The whole gardening analogy makes no sense to me.

However, closing credit cards generarlly does not help your credit.

@ LS2982: I did call them, on the same day I did my app spree. They gave me the same answer I have come to expect from them: At this time we do not have any new features for your account.... granted I have not used their card in a year. It's a catch 22, since their card offers no real benefits (1% cashback on everything) and has such a low limit I don't feel compelled to use it. To be honest even if the did give me a CLI, the holistic view I have created as a customer concerning Capital One as an entity furthers my decision to not use their card. What really ticked me off was while Chase and Citi both only used (1) inquiry for the two cards they each granted me, Cap 1 used a HP (even thought the executive told me it would only be a SP). These types of situation really make me want to use their card even less.

Some say don't close cards, it'll hurt your credit.  But after you've gotten to the point where you've graduated to prime cards, it just makes sense to ditch the subprimes with AFs.  If they don't have an AF sock drawer them.

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Starting Score: 504

Current Score: EQ FICO 819, TU08 775, EX "Who Knows?" Quizzle 756
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So I should sock drawer the cards with no AF instead of closing them? Even if they sat stagnant with the low CL?

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nenuco wrote:

So I should sock drawer the cards with no AF instead of closing them? Even if they sat stagnant with the low CL?

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Keeping subprime cards after you have graduated to prime cards makes no sense IF you have an established history with prime cards.

              Dont close anything without first contacting the card issuer......Ask for CLI or lower APR etc..........If you want to close it anyway you really have nothing to loose.

you garden by 

A: not applying for anything 

B: Letting your new and old cards grow.(in age and cl (without hard pulls for cli))

C. When people usually do app sprees all the inquries fall off at the same time so they set a date to garden until that date or somewhere around there. 

if you haven't used the cap1 in 6 months though id use it to buy a pack of gum or something. 

like stated. if there is no annual fee keep it. its a line that reports. obviously if you have 10k+ lines and 1 500 there is clearly something wrong with that picture. 

once you close an account in good standing it reports positive for 10 years after the fact before it drops off from your reports. 

Current: EQ FICO 690, TU FICO 692, Walmart TU 737 EX FICO 726 Amex Pull(1/1/13) Starting total revolving credit: $2600 | Current total revolving credit: $21,600 Inquiries (12 Months): EQ 6 TU 4 EX 5 | Most Recent: 8/30/2012

2013 Goals: Freedom Signature Costco:True Earnings

Amex Zync(Unicorn) Chase Freedom$1500 Citizens Mastercard$5000

I got rid of quite a few cards two months ago. It just becomes to much to manage!

This being said, I app'd for and was apporved for a PayPal Extras MC yesterday to tie in to a side line business.