For centuries before cities and suburbs began to develop, trees and other plants had been supporting local ecosystems’ key wildlife in many different ways. Be it shelter, a meal or even just some shade on a hot day, the abundance of plants on this green Earth of ours kept the circle of life rolling. In modern cities and towns, however, it can be difficult for modern birds to find these sources of food and shelter like they could decades prior. This usually leads to a lack of certain species of birds in an area, or even very sparse populations of these species in general. We here at Nature Hills can help bring back the birds to your backyard! Birdwatchers and nature enthusiasts alike need only to browse our stock to find an assortment of trees and other plants that look amazing while also supporting your local avian wildlife. Qualities to Support the Ecosystem For plants to be able to support a bird’s survival needs they need to have a few key properties. These can be summed up in 3 parts: can this plant feed these birds, can it feed them all year round, and can they use this plant as shelter? First, food; attracting birds is a good starting goal, but to keep your local feathered friends in the neighborhood it’s important to keep them well fed! Later in this article we will explore all the unexpected ways plants can provide food for birds.Next, how long is this food going to last? Since not all non-migratory birds are predators, keeping your local birds healthy and fed through the winter is something to keep in mind in colder parts of the country. Finally, shelter. If they decide to stick around, these beautiful birdies will need a place to spend the night. Make sure to grow plants that provide adequate bird friendly shelter so they can settle down during the warmer months (if you’re lucky, they may even start a family before your very eyes!) Importance of Native Plants While there are quite a few differences between the services flowers, trees and shrubs provide your local avifauna, it is important to make sure that you are planting flora native to your region. Foreign plants are attractive and usually hardy, but when introduced to a new environment it can affect food sources in the area. Particular insects have adapted over time to only subsist off of particular trees. In turn, local birds have learned to seek out these trees for particular six-legged snacks. Plants native to your area also have an all-around better chance of survival due to their natural adaptation to the environment. Better survivability means less maintenance for you and more reliable food and shelter for the area’s birds! Nature Hills Nursery already has more information about native plants ready for you! Read more about the importance of and how to use native plants in your landscape in this article! Fruit, Seeds and Protein The most common sources of food for birds are the naturally occurring reproductive sources these flora produce in part for birds! Berries, fruit and seeds are all excellent meals for local fliers, and some of these plants will be able to grow anew when the bird is… well, “finished” with its meal. One thing to keep in mind is that while certain plants won’t produce food throughout the year that doesn’t mean they won’t help a hungry bird find a meal. Sometimes plants being able to support other, smaller wildlife is enough! Certain trees, such as Oak trees, do a great job of supporting a wide variety of an ecosystem’s smaller wildlife such as caterpillars and other grub like insects. Birds love their insect protein, and in turn, will flock to these trees in search of a wiggly meal to bring home to the kids. Copious nectar attracts hummingbirds without the need for an expensive feeder as well! Plants and trees whose flowers bear nectar are sure to feed dozens and dozens of hummingbirds over their lifetimes. Examples of Native Plants Due to the vast plant variety of the United States, the term “native” can mean both native to the country and native to a particular area of the country. Due to this discrepancy, we recommend that interested growers do some research to find varieties of plants native to their immediate area for the best results. Our stock does include many plants native to a majority of the United States, however! Here are just a few of the examples of widely native trees, shrubs and flowers available on our online store: Purple Coneflower: (Echinacea purpurea) A two-for-one special for any eating birds, the Purple Coneflower is a widespread plains native. Hardy and drought tolerant, this flower provides both tasty seeds birds love and attracts a wide variety of bugs for an avian’s protein needs. Great Blue Lobelia: (Lobelia siphilitica) A late-blooming cousin of the Cardinal Flower, the Great Blue Lobelia bears dense blue spikes of flowers. Full of nectar, the long-lasting droops of flowers make for a great treat to local hummingbirds. Gatsby Pink Oakleaf Hydrangea: (Hydrangea quercifolia Gatsby Pink®) A flowering shrub with dense clusters of white pink flowers, the Gatsby Pink Oakleaf Hydrangea’s thick foliage provides great shelter to birds. The seeds of the plant’s blooms also provide food as the summer closes. Red Sprite Holly: (Ilex verticillata) The compact deciduous shrub Red Sprite Holly provides not only several seasons of interest but several seasons of meals as well! Its red berries grow in the fall and last well into winter, but it is important to note this female plant needs a male partner to bear fruit at all. Nordic Inkberry: (Ilex glabra 'Chamzin') Nordic Inkberry shrubs are a cousin of the holly plant with similar qualities of long-lasting berries. This makes for a great source of food in winter when the bugs lose their prominence. Oak Trees: (Quercus L.) A medium to large sized tree, Oak trees provide many advantages to a bird’s survival. From a place to nest to a source of food in the way of seeds and insects, Oak trees native to your region make for a great contribution to the local avian ecosystem. Nature Hills Nursery has a wider variety of plants available for your avian supporting needs available from our store. Feel free to check our store again after some research of what plants are native to your region! Growing plants to help your local ecosystem is admirable and fulfilling. We applaud anyone attempting these growing pursuits and wish you the best of luck! Happy Gardening!

But First, The Basics We get it, you’re excited! We are too. However, if this is your first time testing out the gardening waters, let’s not dive straight in to breaking ground. It is important to consider sizing, location, and the soil. Fruit and vegetable gardens can be tough to manage, so we recommend starting the size out small with a few plants here and there. Smaller areas are easier to manage and maintain compared to a large overfilling garden. Don’t worry, you can still flex your gardening skills without feeling like it has become a chore. And once you have had a season or two of experience, feel free to broaden your gardening horizons. Deciding location is one of the most essential considerations as several edible ornamental plants need a lot of sunlight throughout the day. Plants like to eat too!  If your location is either full sun or partial shade, you will need to cater your garden plants to fit that area.  Lastly, the soil needs to be fresh and full of nutrients in order to receive a good crop. Compost, mulch, and other soil amendments can help with keeping it that way.  Knowing the soil fertility is a good idea to start and you might want to check with your local extension office to see if they do soil testing (usually a nominal fee). Our Favorite Edible Gardening Designs Raised Beds The most obvious form of edible gardening is conducted by having raised beds. They help correct several of the most cliche garden mistakes such as poor soil, overgrown weeds, and even uneven slopes.  While the classic raised beds have wooden borders, they can actually be made out of any garden safe material to match your wanted outdoor decor! They remind us of mini kitchen gardens.  If you are looking for more than enough crop each season for your fruits and vegetables, garden beds allow you to easily monitor the soil that is rich in nutrients.  Additionally, you’ll never need to step on the soil, so the roots will continue to thrive. Soil compaction is one of the biggest problems with home gardening. A few tips for success that we suggest is to size them properly, so that you don’t have to strain yourself to reach every plant. And be sure to pick a location with lots of sun that is sheltered from strong winds.  You’ll want to fill them with quality soil as well to ensure that you get the most out of your gardening experience. Last but certainly not least, get inspired with your raised beds to create a truly unique experience! Garden Delicious Apple (Malus pumila 'Garden Delicious') trees are natural dwarfs allowing them to be grown in larger raised beds where you can easily pick a couple or more of those crisp, sweet, apples. Oh and you’ll love their beautiful spring blossoms! Fruit Bushes are a hit when it comes to raised beds whether it is blackberries, blueberries, or raspberries! They each make a sweet snack when you snag a couple. Plus, you don’t have to break your back when bending over to pick berries! Garden Trellis For your vining fruits and vegetables, as well as added spice to your garden, feel free to add in a trellis or two. It is no question that they will be the focal point of the garden! Your trellis can be as high or as low as you wish; they can be homemade or bought from the store too. Any size, shape, color, and design can be picked out to fit your style. Just make sure that the tops are reinforced to ensure they don’t tend to bow in.  Our favorite aspect of this edible gardening design tip is you can enjoy a good book under the shade supplied by your tunnels while being entertained by hummingbirds and butterflies!  Even more so, a garden trellis can be appreciated in either the front yard or space in the backyard. Containers A variety of edible plants can easily grow in all types of containers, which adds to any outdoor plant design! Not to mention, they make it easy to save space in gardens, on patios, and elsewhere.  If you’re new to planting in containers, a quick tip for success is to pick the correct plant varieties and keep quality sized containers. You’ll want to use high quality soil, compost, and mulch! Wondering which plants give you the best shot at large crops? We have provided a few choices right here in this blog! Sunshine Blue Blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum 'Sunshine Blue') is round and compact making it the ideal choice for a container fruit! Since it needs a higher pH soil, the container makes it simple to control the quality of the soil. This self-fruiting blueberry even provides a healthy breakfast choice during season.  Both our Dwarf Meyer Lemon (Citrus limon 'Meyer Improved') and Pix Zee Peach (Prunus persica 'Pix Zee') trees can be grown in larger containers for an edible ornamental in your landscape! Enjoy sweet tasting fruit in a pretty pot sitting right outside on your patio, balcony, or porch.  More Edible Gardening Favorites The Double Delight Nectarine (Prunus persica var.nucipersica 'Double Delight') is very popular in home gardens for its richly flavored nectarines and year round attractive foliage. It loves to be in the sun and is a lovely backdrop for the landscape! Red Baron Peach (Prunus 'Red Baron') is both ornamental and self fruitful, making it one of the best edible trees to have in a landscape. This tree doesn’t fret when you give it a small trim either!  Lapins Cherry (Prunus avium 'Lapins') produces some of the largest and juiciest sweet tasting cherries, which is exactly why it should be included in an edible garden. This tree is self fruitful and can be pruned to be any size you wish! The Warren Pear (Pyrus 'Warren') is a semi-dwarf tree that is able to grow pears where it is normally hard to do so. Since it is medium sized, this tree works wonderfully inside containers.  The York Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis 'York') produces one of the largest berries that is perfect for both feeding birds and your family! It can also double as a flowering privacy screen in any landscape. Enjoy its large harvests within the edible garden.  Regent Saskatoon Serviceberry (Amelanchier alnifolia 'Regent') is a native shrub that loves to produce delicious berries and grow attractive Spring flowers! It will even attract pollinators to your garden too.  Edible gardening continues to be wildly popular and working edibles into the landscape is still all the rage these days. Join the trend and start building the garden of your most wonderful dreams!

Extra extra! Read all about the hottest, newest varieties of blueberries here at Nature Hills.  Before you elect to decide that these small blue bundles of joy aren’t your forte, read below and don’t miss a beat in your fruit garden! Wait, There Is More Than One Type Of Blueberry? Yes! In fact, there are about 5 types that hold the status of most common in the fruit world. Those include Lowbush, Northern Highbush, Southern Highbush, Rabbiteye, and Half-High! So now your question is most likely along the lines of  “Which type do I want?” No need to fret, we’ve got it lined out simple for you.  Lowbush The Lowbush variety is basically the cousin at family gatherings that no one knows the name of or how they are related to you. But when you get to know them, they are delightful! Many of this variety is grown wild instead of in gardens; however, that doesn’t mean it can’t grow in yours. They love the cold, acid soil, and sandy grounds. This makes them a tad bit high maintenance.  Their candy-sweet, intense blueberry flavor makes it all worth it in the end! Lowbushes are excellent choices for baking, eating, and freezing. Even enjoy dried blueberries.  Northern Highbush These blueberry varieties are native to the northeastern and eastern areas of the United States. You may have seen these around as they are the most popular in several areas for home and commercial gardening. They can be a little high maintenance as they do require the most consistent pruning compared to the others. But don’t let that scare you away!  They take joy in producing dark indigo fruit that gushes with a sweet fulfilling taste that has a hint of tanginess to it. This taste is unique when baking and cooking! The Cabernet Splash (Vaccinium corymbosum ‘VacBri1') is an award winning Northern Highbush for its four-season interest and ornamental, but edible stature.  Be sure to plant it next to another Northern Highbush like the Pink Icing Blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum 'ZF06-079)' for double the fun and double the fruit as they are self-pollinating.  Or even appreciate this blueberry bush in a container where you can casually pick a berry or two for an afternoon snack! Interested in learning how? Check out our blog on growing blueberries in containers. Southern Highbush This variety is a combination of the Northern Highbush and the Rabbiteye, giving it extreme fruit quality as well as the ability to withstand heat and winters.  Usually the Southern Highbush is grown in the middle, lower, and coastal South of the United States. These areas love the burst of sweet flavor that these berries bring! Rabbiteye Wildly popular in the Southern parts of the United States, Rabbiteye varieties are known for their super power of not attracting any major pests upon them and producing an abundance of berries. This extraordinary plant requires the proper soil. For solid growth, the pH of the soil needs to be between 4.0 and 5.0 and no higher or lower. However, they don’t require loads of pruning, so enjoy it! A quick tip from one gardener to another, leave these blueberries on the bush until they are fully ripened or you will be tasting bitter fruit.  Bless Your Heart (Vaccinium ashei ‘Alapaha’) and its partner Takes The Cake (Vaccinium ashei ‘Vernon’) are the powerhouses of Rabbiteye varieties because of their ability to sustain heat.  They taste delicious in early morning blueberry pancakes, a quick fruit salad snack, or even straight off the bush itself! Not to mention their ability to provide a modern ornamental look to a garden as well. Half-High This variety is a cross between highbush and lowbush, so they often get called the ‘natural hybrid’ of blueberries. Its intermediate height sets it apart from the rest; however, it still loves to grow in the same areas as its makers.  They are self-fruitful, but fancy having a friend by their side to encourage them to grow a surplus of yields! If you have the space, why not add to the blueberry production party? The best of the Half-High is our Perpetua Bush (Vaccinium x “ORUS-61-1’) as it is ornamental, but also produces not one, but TWO yields of fruit a year. Talk about a bonus! Be ready to enjoy sweet tasting berries in the Summer and Fall. So go ahead, bake that extra blueberry pie, you’ve got plenty of fruit to satisfy your sweet tooth.  Blueberry Glaze (Vaccinium x ‘ZF08-095’) would look impeccable next to the Perpetua with its fragrant, white flowers and deep blue fruits. These two are like peas in a pod!  The Health Benefits You Can Gain It’s no secret that fruits are very beneficial for a healthy body and mind. Isn’t that what our parents always lectured about when we refused to eat them as kids? All fruits have their own specialties, but blueberries are the reigning champs as one of the healthiest foods on Earth. They have a little bit of everything packed into them. From merely eating a bowl of blueberries, you’ll benefit from the following:  They are low in calories, but high in nutrients. With fiber, Vitamin C, Vitamin K,  Manganese, and more stuffed into one petitie fruit, blueberries are extremely healthy.  Believed to have among one of the highest levels of antioxidant capacities, blueberries are labeled the ‘King.’ This helps protect your body against free radicals like chronic diseases and aging.  They have the ability to lower blood pressure, which limits the risk of heart diseases. Blueberries also help improve memory and brain functions that are essential for intelligence.  What To Do If You Can’t Eat All Your Blueberries With the above bushes, you’ll have fruit coming out of your nose in no time! So what happens when you pick too many berries and don’t have the appetite to eat them all? Have no fear, there are multiple ways that you can savor your blueberries to give you more time to prepare for another round.  Popping your batch into an airtight container after a proper wash and complete dry, is an option for keeping them fresh for about a week. Be sure to place them in a spot within the fridge that is circulated well with air.  Need something that is going to last a little longer than a week? Freezing them is a second option for you. We recommend spreading your berries out on a baking sheet to firm up in the freezer for a couple of hours.  After that, feel free to transfer them into a container or plastic bag that fits well into the freezer! They will last for a few months.  Not a fan of refrigerating or freezing? You’re in luck! Canning is a prime way to store a few blueberries here and there. They are one of the easiest to can as well.  It’s your choice to can the berries in syrup, honey, or even just water. Maybe you have a homestyle canning remedy that fits perfectly to this situation. Try it out! Syrup canning is normally prepared for cobblers and pies, whereas water canning is preparing for muffins, pancakes, and more.  So the next time you take a look at the abundance of blueberries growing on your bush, don’t have a panic attack! They can last you for months at a time with the proper method.  Choose your favorite, grow them all, mix and match! Whichever fuels your inner gardener! In no time, you will be enjoying some of the best berries on the market. Happy Planting!

Growing fruit from home opens up a brand new world of possibilities. Pies, jams and a variety of health benefits are only seasons away! However, potential growers need to make sure their fruit producers can survive long enough to bear fruit first!  Colder climates can be rough on many fruit trees and bushes, resulting in diminishing harvests from damage done over the winter. Fortunately, many fruit trees aren’t limited to warmer climates alone. There is a variety of fruit trees that can handle heavy cold while also producing fresh fruit before the cold kills the product.  Growing fruit in a cold climate can be hard, but Nature Hills has you covered. Within this blog are a few examples that can handle the cold nights and winters of USDA zones 3 and 4.  How Cold is Your Climate? Before we go in-depth on these two zones, it is important to know how dangerously low temperatures can get. Areas within hardiness zone 3 contain some of the lowest winter temperatures possible in the United States.  Trees and other plants that grow in this area need to be able to handle both consistent and surprising cold weather in order to survive long term. Growing zone 4 doesn’t have as high of a risk of subzero temperatures.  This is in part why there are more fruit trees safe to grow in this zone, as trees here get their required chill hours with less risk of extreme temperatures ruining their sensitive buds.  The difference in temperature between zones 3 and 4 is surprisingly drastic, so don’t try to push your luck without doing plenty of research on your zone. Many fruit trees and certain flowers need a drop in temperature (chilly, but still slightly above freezing) to go dormant before waking up again. Certain varieties of trees need a higher minimum total of cold hours to grow to their full potential.  For more accurate information on your area’s estimated chill hours, you can reach out to your local Ag Extension service. Something to keep in mind is that fruit trees in particular can be especially susceptible to cold temperatures during their growing season.  Intense cold can cause damage to fresh blooms which result in the loss of that season’s crop. The sudden death of these new blooms could result in a lack of growth during the next season or even permanently.  Zone 3 is much colder than southern zones, especially during the winter. All it takes is a warm winter day paired with a sudden cold snap to completely ruin a potential harvest. Be sure to know just how low the temperature can drop in your area before ordering your own trees. Preparing Your Trees for Cold Snaps Sometimes nature throws a curveball, resulting in weather phenomena harmful to certain plants. Droughts can be abated with a few minutes behind a hose every so often, but cold snaps are a different story.  Devastating cold is harsh on many plants, but with a few steps of preparation it can be survived. As the warmer months begin to turn cold, start to pay attention to weather forecasts.  One way to protect your younger trees from frost damage is to wrap them in tree wrap. Commonly made of thick paper or burlap, tree wrap helps to protect the trunk of your tree from cold exposure.  Dark mulch or bare dirt around the base of the tree is also beneficial, as both do a great job of soaking in and keeping warmth during colder seasons. In certain situations draping a tarp or canvas over your tree is the best solution. The dense material should be covering the entire plant as well as the ground at its base. This should help the dormant plant retain the earth’s natural heat and prevent serious damage. It’s important not to panic if your tree does receive some cold damage. Cold damage almost always looks worse than it actually is at first glance. Only when your trees start to grow again will the damage start to show. Examples of Cold Hardy Fruit Trees Among some of the more hardy fruit tree varieties are plum, apple, and cherry trees. Northern growers can still save a trip to the grocery store in favor of their own fruit plant.  Those interested in trying will be delighted in the selection available on our online store. Some cold climate trees of note are: Empire Apple (Malus ‘Empire’) - A mix of the Red Delicious and the Macintosh apples, the Empire Apple Tree has quality proven by its heritage.Honeycrisp Apples (Malus ‘Honeycrisp’) - One of the most beloved apples for its taste, the extremely cold hardy Honeycrisp Apple Tree is a must-have for any fruit orchard. Gravenstein Apple (Malus ‘Gravenstein’) - Greenlit to grow in even the harsh cold of growing zone 2, the Gravenstein Apple is resilient enough to withstand many frigid winters. Cox Orange Pippin Apple (Malus Domestica ‘Cox Orange Pippin’) - Widely regarded as one of the best dessert apples, the Cox Orange Pippin Apple Tree is best harvested in the middle of fall. Romeo (Prunus ‘Romeo’) and Juliet (Prunus ‘Juliet’) Dwarf (Sweet) Sour Cherries - The pollination pairing of the Romeo Dwarf Cherry Tree and the Juliet Dwarf Cherry Bush is a love story worthy of Shakespeare. These cherry blossoms bloom in the early spring, advertising the sweet cherries only a few weeks away from harvest. Montmorency Cherry (Prunus cerasus ‘Montmorency’) - The Montmorency Cherry Tree (Prunus cerasus ‘Montmorency’) produces fruit that many consider the best for any cherry pie recipe. Burbank Plum (Prunus Salicina) - A mid-season ripener with rich taste, the Burbank Plum is endorsed by master plant breeders and is easy to care for. Superior Plum (Prunus ‘Superior’) - Superior Plum Trees has abundant and consistent harvests. This tree is also known for its ability to survive at high altitudes. Toka Plum (Prunus ‘Toka’) - The Toka Plum Tree has earned the nickname “Bubblegum Plum” due to its sweet, bubblegum-scented fruit. Pot Planting Warm Weather Trees Northern natives desiring tropical fruits will be relieved to hear that some citrus fruits can survive zones 3-4 if they are brought inside during the winter months. For more information on potted citrus trees, read our garden blog post here.  Other warm weather fruit trees such as pear or peach trees can be grown, but be sure to do plenty of research before attempting planter growing. Nature Hills has a selection of popular potted fruit trees. Another article we have on our varied stock perfect for porch planters is available to read here. Growing fruit trees is rewarding, but can be daunting to new growers. But if you stick to the plants that do best in your climate, you can be growing your own food in no time.  Happy Gardening!

If you’re looking for a sign to redo your garden, to add more plants to your landscape, or anything along those lines, then this is it. We’re telling you to use native plants! They have it all: soft beauty, environmental benefits, visual interests, even fame. Well, we are working on the fame part, but you can help! Interested in hearing how? Find out below. What’s All The Buzz About Native Plants? Excellent question! And the answer may be more surprising than you thought.  Besides the fact that native plants supply dazzling visual displays within your home and garden, they also have a lot of other jobs on their plates too. When planted, they immediately get to work! Native plants provide a helping hand for using less fertilizer. Wait, less fertilizer? Yes! The main ingredients in most fertilizers are phosphorus and nitrogen. These two elements tend to run off into bodies of water causing an excess in algae growth.  This abundance of algae results in less oxygen in water, which harms aquatic life and impedes on recreational activities. Who likes to swim through a colossal, slimy patch of algae? Not us! Try planting Ninebark Shrubs (Physocarpus opulifolius) as they love their soil to be a low acidic level meaning fertilizers have no business being used. Along with using less fertilizer, native plants help you use less pesticides too. How kind of them! Pesticides contaminate waters; in addition, people and pets can be exposed to the chemicals as well. Did you know that 60% of water consumption on the West Coast is merely lawn irrigation? With a lot of water comes a lot of money. No worries, many native plants have the power of deep root systems under their belt. Therefore, they can store more water, reduce runoff, and help control flooding.   Buffalo Grass (Bouteloua dactyloides) varieties are notoriously known for their ability to reduce water consumption as they thrive in drought conditions. No need to tire out your sprinklers or drag out the hose anymore! Native plants provide homes and food for all kinds of wildlife, including the important pollinators. So sit back, relax, and enjoy the butterflies, birds, and more that visit your lawn! How To Use Native Plants In All Landscape Styles Small  Landscapes that lack in size don’t have to lack in display! Any space can be transformed into a garden with a few native plants here and there.  A sidewalk strip, front porch, corner, and mailbox are prime locations for native plants. We recommend using informal edges for low maintenance and organizing swaths instead of mixing. When planning your layout, be sure to start with tall plants in the back and work your way to short as you approach the front. Unfortunately, plants can’t stand on their tippy toes to be seen so you’ll have to do the work for them! Little Bluestem Grass (Schizachyrium scoparium) and Big Bluestem Grass (Andropogon gerardii) are both ideal candidates for standing tall in the back. They enjoy filling small garden spaces with their silvery blue foliage. Medium natives are the center of the show and love all the attention they can get. This is why they bloom the brightest and prettiest flowers for all to see.  Sky Blue Aster (Symphyotrichum oolentangiense) and the Showy Goldenrod  (Solidago speciosa) always want to show off their colors, but not take away from the tall natives either.  With light blue and golden yellow blooms, these native perennials make your small garden dance with joy! Short natives live close to the ground most of the time and bring a small garden all together when planted. The Little Goldstar Black Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia fulgida var. sullivantii 'Little Goldstar') has no problem with being short.  What it lacks in height, it makes up for in the volume of star-shaped yellow flowers with a deep contrasted center. This improved native plant stays compact and appreciates when butterflies visit! By organizing a small native garden with tall, medium, and short plants, you’re saving space while making a big impact at the same time.  Large On the opposite hand, you can create large, beautiful landscape displays when you have a vast amount of space to work with. This is where there are hardly any boundaries holding your inner gardener back.  Front yards, meadows, and prairies each exhibit large native landscapes that can be created with several varieties.  It is almost easier to plant natives in large landscapes rather than small ones. Feel free to choose specific plants and map out your large landscape using the multiple options we provided for you below.  They are sure to provide you with wonderful color and diversity! Before planting, you will need to eliminate weeds as you do not want your pretty plants to be overgrown with invasive and unwanted weeds. Your native plants will appreciate this very much.  In the early stages of growth, you will want to keep the soil moist. This will ensure that the plant has all the right nutrients to grow well.  From then on, enjoy the view of vibrant shades of color and watch the visiting of several species of wildlife from the comfort of your home.  Popular Native Plants For You Trees Oak Trees are splendid natives with broad leaves, acorns, and an important wood source. More often than not, there is an oak tree standing tall in a yard showing off its large stature and vibrant foliage.  Oaks love to provide shade and wildlife are known for making tidy little homes within the tree. They are an excellent choice for a native addition to any location where they can spread their branches! The Shawnee Brave Bald Cypress (Taxodium distichum 'Mickelson') carries a pleasing pyramidal shape with green needles that fade into orange in preparation for fall. This native is perfect for wind or privacy screens in various landscapes.  This Bald Cypress will shed its needles during the winter months only to grow back new ones just in time for spring making this cone-bearing native unlike most others! Sycamore Trees are often called ‘American Sycamores’ because they are native to North America! These massive growers have a symmetrical canopy that takes pride in supplying an abundance of shade.  Their dense, lush green foliage matches well with the varied bark colors. You don’t get much more native than growing Sycamore Trees in your large landscapes! Shrubs Chokeberry shrubs (Aronia) are native to the United States making them easy to grow while being an ornamental interest for gardens and landscapes. They like to show off their flowers in spring just to produce dark fruit during the fall. Be on the lookout for wildlife sneaking a berry or two off these native deciduous shrubs! Aronia berries are an extremely healthy choice for juices, jams, wines, and more. No wonder they are a super fruit! Sumac shrubs (Rhus) entail deciduous plants that are predominant in the United States. They are a fan favorite because of their form, Fall color, and colorful fruit clusters. Sumac shrubs enjoy when wildlife visit too! Elderberry bushes are natives that many grow throughout the country. Their bluish-black fruits can be used for a variety of kitchen cooking. This ornamental bush adds colorful leaves and unique shapes to all landscapes! Perennials Ferns make wonderful native landscape plants that can be used in a garden for a variety of reasons. The best thing about ferns is that they can be valuable in any kind of setting.  Their lush green foliage is attractive as a background or even the main event! They love to be planted in shady areas with a moderate supply of moisture, but other than that they are easy to grow and good to go.  Coneflowers (Echinacea) have the ability to light up any landscape with their large colorful heads that burst with flavor. This bright native enjoys soaking up the sun from early to late Summer.  Groundcovers Sedge Grasses come in many colors, shapes, and sizes but all work the same magic for a landscape. These native plants love to cover up parts of the ground that you may not find very attractive!  They revel in growing low and spreading out their thin strips of color. Being native, they thrive in many areas! All in all, native plants easily check mark off every box when it comes to environmental benefits as well as adding more visual interests. Front landscapes thrive with all types of natives so get to planting! Happy gardening!