Many of us struggle to grow a beautiful (but high maintenance) garden. Between work, family and other responsibilities, it’s simply hard to find the time. Rather than let your garden fall by the wayside, consider making some small changes to save you time and hassle in the long run. Use these low maintenance landscaping tips, so you can spend more time enjoying your garden, and less time maintaining it. Low Maintenance Landscaping Tips & Strategies Use mulch Mulch is a must-have for a successful, low maintenance garden. It looks great, and gives garden beds a nice, finished look, but it does so much more: Mulch helps prevent weeds Mulch acts like a blanket, insulating plants from extreme heat and cold Mulch keeps moisture in the soil, saving water Use wood, stone & other natural elements Adding “zero-scaping” elements to the garden provides great structure and interest - and requires absolutely no effort to maintain. Try incorporating flagstone pathways, gravel “rivers,” and accent boulders or driftwood to fill in empty space or hide hard-to-grow areas. Plant container gardens An easy and fun way to add lots of color and charm is to use containers throughout your landscape. A time-tested formula for success is to include a tall “Thriller” in the center, surround it with smaller and wider “Fillers”, then tuck in trailing “Spillers” vining plants at the edges to soften the look. You can easily personalize the look by choosing a uniform palette of containers. Modern gardens rely on repeating industrial style containers in tall squares or rectangular shapes. Funky, eclectic cottage gardens can use a collected hodge-podge of colors and styles. Put them on drip irrigation, and you won’t have to fuss with them beyond planting them up. Have fun with this! Plant plenty of perennials Unlike annuals, which look great for a short time but die at the end of every season, perennials come back year after year, and they look better over time. Buy them once, and enjoy them for years to come, no extra planting or buying required. Stagger flowering times Enjoy beautiful blooms from spring through fall by planting flowers that bloom at different times. Start off the season with spring bulbs, such as Hyacinths and Daffodils, followed by Cherry Blossom trees and Roses. In summer, Hydrangeas steal the show, followed by fall-blooming Asters. It’s a low-maintenance way to enjoy beautiful color most of the year! Pick plants suited to your area and garden If you want a truly low maintenance garden, you have to work with Mother Nature. Only use plants that thrive in your area. Take your local USDA growing zone, annual rainfall, and weather patterns into account, and base your plant selections on that. In other words, if it doesn’t work well, don’t force it.  Xeriscaping is a water-wise way of gardening in hot, dry climates. Choose the right plants, like Succulents, and you'll be grateful! Hydrangeas, for example, thrive in many gardens, but they struggle in dry, cold climates. Trying to grow them in these environments would take a great deal of work, and they are less likely to survive in the long term. Stick with something else, like Snowball Viburnum, that flowers beautifully with half the effort in more arid climates. Planting the right tree or shrub for your climate isn’t enough for a low-maintenance landscape; you also have to plant them in the right spot. Get to know your garden’s shady, sunny, and part-shade areas, and match the plant to the area. Don’t forget to test your soil too! Filter your search results by your Growing Zone and sun exposure. Plants have different needs for sun conditions that must be met for them to flourish. When in doubt, contact the local garden experts at your nearest County Extension Office. They provide excellent free advice on common soil, weather and common pest conditions, and will let you know which plants will thrive, and which plants won’t. Water properly One of the most common reasons garden plants die is due to improper watering. Watering issues generally boil down to: Watering infrequently Watering too often Watering too little, too often Improper drainage Watering at the wrong time of day With so many ways to water wrong, it’s no surprise that so many plants struggle in their first two years. Taking care of water-stressed plants can be time consuming. Learn how to water properly with this how-to article written by our experts Embrace a casual style If you want a low maintenance landscape, you might have to modify your preferred style. If formal, clipped hedges float your boat, plan to be out there shearing and trimming several times a year.If you can get in the right mindset, this could be an exercise in mindful meditation. Otherwise, this becomes a monumental yardwork chore. Instead, get a looser, natural style by using Boxwood, Hedge Cotoneaster and Privet shrubs without pruning them. To establish new casual hedges in this style, look at our Plant Highlights on every product page. Subtract two feet from the largest number listed in the mature spread of the plant. That’s how far apart you’ll plant an untrimmed hedge, measuring from the center of one shrub to the center of the next. The hedge will grow together, and the branches will touch, but you can plant a bit further apart if you won’t be tightly pruning or shearing them. Give yourself the gift of time, without losing any of the benefits of a beautiful hedge. Popular Low Maintenance Plants Let’s face it: some plants are just fussy. They require hours of fertilizing, pruning, deadheading and more. Save yourself time by planting some of these hassle-free shrubs and perennials. Remember, not all of these plants are low maintenance in every garden. Check the Plant Highlights on every product page to see if they will work in your unique yard. Popular Low Maintenance Landscaping Shrubs Dogwood Dogwood is one of the most appealing and effortless shrubs available. Able to withstand extremely cold temperatures, it’s a fabulous addition to cool-climate landscapes. What makes Dogwood extra special is its year-round appeal: delicate white flowers emerge in early spring, followed by lush green growth in summer, bright yellow-orange leaves in fall, and - finally - brightly colored stems in winter that almost glow against the snow. You can grow Dogwood as a small tree, a stand-alone specimen, or even as a hedge.  Spirea If you want a low maintenance shrub that pollinators love, Spirea is a must-grow! These tough little shrubs thrive in hot, sunny summers, and come in several beautiful colors and forms. They bloom from summer through late fall - perfect for a splash of color after other flowers fade.  Lilac Lilacs are one of the toughest shrubs you can find. They don’t do well in warm, southern climates, but they thrive in cooler areas. These shrubs are long-lived (100+ years), and are virtually indestructible once established. And the spring fragrance is just to die for. Rose of Sharon These grow in many areas across the country, and offer easy-breezy style. With flowers that resemble hibiscus, Rose of Sharon brighten up your mid-summer landscape. Use these as a privacy screen, or fun single specimen near your front door or patio. Juniper For the ultimate in low maintenance, select improved Juniper shrubs. They'll provide structure and evergreen color year round. Give Junipers the space they need to grow to their mature height and width. They are perfect for a rustic style or modern and contemporary designs.  Popular Low Maintenance Landscaping Perennials Landscape Shrub Roses Yes, you can have roses in your low-maintenance garden. Just select one of the incredible, improved Landscape Shrub Roses. They are pest resistant, drought tolerant, and perfect for beginners. You can find dozens of varieties, so it’s easy to find the perfect one for your landscape.  Coneflower (Echinacea) Prized for its medicinal qualities, Coneflower is a native plant that is also known for durability and ease-of-care. These beautiful perennials are drought tolerant, and widely adaptable to many different soil types. They even come in a variety of colors, from standard purple, to white, green, yellow and orange. Sedum (Stonecrop) For gorgeous fall flowers and simple maintenance, you can’t go wrong with Sedum. These succulent perennials are extremely hardy, and well-behaved in the garden. Plant one or more in a sunny perennial bed, or along a pathway where you can enjoy their striking color. Quick Low Maintenance Landscaping Tips: Use straight edges to make mowing your lawn faster and easier Group plants with similar water needs together If you garden in containers, use bigger pots which require less watering Grow flowers that don’t require deadheading Invest in an irrigation system to save on time and water A low maintenance garden doesn’t have to be boring… and a gorgeous garden doesn’t have to be high maintenance! Start applying a few of these strategies, plant smart, and soon you can enjoy a garden that has maximum impact with minimal effort. Happy planting!

Happy Pollinator Week! It’s Pollinator Week, so we have put together a special plant collection of wonderful pollinator-friendly natives and nativars for you. Our horticultural team is  always on the hunt for plants that provide food and shelter for these critical insects and animals.   If you’ve heard the buzz about declining bee populations, you probably want more information on easy ways you can help. At Nature Hills, we love plants of all shapes and sizes, but flowering and fruiting plants hold a very special place in our hearts. To help celebrate National Pollinator Week, we’ve also put this informative article together for you. In it, you’ll find some easy ways you can improve habitat by creating gardens and landscapes that include food and shelter for your local pollinators. But those pests can STING YOU! Why would you want to give them food and shelter? Read on, we hope you’ll get a basic understanding of the bigger pollinator picture. What is the Real Impact of Declining Pollinator Populations? Did you know that somewhere between 75%-95% of all flowering plants on earth need help with pollination?  Pollinator animals and insects are essential for the production of fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds. Imagine your life without these foods: Coffee - Pollinated by stingless and solitary bees Apples - Pollinated by orchard, solitary and bumble bees Blueberries - Pollinated by honey bees, bumble bees and solitary bees Avocado - Pollinated by honey bees, solitary and stingless bees According to the Pollinator Partnership, 1 out of every 3 bites of food that you eat is there because of pollinators. So, yes – declining bee populations really do matter to everyone. Pollination is an important part of the life cycle of all flowering plants. Pollen grains are carried between two flowers of the same species to fertilize each other. Depending on the species, wind or animals can also pollinate within a single flower. Flowers must be fertilized in order to produce healthy fruit and seeds. As pollinators drink nectar from flowers, they collect the heavy pollen grains from the stamens on their legs or fur. Then off they go to another tree to gather another round of nectar from the second tree’s flowers. It’s at that point that the pollen from the first plant can get deposited on the second plant’s sticky stigma. Fingers crossed, this transfer of pollen from one plant’s stamen to another’s stigma will fertilize the flower, which then develop into fruit and seeds. Now, to increase the chance of successful pollination/fertilization, it’s helpful if a flower gets lots of visits from multiple pollinators. The more pollinators flying around in your neighborhood, the better. Bees visit 50 flowers in a trip, and they are busy. They’ll collect nectar from about 5,000 flowers a day. As they visit flowers and stamp around in the stamens while harvesting nectar as food, it’s more likely that pollen will land on a receptive stigma. BEE FACTS THAT WILL SERIOUSLY BLOW YOUR MIND Of course, nearby partner plants are also essential. Pollination partner plants are different varieties in the same species which have overlapping bloom times with each other. Each partner must come into bloom at the same time. As you may know, even “self-pollinating” plants will produce larger crops when they are planted with a second variety of the same species nearby. Pollination Partner Examples Romeo Dwarf Cherry – Juliet Dwarf Cherry Dolgo Crabapple – Most apple trees Wise gardeners will plan for overlapping bloom times in their backyard orchards. This will ensure a longer season of fruiting, as each plant produces in successive waves. A classic example of this is planting the early season Duke blueberry, mid-season Bluecrop and Jersey blueberries, and late season Elliott blueberry together. You’ll get pollination, and harvest blueberries the whole season. Simply put, pollinators help most plants reproduce. No pollinators = not many crops! In the United States, those pollinators deliver nearly $20 billion worth of products annually. And it’s not just bees…. Umm… Wait A Minute. What Are Pollinators? These hard-working, helpful animals can be either insects or mammals. There are about 200,000 insects who carry pollen grains, including the usual suspects, such as bees. But there are many more beneficial insects including wasps, moths, butterflies, beetles and flies, ants and beetles. You might be surprised to learn that 1,000 species of bats, birds and even small mammals act as pollinators. Even bees come in many shapes and sizes. Yes, there are 20,000 bee species. Only a few make honey and they don’t all live in hives. Please do understand that NONE of the bee species is particularly interested in you, and when left alone, will rarely act aggressively without provocation. Insects are most active during the day. Don’t leave sugary foods outside uncovered, and don’t wear perfume while you garden. Leave bees alone, remain calm and they’ll tend to do the same to you. Teach yourself and your kids the difference between bees (hairy with chunky legs) and wasps (smooth bodies and skinny legs). Bees are Beautiful – Check These Out! Pollination is Important, But Wasps Sting! “So food is important, but really? You want me to care about pests like wasps. Give me a break.” And it’s true, some wasps and hornets can and do act to protect their territory. If they are far away from the house, consider a truce. However, if they’ve decided the soffits or eaves of your house are “their” territory, you’ll want to take action. Spray your eaves in early April or use wasp traps according to their directions. There are dusts, traps, foam sprays and homemade alternatives to use. All chemicals should be sprayed in the evening to mitigate risk to beneficial insects. Always follow instructions to the letter. The goal is to use as little chemical as possible to do the job. Cover your face with a bandana, wear long sleeves, pants, socks and gloves and DON’T STAND UNDER the nest if you use spray. Instead, spray up at an angle. Hornets are an aggressive species of wasp, so you’ll want to consider calling in an expert if you spy a hornet nest (shaped like a blobby, gray football) near your home. If they see you as a threat at any time and behave aggressively towards you, move indoors or into a car for safety. Don’t run, and please don’t swat at them, you’ll just bring more wasps to “the rescue”. Moving slowly but surely, get yourself in a safe spot and teach kids to do the same. Moving fast will threaten the insect, and stings can be painful. Wash the area with soap, then apply a cold pack. Apply hydrocortisone cream and take an ibuprofen. We’ve heard chocolate helps, too. (FYI, cocoa beans are pollinated by tiny midges.) In general, learning to live with nature is the best course. After all – remember – our food supply really needs all kinds of pollinators! Wasps also hunt pest insects, so let’s have a bit of respect for these hard workers. Learn more Why Are Pollinators at Risk? Pollinators are more important than ever as so many of the native feeding and nesting habitats for these birds and insects have been reduced or eliminated. As communities expand and new roads are built to accommodate this expansion, so many of the native plant areas have been altered or destroyed. Deforestation in rural areas, growing ‘crop monocultures’ and insecticidal spraying has played a huge role in declining pollinator populations. Rural land is disappearing at the rate of around 3,000 acres a day! For decades, these feeding and nesting habitats were quietly being reduced and destroyed without anyone paying too much attention. Some of the change comes from climate changes and from the use (or mis-use) of chemicals, or from pests and disease. Even the horticulture industry has played a part. Native plants can sometimes behave “weedy” in a garden setting. Growers have carefully worked to develop new hybrids and plant selections that are better behaved. These new hybrids and cultivars were bred for specific qualities - like color and disease resistance - that the native plants did not offer. Growers weren’t necessarily been breeding “nativars” with pollinators in mind. Now, however, we’ve been learning a LOT about the importance of using good pest management practices and improving soil quality. Diversity of planting and high-density planting of pollination partners are in common practice now. We’ve also made great strides in awareness of honey bee colony collapse disorder (CCD). For instance, extracts from Hops vines are being used to successfully control varroa mites and other harmful insects to revive the health and keep honey bees happy and productive. Benefits of Using Flowering Native Plants So what can you do to lend support to these critical insects and animals? It’s easy! Pollinators are attracted to the flowers where they drink the nectar. You like flowers, too. As they drink, they’ll pick up pollen grains and transfer them from flower to flower and plant to plant.  Now we know how important these native plants are, and we’ve seen a big trend of using native plants once again. Remember that native plants grew where the conditions were right for them. It is important to research the right plant for the right area. Not every native plant grows everywhere , so please study the Plant Highlights on our product pages to learn the correct conditions for any plant you may be considering. Our plant list for Pollinators is a great place to start! Incorporate plants that offer pollen and nectar throughout the season in your area. Be sure to grow some plants that flower early in the spring as well, as flowers that bloom late into the growing season. As you plan your garden design, choose early blooming, mid-season blooming and end of season bloomers. Create pollinator-friendly habitat with native flowering plants that give nectar, pollen and shelter to pollinators of all shapes and sizes. Why not establish a small wildflower patch that won’t need to be mowed? Let a few vegetable plants go to flower. Leave most perennial plants standing for the winter months to create habitats for these beneficials to overwinter, as well. Learn more  You might also consider planting native plants in a series of containers, such as a long row of whiskey barrels. Pollinators visiting these plants add a delightful sense of motion to your yard. Native plants are interesting and beautiful. Always Follow Plant Regulations Please, please, please… buy plants only from regulated nurseries like Nature Hills. Don’t harvest wild plants or buy from unregulated sources and introduce them in your yard. You don’t want to take the risk of introducing pests or problems into your neighborhood. That can be devastating to your entire community, including the pollinators. We work with expert growers who specialize in these wonderful plants. We are also protecting your local environment by using Plant Sentry™, an online tool that blocks shipments with any state, regional or local regulations against a specific plant. When you work with Nature Hills, you can do your part by offering and including natives and flowering nativars into your landscape. You’ll love knowing you are taking steps to attract the beneficial birds and insects that are attracted to these special plants.  You can make a difference. Start small in your own yard, but don’t forget to start. Discuss it with your neighbors, relatives and friends to make them aware. You may want to register your garden in the national pollinator garden network. Include pollinator friendly plants that bloom to attract native pollinators. Create gardens as a source of food to improve the health of bees, butterflies, birds, bats and other pollinators. Look to see what is happening in your community. Many states across North America, including Illinois, Texas, Virginia, and Ohio have won awards for planting and maintaining pollinator habitats along roadways. This is an impressive, impactful project that can be done anywhere. Use chemicals carefully as directed and only when necessary at your own home. Spray at the end of day when the bees or insects are not as active.  Reduce tilling with mulched wood chips and lasagna-style gardening. Many native bees live in the soil. Finally, check with your local extension office to see if they have a list of plants that you should be including in your yard to attract beneficial insects and pollinators and do your part.  Helpful Links https://www.naturehills.com/trees/tree-types/flowering-trees https://www.naturehills.com/bushes-and-shrubs/bushes-and-shrubs-types/flowering-shrubs https://www.naturehills.com/perennials/early_spring https://www.naturehills.com/perennials/late_spring https://www.naturehills.com/perennials/summer https://www.naturehills.com/perennials/fall https://www.naturehills.com/perennials/winter Get more #ProPlantTips https://www.naturehills.com/blog/post/flower-gardens-bring-butterflies-and-beneficial-insects/ https://www.naturehills.com/blog/post/tips-for-the-new-gardener/  

Tips to Prune and Train Espalier Fruit Trees It's fun to grow healthy homegrown fruit on a sturdy trellis. The ancient technique called Espalier allows for a full harvest in a small space planting. Espalier is now being done on Apples, Apricots, Citrus, Cherries, Figs, Nectarines Pears, Peaches, Persimmons, Pomegranate and Plums. There are few varieties of fruit that cannot be trained to grow flat. Citrus is ideal for espalier. Watch as our High Density Backyard Orchard Culture Expert, Ed Laivo, walks you through the steps to prune and train a young pear tree growing as an espalier on a sturdy trellis. You'll learn how far to trim back, how to tie down limbs to direct growth. You'll also see what kind of tools are required to create a "high density planting" espalier. Benefits include the fact that you can grow several varieties of fruit trees together as a single espalier. You'll love extending your harvest season and ensuring cross-pollination. Yes, you can grow effective espaliered fruit trees in an urban agriculture paradise or on a small, productive suburban homestead. Enjoy! Shop all fruit from Nature Hills

  LINK: https://www.naturehills.com/cooperative_extension Nature Hills Horticultural Staff is always happy to assist you with your gardening questions and challenges. But sometimes, customers pose location-specific questions to us that we are unable to answer. We don't always have knowledge of the regional climate and soil conditions. We do not want to pass on incorrect information to you. In situations such as these, we always recommend the customer contact their local cooperative extension office. The cooperative extension offices are a nationwide, non-credit educational network that staffs experts who can be valuable resources to local gardeners. Your county extension offices can answer questions related to various trees and plants and other gardening issues at no cost to you. Your local cooperative extension office may also offer growing and maintenance guides and can help diagnose insect infestation and suggest remedies free of charge. Other services may include soil testing and pH so you can see what your soil is lacking and tackle your unique situation. Each office is staffed with helpful experts that are ready and willing to assist you.  Perhaps you live in an area that has a tough climate - because of elevation or unusual microclimate that may affect what grows well for you. In your case, the general USDA Plant Hardiness Growing Zones map may not reveal the challenges for your particular area. Use your Extension Office to tap into excellent information that can save you lots of time, frustration, and money from having the benefit of research and history of the area available to you for free.  The beauty of contacting your local Extension Office is they will be able to share with you all pertinent information for plants in YOUR local area. They know which species or cultivars work best in the immediate area. Your local office will have experience dealing with disease and insect problems that may have plagued the area in the past or have new data on problems that are new to an area. You'll get feedback not only from master gardeners and growers or homeowners, but also University knowledge and research that is pertinent for your local area. It’s so easy to obtain pertinent information regarding plant identification and/or information on diseases or insects that can affect the health of your garden by contacting your local Cooperative Extension Office (aka County Extension Office). For your convenience, we have compiled a list of the nationwide network of County Cooperative Extension offices. Just click on your state to find your local office.

These days, every region is becoming more aware of precious water resources. And, gardeners are busy people, so time is also something to carefully safeguard. Watch the video below to get the pros and cons of different techniques, and learn how to adjust automatic water systems as you need to.  Water-Wise landscaping is here, and we don't think that philosophy is going away. This is true all across the country as people realize how expensive water bills are getting. Learn the finer details of using timer for watering plants and automatic watering system for plants. That means automatic sprinkler systems, too.  Have a question? Email us at [email protected]!