@Anonymous wrote:
I am a newbie here, and rebuilding my credit. From the other posts, it appears that gardening means not applying for new cards... But I have a few questions:
How long should I garden?
What should I do with my existing cards?
What is the primary benefit? (boost credit score or obtain desired card in future)
Thank you in advance for the info.
Gardening will help you increase your credit score and your AAoA (Average Age of Accounts). Also, to spice it up because yes, it is boring, you can try for CLI's on your existing cards!!
Gardening also helps if your getting dinged for recent inquiries on FICO. Time not apping will heal this wound. It's recommended to not app for anything if your last INQ isn't at least 6 months old.
@MarineVietVet wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
For many credit cards, the closing date varies from month to month for a day or 2. The due date however, does not change (by law). Only one of my CC actually shows the next closing date. The rest only show the previous.
The Gardening metaphor makes no sense to me. However, I suggest you only apply for CC you plan to keep for a long time . And you plan your applications for times when you have lowest utiliztion and a hgher score.
That's true but you can quickly figure out that day or two variance and adjust your activities accordingly.
From a BK years ago to:
EX - 3/11 pulled by lender- 835, EQ - 2/11-816, TU - 2/11-782
"Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they've made a difference. The Marines don't have that problem".
Also, some web sites (Chase, Amex) will indicate when the closing date is.
4.2K 
10K 
24.6K 
@2NE1 wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
@drkaje wrote:Don't apply for anything, pay all bills on time, or before statement close date.
Over time your score will go up and there may be some CLIs.
Basically, you want to avoid any hard pulls. From what I've read here, Chase is always a hard pull if the CLI is customer initiated. I don't have a Discover card or any experience to advise you on them.
Staying away from AppAholics might be a good idea, too!
+1
The proper way to garden is no new apps, be it new CC's or CLI's that require HP's.
I have Discover, you can ask for CLI after the 6th statement, but usually is HP (very rare SP).
IMO if your a serious gardener, freeze your reports, that'll stop you from apping and getting HP's.
Best of Luck!
So you're saying that in order for you to keep those "almost 800+ accross all three" are because you have your reports frozen?
Not at all, I have my reports froze for several reasons, but the main reason is, I was the victim of Identity theft years ago, and now that my scores are high, I don't want that jack hole who stole my ID years ago to try a do it again.
Having your reports froze also prevents the CRA's from giving my info to JDB's and I'm opted out as well, so this way, NO one can peek into my reports, except my current creditors.
I did not mean that you are not a serious gardener if your reports are not froze, I was really speaking to those who want to garden, but can not resist the urge to app, so for them it would be best to freeze their reports.
I have no problem when it comes to discipline, I would not app for anything now anyway, reports froze or unfroze.