Hate transplanting strong, healthy seedlings to the garden only to watch them wilt and shrivel from the stress of being moved to their new location? A simple solution to this problem is to trim back the plant’s leaf area to match the reduced root structure. This treatment isn’t appropriate for all types of plants, but is perfect for the seedlings of lettuce and other leafy greens. You can remove individual leaves or use a pair of sharp scissors to trim about half of the plants leaf area. Leave the smaller leaves toward the center of the plant, being careful not to remove the growing tip from the center. It’s easier for the transplant’s roots to support fewer leaves and the plant will quickly resume active growth.