Every year we get a number of calls about why their particular shrub did not bloom.  So we are here to explain why this might happen, to help you plan ahead to allow your beautiful, abundant flowering shrubs to bloom endlessly.  There are a variety of reasons why a particular plant might not bloom. One reason why your plant might not bloom well, is that it received too much shade and not enough sun.  Another reason could be that your plant was given too much lawn fertilizer, which results in beautiful foliage, but a lack of flowers.  But most likely the biggest reason behind your flowering shrubs not blooming is because they were pruned at the wrong time of the year, eliminating the flower buds.  Timing is Key We are going to select a few shrubs that you need to be aware of so you can keep your plants blooming abundantly in your landscape! Below is a list of the most common plants that should NOT be pruned until they are done blooming! Lilac The ideal time to prune your Lilac shrubs is as soon as these plants finish blooming. This is the best time because they produce new growth after flowering, so the flower buds bloom on their old wood.  With that being said, if you prune later in the summer, fall, winter, or early spring before they leaf out – you will be removing the flowers that developed in the prior season.  Viburnum Similar to the Lilacs, these plants can only be pruned after they bloom because the new growth that develops after the bloom period is where the developing blooms for the upcoming year grow. This is why you might have seen Viburnums have no flowers developing on the top of the shrub, which is where they were pruned, but only flowers on the side branches.  Forsythia  This plant is one of the first to bloom in the spring with elegant yellow flowers throughout it’s stems!  Let your Forsythia bloom abundantly for weeks and as soon as the flowering is done you can begin to prune. You can even cut it all the way to the ground and allow all new branches to develop fresh flower buds for the next year. Magnolia You might see this shrub as low branched, clump formed, or sometimes as single stemmed, but however they are grown, you must be informed that this plant flowers on last year's wood! So allow your Magnolia to bloom beautifully, and once it finishes blooming, you can get your shears out and reduce the size or remove dead or damaged branches if that’s what you prefer.  Just keep in mind that the new growth that develops will grow next year’s flowers on them, so leave all the new growth alone for bountiful blooms! Rhododendron and Azalea These spring blooming gems have all of the magic already built into the buds anxiously awaiting for spring right now, so if you went and pruned them now you would be eliminating it’s flowers.  Let these breathtaking blooms work their magic and once they’re done blooming, you can prune if needed to reduce their size or shape.  If you are growing our popular reblooming varieties then be sure to only trim right after the first set of spring flowers bloom. While there may be some bud production happening on the new growth after, pruning as soon as the first flush of blooms is the best course of action.  Ninebark Whether you have this plant in shrub form or single stem tree form, we are here to tell you when to prune this beauty! You will be blessed with clusters of pink buds opening to white and showy fleshy seeds that all produce on last year’s wood, so wait for them to bloom and after the flowers finish blooming you can trim if needed.  Weigela  Many of the new Weigela varieties will bloom first on last year’s wood and then again later in the season on this year's new growth. In order to get the most flower power, the time to prune is right after the first major flush of flowers in later spring.   Aronia All of the red and black Chokeberry plants will flower and fruit on last year's wood, so timing is everything! These plants are usually grown for the delicious fruit, so if you prune in late winter, early spring, or fall before they leaf out and bloom, then you will eliminate flowers and fruit.  In most cases, your Aronia shrub would need renewal pruning by cutting the fattest stems out of the ground and leaving the thinner stems in their place to produce the most flowers.  Mock Orange Philadelphus varieties are spring blooming shrubs, but you’ll want to wait to prune them until after they leaf out and show off their magnificent flowers. After they are finished blooming, you can cut your plant down to your personal preference.  Climbing Roses In the late May and early June, these plants will need their long, older canes to produce an abundant amount of blooms.  Let your plants bloom and when the older canes need to be replaced with younger, thinner canes, you can selectively take out the older, thicker, and damaged canes after the first round of beautiful blooms.

If you’re anything like me, you had no clue what a hops plant was before stumbling upon this blog..but I’m betting you are nothing like me. Splendid! For good measure though, they’re one of the main key flavor ingredients in beer. Who knew?! I sure didn’t. However, people today are joining the hops garden family in their own unique way and it’s time you started too.  The experience of homegrown hops is quite rewarding and easy all wrapped up into one. The process of mastering this art is truly what it means to be a gardener today!  So let’s get started!   Knowing Your Varieties  There are literally thousands of varieties of hops, but listed below are our personal favorites. Want to know why? Continue reading and we’ll have you hooked! Cascade If the perfect combination of sweet and savory does not exist, it does now with Cascade Hops! Their featured spices with dashes of floral aromas create the ideal bitterness and aroma-type of craft beers.  No one does American craft beers like these. To no surprise, they are the fan favorite, pick of the litter, cream of the crop in all things hops. Home growers eagerly wait for the arrival of abundant dark green cones each year! Centennial The bitter flavor, hinted with lemon and pine, makes Centennial Hops a complex ingredient in craft brew recipes. They have an alpha acid of 12%.  They pair nicely with all types of craft beers, which is exactly why they obtained the name “all-rounder.” This bittering hops plant is included in some of the most known craft beers. Year after year, enjoy the bountiful mid-season harvests of compact cones! Then gaze at the small, fragrant flowers that envelop the bine.  Chinook It’s known around the world of craft beers for the power behind the plant with a 14% alpha acid. Double the use as both a bittering and flavor type!  Chinook Hops can stand alone or provide a blended support system for the other varieties. But, the slight citrus, herb, pine resin, and smoke flavors mixed into this super plant will never go unnoticed.  Each late-season, the landscape will be bombarded with Chinook sticky, compact cones! Saaz  The history behind Saaz Hops is far unmatched by any other as it's been used since the 1500s! Who doesn’t want to grow an ancient craft like that?  With a lower alpha acid content, they are best known as the “aroma-type” of beers. Its reduced oxidation even kindly extends the shelf life of all Saaz brews.  You’ll find yourself looking forward to mid-season each year as the historic hops continue to produce large yields. The number of hops will leave you speechless! Zeus Craft your own ales with powerful Zeus Hops to feel like a real garden god of today’s time! It’s known for having amongst the highest alpha acid content and supplying productive harvests year after year. The exceptional bitter taste is dominated by black pepper and earthy herb flavors! Unique nonetheless.  And never have to worry about the Zeus Hops being overtaken with diseases because they are resistant. Stubborn as a greek god we are sure.    How To Use Them In The Landscape These special plants aren’t merely used just for the sensation of taste; they are elegantly used for visual attractiveness in the landscape too! You just have to show them off the right way. You might even spark the attention of neighbors to share your expert “ground to glass” story by decorating the outdoors with these nature specimens. Hops are what is called a bine instead of a vine since they climb in a clockwise direction by wrapping themselves around any structure nearby.  This makes for the perfect backyard decor paired with a garden trellis here or there. Overtop your wooden oak bench with a natural sun guard so that reading a nice book while sipping warm tea never ends in a painful red sunburn. Don’t have a trellis? No worries! A simple contraption of poles and sturdy twine will do just the trick as well.  Create a live green fence around the yard for those areas you’d enjoy a piece of privacy for a moment or two. The fragrant flowers make an excellent hedgerow! When grilling outside, you’ll appreciate the shade so kindly provided by your hops.  Strategically drape them from end to end and create a lovely backdrop for a victory garden as well. This even doubles as an ideal picture taking scene for those dressed up nights.  Show off your hard earned work by placing hops bines in orchard-like rows for all to see when passing by in full production.  It's a sure way to start up a conversation with the new neighbor across the street!   Hops Growing & Care 101 Okay, this blog has me hooked on starting up my own hops garden! When do I plant them? How do I plant hops? I am a fish out of water! Welcome to growing and caring 101 class.  These particular bines love to bask in the light, so be sure to find an outside spot where full sun can be achieved at least 6 hours of the day.  Their root system will be begging for moderate watering tactics on a regular basis while also wanting good drainage as well. Placing mulch over the root system can help keep the soil at a cool temperature! Hops tend to grow rather tall, once it reaches 10 feet tall or so, take the lower leaves off the first few feet at ground level to allow for the proper air flow.  This also helps prevent mildew from possibly forming! You can schedule early protective treatments too. Nature Hills will even help you out with proper care by shipping the ordered hops across the United States to your doorstep at the correct time for your growing zone!  So, what are you waiting for? Jump on the hops garden train today and start crafting homegrown beers right in the backyard!

Gardening: Everyone’s New Favorite Hobby During this whirlwind of a year, did you ever glance outside your windows and realize that your landscaping needed an update? Or get tired of your same old, same old garden layout? Has Pinterest or Instagam ever inspired you to start growing your own garden? Maybe even you thought of growing your own vegetable garden? Well, in either situation, you weren’t the only one! This past year, people have had a lot of time to dig into new fun hobbies, such as gardening and landscaping. These new hobbies led to people buying any and every plant to spruce up their landscaping!  People were buying plants left and right! Although it is wonderful that everyone was rediscovering their gardens, others did not get their plants in time! But what do you expect after a year like 2020?! Better late than never, right? Well, that’s not too true when it comes to plant shopping!  We don’t want anyone to be caught off guard, so this is why we are urging every one of you to buy your plants early from here on out!   Time to Plan(t) Ahead As you might know, online shopping gets more and more popular every year, especially throughout this past hectic year. So this is why you want to stay ahead of the game and order your plants ASAP! While everyone was plant shopping last year, the plant industry, it’s supply chains, and the customers were all thrown for a loop. This is why we are here today, to tell you to buy your plants early this year!  There’s no such thing as too early, especially when you’re shopping for your spring garden! Growing plants is not like making widgets, so we are not able to simply turn on a machine and make more plants like we can with other things. Garden planning is a lot of work! Between planting, watering, treating and growing the plants, the process becomes rather timely. The plants that we are selling this upcoming spring, actually started growing about three to four years ago, which is why it's a good idea to order your plants to reserve the upcoming delivery! Did you know that some of our grafted evergreen trees and specialty crops were actually propagated nearly eight years ago? Yes, you read that correctly! Who would have known in 2013 that sales would boom as greatly as they did in 2020 and 2021.  This is why plants sometimes sell out quickly, especially since we don’t have a crystal ball to anticipate future sales!  No matter what type of garden you dream of, Nature Hills has the plants to achieve it! From perennials, trees, shrubs or maybe you might be looking forward to some vegetable gardening, Nature Hills has it all. But there is a chance that your favorite plants will be selling out this year.  You may not have a lot of time left! Make sure you know your garden design, and order your plants before the early spring season! Begin your garden planning now before you miss the opportunity to buy your favorite plants before they are sold out! No need to visit your local garden center! Let the plants come to you by ordering all your favorites at Nature Hills Nursery! Almost any plant that you can think of is right at your fingertips!   Reasons to Act Fast! In this past year, considering we had spent a lot more time at home and it was difficult to go to the grocery store, people were trying new hobbies and growing their own edible gardens.  A variety of delicious fruit trees, as well as small fruits such as blueberry, blackberry, raspberry, and strawberry plants were a hot seller.  Fruit plants are more productive during an early planting time, so get your favorite edible plants ordered and shipped now for the best growth possible. Bare root plants are another type of plant that you want to reserve quickly! Their season is shorter than most and will be shipped to your location during the proper planting time depending on your hardiness zone. Everyone wants to keep up with the newest and hottest trends - right? Well, new plant trends greatly affect plant sales too, which is why we are urging you to take action today.  New plant cultivars bring so many new attributes to the table with new color, new form, new variegation, a more compact size, or maybe a new skinny version.  On the growers end, it takes a while for them to get enough of these new plants in production, making it hard to open the gates with huge numbers of these new, hot selling plants.  These plants are what our favorite “plant nerds” are always on the lookout for, which also means the limited supply is the first to sell out!  Plant growers try to stay ahead of the game by planting the favorites to match the demand, but it takes time. Have a first come, first serve mentality to become the trend setter of your town with these breathtaking new plants! We have all learned to adapt to this unpredictable year and prepare for the unexpected.  So just when we all may think everything is fine and dandy, Mother Nature may just decide to throw us a curveball with a late frost or hailstorm. Or something unknown may eliminate some of the plants that we have grown, leaving yet again a limited supply.  There are thousands of what-ifs, but a limited supply of plants. So if you’re wondering when it is a good time to order your plants - the answer is NOW! Stay ahead of the game and order your plants today at Nature Hills Nursery!

You constantly hear the cliche color trend exclamation of ‘blue is the new pink’ or ‘black is the in color’ but does anyone truly fact check it? We simply just take the word and start investing in that specific color off a mere whim. How flamboyant!  Well we’re here to set all the records straight for 2021, provide you with the REAL colors of the year and professionally guide your landscape to keep up with the times. The Pantone colors of the year. That opening statement should send shivers down your spine. In December, Pantone color institute graciously announced that 2021 will be revolving around 17-5104 Ultimate Gray and 13-0647 Illuminating.  It was expressed that these “two independent colors come together to create an aspirational color pairing, conjoining deeper feelings of thoughtfulness with the optimistic promise of a sunshine filled day.” We simply think they are prime, no..exceptional colors to showcase in a garden or landscape!   Ultimate Gray Plant Foliage Silver Heart Brunnera There is no other plant than our Silver Heart that administers ‘Ultimate Gray’ better. This silver foliaged specimen shows off its broad leaves while providing a petite accent to any landscape! Even find the joy in admiring the several new butterflies and other pollinators that will pay a quick visit here and there while your Silver Heart nestles itself at the base of a garden sculpture.  Or place it in a prettied pot as a charming gift for a loved one! The look on their face will be delighted. Then proceed to tell them they are now proud owners of a color of the year plant. It’s a sure conversation starter!   Arthur J. Simmonds Bluebeard Don’t be fooled by this particularly popular bluebeard! Its classic blue foliage carries a strong hint of silver to its leaves. Making it yet another candidate for the best ultimate gray colored plant.  It carries a professional looking rounded shape that astonishes even us! During the winter, it will dive into hibernation so we suggest it be cut back to the ground.  But no worries, the new wood on which flowers will grow is worth the cold season wait. In fact, this plant sends a message of strength by flowering bigger and better than ever each year.    Elijah Blue Fescue Grass If you’re hunting for an exquisite ornamental grass to use as a border, ground cover or a simple accent to the landscape, then look no further! The Elijah Blue Fescue Grass embraces its blue grey foliage in all aspects. Not to mention its porcupine shape enhances this color of the year plant with unique visual interest.  Be sure to plant it where it can soak in full sun or take a break in partial shade. It even is drought tolerant so the hassle of constant watering goes right out the door!   Cauticola Sedum For an ideal edging or rock garden border, the Cauticola Sedum gets the job done while looking snazzy when doing it! This short and compact specimen prides itself on powdery blue and ultimate gray leaves.  To exceed expectations more, this sedum’s foliage is contrasted with purple undersides and stems. Talk about a showstopper in the garden!  Your neighbors will without a doubt be admiring the 2021 color of the year present in your landscape.   Illuminating Colored Plants (Yellow) Easy Elegance Yellow Submarine Rose One bloom after another, the Yellow Submarine Rose perfectly showcases the second 2021 color of the year. Use it to attract butterflies, create a sunny centerpiece bouquet, plant it in an admirable pot, or accent your outdoor landscape.  The possibilities are endless! The best part yet..this Illuminating rose is easy to care for and grows double the amount of blossoms. You’ll find joy in the lemon colored petals slowly transforming to a soft pale yellow and finally into an ivory white flower head.    Double Flowering Japanese Kerria The bright yellow blossoms upon this Kerria beg for attention in the garden. And we can see why! The showy double flowers bloom in early spring and never rest.  Plant this fast growing shrub in an area you can view, then grab your popcorn because it performs four seasons of interest.    Goldsturm Black-Eyed Susan Do you want to grow an award-winning selection of a native plant that also just so happens to carry the 2021 color of the year? We do!  The Goldsturm Black-Eyed Susan blooms for months in its cheery golden color and pleasant form. It's dark centers display the perfect amount of contrast to the petals being grown.  Never worry about a shortage of pollinators or an extreme need for care either! It goes well in mass plantings, outdoor containers, and even as a single cut flower.    Stella de Oro Daylily Grow a compact Daylily for incredible ruffled yellow flowers in the garden or container. And oh, did we mention that those flowers are sweetly fragrant? Well they are!  This former perennial of the year is more than capable of proudly carrying the Illuminating color with it all through the spring season year after year.    Ready to start the new year off right? Pair them up, mix and match, or simply dive into one. But the year for 2021 is ready for Ultimate Gray and Illuminating to come full force. Be a part of it! Then, you can officially say that Ultimate Gray and Illuminating ARE the new pink.

Earlier this morning I was reading my morning news and I came across an article that immediately piqued my interest. I found it so interesting in fact, that it got my wheels turning, and my fingers tapping. This article gave me a range of emotions! I’m still unsure as to whether they’re better identified as angry or as interested.  You see, the article that I had read this morning was about my industry, my day in and day out reputation, that I take great pride in. So, understandably I wasn’t sure if I should be flattered that someone was attempting to provide guidance to our customers, or if I was just annoyed that they had done such a poor job at trying to do so.  The article I had read was about the differences between low cost $5 plants and more expensive ones from garden centers. While they tried to help the many customers struggling with empty pocketbooks amidst the raging pandemic, the article both insulted the industry and the consumer.  Even the most ameteur of gardeners would read this article and surely see that the writer of this piece missed a lot of important parts of buying plants. But, what I did appreciate about this article, was that it proposed a very important question, that both the writer of the piece and myself at times have asked.  Why is it that some plants cost more, and what exactly are you paying for? The Garden Industry Before diving right into the answer of why some plants cost more and what exactly you’re paying for, I think it’s important to understand a little bit about the Garden Industry and what we do. Much like other agricultural fields, this work requires exposure to the sun for long hours through the hottest days of the year. It asks you to get your hands dirty, and not just lightly, but nails stained from the constant exposure to the dirt, kind of dirty. Not to mention the exposure to chemical treatments, insects, and other unsavory pests. Nursery and Greenhouse professionals work exceptionally hard to deliver beautiful plants that will bring each customer years of joy and happiness.  It’s not easy, it’s not cheap, and by no means, is it a job for everyone.  But despite the stressful nature that this industry can have, many growers, sellers, and workers are still some of the kindest people you can do business with.  This industry is surrounded by the joy and beauty that these plants bring to people! Fundamentals of Cost Now that you know a little bit more about the work that goes into our industry, we can look at a couple of important factors that affect the cost of the plants you see at your favorite plant shops.  As a customer, one of the best ways you can support your green thumb and the Garden and Nursery Industry is by having a good understanding of what the pricing means. You get what you pay for: I was raised on this important philosophy during a time when you really did get what you pay for. While times have changed, and the cost of goods overall has risen, for the most part this is still true. You only pay for quality once: My boss said this to me earlier this past year, and it was the only time I ever needed to hear it. Simply because it’s incredibly true. When it comes to plants, quality plants are a gift that keeps on giving. They can save you extra costs on everything from root booster to pesticides. Bigger isn’t always better: Sometimes bigger seems better, but this idea isn’t always true. When it comes to getting your money's worth, size does matter. But, what is sometimes missed is that the “more” you may be getting is not what you expected. When it comes to buying plants the “more” could mean a variety of things. It could mean taking home pests, or diseases that could very well cause damage to the rest of your landscape. In other ways the more you could be getting is an unhealthy plant that led you on to believe that because it was bigger, it would be better. Quality growers will often take the extra steps to prune or cut back plants so that they can regrow the following year with more body. When this step is skipped, it can actually impact the growth of the plant negatively.  Sometimes this means that the plant will need more time to grow full, but if it’s good quality, it will be worth the wait! Bulk buys receive discounts: This is true throughout the market in more than one industry. The more that a vendor buys from a supplier, the more savings a vendor can pass along to their customers. Acknowledging this global truth of market exchanges, is where you’ll be able to compare big box store discounts, and small business achievements. What’s In the Cost There’s a lot to take into consideration when you’re purchasing plants. Your landscape is an investment in yourself and your home. If you’re going to spend the time on it, you’re going to want it to look nice. Buying cheap plants can mean you’re compromising quality. The plant could be short on nutrients, or root hardiness causing it to die faster. But, buying the most expensive plants can easily keep you from completing your gardening goals.  When deciding on new plants and how much they’ll cost here are the factors that will impact the cost of your plant and what you’re getting for your money: On Staff Experts:  When it comes to the quality of plants, there is one key ingredient that really makes a difference in the cost, the people. These days, the human impact can be easily overlooked in identifying quality and cost. But for my industry, the human touch really makes all the difference. Companies that invest in their employees will have happier employees, and that trickles down to the quality of care they give to their plants. Insightful experts, and careful employees can quickly impact the quality of the plants that a company sells. The natural human attention to detail is important when it comes to growing and selling plants. Staff members must have the knowledge and the skillset to give the care that plants need to thrive.  Knowledgeable staff can also quickly solve problems that often arise in the Garden Industry. Quick and informed decisions can be the difference between making a season flourish, or closing their doors. Boxing and Packaging:  Believe it or not this has a huge impact on the overall health of your plant. Many plants are shipped from larger wholesale growers to smaller nurseries and sellers throughout the country. Cutting costs on boxing and packaging can mean exposing the plants to harsh weather conditions that can ultimately impact their health.  Pests and Disease Treatments:  The overall health of a plant before it gets to the customer starts with the grower. Using effective and proven methods to keep the plant healthy from harmful pests and diseases is fundamental to the overall health of the plant. Each state sets out different requirements for treatments against pests and diseases to protect their local environments and planting communities. If a grower does not adhere to these regulations, it often comes at a greater cost to everyone involved.  We know that the best growers use Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Plans, and certify their operations in compliance with their state and federal regulations. That’s why we take the extra step and time for every piece of inventory to be sure that it has been certified to ship to your area. Quality Variety:  Like many industries around the world, the Garden Industry is continually developing new and beautiful varieties for their customers. But, keeping up with the latest trends comes a cost.  Many new varieties have patents and trademarks to their creators. Suppliers, like Nature Hills Nursery, are willing to sell these new varieties, but often have to pay additional fees for royalties, marketing, and rights to sell the variety.  Good Roots:  When it comes to starting a healthy plant, it comes from the ground up! Strong and plentiful roots give plants the access they need to nutrients throughout their lifetime.  The foundation roots created for strong and robust plants is something that is often skipped over when it comes to giving it the detail and attention it deserves. When looking at low cost plants, this is something to be wary of. The soil of your plant should be wrapped within the roots and visibly abundant when it is removed from the cell it was purchased in. Next Time You’re Buying Plants The next time you’re out buying plants, I genuinely hope that you’ll consider more than just the price tag that you see. I’ve done the groundwork for you here, in hopes that the next time you’re comparing costs, you have a ready idea of what it represents. Remember your fundamentals of, you get what you pay for and that you only pay for quality once. Bigger doesn’t always mean it’s better, and that bulk buying usually comes with greater discounts.  These basic purchasing rules will help guide your review of costs. But, these weren’t the only tips I gave you! The Garden Industry is a busy, constantly evolving machine. From the time the plants go into the ground, to the moment they’re sent out on a truck, growers who provide quality plants really do put their best foot forward for their customers.  They invest in their staff members because they know that the return is more than a machine could ever replicate. They establish strong IPM plans to protect their plants from pests and diseases they didn’t see coming. They pay a little bit more, so that you can have branded quality varieties. They start good roots so that your plants have access to all the necessary nutrients. And they carefully select packaging that they know costs a little more on their side, but means you’ll get a healthier and stronger plant. So while the lower priced plant may look more appealing to your pocketbook, the slightly more expensive plant can give you so much more. Pages To Visit: Normally in this section of our blogs, we would include our citations. However, this week we focused on in house experts from our 3 companies! So instead of the usual citation, here are pages to our other 2 companies that help keep Nature Hills Nursery going.  [1] https://plantsentry.com/ [2] https://www.hgfulfillment.com