do-insect-populations
https://extension.psu.edu/delay-garden-cleanup-to-benefit-overwintering-insects

Native Flowers in the Home Garden

Spring is a perfect time to plan for new intriguing colors and features in the yard. With all the common plants available in local stores and greenhouses, one should check out the lesser-known native flowers for their unique charm. There are hundreds to choose from, and these native beauties hold up well under Idaho’s four seasons. Three lesser-known flowers, which are sure to steal the show in the yard, include the Rock Columbine (Aquilegia scopulorum), the Wild Blue Phlox (Linum lewisii), and the Bubblegum Mint (Agastache cana). 

The Rock Columbine is a little showstopper reaching its full height of 7 to 10 inches when bloomed out in blue flowers from May through August. It can grow in many soils including the common alkaline and clay soils of the Treasure Valley. Rock Columbine enjoys full sun or moderate shade, and though it can’t survive completely on its own without supplemental watering, it only needs watering when the leaves look stressed. This flower is not invasive and can easily be maintained.

Lewis Flax, also known as Wild Blue Phlox (Linum lewisii) is a fascinating native flower. Its blue flowers bloom in late spring to mid-summer, which have the curious habit of dropping to the ground after a day only to be replaced with others the next morning. The Lewis Flax isn’t picky with the soil it likes and requires moderate to little water. In fact, can be on the invasive side if it has a great water source. The Lewis Flax is 12 - 30” tall making it a great addition to the middle or back of your garden.

Another interesting flower is the Bubblegum Mint (Agastache cana) plant originally from New Mexico and western Texas. These form pink and violet flower spikes in late summer until the fall when it frosts.  This is a ‘leggy’ plant growing 36-40’ tall and works perfectly in the back of a garden or in a hard to grow section of well drained sand or gravel. Other great features to the Bubblegum mint include needing only 3 - 5 waterings a year and having no insect or disease problems. 

There are hundreds of native flowers growing in Idaho with just as interesting and beautiful flowers to pick from. Many of these thrive in xeriscapes and rock gardens, which means they can look stunning even with the water spigot turned down. Check out “Native Plants for the Intermountain West” for more native flowers with brief descriptions of what to expect from each plant and how to care for them.

Why Fewer Flowers Now Mean More Flowers Later

Spring is here! 

The garden centers and plant sales are alive with color. Those pots bursting with open blooms are hard to resist—they deliver instant cheer and promise a garden full of flowers right away. But the plants that give the strongest, longest-lasting performance often have the fewest (or no) open flowers when you buy them.

Here’s why this counterintuitive choice usually leads to better results.

Roots Come First

Young plants work with a limited energy budget. In their early stages, they direct most of it toward developing a solid root system and sturdy stems and leaves. Once heavy flowering begins, that energy shifts to sustaining blooms and setting seed.

The vivid flowers you see at the sale are beautiful, but they signal that energy has already gone into reproduction rather than root building. Plants still focused on vegetative growth are investing in the foundation that matters most after transplanting: strong roots for anchoring, efficient water and nutrient uptake, and the capacity to support bushier growth and abundant blooms later in the season.

Transplant Shock Needs Priority

Bringing a plant home means adjusting to new light, wind, soil, moisture, and temperature conditions—all stressful. Recovery and new root growth require energy.

A plant already loaded with blooms has to split its resources between keeping those flowers going and establishing roots. This often shows up as dropped buds, faded blooms, or a temporary slowdown. A non-blooming or lightly budded plant can devote nearly everything to settling in quickly, leading to faster establishment, denser branching, and a far more generous flowering season overall.

Pinch Without Hesitation

Picked up a gorgeous blooming plant anyway? Before you plant, simply pinch or snip off the open flowers and any visible buds. It may feel like a small loss, but this redirects energy straight back to roots and fresh shoots. Most plants bounce back within a couple of weeks—often stronger, bushier, and more floriferous than if the original blooms had remained.

Smart Shopping Checklist

When you’re browsing, look for these signs of a plant built for success:

• Compact and sturdy growth (avoid tall, leggy ones stretched from low light or crowding)
• Deep green, healthy foliage (no yellowing, spotting, or wilting)
• Well-rooted but not severely root-bound (check the drainage holes—roots should fill the pot nicely without a tight circling mass)

The Payoff

Gardening rewards patience every time. Choosing plants focused on root development—or giving blooming ones a quick reset with pinching—sets the stage for healthier establishment, fuller structure, and sustained waves of color all season long.

Healthy roots first. The abundant flowers will follow.

Happy planting this spring! Your garden will shine because of these thoughtful decisions.

Soil blocking for your Spring Seed Starting

Soil blocking presents several advantages for home gardeners, making it an attractive option for those seeking efficient, sustainable, and rewarding gardening practices.

Space Optimization: For home gardeners with limited space, seed blocking offers a compact and efficient way to start seeds indoors. By using soil blocks rather than traditional pots or trays, gardeners can maximize their growing area and cultivate a greater variety of plants in a smaller space.

Cost-Effectiveness: While initial investment in seed-blocking equipment may be required, the long-term savings are significant. Soil blocks can be made using simple tools or purchased commercially, eliminating the need for disposable seed trays and pots. Moreover, seed blocking reduces seed waste by ensuring each seed is planted with precision, saving money on seed purchases in the long run.

Improved Seedling Health: Seedlings grown in soil blocks tend to experience less transplant
shock compared to those grown in traditional seed trays. The intact soil blocks protect delicate roots during transplanting, resulting in healthier, more resilient seedlings with higher survival rates.

Water Efficiency: Soil blocks retain moisture more effectively than traditional planting mediums, reducing the frequency of watering needed for seedlings. This is especially beneficial for home gardeners who may have limited time for watering or live in regions with water restrictions.

Ease of Transplanting: Transplanting seedlings from soil blocks is straightforward and minimizes root disturbance. Gardeners can simply place the soil block directly into the planting hole, eliminating the need to handle delicate seedlings or disturb their roots. This reduces transplant shock and ensures a smoother transition to the garden bed or container.

Reduced Disease Spread: Traditional seed trays and pots can harbor pathogens and promote the spread of soil-borne diseases. In contrast, soil blocks are less likely to harbor harmful microbes, reducing the risk of disease transmission among seedlings. 

Environmental Sustainability: By reducing the use of plastic pots and trays, as well as minimizing seed and water waste, seed blocking aligns with environmentally friendly gardening practices. Home gardeners can feel good about minimizing their ecological footprint while enjoying the benefits of healthier plants and bountiful harvests.  

Summary: Soil blocking offers home gardeners an array of benefits. With its simplicity and effectiveness, seed blocking is an excellent choice for gardeners looking to maximize their gardening success while minimizing their impact on the environment.    

                SOIL BLOCK RECIPE