Today more than ever, people across the country are growing their own fruit. There are many reasons for this, and we applaud the effort! Nature Hills growers deliver backyard orchards with commercial orchard-grade, vigorous fruit trees and bushes. Our fruit trees produce fruit for cooking, baking, or fresh eating straight from the tree. There is nothing like reaching out and picking fruit from your very own plant. And one of the coolest things is that we offer a wide mix on the site. You’ll see beloved modern cultivars like ‘Honeycrisp Apple’ (yes, the kind you see on grocery store shelves). But you’ll also get a chance to try the more unusual heirloom varieties, like the astounding ‘Mutsu Apple’ which are individually wrapped by hand in Japan to protect the delicious crop, before being baked into a meal fit for an Emperor. The Growing Edible Landscape Trend Explore the rewards of growing fruit at home, but don’t limit your focus to a dedicated fruit orchard with trees lined up in neat rows. Instead, expand your vision of how fruiting plants work in your garden design. Why not add fruiting plants or vegetables to your existing landscaping? The Edible Landscape is a design concept growing in appreciation. Top 5 Benefits of Homegrown Fruit You get to grow your favorite full-flavored varieties and pick them at peak ripeness You’ll know exactly what chemicals are being used to grow your fruit before your share with your family and friends You’ll feel prepared for winter by canning or preserving your fruits to enjoy through the year You’ll gain a sense of accomplishment by growing your own produce in your garden You’ll enjoy planning, planting and working your own Edible Landscape and get some healthy exercise Edible Garden Design Tips Fruit tree varieties including Apples, Peaches, Pears, Plums, Lemons, Oranges and many others will reward you with delicious fresh produce every year. While the health benefits of homegrown fruit can’t be understated, the ornamental value added to the landscape shouldn’t be underestimated, either. For best quality, plant your fruit trees where they’ll get at least 8 hours of direct sunlight a day. Morning sun is best. For varieties that require cross-pollination, select two or three overlap their bloom and ripening seasons. Site them correctly in the landscape and enjoy fruit that ripen at different times to extend the season of fruit. The ornamental qualities of fruit trees have been vastly underused. Design fruit trees and fruit producing bush varieties into your landscape as you would any tree or shrub. Shop by Variety for easy access to the following plants Cherries and Pears can and should be pruned to a balanced formal shape making them outstanding flowering accent trees. Apricots are nature’s fruiting shade trees, even in marginal Apricot regions, a well selected variety will provide great shade and fruit. Pluots and Apriums carrying the Apricot gene provide this same advantage in any landscape where Apricots can be grown. Picture a hedge row of Blueberries or Citrus providing a border or screening out an unwanted view, while also providing an extended harvest of fruit selected by ripening time. Naturalize Peach or Nectarine with other plants in the landscape. You’ll love the beautiful displays of flowers in the spring, followed by a bountiful harvest come summer. Persimmons incredible orange fall color is remarkable. The look of a well-established Olive is an age-old classic. Figs have a bold beauty and give two generous crops of fruit in a single season. Plums and Apples are the most adaptable of all fruit trees and the easiest to grow. Plums and Apples both have a wonderful range of flavors, colors and sizes. Make Fruit Plants Work in Your Landscape Design We understand that placing fruit trees and bush fruit varieties into today’s smaller lot sizes can be a challenge. That’s why we recommend learning easy pruning tricks for size control to grow just about any plant. New dwarf materials are also an important element for success. Apartment dwellers would be surprised how many plants you can grow on a balcony. Blueberry and Citrus are both ideal for container growing. Citrus makes a beautiful container plant and then is conveniently moved to a protected location for the winter time. Blueberries need low pH soil and water are often better off being grown in a container where you can more easily manage growing conditions. Many towns also offer Community Gardens where you can rent a plot to work. Contact your local Ag Extension office to get ideas for your community. Come together with friends, churches and neighbors to create a shared garden space. You could have a great time working together, and everyone could share in the bounty. You can’t compare the taste of store bought produce from the grocery store. Commercial growers offer varieties that are specifically grown to withstand long-distance shipping with your very own homegrown fruit. Grow your own fruit for the health benefits, or to simply experience one of the joys of nature and get a little physical activity in the sunshine. For organic soil amendments, fertilizers and pest control options, check out our curated Home & Garden collection. These solutions make backyard gardening a lot easier and more… fruitful. We’re here to help. Email us at [email protected] or call at (888) 864-7663 with questions.

Nature Hills offers a wide variety of plants that will effectively screen a view for you. But which is the RIGHT tree for you? Well, take a look at our "Top 5" selections to get a sense of what other homeowners have used very successfully. Need More Help Deciding? Email our plant experts at [email protected] We'd love to learn more about your unique situation. What are your goals, and what characteristics does your property have?  Privacy isn't always limited to fast-growing Evergreen tree selections, either. Flowering trees and shrubs can be used very effectively. Even Vines can be used to create a beautiful sense of privacy in your landscape. Get in touch with us. We'll help you think outside the box and come up with a perfect choice to solve your privacy challenges.  See All of the Options for Privacy Trees Available From Nature Hills Additional Resources from the Nature Hills Horticulture Team Blog post "Almost Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Privacy Trees and Shrubs"   

Growing Citrus trees at home is such a rewarding experience. Your family and friends will delight in the fragrance and taste of healthy, home grown fruit. However, to be successful requires that you monitor your plants for signs of pests or disease. The best time to deal with a problem is before it becomes a problem. There are a number of different pests and diseases that can affect Citrus in different areas. When not sure always check with your local Ag Extension Service.    With all product recommendations, follow label directions for dosage and application instructions for safest, most effective results. The Nature Hills Horticultural team recommends the following solutions: Top 6 Most Common Citrus Disease and Pest Problems 1. Phytophthora Root Rot - Can result from poor draining soils or from overwatering in a container. Dulling or yellowing and dropping of leaves can be the first indication. SOLUTION: Decrease water and test by plunging index finger to the knuckle to determine when the soil is on the dry side. 2. Scale - Armored Scale or Soft Scale. SOLUTION: On younger plants, use high pressure water and a cloth to wipe off the insects are the best approach. On larger trees high pressure water to all that are visible. After you have removed what you can see using a physical action, apply Bonide Neem Oil Concentrate according to the directions on the label.  3. Ants – Ants can cause problems by "farming" the Scale and Aphid eggs on your Citrus tree. SOLUTION: To effectively control ant populations, spray Fertilome Fruit Tree Spray Neem/Pyrethrin in the early morning or late afternoon to keep the ants out of the canopy.  4. Mites - There are a number of different types of mites that can explode in population in the summer or when brought indoors in the fall. SOLUTION: Limit watering to maintain Citrus on the dry side. Spray with Bonide Neem Oil Concentrate at first sign of mite activity. It’s best to keep this product on hand to catch activity immediately when you first notice it.  5. Fungus Gnats – These small black insects can appear during changing seasons. SOLUTION: First, decrease your watering to get the Citrus plant on the dry side and then apply Fertilome Triple Action Plus RTU Spray to the soil.  6. Rats and Squirrels - These critters can eat your crop quickly. Squirrels are notorious for stealing the whole crop overnight! SOLUTION: In the home garden, it’s convenient to discourage these nuisance animals by shaking Bonide Repels-All® granules around the outside of your home, garden and sheds. If required, baits and traps can be used to eradicate.  See all of Nature Hills recommended Home and Garden solutions. We’ve carefully chosen effective solutions that protect plants, people and pets. 

Magnolias are relatively pest free and easy to grow and care for. Read on for care tips from the Nature Hills Horticulture team. Select the Right Site for Your Magnolia Pick the right Magnolia variety that fits the space in your yard. Be sure to check the Plant Highlights on every product page for the hardiness zone to ensure it will grow where you live. Make sure the soil is well drained and that your new Magnolia will get more than half a day of sun for best flowering.  Ideal growing conditions? Easy!  A rich, moist, well drained soil with an even moisture supply is suggested, but know they are very adaptable.  How to Improve Your Soil Conditions Perhaps you don’t have ideal conditions. Then site your Magnolia in a spot that gets full sun or at least more than half a day of sun. Protection from the hot afternoon sun is best if you are not planting in full sun.  It is important that the soil you are planting into does drain well. If it does not drain well, consider raising the planting area by adding more soil in a raised berm or raised planting bed to improve drainage. Good drainage is required to make Magnolias work. Do you have access to mulch?  Many times local tree services who do tree trimming grind up the leaves, branches and trunks of the trees they trim. These arborist chips are fantastic to use as mulch over the top of the roots of your landscape plants, in your shrub and perennial borders, and gardens. Put down a nice 3-4 inch layer.  Be sure that you keep that mulch away from the trunks of trees, and from the stems of the plants coming from the ground. It does not need to be piled up against the trunks and can actually kill the plants if done so.  Do not make mulch volcanos around your plants! If arborist’s chips are not available in your area, you can use a  shredded hardwood mulch for a nice finishing touch.  Mulch is fantastic for holding moisture, keeping the weeds away, and keeping the soil cooler.  Keep New Plants "Stress Free" Magnolias do not like to have the soil baked by hot, drying sun.  So not only mulch, but additional watering may be needed especially during the hot and dry spells of summer and fall to keep your plants stress free.  Plants, like people, are more susceptible to insect and disease issues when under stress.  It is especially important is to keep your newly planted plants healthy and happy. Pay close attention to the water. Too much water is just as detrimental as too little water. Use the trusty “finger test” to know if your Magnolia needs more water or not. Stick your finger into the soil and feel. If it is moist, then skip watering. As soon as it begins to feel dry to the touch, be sure to water deeply and thoroughly.  Magnolias are Fast Growing Most Magnolias will surprise you as to how quickly they grow after they have been established in your yard. You will find it hard to want to prune your Magnolias, because the bigger they get the more flowers are produced. Light pruning can be done if necessary after the flowers fade. Winter pruning can be done. You will be removing the flowers on the branches, so if you do so, know this will be the result. Otherwise wait until the bloom finishes and then do some light pruning if needed. The overall form of these magnificent plants is quite formal, especially when young. Most grow pyramidal in outline with minimal pruning required. Magnolias are robust growers and can add two feet or even more in a season.  The Magnolia is an incredible plant, and part of living history. The very first flower on Earth looked a lot like a Magnolia! Be sure to include them in your yard.    

We asked our Horticulture Team for their best Tips and Tricks for growing healthy, delicious, gorgeous Blueberries in a permaculture garden. People across the country can successfully grow these wonderful bushes.  There are 5 main growth habits of Blueberries, including: Northern Highbush, Southern Highbush, Lowbush, Hybrid Half-high and Rabbiteyes. These varieties range widely in chill hours, cold hardiness, different fruiting seasons, size, and flavors. Selecting the right variety is key to successfully growing blueberries. Nature Hills offers many varieties, and one will work best for your area. Zones 3 and 4 can grow Half-Highs, including Northblue, Northcountry and Polaris. Zones 5 and 6 can reliably grow Northern Highbush (Vaccinium corymbosum), including Earliblue, Draper and Pink Lemonade. Southern and Western gardeners can grow both Rabbiteyes (Vaccinium ashei) like Climax and Tifblue; or Southern Highbush like Southmoon and Misty. General Care and Feeding  Location: Blueberries prefer full sun and will produce more flavorful berries for you if you can provide it for them. Protect your plants from the hot late afternoon sun if you live in an area with low humidity. Soil Type: Blueberries will perform well in acidic soil that is high in organic matter. Much like Azaleas, these plants are naturally found in thin mountain soil, so you'll need to recreate that environment. It is recommended to get a reading on your soil Ph before planting. Northern Highbush and Rabbiteyes Blueberries prefer an acid rich soil with a pH of 6.0 or lower for the. For the Half-Highs, an even lower pH of 5.5 is needed. A simple soil test kit or meter should be used to meter and monitor your soils pH. Adjusting Ph: If you need to adjust the pH down, start working on it several months before planting. Soil sulfur, peat moss and chucked coir all help to reduce Ph. Once you've planted, it's a good idea to use a soil meter to check the Ph regularly. Amendments should be added as needed to achieve and maintain the required Ph. The addition of organic fertilizers such as Feather Meal, Cottonseed or Fish Meal will help to adjust the Ph down. Planting: Blueberries like to grow in soil that is rich in organic matter. When planting, dig your hole as deep as your plant’s container and twice as wide. Add a 25% mix of either compost, oak leaf mold or aged saw dust to the back fill. Remove the plant from the pot and with high pressure water spray the soil away from the bottom of the root to loosen. Spread the loosened roots out and backfill into the hole. Do not plants any deeper than the soil line that exists in the container. Pack soil in firmly around roots. Acid Lovers Planting Mix  Mulch: Blueberry roots are shallow and really benefit from a good layer of mulch 4 inches deep and spread out to 2 feet outside of the perimeter of the canopy. This will help keep the roots cool. Watering: Blueberries like it moist, and mulch helps retain the water. Determine the proper amount of water necessary by sticking your index finger into the soil to the second knuckle just before you water. If the soil is moist, delay watering another day. Our team recommends that you study your plants to become familiar with what is required. Then, make adjustment for extreme heat, cold or rain. Use rain water where you can, as many municipalities have high pH alkaline water. Fertilizing: Feeding Blueberries in the ground is determined by the soil characteristics and pH. Areas with high organic matter and low pH will require limited fertilization. It's a great idea to do a soil test to determine if your soil is lacking any specific element. First Year: There is really no proven consequence to removing the fruit the first year, other than having faster growth.  Growing & Fertilizing in Containers Blueberries are wonderful plants for container gardening. You can control the soil pH better in containers, so this technique is highly recommended.  Choose a container that is 2 to 4 inches wider than the pot that the plant comes in. Make sure that the pot has plenty of drainage holes in the bottom. In cold winter climates, move your container to a protected location. Cover the container with straw or wrap it with burlap to protect the roots from freezing. Apply fertilizer every three months in younger plants (1 to 5 years old) making sure that the plant is well fed going into dormancy in the fall. In older plants (5 to 30 years old) fertilizing increases to every other month. Acid Lovers Fertilizer  |  Concentrated Acid Lovers Fertilizer Pruning Your Blueberry All Blueberries require some pruning. Blueberries should be pruned regularly after they reach 3 years of age. Blueberry bushes are best pruned when they are dormant, and early spring pruning can help eliminate any winter damage to the plants. Northern and Southern Highbushes and the Rabbiteyes need more aggressive pruning than other growth habits do. Half-Highs and Lowbush require major pruning only when grown in patches to avoid crowding. Major pruning for the Highbush and Rabbiteyes begins in the third season after planting. The object is to remove all of the 3-year-old wood to stimulate new shoots to form and to open up the plant for good air circulation. Alternate the plants that are pruned from year to year to maintain production. Remove all dead, diseased or weak limbs yearly Remove any limbs touching the ground Remove any limbs crossing over one another Remove damaged branches  Blueberries Like Pollination Partners Blueberries are partially self-fertile, so you will harvest more and larger berries by planting two or more varieties with the same growth habit. Planting more than one variety can also extend your harvest season. Choose varieties from an Early Season, Mid-Season and Late Season to extend your harvest season. We've made recommendations for partner plants on the Blueberry product pages.  Email us at [email protected] with questions about which varieties will do best in your area, and work as partner plants. We're here to help!