Here are the Top 20 “Thriller” plants to adorn your front entrance this fall. Decorate them for the holiday season and enjoy them all winter long! 20 Castle Wall Blue Holly Pyramidal Topiary Zones 5 - 7 19 Castle Wall® Blue Holly Zones 5 - 7 18 Soft Serve® False Cypress Zones 5 - 7 17 Green Mountain Boxwood Zones 5 - 8 16 Italian Cypress Tree Zones 7 -10 15 Castle Spire® Blue Holly Zones 5 - 7 14 China Boy Meets China Girl Holly Combo Zones 4 - 9  13 Blue Arrow Juniper Zones 4 - 8 12 Oakland™ Holly Pom Pom Topiary Zones 6 - 9 11 Castle Spire Blue Holly Tree Form Topiary Zones 5 - 7 10 Needlepoint Holly Zones 7 - 9 9 Spartan Juniper Zones 4 - 9 8 Baker's Colorado Blue Spruce Zones 3 - 7 7 North Pole® Arborvitae Zones 3 - 7   6 Blue Princess Holly Zones 5 - 9   5 Green Velvet Boxwood Zones 5 - 9   4 Dwarf Alberta Spruce Pom Pom Topiary Zones 3 - 6 3 Spartan Juniper Spiral Topiary Zones 4 - 9  2 Sky Pencil Holly Zones 5 - 9 1 Dwarf Alberta Spruce Spiral Topiary Zones 3 - 6   Tips and Tricks For Successfully Overwintering Container Plants To use these plants in fall and winter container gardens, simply keep the plant in its nursery container. In fall, dig a hole in the dirt of your decorative pot and just drop it into place. No need to remove it from the nursery pot! Just place mulch over the top of the roots. Keep it watered as needed based on your growing zone. In Zones 3 – 6, water until the dirt freezes. In Zones 7 – 11, use the right variety and keep watered all season long. Enjoy it all fall season with gourds, pumpkins, ornamental Kate and peppers. Then, decorate it for the Holidays! Have fun and show off your creativity. In spring, add Pussy Willow branches and Pansies. Once the growing season starts, dig up the nursery pot and plant your “Thriller” out in your landscape. Or, gift it to the neighbor who has been eyeing it all season long! Get more expert tips and tricks on Winter Outdoor Container Gardens

If you have trouble with water runoff damaging your garden, or you just want to do your part to protect your local rivers, then you'll want to explore creating a rain garden. Rain gardens are a beautiful and practical way to control storm water runoff. They are simply a garden planted in a depression at the base of a slope that collects and holds rainwater, allowing it to slowly seep into the ground, rather than flow into roads and waterways. These are not ponds or even swampy areas. In fact, a well-made rain garden is designed to drain excess water in less than two days (which is good news if mosquitoes are a problem). They are so effective, and so beneficial for stormwater management and improving water quality, that some homes can earn tax breaks for creating one. Benefits of Rain Gardens The primary benefit is its ability to control urban runoff , especially during major rain storms. Urban runoff comes from our roofs, driveways, lawns, sidewalks and roads, and is full of pollutants like pet waste, fertilizers and pesticides. Left unchecked, this urban runoff can contribute to damaging flash floods and polluted watersheds. Build a rain garden to slow the polluted water from reaching storm sewers. Officially known as “bioretention areas,” these were first introduced to developments in the 1990s in an effort to save money on water runoff treatments. Studies on these early rain gardens showed an impressive 75–80% reduction in stormwater runoff during an average rain storm. Here are some other amazing benefits: They prevent erosion. Water runoff is caught and absorbed before it has a chance to cause damage. They are beautiful. Full of sedges, grasses and flowers, rain gardens have a lovely cottage garden appearance. They save money. They cost a fraction of the cost of a typical lawn to plant and require very little water. They’re easy to landscape. Low-maintenance by design, you'llprimarily using tough, native plants that can handle both dry and wet periods. They protect your home. Rain gardens collect excess rain water away from your home, preventing issues like wet basements, mosquito-breeding puddles and foundation issues. They support wildlife. Birds, insects and even amphibians can call a rain garden home. One of the greatest things about rain gardens is how easy they are to create and landscape. In fact, Mother Nature does most of the work for you. Elements of a Rain Garden Swale or piping, to guide water runoff A slope down to the rain garden - a 2% grade is ideal Decorative stones and boulders Berm to hold the runoff Deep rooted plants, ideally suited to a rain garden environment Where to Put a Rain Garden In order to capture the most runoff, it needs to be strategically placed. When scouting for the perfect place, look for a natural depression, or low-lying area of your property where stormwater flows and pools. Just make sure you place it well away from your house; more than 10 feet away is ideal. No matter what, do not put your rain garden over a septic tank or utility lines, and always call 811 before you start digging. Plant Selection Rain Garden Planting Zones The best plants for rain gardens actually vary depending on where you plant them. Every rain garden has three planting zones: Center - where water pools and soaks into the soil. Water-loving plants that can handle soggy soil do best here. Slopes/sides - a little drier, but still susceptible to pooling water. Versatile plants that can take both dry and soggy soil will thrive here. Top - the driest area, that needs deep-rooted drought tolerant plants to hold together and keep the berm in place. It's best to plant plugs or small plants, not from seed, which easily washes away. Here is a list to get you started. Remember, check your local USDA growing zones, as well as your average annual rainfall. Some plants suggested for slopes in a wetter climate, for example, may do better in the center for drier climates. Best Plants for Center Iris  Swamp milkweed  Fern  Hosta  Lobelia  Bleeding heart  Best Plants for Slopes Bee balm Aster  Silky dogwood  Wild geranium  Best Plants for Top Grasses  Sedges  Buckeye  Hydrangea   Rain gardens are a truly win-win landscaping project that benefit everyone, from the homeowner, to the community at large. Incorporate one into your own garden and enjoy the many benefits. Happy Gardening!

If your landscape has mature shade trees, faces north, or only receives direct sun a few hours a day, you're on the right blog post! Read on to discover how to design the perfect shade garden and fall in love with your low-light backyard again. Think shade gardens are colorless and boring? Think again! A carefully planned full shade garden can be just as interesting as a sunny garden, with the added benefit of being enjoyably cool during warm summer days. Garden design for shady spots can vary quite a bit, depending on the type of shade you have. You'll also need to understand the micro-climates found in your yard. Types of Shade First, determine the quality of your shade. This will determine which plants may be suited to add to your design. Dense shade is cast by taller, low-branches evergreens like Pine and Hemlock. Smaller, low-branched trees like Dogwood and Redbud allow more light, but the shade they cast on smaller perennials and low shrubs may still be considered deep. In this situation, you can look for seasonal opportunities to add color. If your trees are deciduous, try planting spring bulbs that can flower before the leaves unfurl. Once the threat of frost is past, bring out your pots of tropical houseplants - or add tender bulbs each year - to add color and interest. Medium shade is found under trees with high, widely spaced branches. There is still plenty of light nearby, but no direct sun. The same condition can be found on the north side of homes. Lots of skyshine, but no direct sun. Many sun loving plants will live in medium shade - even roses - but they may not bloom. You may have found this to be the case in your yard, if you have trees that have matured up around older plantings. You can move your full sun plants and look for perennials and small shrubs that prefer part shade. Landscapes in shade can be improved into a restful oasis. Another option many people consider is to prune the mature trees to allow more sun to reach the lower levels. Take out a few of the principal branches, or limb them up by removing lower branches. Partial shade is also partial sun. These are areas that receive direct sunlight at least 3 hours a day. Narrow trees such as Poplars cast intermittent shade, and trees with tiny leaves - such as Shademaster Honeylocust - cast light shade. Does your yard receive abundant rainfall, or experience dry conditions? Moist soils in shade conditions provide you an opportunity to create shade-filled woodland glens. Dry soils in shade conditions can still provide beauty and ease of maintenance with plants like Fragrant Valley Sweet Box. The key to success is growing what works for your space. Understanding the light requirements of plants is easy with Nature Hills's Plant Highlights listed on every product page. You can also easily filter your results to find plants that work for your specific Growing Zone. Shade Garden Design Tips It can be helpful to start by thinking in terms of layers. Begin with the tall shade canopy of your largest trees, then add an understory layer of smaller accent trees, such as Japanese Maples. Next comes large and smaller shrubs, then non-woody perennials and finally to the ground level groundcovers. Here are some tried and true tips to achieve a marvelous get-a-way in unexpected places: Focus on Foliage, Texture and Color Take your shady garden bed to the next level by incorporating different textures and colors. Ferns and plants with variegated leaves will quickly add interest. Rely on foliage plants that work in shady areas to carry your design through the summer. Plant textures range from rough to fine. Keep the contrast of textures in mind as you select your plants. Rough textured plants will anchor the design. Open, airy plants will draw the eye along and visually lighten the planting. Even green has different shades that should be considered when planning the flow of your Shade Garden. Add spring color from bulbs and shrubs, rely on foliage in summer, and enjoy the contrast in texture all winter long. Cut Back on the Lawn Even the most shade-tolerant lawn grasses can look patchy and unsightly in a full shade garden. Instead of “forcing it,” replace your lawn in full shade areas with some nice landscaping using pavers, shade tolerant shrubs, or shade-loving groundcovers for a lawn-like look and feel. Create a Relaxation Zone What’s the point of designing a shade garden if you can’t sit out and enjoy it? Add another dimension to your shade garden by putting in a hammock or garden bench with some colorful cushions. It will create the perfect space to relax with some iced tea and a good book. Add a Water Feature The nice thing about a full shade garden is you don’t have to worry as much about water evaporating or heating up in the sun. Your shady garden is therefore the perfect place to install a water fountain, a small garden pond, or even a simple bird bath. Don’t be surprised if it becomes a magnet for thirsty backyard birds looking to escape the summer heat! Shady water garden are an oasis during the hot summer. Incorporate Mirrors and Garden Art A well-placed mirror will brighten up even the shadiest places in your garden and will even make your garden space appear bigger. Add even more interest with some garden art. From urns to orbs, a nice art piece will help draw the eye and fill in any unsightly or bare areas. Perennials that Thrive in Shade Some of our favorite plants are made for the shade! Fall in love with your shady garden again by adding a few of these low-light shade plant performers: Hostas Hostas are a shade gardener’s go-to perennial, and for good reason! Their beautiful broad leaves give off a lush, tropical vibe, and they come in a wide array of colors and patterns. They also have some beautiful, often fragrant, pale flowers. Hostas are extremely easy to care for in shady spots, and adaptable to many climates, as long as they’re kept out of the sun. Try varieties like ‘Patriot’ or ‘Halcyon’ for a unique look. Generally hardy in zones 3-9.  Heuchera (Coral Bells) Vying for the top “shade garden plant” spot are Heucheras, also known as “Coral Bells.” These shade loving perennials add color in shady areas. They come in an even greater variety of foliage colors and textures, and their delicate bell-shaped flowers are beautiful too! Heucheras are very easy to maintain, and their compact stature makes them perfect for filling in empty spaces. Plant your Heuchera towards the front of your garden beds where you can easily enjoy their pretty colors and flowers. Generally hardy in zones 3-9.  Ferns It’s impossible to describe a shady garden without mentioning Ferns! These plants are known for their tropical appeal, and fortunately many of them are also very cold hardy. Ferns are perfect for adding soft texture to the shady garden, and they thrive in soggy, wet soil. Try the very cold tolerant ‘Ostrich Fern’ (zones 3-9), or the brightly colored ‘Autumn Brilliance’ fern (zones 5-9).  Astilbe With their brightly colored, feathery plumed flowers, Astilbe are an ideal choice for shady gardens, wherever you need a pop of color. These flashy perennials bloom all summer long, and come in a wide variety of colors, from pure white to bright orange, pink and even purple. Astilbe are widely adaptable to different soil conditions and can be grown just about any place where they receive enough shade. Hardy in zones 4-8.  Groundcovers for Shade Periwinkle (Vinca) The aptly-named Periwinkle is a pretty vining groundcover that blooms in pretty shades of light blue and purple. They look delicate, but periwinkle are very drought tolerant and cold hardy, and will quickly fill in empty areas where you plant them, like a living mulch.  Lamium A wide array of patterns and textures make these small flowering plants incredibly ornamental. Lamium will thrive even in dry shade and quickly spread to cover ground. You'll appreciate this "living carpet" edging the beds of your shade garden.  Shrubs for Shade Azalea and Rhododendrons Azaleas and other Rhododendrons are the ideal shrub for a shady garden. Unlike most flowering shrubs, these plants thrive in full shade. And when they bloom in early-mid spring, they will dazzle you with their colorful displays of pink and purple flowers. Even when not in bloom, these shrubs are very attractive with dark green, glossy foliage and a rounded habit. Generally hardy in Zones 6-9. Golden Guinea Kerria Kerria is a flowering shrub that deserves to be a lot more popular! It is sometimes known as “Japanese Rose” or “Easter Rose.” These shrubs are wonderfully fragrant when they burst into bloom in mid-spring, and their bright yellow flowers will brighten up any garden in full or partial shade. Kerria stems stay green all winter, adding a bit of interest during the cold months. Hardy in Zones 4-9.  Red Twigged Dogwood If you are looking for year-round appeal in your shade garden, the Red Twigged Dogwood is the ideal choice. These pretty shrubs show off white flowers in early spring, followed by light green foliage that turns bright yellow in autumn. In winter, they show off with bright red stems that seem to glow against the snow. Dogwood shrubs are very easy to care for, and thrive in full or partial shade. Hardy in Zones 3-9.  Yews Available in a wide variety of shapes, Yews are a wonderful plant to give balance to your shade garden design. Long-lived and easy care, these workhorses are popular for good reason. Generally hardy in Zones 4 - 7.  Call our plant experts at 888-864-7663 if you have questions about plants that will work in your design. Or, try your local Ag Extension office, where they'll know the ins and outs of your local climate. Enjoy!  

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/