You’re at a friend’s house, lounging on the back patio enjoying the sunny spring day when a gust of wind hits you right in the face. You look around but it seems like they’ve got themselves a line of windbreak trees, so what’s happening? They might be running into this snafu because the leaves of their deciduous trees are high enough off the ground to allow the occasional breeze by. This can offer a cool reprieve in the summer months but if you’re looking for a foolproof windbreak, consider shrubs! Along with planting evergreens and deciduous trees, shrubs are an essential part of windbreak design. Because they provide another layer of protection from the harsh winter winds, consider using these shrubs in your windbreak to maximize the protection available to you in every season. { box-sizing: border-box; } .row { margin-left:-5px; margin-right:-5px; } .column { float: left; width: 50%; padding: 5px; } /* Clearfix (clear floats) */ .row::after { content: ""; clear: both; display: table; } table { border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0; width: 100%; border: 0px solid #ddd; } th, td { text-align: left; padding: 16px; text-weight:400px; } tr:nth-child(even) { background-color: #f2f2f2; text-weight:400px; } /* Responsive layout - makes the two columns stack on top of each other instead of next to each other on screens that are smaller than 600 px */ @media screen and (max-width: 600px) { .column { width: 100%; } } Elderberry - Sambucus spp. Prized for its fragrant flowers and delicious fruits, Elderberry serves a multitude of purposes in a windbreak. Along with providing protection from severe winter winds, Elderberry is favored by pollinators and birds alike. Consider using Black Lace Elderberries (Sambucus nigra 'Eva') for a little bit of a different appearance, rather than the green foliage with white flowers found in the York Elderberry, these have purple foliage with pink flowers. Best planted in zones 3-9, Elderberry will provide you with tasty fruits and become an integral part of your windbreak. If you beat the birds to the berries, try using them in the kitchen. While raw Elderberries are poisonous, giving them a quick cook makes them perfect for use in delicacies like jellies, pies, and even tea! Read a little more about ways to use the Elderberries in your windbreak shrub line in our blog: Elderberries: What’s the Deal with America’s New Favorite Plant! SHOP NOW Hazelnut - Corylus americana Another shrub with edible nuts, hazelnut is an ideal addition to a windbreak. Mature height is anywhere from 8 to 15 feet tall, and will spread to approximately the same size. Male catkins dangle from the branches in the spring, pollinating the tiny purple female flowers. In the fall, the hazelnut seed can be harvested and used to make decadent desserts like cookies, biscotti, and tarts. Or shake things up and add them to savory dishes like pesto, pizza, and even various plates of seafood. Fall color ranges from yellow to orange to red, depending upon a multitude of environmental conditions. Known to thrive in zones 4-9, hazelnut will provide you with years of protection and edible fruits in your windbreak. SHOP NOW Dogwood - Cornus spp. With branches ranging in colors from bright red to yellow to grey, dogwoods provide winter interest and color in a windbreak. Flowers appear in the spring, and in the fall can range in color from yellow to bright red. Try Arctic Fire® Dogwood (Cornus stolonifera 'Farrow') for bright red stems you can use in arrangements or Bud's Yellow Dogwood (Cornus alba 'Bud's Yellow') for yellow stems that will catch your eye. Grey Twig Dogwood (Cornus racemosa) boasts of beautiful white berries and grey branches. Because dogwoods are so adaptable, they are ideal for windbreak conditions; they will thrive where they are planted and provide support to the rest of the windbreak's efforts to lessen the winter weather. SHOP NOW Nanking Cherry - Prunus tomentosa Another edible shrub that thrives in a windbreak is Nanking Cherry. Pale white flowers dot the shrub in the spring and become bright red fruits in the summer. These fruits can be used for jams and jellies or left for the birds to enjoy. Nanking cherry grows between 8 - 10 feet high and 10 - 15 feet wide. Adding just a couple of these to your line can prevent strong winds from bothering you! Nanking cherry does require cross-pollination to produce fruits, so be sure to plant more than one in your windbreak. A hardy plant that will thrive in zones 2-6, Nanking cherry makes a strong addition to your windbreak that will tolerate most conditions. SHOP NOW Common lilac - Syringa vulgaris The common lilacs are known for their beautiful spring flowers and the fragrance that goes along with them. Growing to approximately 10 feet tall by 8 feet wide, these plants earn their way onto our list of best shrubs for windbreak not only because of their beauty but because they are hardy and adaptable. Plant a combination of Common Purple Lilacs (Syringa vulgaris) and Common White lilacs (Syringa vulgaris var. alba) far a bright variation in color. They’re best planted in zones 2-7, and will thrive in your windbreak, providing you spring beauty and winter protection. If you’re feeling adventurous, stray slightly from the common lilacs and try a Bloomerang® Dark Purple Lilac (Syringa x BLOOMERANG 'SMSJBP7')! This improved variety will proved protection against prevailing winds and give you a second show of flowers mid-summer through fall! SHOP NOW Shrubs used by themselves or interwoven within the deciduous and evergreen trees make an exceptional and effective windbreak. Picking the right shrubs can even guarantee you flowers in the spring and sometimes summer into fall! Remember, when planting your shrubs, it’s important to take note of the conditions they’ll be living in. If you’re planting under larger trees or evergreen conifers, you’ll want to select shrubs that thrive in shadier areas. If they’ll be freestanding, keep in mind that they’ll need to be able to take on winter’s harsh winds and might appreciate well-drained soils. Try using these shrubs in your windbreak and enjoy the added benefits: edible fruits, fragrant flowers and habitat for wildlife. Happy Gardening!

Showcase your style with these easy tips for a dynamic outdoor container garden display that looks amazing throughout the year. It's actually a lot like buying a new couch! Here's how to create a stylish setting in winter, spring, summer and fall! Plant your garden containers with perennials and trees...you'll have a focal point that performs for you year after year.  Go for easy-breezy romantic pink flowers like Hydrangeas and Roses massed on your front porch. Or, enjoy the bright-colored foliage of Japanese Maples trees in large pots near a seating area in part shade. Long-lasting hardy perennial container gardens work all year-long and will save you money. Ensure the containers have good drainage, high quality potting soil and follow the directions to apply fertilizer. Here's how to create a perennial garden planting that works in all seasons, no matter if you have a tiny balcony, townhome or a suburban lot. Just like shopping for couches, start by studying your space.  First, Get to Know Your Growing Conditions How much room to grow will you have to work with? Take measurements of the depth, width and height of your available space...especially if you want a hard-working solution to decorate a smaller area. Can you choose an "overstuffed sectional" or do you need to look for a "loveseat"? If you have a balcony to decorate, you'll also need to consider the weight of your overall garden display. Spend time thinking about the goals for your planting. Maybe you want to expand the livability of a tiny balcony with privacy screening...or maximize the visual impact of an outdoor entertainment area. Create a budget for your project, as that will definitely guide your choices. Limited budgets simply mean that you'll implement your grand plan in phases...so get creative to save money! Understand the Genius of Your Space Plants have different care requirements. How cold are your winters? Are your summers hot and dry or is the humidity off the charts? Type in your Zip Code on any of our plant product pages. Look at the top of the Plant Highlights for our Zone Finder to see which hardiness Zone you live in. Plants that are rated for Zones warmer than your hometown can still be enjoyed for a single season as an annual for a single season. You might be able to winterize them in a sheltered spot for reuse next year, too. Zone hardy plants for your area can be left outside in winter. This gives you a huge advantage when you want a container garden that works all year-long. Check to see how much sunlight your selected spot receives. Full sun means six or more hours of direct light a day; while full shade means no more than two hours of light a day. Containers in full sun will likely need more supplemental water; and small containers dry out faster than larger ones. Consider collecting rainwater as part of your overall design...plants love it! Now, It's Time to Add Creative Structure Garden styles—like couches—are a reflection of their owners. After all, couches come in purple velvet, leather or floral chintz for a reason. What is your garden personality? Take a look and see what best describes the look you want to achieve: Vibrant colors and a fun and funky vibe Elegant with a high-end feeling of sophistication Laid back country grace and charm Over the top, unforgettably romantic Sultry, dark and mysterious Spare and streamlined with clean architectural lines Practical, yet brimming with vital foodstuff for you and your family to enjoy eating The key to a container garden that works all season is selecting the "hardscape", which includes the pots. You might also want to successfully incorporate props into the scene for a look that lasts through the winter. Do you have a passion for the past? Look for old ladders, bicycles, wheelbarrows, wagon wheels, toy wagons and so much more to set the stage. Urban objects also make incredible accents. Scour architectural salvage shops for columns and plinths to use as effective plant stands or to add a vertical element. Garden artwork doesn't need to be huge, heavy or expensive to make a big impact. Follow your fancy on these engaging style elements, which can be changed out each season...like throw cushions on your couch! Planters come in all shapes and sizes, too. Materials range from budget-friendly polyurethane foam and resin; to wooden barrels to brushed aluminum...and no one says you can't mix and match. Amass a meaningful collection over time; or seek out a trio of pots offered in a range of sizes. If you are handy...why not try your hand at creating custom "hypertufa" troughs for the cost of a few bags of concrete, perlite and peat moss? With Pinterest as an inspiration, anything goes to bring your vision to life! People are drilling out stumps and cross-stacking concrete blocks to fill the holes with plants. Incorporate privacy screening into your plantings with DIY trellising. Use a fun outdoor mirror to brighten a dim corner,  Steal ideas from other genres to work in a fresh new way. Have a classical Greek statue hold a hanging Blueberry plant over her arm for a unique twist on an Edible Landscape. Try a prefab vertical planting ladder on the side of your front door. Or group a series of wooden half-barrels along your driveway to grow a Butterfly Garden. Put together a balanced composition that works at all levels. Hanging planters, wall planters, and ground-level planters give plenty of opportunities to keep your eyes moving over the design. Rely on one enormous planter for a focus point. Or group several patio containers together for a versatile display. Adding durable elements make all the difference throughout the seasons. Vertical accents like tuteurs, towers and trellis look great in winter, and add height in a narrow footprint. Don't forget the exterior lights! You'll love extending the appeal into the evening hours, and you've got so many choices to fit your budget. You can also go modular by using several containers, and keep them on plant caddies with wheels. Then, arrange your pots as each plant takes its turn to shine.  Choose a potting mix that works for your selected plants. Blueberries need an acid-loving plant mix, for instance. Study our #ProPlantTips on the product page, or in our blog or YouTube channel for more information on the soil requirements. Email us at [email protected] with questions, too! Plants Bring it All Together Now you understand the growing conditions you can offer, and have assembled the hardscape components together. It's finally time to look at all the lovely plants we offer at NatureHills.com! The key to a successful year-round container is to consider the seasons of interest. Winter interest plants add structure and privacy, spring bulbs bring welcome color, summer blooms spice things up and fall color or berries round out the display. If your budget allows, you can follow the footsteps of commercial property and shop to switch plants out regularly through each season. We recommend that you start with a more permanent "Thriller" like one of our evergreen topiary. Plant your favorite perennials to fill in the edges. Select both late spring bloomers and some that shine later in the season. Don't forget Ornamental Grasses! You'll love their modern lines which look good from summer all the way through winter!. Keep things fresh with small plants added to spill over the sides of the pot. Check out our Groundcovers and Vines for beautiful blooms and winter interest! Spring-flowering bulbs can be tucked into just about any container in fall! Add successive spring bulbs from early Hyacinth and Snowbells to Tulips. Best Evergreens for Containers Dress up long-lasting containers with cold-hardy evergreen trees and shrubs that are handsome, steadfast and durable. This durable option will deliver year-long color and can be dressed for the Holidays with lights and outdoor ornaments. Sky Pencil Holly provides a vertical accent, and is a great choice for balcony containers. It's narrow profile fits beautifully in a small space partnered with a dramatic mix of Blackout Coral Bells and Silver Heart Brunnera. Dwarf Alberta Spruce can be used naturally as a green pyramid; or, take advantage of the expert care we take with our line of fanciful topiary. This tree is a spectacular contrast to golden groundcovers like Golden Creeping Jenny. Specialty, slow-growing evergreens like Green Penguin Dwarf Scots Pine adds a fun pop of personality. Papoose Sitka Spruce would make a wonderful companion in a matching pot, wouldn't it? Even trees that get huge start small, and most can be enjoyed for years in containers. Look for dwarf options like Baker's Blue Colorado Spruce for the best results!  You can also choose broad-leaved evergreens for a brilliant display. Colorful Kaleidoscope Abelia would make a fabulous addition to your patio or porch, and don't forget SUNSPARKLER Angelina's Teacup Sedum to polish the edges. Tough Yucca adds a sculptural accent. Include Color Guard Yucca as a showy backdrop for Apricot Drift ® Groundcover Rose...or keep it in it's own single species container. Best Ornamental Grasses for Containers Ornamental Grasses look great as single species containers, but the pots must be deep enough to accommodate their roots. Prune them in spring, then watch them rebound for a natural look you'll appreciate for years. Stay cool with the steely-blue tones of The Blues Little Bluestem Grass. Let petite, vivid Boulevard Alaina Clematis drape down the side of the pot and clamber through the grass. Keep things crisp and clean with Karl Foerster Feather Reed Grass. They'll pair well with the showy foliage of Cutting Edge Foamflower and extended bloomers like Little Goldstar Black-Eyed Susan. Bring motion to your space with Northern Sea Oats Grass. Contrast their grace with sturdy Chocolate Chip Ajuga and Alma Potschke Aster. Best Shrubs for Containers Who can resist the bold charms of shrubs? Many of our best-selling shrubs make incredible "Thrillers" for outdoor containers.  Consider them a family pet for a long-lasting love affair. Seek out dwarf varieties with petite mature size for the best results over time...although you can certainly prune to keep the size in check. Welcome spring with the brightly-laden arched branches of Show Off® Sugar Baby Forsythia.Pair it with evergreen foliage interest Emerald 'n Gold Wintercreeper and flowering Creme Brulee Coreopsis. Perhaps we're biased, but nothing beats the smell of Dwarf Korean Lilac! Complete the look with gorgeous patio Boulevard Sarah Elizabeth Clematis.to add delicate swagger. Add long-lasting fiery color with Black Diamond® Red Hot® Crape Myrtle kept short with pruning. Use a marvelous contrast like fuzzy Helene Von Stein Lambs Ear to fill around the base. Make your favorite compact Hydrangea a "Thriller" for a summertime accent. Here, we've filtered the search results by Height to select some fabulous cultivars for container culture...enjoy! Best Fruiting Plants for Containers People all across the country are literally hungry to grow fruiting plants for their families. Although it's not easy to keep up with this demand, our growers take pride in helping you make homegrown fruit part of your life! Columnar fruit trees are natural dwarves that stay quite narrow. They'll add a vertical accent, flowers and delectable fruit! Naturally small fruiting trees and bushes fit very well into containers. You can also prune for size control using summer pruning techniques! Be sure to look at our High Density planting blogs and videos for tips and tricks. These days, anyone with access to sunshine can produce a harvest to enjoy with family and friends! Best Perennials for Containers Use a series of containers to keep a single species planting of native plants for a fresh and modern look. Who says you need to own your home to plant a Butterfly Garden? Look for Extended Bloom perennials to create a Cottage Garden in containers. Early season Blue Hill Salvia pairs beautifully with mid-season Pocket Full of Gold Daylily and late season Sapphire Aster.  All of our drought tolerant, heat tolerant Lavenders last a long time in pots with plenty of drainage holes and full sun. Start a collection of these lovely plants for marvelously fragrant flowers and gray-green foliage. Shade or partial shade is an environmental challenge. Luckily, we offer a plethora of shade loving options to choose from...Hosta, Heuchera Coral Bells and Astilbe are some of your choices! Try a color scheme for a restful outdoor experience. Moon Gardens feature pale blooms that catch the moonlight...kick back and enjoy your space!

We’ve all been somewhere that clearly doesn’t have a windbreak, standing around taking the full brunt of whatever the weather has decided to do on any given day. Sometimes that’s a light spring breeze, and other times you’re getting walloped in the face by a full-on windstorm. This is why many people will plant rows of trees around the edges of their property. It’ll provide a bit of privacy and it’ll reduce wind and other elements. There are a couple of different routes you can take when it comes to planning your perfect windbreak rows. The most obvious choice is to fill your border with conifer trees and evergreen trees. Since they won’t lose their foliage in the winter, they make a great reprieve from cold winter winds. It may seem counter-intuitive to plant deciduous trees in your windbreak, given that they have no leaves in the winter when they come into the most use. However, using deciduous trees in your windbreak provides you with shade in the summer and creates a more diverse planting. Having increased diversity helps prevent the total devastation of your windbreak should one species be impacted by disease or other natural causes, along with providing habitat for wildlife. .blogListCaption { text-decoration: underline; } Ohio Buckeye At maturity, Ohio buckeye trees (Aesculus glabra) typically reach 40 to 50 feet tall and spread approximately 30 to 40 feet. As one of the first trees to leaf out in the spring, this tree will give your windbreak a push into greening up for the year. Along with bright green leaves, yellow flowers attract pollinators and hummingbirds. They’ll flutter from flower to flower and continue on to your garden, where you can watch them while lounging on the patio! Come fall, the foliage turns bright orange, and hard seeds develop. Thinking of putting together some family pictures? A tree line including a couple of these would make a fantastic background!. Best planted in zones 4 - 7, Ohio buckeye is sure to provide some eye-catching color to your windbreak with very little additional maintenance required! SHOP NOW Kentucky Coffeetree Kentucky Coffeetrees (Gymnocladus dioica) are unique and exciting species to have in your tree rows and we’re not just talking about its fun name. It’ll weather strong wind and take on late spring storms like they’re nothing. The dark, furrowed bark will provide depth and interest to your windbreak in every season, and the persisting brown seedpods create an interesting silhouette against the winter sky. In the spring the leaves emerge, reaching up to three feet in length and small white flowers contrast beautifully. In the fall, this native’s leaves will turn a light yellow shade before dropping all at once. A once over with the rake is all it’ll take to clean up after it in the fall. With the potential to reach 60 to 70 feet tall in ideal conditions, Kentucky coffeetree thrives in zones 3 - 8. Place it somewhere you can enjoy the shade it gives in the summer! SHOP NOW Greenspire Linden An extremely adaptable tree, Greenspire Lindens (Tilia cordata 'Greenspire') will thrive in your windbreak. It’s hardy and highly adaptable to urban environments so you can use it on the street facing borders of your landscape. Bright yellow flowers in early summer fill the air with a pleasant scent, and the green leaves turn a similar shade of yellow in the fall. The dense foliage will provide shade in the summer, and the branches will help slow the wind in the winter. Best planted in zones 4-7, and reaching 50 feet tall at maturity, Greenspire Linden will adapt to whatever conditions your windbreak has. SHOP NOW Douglas Fir When you think of a North American windbreak staple, fir trees, along with white pines, Norway Spruces, and often Colorado Blue Spruces, come to mind first. How could they not with their countless benefits? Douglas Fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) sports soft green needles and an overall upright, pyramidal shape that adds a regal element to your tree rows. Deer seem to leave this tree alone for the most part, meaning one less thing for you to worry about! Try decorating this tree with lights and ornaments in the winter to create the perfect winter wonderland to match the holiday cheer. Hardy from zones 4-6, adding a Douglas Fir to your windbreak is a no-brainer! SHOP NOW Green Giant Arborvitae Green Giant Arborvitae (Thuja standishii x plicata 'Green Giant') has become a homeowner favorite for its fast-growing nature along with its prim and proper growing habit. Many will use this as a living privacy screen but it’ll also make a delightful windbreak! Its foliage consists of green feathery sprays that start at the base and extend upward along the entire tree. Space them 5 - 6 feet apart trunk to trunk when planting by themselves. However, including them in your diverse windbreaker planting adds texture and can fill in potential gaps quite nicely. Preferring moist, well-drained soils, this tree thrives best in zones 5-8. Grab a few of these before we run out for the season! SHOP NOW Evergreens might be the staple, but deciduous trees provide another source of diversity for your windbreak, increasing its effectiveness in the summer and providing necessary habitat for local wildlife. Each of these trees will thrive in your windbreak, so be sure to consider them when designing. Happy Gardening!

Who needs a Hawaiian or Bahamas resort vacation every blue moon when you can be fully engulfed into a homemade destination hub each and every day?  Of course we would all be quick to say “Heck, take me to Hawaii!” But sit back and really think on it.  Truth be told, the simple and more relaxing joys come from being in your own space on your own time. And to make the backyard a little more worthwhile, we have put together the ideal guide to creating a destination spot in the landscape. So..relax, read and merely enjoy creating a backyard paradise.  Dress Up Your Deck By defining different areas within a deck space, even small backyards can be easily positioned to an outdoor oasis. A variety of different levels can be used to outline spaces that are meant for dining or others that are made for relaxing.  While dinner is sizzling on the grill in the corner, you can be sippin a glass of hot tea while reading a good book on the top level of the deck non-bothered by the surroundings.  To make things even more relaxing, use luxurious vines softly draped upon a canopy and a few container trees angled purposefully to envelope the surrounding garden onto the deck.  This will further help blend the deck into the landscape’s natural beauty!  Establish The Ideal Patio Patios can be many things. But a hot slab of blank concrete basking in the sun should not be one of them! Instead, think of a patio as a welcoming extension of your home.  It’s a gathering space for family holidays, a hangout spot for nights with friends, and it can even be an individualized area made for enjoying cool breezes and crisp fresh air.  Consider adding color and texture to your “outdoor room” by replacing the boring concrete with an elegant brick or stone. The natural look of your home should carry out onto the patio!  Adding outdoor rugs, tropical plants, and landscape lighting can make a huge difference too. Then, decorate with a raised bed or two pleasantly home growing fruit bushes right next to the patio. Feel free to pluck a berry here and there for a mid-afternoon snack, we won’t tell!  Patio trees will gladly light up the outdoor space with color to add to the backyard getaway too! Spice It Up With An Outdoor Kitchen Landscape designers are seen more and more adding outdoor kitchens to a backyard and there is no wonder why! If you’re grilling spring through fall or you enjoy taking lunches or dinners outdoors, an outside kitchen is for you. We know what you’re thinking, adding a kitchen is quite the project to take on! However, a simple countertop addition for prepping food and a side burner will take the outdoor cooking experience to the next level in a heartbeat.  Looking for more ways to create the ideal outdoor dining establishment? Add in a small refrigerator and sink! The trip inside will no longer be needed. The cycle of fruit from garden to plate won’t even have to leave the outdoors anymore. Create Privacy Paradise only truly feels like an oasis if a sense of enclosure can be felt. This way an unbelievable feeling of relaxation can take its place! But plastic fences and walls make you feel boxed in and don’t allow natural wildlife to prosper. The good news: plants are known for creating privacy while adding in visual interests.  Grow rows and hedges of elegant looking privacy trees in a backyard landscape so that you can not only enjoy their beauty but also enjoy the beauty of peaceful serenity.  Invent Your Own Shady Spots A little shade here and there never hurt anyone, even those who relish in the sun. In fact, you’ll find yourself enjoying the fresh air even more if you can provide relief from the sun in some areas.  Our personal favorite shady spot is a colorful hammock strategically placed under a mature shade tree or two. The slight sway back and forth while gazing up at the sun beams glistening on the leaves is a peaceful sight to lose time in.  But, retractable awnings or a trellis fully draped with vines will do the trick too! Furnish With A Purpose When it comes to furnishing outdoor areas, the choices seem to be endless. The style of cushions, the different layouts, and the various materials used can all make or break the newly backyard designed destination.  Above all, furnish for comfort and durability. Swinging chairs and hammocks enjoy being placed where the natural outdoors can surround them. But the patio and deck will want to have weatherproof dining areas, stools with backs, and furniture with cushions. Arrange Outdoor Lighting When it comes to vacations and getaways, the fun always continues after the sun sets. It should be no different in the backyard! Outdoor lighting illuminates the hard work placed into the garden design and provides ambient lighting for activities that stretch pass the sun.  For the kitchen and dining space, you’ll need great task lighting that brings ease to the work areas. Steps and walkways should have a runway of lighting following a strict path for safety. Drape strands of lights from tree to tree to create a true paradise feel too!  O go for a two-in-one with a large solar lamp that has a planter plot for a base. A few of these placed around your destination yard are sure to provide ample enough of lighting while looking exquisite.  Wallmount downlights, solar powered lamps, and accent lights also will do the trick! The combination of mixed lighting sources will make your backyard destination a magical place. Bring On The Amenities You can never go wrong with too many amenities, especially when they create the utopia of backyards!  Fountains use the soothing sound of trickling water to provide a relaxing sensation. They also can serve as a major focal point that neighbors will simply be in awe by when over for a visit.  If you’re feeling ambitious, a swimming pool is sure to add joy and happiness while adding yet another feature of a well organized vacation.  Fireplaces and firepits are a MUST when it comes to being outdoors. How else will you make positively delicious s’mores? Not only do they provide a source of heat and lighting, but they make a great starting point for an outdoor kitchen.  It’s a known classic that a well lit fire pit is the go-to gathering space for all things outside! Not to mention, it’ll feel like you’re camping in a historic national park on a fine summer’s day evening. Lastly, accessorize the new and improved backyard with garden decor of all types! These small final touches will turn an ordinary patio into a welcoming outdoor living space for all ages.  So what is there to be waiting for? Your backyard destination spot is just around the corner and soon enough, paradise will be found in the comfort of your own yard!

Best of the Best Front Yard Trees Your front yard is the place where your guests and neighbors make their first impression about your house, so having a tree in the front yard that makes a statement is essential. Having a tree with large leaves and little to no fruit or seeds dropping makes yard clean-ups much easier, but there's no need to sacrifice the beauty of trees for something utilitarian. Consider some of these trees for that perfect front-yard pop that is sure to make a statement all year round. { box-sizing: border-box; } .row { margin-left:-5px; margin-right:-5px; } .column { float: left; width: 50%; padding: 5px; } /* Clearfix (clear floats) */ .row::after { content: ""; clear: both; display: table; } table { border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0; width: 100%; border: 0px solid #ddd; } th, td { text-align: left; padding: 16px; text-weight:400px; } tr:nth-child(even) { background-color: #f2f2f2; text-weight:400px; } /* Responsive layout - makes the two columns stack on top of each other instead of next to each other on screens that are smaller than 600 px */ @media screen and (max-width: 600px) { .column { width: 100%; } } Bloodgood Japanese Maple Red foliage is one of those aspects that turn heads and always stands out, regardless of the season. Bloodgood Japanese Maple has that stunning red foliage, not only in the fall but also in the spring and summer. Because it only grows 15 to 20 feet in height and width, it is an excellent choice to include in your small front yard. It won't overshadow everything, and you'll be able to look out your window and enjoy the purple-red foliage and delicate branches year-round. Since it is more tolerant of (and even prefers) part-shade environments, you can put it in places where other trees may not thrive as well, including closer to your house. Planting a Bloodgood Japanese Maple with other green-foliage plants will really help it to pop and turn heads. SHOP NOW Chaste Tree Blue is not a color that is easily found in flowers, and it's even more challenging in trees. But the Chaste Tree (Vitex agnus-castus) will provide those blue flowers in a season when it seems like everything is only green - summer. With a maximum size of 15-25 feet in any given direction, this tree is sure to provide your front yard with some summer color and a boost in curb appeal. When it is not blooming, enjoy the grey-green foliage and in the winter, the beautiful branch structure. Tolerant of less-than-perfect environments, the Chaste Tree is a tree that is sure to please all year round, and make your house the most noticeable on the block! SHOP NOW Weeping Cherry Cherries are known for their beautiful flowers in the spring, and this tree is no exception. In addition to the flowers, this tree's branches cascade toward the ground, creating an exceptional and interesting sight. Growing to approximately 25 feet at full maturity, a weeping cherry (Prunus pendula 'Pendula Plena Rosea') will be sure to be the talk of the neighborhood. As an added bonus, the weeping branching pattern creates a space that is perfect for a playhouse as they mature and get close to sweeping the ground. Plant in full sun and well drained soil for the happiest tree. Then sit back and enjoy the pink flowers in the spring and the distinctive form of this deciduous tree throughout the rest of the year. All of these trees bring a bit of character to your front yard. From purple foliage in the spring and summer to flowers in a brilliant blue to branches that sweep the ground, there is sure to be a tree perfect for your front yard. Enjoy the beauty these trees provide and be sure to be the talk of the neighborhood! SHOP NOW All of these trees bring a bit of character to your front yard. From purple foliage in the spring and summer to flowers in a brilliant blue to branches that sweep the ground, there is sure to be a tree perfect for your front yard. Enjoy the beauty these trees provide and be sure to be the talk of the neighborhood! Best of the Best Backyard Trees Having trees in your backyard not only shade your house but also provide a space for playing and relaxing on hot summer days. Consider using these trees in your backyard for a shady, enjoyable environment, even in the heat of summer. Brandywine Maple Tree Most people think of maples and think of the seeds that pile up and clog gutters. Brandywine maple is a tree with only male flowers in the spring, meaning there are no pesky seeds to clean up. In addition, Brandywine maple (Acer rubrum) turns gorgeous reddish-purple in the fall, providing you with color that can't be found anywhere else. With a mature size of 25 feet tall by 15 feet wide, it is the perfect size for a backyard where you want some shade but don't want the entire yard engulfed by a tree. Plant This beauty in your backyard and enjoy the cool shade it offers throughout the summer! SHOP NOW American Beech Native plants are all the rage these days so why not add a spectacular native shade tree to your backyard with American Beech (Fagus grandifolia). The dark green foliage has a leathery texture with an irregular margin that provides dense shade all summer long. Enjoy the interesting smooth bark that keeps itself wrinkle-free as it ages. People, as well as the local wildlife, will be charmed and drawn to delicious and nutritious beech nuts this tree will produce periodically once it reaches maturity. Place them along your property line, or in a low-lying "holler" to create a special getaway on your property. Add a picnic area, fire pit or campground placed to the north and east of their shade. SHOP NOW Shumard Oak Tree Oak trees not only make great shade trees but also provide wildlife with plenty of habitat. Shumard oak is a spectacular oak tree, because of its stature (up to 90 feet tall and 60 feet wide at maturity), and its fall color. Unlike most oaks, Shumard oak turns a brilliant red in the fall, rivaling the maples and other trees. The acorns reach up to an inch in size, making them perfect for wildlife and for young imaginations. While these trees all would look beautiful in both your front and back yards, these trees will make a stellar addition to your backyard, especially in an area where you want some shade without major cleanup when the leaves fall. Planting a Bloodgood Japanese Maple with other green-foliage plants will really help it to pop and turn heads. SHOP NOW In addition to the great color and shade, there are plenty of opportunities for imaginative minds to find unique adventures in the canopy. Consider using one of these trees in your backyard landscape and enjoy the unique benefits they provide. Happy Gardening