pruning

Preserving the beauty of the natural world and making a lasting keepsake from your own garden is easier than you think! Create magical outdoor decor that preserves nature’s beauty for years! You’ve probably seen them made from Elephant Ears, Rhubarb leaf, and even Hosta, really any leaf that is the size you are looking to use, works great for your cement leaf stepping stones. Experiment with different leaf shapes and sizes, or use pre-shaped plastic stepping stone molds, or even old cake pans! In this project, large Rhubarb leaves were used and Portland Cement, but any Type I or Type II cement that is fine-grained enough to pick up the impression of the leaf. Tools needed: Cement 3-5 Gallon Bucket Flat trowel (or spatula) Water Rags for clean up Plastic sheets Gloves, mask, apron, and old clothing/shoes Cooking Spray or oil Optional Chicken Wire or Mesh for extra support Fresh Leaves Wire brush or power-washer Sandpaper Cement sealer or outdoor paint Step by Step: 1. Lay plastic on your work surface to protect the area. It’s a good idea to have a rag ready for wiping spills before they dry. 2. Wear gloves, old clothing or an apron, and a mask since concrete/cement can have a lot of dust that you do not want to breathe. 3. Prepare the cement per instructions on the package, creating a thicker consistency that won’t run, yet thin enough to spread easily.  4. Prepare the leaf by spraying lightly with cooking oil. Preferably, the underside that features protruding veins. This will make removal easier later on. A 2-gallon bucket, half full of cement created one medium-sized leaf. 5. Working quickly, the cement begins to set fast depending on the type you’ve chosen. Working from the center, use the trowel to spread outwards, adding more cement as you go. 6. At this point, place your reinforcement mesh or chicken wire, then top with another layer of concrete mix. 7. Keep adding and gently spreading the concrete onto the leaf, gently pressing outwards towards the edges, ultimately accumulating about ½-1 inch thick. Be sure to keep it level and smooth. 8. Use the trowel to flatten the sides so they’re thick enough to not break when stepped on. 9. Lightly spray with water if the cement is setting up too quickly, allowing you to smooth out air bubbles or bumps, and smooth the edges. 10. Clean up! Wash everything before the cement sets. Let set undisturbed in the sun for at least a day. Again, depending on the type of cement you are using, possibly less. 12. Once set and dry, flip the stepping stone once it is set, and expose the leaf to the sun and let it dry out before peeling. Remove what you can with the wire brush to whisk away the foliage and get into all the grooves. Or use your power washer to gently blast away the leaf bits. 13. Use sandpaper to smooth the edges of the leaf if there are any sharp edges. 14. Once thoroughly dry, apply a Sealant, or paint it if you wish with outdoor paint first!  In just an hour of your time, you’ll have a lasting keepsake to grace your garden! DIY projects are a fantastic way to decorate and preserve nature’s beauty!  Highlight your DIY concrete stepping stones even by heading over to NatureHills.com and pick up some Creeping Thyme or other groundcovers to plant between your stones and some edging plants like Dianthus! You’ll have a polished pathway where plain ground once lay.  

If you live in the southern growing zones and are constantly struggling with nearby deer killing your freshly established plants, we have the top deer resistant plants for you to add to your landscape. Never have to relive the days of broken branches, eaten flower blossoms or exposed tree bark caused by deer. We’ve outlined below five plant varieties that are known to be specimens deer don't particularly enjoy eating and that strive in the southern growing zones: Top 5 Deer Resistant Plants For The South Crape Myrtles Perennial Sage Selections Japanese Cedar Trees Cherry Laurel Bushes Golden Rain Tree Crape Myrtles If you’re looking for vibrant garden color, look no further than Crape Myrtles. From purple and pink to red and white, along with every shade in between, these garden favorites are known for bringing life to the flower power party.  Each late summer extended into fall, their bright colors are showcased and that’s when the neighbors just can’t look away.  There is no end to what you can do with Crape Myrtles when it comes to outdoor design! Space a few apart for a solid screen along your property line. Plant a single specimen at the corner of your home for that added curb appeal. Or use them in a garden bed as the focal point.  We love to grow Crape Myrtles in two ways -- tree form and shrub form! Some varieties grow on a single stem, making them fantastic small ornamental trees for the yard. Other varieties sprout multiple stems and are trimmed down to create excellent looking shrubs that are easily maintained.  Which way is your garden style? Grow both to find out! The best part is deer find Crape Myrtles to be less than appetizing. Although we think they are gorgeous, deer aren’t amused and will find their food source elsewhere in the South. So, that means embrace the perfectly grown blossoms each year without a worry! Our Most Popular Selections: Black Diamond® Purely Purple™ Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia BLACK DIAMOND 'Purely Purple') First Editions® Plum Magic Crapemyrtle Shrub (Lagerstroemia 'Plum Magic') Black Diamond® Crimson Red™ Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia BLACK DIAMOND 'Crimson Red')   Perennial Sage Selections The strong scent of Russian Sage Bushes is not one that deterring deer opt to eat. These wonderful semi-woody herb plants provide a unique and pleasant aroma that most gardeners will use in their homes as a natural fragrance.  Not only will these bushes work hard indoors as a scent, but they will also work wonders in the landscape. The delicate grayish foliage pairs well with just about any perennial, ornamental grass, or even succulents.  In fact, these Russian Sage Selections are a top pick for xeriscape gardens! They love the southern heat and can withstand being planted in full sun.  Trim them down to serve as an elegant ground cover or let them free as a blooming bush. Nature Hills likes to pair our Russian Sage with a garden bed full of large flowers. Or, line a walkway that kindly greets guests with purplish blue flowers. Regardless of how you decide to style them, Russian Sage Selections won’t have a problem with pesky deer using them as a snack! Our Most Popular Selections: Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia) Denim 'n Lace Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia 'Denim 'n Lace') Little Spire Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia 'Little Spire')   Japanese Cedar Trees There is nothing more mature looking than a few Cedar Trees in the landscape, specifically Cryptomeria japonica cultivars! These evergreen trees have a slight hint of a fresh fragrance that we’ve all learned to love and that deer hate.  We love this genus of Cedar Trees because of their ability to provide a ‘soft’ natural setting to any yard. Whether it’s full sun or part shade, your Cryptomeria trees can give you that soft privacy screen-- perfect for hiding the neighbors and creating a sensational backdrop.  Even block off a busy nearby road or give yourself a break from the wind using these Cedar Trees! You may find a few local songbirds perched within the branches, but never find deer nibbling on the handsome green foliage. Look forward to growing that wonderful Cedar aroma with a few of these cultivars established in the yard! Our Most Popular Selections: Cryptomeria Yoshino (Cryptomeria japonica 'Yoshino') Dwarf Japanese Cedar (Cryptomeria japonica 'Globosa Nana')   Cherry Laurel Bushes Cherry Laurel Bushes are broadleaved evergreens that check off all the boxes. They have sweetly fragranced flowers, attract a multitude of graceful pollinators and produce small fruit that birds and other small wildlife snack on.  With all that being said, they still don’t catch the eye of deer!  Use your Cherry Laurel Bush as an established low hedge that lines your driveways, pathways and more. They can also serve as garden bed anchors that provide four seasons of interesting backdrops.  Build the ultimate pollinator friendly garden with a few Cherry Laurel Bushes mixed in among other perennials and roses too. The uses are almost endless and deer will find their food elsewhere.  Our Most Popular Selections: Zimmerman Cherry Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus 'Zimmerman')   Golden Rain Tree You’ve seen it spread far across the southern United States because they can’t get enough of the heat. With four seasons of incredible interest, the Golden Rain Tree definitely has a reputation that precedes itself.  In the summer, its bright yellow flowers will make you stop and stare while being pleasantly blessed with a heavenly fragrance! The fall brings an artistic  display of orange and yellow leaves followed by the winter gracing a landscape with attractive bark.  The Golden Rain Tree is an effortless accent specimen that doubles as a small shade tree. Plant a row of them along your property line for an instant backdrop that cancels out noise. Or, use it as a single specimen in a rock garden or along a walkway.  This tough, urban savvy tree isn’t bothered by deer and we predict it’s because of the fragrance that tags along with the yellow flowers. The Golden Rain Tree is a MUST for southern planting zones! Not in the Southern USDA hardiness zones? Take a look at our blogs covering Deer Resistant Plants For the North, Deer Resistant Plants For The East and Deer Resistant Plants For The West.  Although there are several plants that seem to be deer resistant, Nature Hills would like to state that there are no 100% deer proof plants-- instead, there are only plants that deer seldomly bother as compared to others.  Keep in mind that if the deer populations are increasing and their natural food sources are limited, deer are a lot more likely to browse on any plant of their choice, regardless if it is ‘deer resistant’ or not.  Furthermore, if you are adding a brand new plant into a certain area, deer are far more inclined to sample it just to see if they like it or not. Because of this, Nature Hills suggests spraying a deer repellent, like Bonide Go Away Deer Repellent, on all new plants. This reminds the local deer that they don’t like the taste of your new plant.  Maybe your new trees have already had deer rub their antlers on the trunks in the fall of the year. If so, your tree is now very vulnerable and suggest reading How To Protect Trees From Deer Damage! With the above 5 plants in your southern garden, never bat an eye at wandering deer again!  Happy gardening!

Which Fall Planting Bulb is Right For You? How Do You Use Fall Planting Bulbs in the Landscape? When do I Plant Fall Bulbs? How to Plant and Maintain Bulbs Our Favorite Fall Planting Bulbs Estella Rijnveld Parrot Tulip: Mount Hood Daffodil: Dark Eyes Muscari: Carnegie Hyacinth: Jeanne D’Arc Crocus: Globemaster Allium: Fall Planting Bulbs Will Grow Your Garden Are you ready to start planting this fall for gorgeous spring flowers? We definitely are. Unfortunately, we do have to wait just a bit for the ground to cool before planting these bulbs. Like trees and other plants, they need a cooling period and time to establish a healthy root system. Let’s dive into the world of fall planting bulbs... Which Fall Planting Bulb is Right For You? We have one answer and one answer only--ALL OF THEM! These colorful and fun bulbs add life and texture to any garden or landscape! You don’t have to have a rainbow in your yard--many of these flowers come in neutral and soft colors. Some of our favorites are soft white and yellow colors that brighten up early spring. We do, however, have the flowers to create the brightest spring garden on your block! Do you need vibrant yellows, pinks, purples, or blues? We’ve got you covered. When we say fall planting bulbs, we mean spring blooming flowers! These flowers are not fall blooming. Plant these babies in the fall for full, gorgeous spring flowers. In this blog, we’ll discuss how to use these beautiful bulbs in the landscape, when and how to plant them, and show off our favorite fall planting bulbs! How Do You Use Fall Planting Bulbs in the Landscape? There are so many ways to use fall bulbs in your garden, landscape, or yard. You can be as creative as you’d like when planning your layout!  A bonus about all of these flowers is they act amazing as cut flowers! Create a homegrown bouquet you can show off at every meal. Imagine all the spring flowers and fresh fragrances brightening up your home! One way many people use their fall planting bulbs is to decorate their front yard! These amazing blooms look beautiful when surrounding rocks, a tree, or around a porch. Vivid colors and big blooms can completely transform a front yard. Another favorite is to line an above-ground pool with these beautiful spring blooms! This can distract from the pool walls and decorate them with nice colors. Spring blooms are also used to make gorgeous garden beds! You can create a lovely mixture of colors and textures. A fabulous use of these bulbs is creating a pre-planned living picture! Imagine a living picture on a small hill or on a business’s landscape--it’s truly amazing! The possibilities are endless with all the different colors and shapes offered with fall planting bulbs. Let your creativity shine through when planning your landscape. When do I Plant Fall Bulbs? You may wonder: When do I plant these exactly? Here’s the thing: If we ship it, you can plant it! As long as the ground isn’t frozen, you’re set to plant these. How to Plant and Maintain Bulbs This is the fun part! There definitely are many ways to plant these flowers. For example, you can plant them in the ground or containers! You can even try forcing them inside to grow in your home. We’ll, however, be discussing how to plant in the ground. Of course, you need to make sure you’re giving your bulb the right amount of sunlight and the correct soil it prefers! This should all be listed with your flower on its description page. Once you’ve found the perfect spot for your new addition, it’s time to plant! A good rule of thumb is to plant your bulb 2 to 3 times as deep as the bulb height. After your hole is dug, prepare your soil if you’d like to add nutrients or improve the drainage abilities. This is optional, as long as your drainage is working well, as most fall planting bulbs like well-drained soil. Next, place your bulb with the roots down and pointy side up in your hole. You can then cover your planted flower bulb with soil and, if you wish, a layer of mulch to conserve water and protect roots. Watering your newly planted bulb is very important! This ensures they become established in their new growing area. A great rule of thumb to decide if your new addition needs watered is using the finger test. Read our blog about the finger test here. The next step is patience! But then when they bloom, you can enjoy your flowers! This fall planting bulb will bring your gorgeous flower to life in the spring. Our Favorite Fall Planting Bulbs Estella Rijnveld Parrot Tulip: This unique and large tulip is one of our personal favorites! The colors are truly breathtaking with dark pinks, bright greens, and creamy whites. The tips of the petals are fringed creating a uniquely shaped bloom. The petals are mixed with many colors with no regular pattern. The dark pink is the color that pops on this lovely tulip! This astonishing tulip grows in zones 3-8, being a cold climate lover! This late-season bloomer loves to relax in full sun and prefers well-drained soil. These colors are hard to miss and make great cut flowers! Add the Estella Rijnveld Tulip to your garden! Shop our entire collection of Tulips! Mount Hood Daffodil: If you’re looking for a neutral and relaxing flower, this daffodil bulb is the one for you! Its soft white petals are simply spectacular. The light yellow inside gives the flower as a whole a nice popcorn look. This flower grows in many different climates and zones and has a fast growth rate! This flower can thrive in both full sun and partial shade. This is versatile for spring-blooming bulbs, as most prefer full sun! Pop these in that partially shaded corner of yours. This flower is gorgeous of course, but it’s mighty too! This flower is long-lasting, squirrel resistant, and deer resistant. This daffodil is the perfect flower for any style of garden--you can even plant them in a container to bring up on the patio! Order the Mount Hood Daffodil today! Browse Mount Hood and more in our Daffodil Category! Dark Eyes Muscari: Looking for a unique and eye-catching flower? This is definitely the one! Its deep blue color is extraordinary! People are sure to stop in their tracks when they see these blooms. This grape hyacinth has deep blue florets that pile high! When the buds turn into blooms, they open to reveal white rims that pop on the bright blue. Along with looking great, its fragrance is more than a little pleasant! This flower is easy to grow! They love the basics--full sun and well-drained soil. They prefer growing in zones 3-9, too. They grow strong and tall around 6-8 inches in height. This alluring and mysterious flower will find its way to your heart! Buy the Dark Eyes Muscari soon before your neighbors get their hands on it! Shop more eye-catching and unique bulbs! Carnegie Hyacinth: This is a delicate, neutral flower that fits any garden style! It offers an amazing, strong fragrance, too. This hyacinth is known for being strong and able to stick through spring storms and rainfalls. They thrive in zones 4-8 and full sun locations. Like other bulbs, they prefer well-drained soil as well. Imagine this bright, creamy white planted with deep, rich colors or even bright, eye-catching colors! This is the perfect neutralizer for any color mixture. Its deep green foliage creates a lovely image for the light flower. Add this fan-favorite flower to your garden! Order from us today. Want more? Stop by and peruse other Hyacinths! Jeanne D’Arc Crocus: This is another one of our favorite neutral-colored fall planting bulbs! This large blooming, sheer white flower is truly one of a kind. The pride and joy is the bright orange stamen in the middle of the large bloom! This flower can thrive in both full sun and partial shade, making it very versatile! It prefers living in well-drained soil, too. This is an easy-to-grow flower! These especially look gorgeous when used as borders or edging. Landscapers are a big fan of this bulb. They thrive in containers as well, so don’t worry if you have a small yard--this bulb is perfect for you! Place an order for the Jeanne D’Arc Crocus today for a good-looking garden! Why stop there? Our crocus collection is unbeatable! Globemaster Allium: Last, but definitely not least, the magnificent Globemaster Allium. This allium is known for being one of the largest flowering alliums! Each head is spherical, hosting hundreds of tiny blue-purple blooms. Don’t be surprised if people stop and stare at this magical-looking flower! Seeing a 2-3 feet stalk with a giant sphere on top is hard to believe! The best part is they have a great fragrance that people will love, too. This is just like any other flower! It loves full sun and well-drained soil. This allium is sure to sell out, so don’t miss this one. Buy your new fall planting bulb today! Shop all of our allstar alliums! Fall Planting Bulbs Will Grow Your Garden Let loose and let your creativity shine! Have tremendous fun when planning your spring garden. You wouldn’t believe how much a little color can do for your yard! Fall bulbs have great bloom periods. Tired of winter? Plant a crocus! You’ll see them right as winter ends. They are there to welcome spring with a flowery greeting. Happy Gardening!

We know how frustrating it can be-- you plant a few new trees paired with fresh shrubs, walk outside the next morning with a hot cup of soothing coffee just to see bark peeled off, broken branches and even devoured flowers on your nearby shrubs.  Welcome to a gardener’s worst nightmare, deer.  But, Nature Hills to the rescue! *cue hero music* If you live in the Western growing zones and seem to be in a constant battle with your backyard deer, we have the top deer resistant plants for you to add to your landscape. Even though there are plants that deer don’t bother, Nature Hills would like to state that there are no 100% deer proof plants-- only plants that deer seldomly bother compared to others.  Remember that if deer populations are running high and their natural food sources are limited, deer are more likely to browse on any plant of their choice.  Also, if you are adding a new plant into the area, deer are more inclined to sample it. This is to simply see if they like it or not. Therefore, we suggest spraying a deer repellent on all newly established plants, just to remind the local deer that they don’t like the taste of the new plant.  If your trees have already fallen to a case of deer rubbing their antlers on the trunks creating a vulnerable tree, read How To Protect Trees From Deer Damage. White trunk protectors, hardware cloth or even chicken wire wrapped around the trunks will now be your best friend.  Now, we have outlined below five plant varieties that are known to be specimens deer don't particularly enjoy eating and that strive in the Western growing zones:   Potentilla Shrubs Potentilla Shrubs are mainly grown for their ornamental features and they have positioned themselves to be an absolute staple in the West. They can thrive in full sun conditions where the going gets hot. But, plant them even where the temperatures are cool and they’ll grow! Because of their minimal pruning demand, you’ll see them proudly being used as shrub borders around an area or as a low hedge that replaces a dull fence line.  However, other landscapes prefer to use Potentilla Shrubs as edging plants for a sweet garden display or even in mass plantings because of their extended bloom period! As your garden lights up each year from June till frost, bet on neighbors turning their heads to catch a glimpse of your flowering shrubs.  With the various bright colors, one would assume that deer just can’t keep themselves away. But instead, butterflies are fans and deer find others to pick on! Our Most Popular Selections: Happy Face® Pink Paradise Potentilla (Potentilla fruticosa HAPPY FACE 'Kupinpa') Goldfinger Potentilla ( Potentilla fruticosa 'Goldfinger')   Lavender We may enjoy the scent of lavender refreshing an area, but deer sure do not appreciate the strong scent that Lavender Plants bring to the outdoors. These flowers are insanely perfumed, which is why they are often pruned and dried for a little indoor potpourri throughout the year.  But you won’t find deer near them! These purplish-blue flowers are easily spotted in various landscapes across the United States. From being grown strictly in a herb garden to being used as a landscape border, Lavender has a variety of uses that gardeners can’t get enough of.  These perennials opt for basking in the heat and they thrive in areas that are dry, making them drought tolerant. However, make sure you place them in soil that is well-draining for best results.  There is no going wrong with a few tough Lavender Plants in the garden! Our Most Popular Selections: Phenomenal French Lavender (Lavandula x intermedia 'Niko') Grosso Lavender (Lavandula x intermedia 'Grosso') Sensational!® Lavender (Lavandula x intermedia 'Tesseract')   Yucca Struggling to find a plant that can keep up with the heat and low precipitation of the West? Look no further, Yucca Plants are excellent broadleaved evergreens that do just that.  Find that these natural specimens are wonderfully carefree and very hardy, which makes them easy to grow! Not to mention, you’ll have them for years to come as they are long lived too.  Pick and choose which Yucca is for you. Looking for a plant that stays green year round for an added background texture? Grow a Yucca! Or would you rather a few blossoms sprout upon the evergreen color? Grow a Yucca! These plants are highly diverse and love to work hard in landscapes.  Deer hate Yucca Plants and we think it’s because of their pointy architectural ends. They simply get scared away. So Yuccas make for the ideal border plant or focal point that won’t get bothered by deer.  Our Most Popular Selections: Adam's Needle Yucca (Yucca filamentosa) Color Guard Yucca (Yucca filamentosa 'Color Guard')   Barberry Bushes Never go wrong with Barberry Bushes added to a remodeled garden! This hardy shrub offers a variety of choices-- petite and rounded with an array of rich colored hues. Whether it be red, yellow or purple, find your preferred aesthetic with Barberry Bushes.  Of courses these shrubs are known for the thorny and wiry branches, which makes them an effective barrier! Especially for deer and other unwanted wildlife that may roam the backyard. But make sure you wear a good pair of gloves when working with them.  You could be wondering how would anyone use these gracefully in a garden setting? Easy! Serving as living fences is their specialty, but use them as foundation plants or even in mass plantings. Barberry Bushes give a sense of ruggedness that sticks out among other peaceful plants.  These are an excellent choice for deer resistant plants and will even do the honor of protecting your other plants too.  Our Most Popular Selections: Sunjoy® Gold Beret Barberry (Berberis thunbergii SUNJOY 'Talago') Orange Rocket Barberry (Berberis thunbergii 'Orange Rocket') Golden Rocket Barberry (Berberis thunbergii 'Golden Rocket')   Bluebeard Shrubs From late summer to early fall, marvel at the beautiful blossoms that grace over Bluebeard Shrubs. These low maintenance bushes are drought tolerant and will elect to be placed in full sun, making them the ideal plant for the West.  Here at Nature Hills, we like to use our Bluebeard Shrubs for mixed borders. And pick a few airy blue flowers to add in floral arrangements! The best part about this ground cover is its foliage is not the pick of the crop in deer’s eyes. They don’t prefer the smell or the taste, so your Bluebeard Shrub is in the clear.  Our Most Popular Selections: Arthur J. Simmonds Bluebeard (Caryopteris x clandonensis 'Arthur J. Simmonds') First Editions® Sapphire Surf™ Bluebeard (Caryopteris x clandonensis 'Blauer Splatz')   Not in the Western USDA hardiness zones? Take a look at our blogs covering Deer Resistant Plants For the North or Deer Resistant Plants For The East.  Add the above 5 deer resistant garden plants to your landscape and never worry about deer damage again! Happy gardening!

A Simple Look at Fruit Plant Pollination If You Want Fruit, Support Pollinators with Flowering Plants The Best Pollinating Partners Bloom At The Same Time! Self-Pollinating Fruit Trees Hand-Pollination by Human Gardeners Self-Fruitful Fruit Trees Love Pollination Partners, Too Selection and Planting Tips for Fruit Trees Additional Fruit Tree Growing Resources from NatureHIlls.com If you are craving homegrown fruit, there is no time like right now to get started! Turn even a small lot into a productive homestead with help from NatureHills.com. Let's take a closer look at pollination—one of the most important success factors involved in harvesting a crop of fruit. Simply put, fruiting takes place when pollen from the male parts of a flower covers the female parts to fertilize it. Some fruiting trees can pollinate themselves. Others need a second variety from the same species nearby and a pollinator to move the pollen from one tree to the second. Fruiting Trees That Need Pollination Partners: Pears Apples Plums Sweet Cherries A Simple Look at Fruit Plant Pollination Many fruit trees require a "pollinator''. But what does that mean exactly?  Pollen is produced by the male parts of the flower called the anthers, which are held on long filaments. Together, the anthers and filaments are called stamens. Pollen-producing stamen, © 2005 Karwath When pollen grains from the anther are introduced on the female stigma of a flower, pollination and fertilization occurs. A mature fruit is then created from the female flower parts.  In some cases, just having a source of pollen is not enough. Sometimes you need a pollinator, or an agent that moves the pollen from one flower to another. Pollination happens in many different ways. Wind, ants, beetles, honey bees, birds are all utilized by plants to fertilize flowers in order to bear fruit. If you've ever studied the way honey bees work over a flower to gather nectar, you might have seen that sticky yellow pollen clinging to their legs. As a pollinator flies from one fruit tree to another, they will naturally introduce the pollen to the stigma. Watch your fruit trees as the petals of the bloom fall away. Look closely for a round swelling at the base, which tells you that a crop is on the way!  If You Want Fruit, Support Pollinators with Flowering Plants Poor pollination can result in smaller harvests. Plant flowering shrubs and perennials to support honey bees and other pollinators to encourage them to visit your Apple orchard during the spring bloom period. Consider installing bee hotels or pollinator hotels and leave water stations out. This will bring more pollinators to your property! © 2007 Guerin Nicolas Many fruit trees like Apples, Pears and Paw Paw require pollen from a related tree nearby. To produce fruit, they need a set of chromosomes from a genetically different pollinating partner tree. In order for pollination to take place, the flowers have to be compatible. This means that they have to be the same species.  If you want to pollinate an Apple tree, you'll need Apple pollen. Furthermore, you will want your pollen-producing flowers to bloom at the same time as your fruit-producing flowers. Plant two fruit tree varieties with overlapping bloom times. Bees and pollinators visiting the flowers of one tree will deposit the pollen in the flowers of the other. The Best Pollinating Partners Bloom At The Same Time! European Pears and Asian Pears have only a small window of overlapping bloom periods. However, extended-blooming Ornamental Pear trees can successfully act as pollinizer trees for both Asian Pears and European Pears.  Extended blooming Dolgo Crabapple makes an excellent pollinizer for many other fruiting Apple trees. Sweet Cherry trees also need a pollinizer, and Black Republic Sweet Cherry is a wonderful choice. Work with existing fruit trees in your neighborhood to increase the chances of cross-pollination. If your neighbor has an early-blooming Sweet Cherry tree, select another one with a compatible bloom time...so that everyone benefits! Some species will not pollinate each other, such as European Plum (Prunus domestica) and Japanese Plums (Prunus salicina). These different species will not typically cross each other, and make poor pollination partners.  Sweet Cherries and Sour Cherries also show differences beyond taste! Sweet Cherry trees need to be pollinated to produce luscious harvests; but Sour Pie Cherries are self-fruitful. Choose two or more different fruit trees from within the same family and whose bloom times overlap. If the flowers bloom at different times, the pollen from one might not be around when the other is ready to receive it.  Self-Pollinating Fruit Trees The natural shape of the flowers determines whether a fruit tree is self-fruitful. Some, like Citrus trees have "perfect flowers" with both female parts and pollen-producing male parts.  Although there are exceptions to the rule, the following list of fruit trees will produce fruit with a single tree. However, please note that you'll get a larger crop with another tree nearby.<ul><li> Citrus Peaches Apricots Pluots Nectarines Sour Cherries Hand-Pollination by Human Gardeners People growing Citrus trees indoors in cold winter zones indoors can use a paintbrush during bloom! People become the pollinators as they swirl the brush on the anthers and move it to the stigma! Paw Paw trees are another variety of fruiting tree that you can hand pollinate. However, this type of tree is "self-incompatible", so you'll need two different types of Paw Paw trees from NatureHills.com to get fruit. You'll also want to consider doing hand-pollination with a brush if it's been a wet and cold spring. If you don't see many pollinators showing up, or if you live in an urban area with a pavement desert...hand-pollination can save your harvest. Self-Fruitful Fruit Trees Love Pollination Partners, Too Anna Apples and Golden Delicious Apple are both special cultivars that are self-fruitful. They will both produce fruit with a single tree.  But you will get much larger harvests with a partner! Try white-flowering Crabapples, Red Delicious Apple or Red Jonathan Apple with Golden Delicious for bigger yields. Sour Cherries are typically self-fruitful, they will set fruit with a single plant. But there are advantages to planting more than one, such as gaining a longer season of fresh harvest.  Peach and Nectarine trees are self-fruitful, so you will have fruit with just one tree. But if you love fresh peaches, consider planting a successive harvest with early season, mid-season and late season cultivars. Selection and Planting Tips for Fruit Trees Before you choose a new fruit tree, please check your Growing Zone. Type in your Zip Code in the Zone Finder on every product page. Some fruit trees require "chill hours"; which are periods of cool temperatures. Peaches, Apples and some Plums need a cool dormant rest period to grow and produce fruit. In addition, killing late spring frosts that harm flower buds are another consideration. Select a later-blooming Apricot and Peach tree if you have frost concerns. In these types of cold weather areas, it's best to plant on a north-facing slope. This position allows cold air to slow the spring flower bud development. Plant in an area that gets great air circulation. Don't forget to give your new fruit tree full sun and well-drained soil! Amend the soil with Nature Hills Root Booster during planting and saturate the area with water to eliminate air pockets after planting. Apply supplemental water on a schedule during fruit development. If you have existing fruit trees on your property, you can topdress with an application of Nature Hills Root Booster, too! Give them a life-long support with symbiotic ingredients that never stop working. Enjoy the process of growing your own fruit. You'll join a nationwide Backyard Orchard movement that is growing bigger every year! Additional Fruit Tree Growing Resources from NatureHIlls.com We list great pollination partners on the product pages to make it easy for you! For more resources on pollination and compatibility, check with an arborist or your local county extension agency. If you have a local university with a horticulture department, that is another good resource. When researching online, keep in mind that .edu websites are reliable sources for up-to-date, accurate information. NatureHills.com Garden Blog Articles Plants to Support Pollinators High Density Planting Techniques for Smaller Yards Plant Successive Ripening Cultivars for a Longer Season of Fresh Fruit