PNW Gardening Blog — Seattle's Favorite Garden Store Since 1924 - Swansons Nursery

Swansons is open 9am-6pm daily. However our café will be closed this Friday through Sunday, April 4th, 5th & 6th. We apologize for any inconvenience!

Dan Gilchrist

Rhododendron and Azalea Care

Rhododendron and Azalea Care

Rhododendrons and azaleas, included in the genus Rhododendron are well-suited to our maritime climate and popular for their bold, colorful flowers and relatively tidy habits. They are both easy to grow and care for when their basic needs are met. In this post, learn how to care for your rhodies and azaleas.

Hydrangea Care & Pruning

Hydrangea Care & Pruning

Hydrangeas are classic garden shrubs known for their bold leaves and long-lasting clusters of flowers in shades of white, pink, red, or blue, blooming from mid-summer to autumn. More varieties are becoming available, featuring unique flower shapes, leaf colors, and even stem colors! Read on to learn how to care for your hydrangeas and help them thrive.

Pruning Lilacs

Pruning Lilacs

We love our lilac shrubs with their exemplary fragrance in May but almost any lilac that has not been pruned for two years or more is likely to have flowers up high, out of optimal sniffing range. Pruning can help keep your lilac to a manageable size, accentuate its lovely form, and improve flowering. Sometimes, a complete refresh is needed (coppicing). In this post, we walk you through several options for pruning your lilac bush, using helpful diagrams.

Reading the Signs

Reading the Signs

Let’s be honest — navigating the plant selection at Swansons is, at times, bewildering, with the astounding array of plants that circulate here. We continually strive to get up-to-date plant information to you so you make the best choices for your garden. Over the last 25 years we have created informational; signs for as many plants as we can, customized for our area. Here is a quick primer on what to look for, and how to get the most out of our signs!