pruning

We love it when things are easy to care for! That goes for our landscaping as well! Ditch the fussy, high-maintenance shrubs that need constant shearing, pruning, fertilizing, spraying … and worrying! There’s so much more out there that’s available! Check out these shrub alternatives to plant instead! 1. Rose Bushes 2. Formally Sheared Evergreens & Hedges 3. Shrubs That Are Deer Buffets = Spray Spray Spray! 4. Foolproof and Fuss-Free Shrubs 5. Water Hungry Shrubs Get a Fuss Free Landscape With Shrub Alternatives Whether it's pests, diseases, the weather, maintenance and upkeep, or deer that keep you busy (or holding you back from buying that hottest new variety hitting the market), there's an easy-going alternative available in every instance!Some shrubs are gorgeous, but they are just too much work!1. Over-Sized Panicle HydrangeasInstead of planting those incredible Paniculata-type Hydrangeas like Limelight® that get too large for the foundation planting, let us help you with a selection of some of those very same plants that only get half of the size.Instead try one of these smaller, more low-maintenance shrubs for those applications:Bobo® HydrangeaFrench Manicure® HydrangeaLittle Lime® HydrangeaInvincibelle Wee White®Little Quick Fire® Panicle HydrangeaAll these selections only get in the 3-4 foot range instead of the 6-10 foot range. 2. Rose Bushes Roses were made to be thought of as difficult when they first became popular. After all, the aristocracy didn't want anyone else growing them! Grandma's Roses did have some issues with disease and pests, which are still present to this day. But now there are so many easy-to-grow and disease-resistant Roses on the market that your head will spin!Check with your local County Extension Office to see what challenges that Roses may face in your area to be sure and buy Roses that will perform best where you live. Whether it's Black Spot or Japanese Beetles, or some other disease … There's a Rose out there resistant to it!Everyone still loves Roses, but not everyone has the patience to care for some of the Hybrid Teas and Grandifloras. For those of you who would love the Roses without all of the fuss, you should consider one of the great newer Shrub Rose selections that offer more disease resistance and continued bloom for your landscape and then list some good options here. Problem - High Maintenance Oso Easy® Roses need no spraying or deadheading, plus they stay compact and full of flowers! Knock Out® Roses - bloom from spring until frost and do not need deadheading. Disease-resistant, drought-tolerant, and only need pruning once a year. Easy Elegance® Roses are perfect for beginners! Hardy and disease-resistant type of Shrub Rose that resists everything! Problem - Constant Spraying, Chemicals & Insect Damage Rugosa Roses - salt-tolerant wild and hybrid Roses that grow and bloom like crazy. Very hardy to cold and won’t be bothered by many pests or common Rose issues Wild Roses - If they can grow in ditches, think of what they can do in your backyard! Problem - Climate too Cold or too Hot? Choose Roses rated for USDA growing zones 9, 10 and 11 for hot climates Choose Roses rated for USDA growing zones 3 to 4 that have extreme cold in the winter For Arctic zone 2 winters - Choose Redleaf Rose, Rugosa Roses, or Purple Pavement Rose Problem - High Humidity and Powdery Mildew Sunbelt® Roses - highly heat and humidity resistant Try Rose alternatives like Rhododendrons, Gardenias, or Camellias 3. Formally Sheared Evergreens & Hedges Problem - Sheared formal hedges look fantastic, but they need shearing at least a couple of times of the year plus the usual maintenance and issues that may arise. Even shearing once a year is a significant chore when you have a lot of hedges! Instead, try one of these naturally neat and tidy shrubs that may only need a single trim to keep them looking just as formal and tidy. False Holly (Osmanthus) Deutzia New varieties of Spirea American Arborvitae Native Inkberry Holly Dwarf Conifers - False Cypress, Junipers, Bird’s Nest Spruce and Dwarf Alberta Spruce Boxwood Indian Hawthorn Chinese Fringe Flower (Loropetalum) Instead of planting a hedge that only offers green leaves, how about planting a hedge that wildly blooms? Or instead of planting a hedge that will need constant pruning to keep nice and the size you want, let us help you with a selection of shrubs that mature at 2-6 feet in height … without pruning! 4. Shrubs That Are Deer Buffets = Spray Spray Spray! Wintercreeper Euonymus, Rhododendrons and Azaleas, Yew (Taxus), Hydrangea (Bigleaf/Panicle/Oakleaf), Blue Holly, Staghorn Sumac, Roses, and American Arborvitae (Thuja) are often favorites of hungry deer in some parts of the country. Even when they have plenty to eat outside of your yard. But when food is scarce, these and many other shrubs take a hit each winter. You can spray every three months from the date of installation to train deer to not like your shrubs and go for the neighbors instead, put up expensive fencing and barriers … or you can simply plant shrubs that deer despise! Plant Boxwood instead of Yews in areas it does well Plant Daphne instead of Rhododendrons in hot growing zones Plant Oregon Grape Holly in place of Azalea in cold growing zones Try Fragrant Sumac instead of Staghorn Sumac Pieris are evergreen and fragrant alternatives to Azaleas Use Snowball or Arrowwood Viburnum instead of Hydrangea A Dwarf Alberta Spruce or False Cypress as great alternatives to Arborvitae Weigela bushes are great alternatives flowering shrubs Try Deutzia or Rose of Sharon instead of Roses Crape Myrtle shrubs are great deer-resistant shrubs too! Wintercreeper alternatives include Fothergilla Scarlet Firethorn is a thorny barrier plant with colorful berries and evergreen foliage 5. Foolproof and Fuss-Free Shrubs Quite a few shrubs need to be babied along and fussed over while they get established. Watered, papered, and worried over. In this hectic day and age, we need a plant-it-and-forget-it shrub! While all new shrubs need your attention their first year, these are the best for being the most resilient, easiest to get established, and foolproof shrubs for even the most black thumb out there! In addition to the easy-care Landscape Roses above, try these shrubs for the forgetful or lazy gardener! Forsythia Yew (Taxus) Viburnum Native Buckeye Bushes Flowering Quince Abelia Privet Scarlet Firethorn Bush Honeysuckle Sweet Box American Beautyberry Possumhaw Nandina (Heavenly Bamboo) Sweetspire Camelia 6. Water Hungry Shrubs Rising costs and increased strain on the water supply mean that thirsty shrubs need to be replaced for more Xeric, water-wise options! Climate change too is increasing drought in some areas, so you need shrubs able to look good on less! Wax Myrtle Manzanita Abelia California Lilac Rockrose Daphne Hebe Pittosporum Pieris Potentilla (Bush Cinquefoil) Go Native - If they grow in your area anyway and already thrive without your involvement Get a Fuss Free Landscape With Shrub Alternatives Save time, money, keep chemicals out of the environment, reduce water dependency, and focus on more enjoyable aspects of your landscape by planting Shrubs that practically take care of themselves! See our #ProPlantTips for Care for additional tips and tricks to make your existing landscape easier to care for, while you are including these lower-maintenance options! Nature Hills is here to help you squeeze every drop of enjoyment from your garden - without the work! Happy Planting!

Fine-textured and easy-to-grow Ash trees (Fraxinus) were one of the most popular street and landscaping trees in the US for many years! With airy greenish blooms and winged seed pods, their pointed foliage cast shade over many a garden until recently.  Fraxinus americana, also known as the White Ash/American Ash tree, is a species of native deciduous tree to Eastern and Central North America. They readily colonize riparian zones, and stabilize stream banks, and provide shade and nesting sites for wildlife. So why is it that Ash Trees became so popular to plant anyway? And why would you want to replace yours with something else? The Small Green Problem With Ash Trees What to Plant Instead of Ash Trees Bring on the Biodiversity! Green, Black, and White Ash are native to a large portion of the US and Canada. Many nurseries have some incredible selections from the native species that are seedless, have great fall color, and have beautiful upright and rounded forms! Municipalities, homeowners, and landscape architects began noticing the beautiful seedless selections that were coming on the market. They began being used on almost all the projects not only because of their varied forms and fall color, but because of their adaptability to different soil types, and hardiness. If you have ever seen an Autumn Blaze Ash in full fall display, you know just how unbelievably and intensely gorgeous they can be! The Small Green Problem With Ash Trees So why would anyone want to replace or find an alternative to the amazing Ash Tree? Too much of a good thing maybe? You would think we would have learned from our past mistakes by lining so many streets and urban plantings of American Elm only to see the demise of such a stately tree from Dutch Elm Disease that has wiped out so many trees. Thus, plant hybridizers and nurseries have developed so many different new Elm selections that are Dutch Elm Disease resistant and we are now able to grow many different cultivars once again.  The same thing has now happened with the way we were using (or we should say overusing) Ash trees in our landscapes. Because of its widespread distribution, the Ash Tree has now also begun to face its own struggles - the Emerald Ash Borer. Who would have guessed that we would import a bug that bores into the trunks of all the different kinds of Ash trees and eventually kills them? What no one really expected is that borers typically only affect trees that are stressed or not healthy, but the difference with this bug is that it wildly attacks every single healthy Ash in its path. At first, the movement was slow, but eventually, we figured out the movement of infected Ash tree firewood was being transported to many campgrounds, cabins, summer homes, and heavily wooded areas. Areas that contained native Ash trees! Many years later, we have yet to introduce a resistant Ash Tree to the market. The bug continues to spread slowly and in all directions taking out all Ash in its path. So to help stop the spread of the Borers and still enjoy your landscape, try one of these amazing alternatives! What to Plant Instead of Ash Trees If you live in an area where the Emerald Ash Tree Borer is prevalent, you will no doubt be looking for an alternative! Those areas now include most of the East Coast, New England, and as far West as Texas to Nebraska, affecting 30 states and killing tens of millions of native and non-native Ash trees in their wake. Check out these alternatives that also have great shade, fast growth, and incredible blooms! 1. Birch Trees The fine-textured foliage of the Birch Tree and its many cultivars also have gorgeous bark and fall color that creates a picturesque look to your landscape. Try a native River Birch or Paper Birch, or have some fun by planting a variegated Shiloh Splash River Birch or Royal Frost® Birch that is sure to have the neighbors green with envy! All Birch will perform best where the roots are not baked by the sun, but shaded by a north-facing site, where the roots are in the shade of another tree or house, or covered in a 3-4 inch thick layer of arborist mulch that is spread out past the dripline.  Unique Colored & Peeling Bark Fine-Textured Foliage Great Fall Color Wildlife & Bird-Friendly Cold-Hardy USDA Zones 2 Through 9   2. Linden Trees (Basswood) The lovely heart-shaped leaves and light green, winged seed pods of the Linden Tree create such a lovely display! Very pollinator-friendly, these trees have strong pyramidal-shaped canopies at maturity. Try a native American Linden Tree, or the smaller Littleleaf Linden to adorn your yard and enjoy the sweet-smelling flowers! Magnificent Pyramidal Canopy Tight, Upright Pyramidal Growth Winged Light Green Flowers/Seed Pods Heart-Shaped Leaves Cold, Heat & Urban Environment Tolerant   3. Sweetgum Tree The Sweetgum (Liquidambar) is a unique and underutilized native tree that features spring flower clusters that become persistent spiky seed balls that birds love! But standing back one will notice that the narrow Burgundy is a very balanced pyramidal tree that tapers down from a central leader. When space is limited, this modern variety is the right choice! The Burgundy Sweetgum features vibrant burgundy and purple fall color that rounds out the season beautifully! Unique Star-Shaped Leaves Columnar Shade Tree Fits In Small Landscapes Brilliant Burgundy/Purple Fall Foliage! Mature Height 40 - 60 feet Mature Spread 20 - 30 feet   4. Hackberry Tree Another big native tree with great shade is the Hackberry Tree. Named for its fall fruit that can be very bitter (but foragers use them as a chocolate substitute!), the mighty tree features strong growth and an upright form. The textured bark on mature trees adds winter interest too! Large Pointed Foliage Strong Trunk & Branches Hardy Deciduous Tough Native Long-Lived Shade, Street & Specimen Tree Seeds for Birds Resists Windy Sites & Urban/Drought-Tolerant   5. Elm Trees After the lesson with Dutch Elm disease, hybridizers have worked diligently to create hybrid Elms or selections of American Elm that are resistant to the disease. These include the Princeton Elm Tree, Accolade Elm, the Triumph Elm Tree, New Harmony Elm, and the St. Croix™ American Elm. The fine-textured leaves and wide adaptability, make Elms a natural choice for an Ash Tree alternative. Wonderful Shade & Fine-Textured Leaves Graceful Form Many Elm Disease-Resistant Varieties to Choose From Shade, Specimen & Street Tree   Honorable Mention Honeylocust Trees have come a long way with a wider variety of options, sizes, and colors to choose from! The fragrant blooms, strong open canopies, and fine-textured leaves create light shade that won’t shade out your lawn and the small leaves take care of themselves in the fall! Try a Shademaster Honeylocust or other Thornless and seedless Honeylocust Tree for a great alternative! Should I treat the Ash Tree I have in my yard? Treatment is available and if you have a significant specimen in your yard, you may want to consider having it treated by an Arborist or Tree Service. What many are finding out in areas that are infected, they are spending their money on replacing those Ash trees instead of treatment. Your local County Extension Office will be an amazing resource for you to learn about options in your area, and be able to tell you if Emerald Ash Borer is a rising issue. County Extension Offices can also let you know tips and tricks to help prevent the spread! Bring on the Biodiversity! Biodiversity is the key when it comes to all urban landscapes. A healthy urban forest includes many different kinds (many different Genus) smartly planted without a monoculture of any one kind of tree. Planting many kinds of trees alternating with different Genus is the key! Nature Hills employs Plant Sentry™ to ensure we adhere to all State and Federal Agricultural Laws and not ship this Tree into areas where it will be any kind of an issue! Check out all the great shade trees available at Nature Hills and accent your landscape without worry! Happy Planting!

With soft sage green foliage and fine texture, the Russian Olive Tree is common to see growing along roadside and highway ditches. These scrubby-looking, wild trees may not look the greatest in these areas but a cared-for Russian Olive in the landscape is something to behold! So why can’t you find a Russian Olive for sale in a tree nursery? Russian Olive Tree Alternatives For Your Landscape! Non-Invasive Alternatives The Russian Olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia) is a deciduous tree native to Europe and Asia and unfortunately, has found its way here and become invasive in many areas. Growing That is why you will not see them sold in stores. Introduced in the early 1900s as a windbreak tree that stabilized soil along riverbanks (its favorite environment) and provided habitat for wildlife, unfortunately, the Russian Olive escaped cultivation and is invasive throughout California and 16 other states. Outcompeting and choking out native trees and plants. So what can you plant instead? Russian Olive Tree Alternatives For Your Landscape! Hardy throughout USDA growing zones 3 to 7, here are some cold-climate and warm-growing zone options for the Russian Olive. 1. Serviceberry/Juneberry Trees The Amelanchier tree or shrub goes by many names like Common Serviceberry, Downy Serviceberry, Juneberry, Saskatoon Serviceberry, Shadblow, Shadbush, and Sugarplum, but this hardy native with small soft-green foliage and brilliant fall color creates an open and airy tree or shrub that thrives in a wide range of climates and growing conditions. The white flowers feed bees and become fat, juicy, edible purple berries resembling blueberries! Make syrups and jam from the fruit or let your songbirds eat them instead. Try a large-scale Autumn Brilliance Serviceberry, or the Cole's Select for incredible three-season beauty. Smaller White-Flowering Shade & Street Tree Wide Range of Heights & Widths Edible Fruit For Humans & Wildlife Incredible Fall Color Open, Airy Canopy   2. Amur Chokecherry Tree Nicknamed the Manchurian Cherry, the Amur Chokeberry (Prunus) is a fantastic edible ornamental that has four seasons of visual interest. This mid-sized tree delivers a symmetrical look but has an open and airy feeling that works well in naturalized landscapes. You'll welcome spring with a wonderful, fragrant flower display of drooping clusters. Delicate 3-inch racemes of pristine, white blossoms herald the new season. Those pretty, white flowers transition to small, red drupes that transition to black as they ripen in July. They are edible and - with sugar - can be used in tasty jams and jellies. Leaves Turn Yellow in Fall & Drop Cleanly for Easy Fall Clean-up Mature Height 20 - 30 feet Mature Spread 25 - 30 feet Decorative Bark With Year-Round Interest Great Pollinator & Wildlife Tree Fragrant, White Spring Flowers Growing Zones 2 - 6 Use the Berries to Craft Jam or Jelly   3. White Fringe Tree Known as the Old Man's Beard and many other regional names, the White Fringe Tree (Chionanthus) features unusual streamer-like white spring flower clusters that become purple grape-like fruit (on female trees) that birds love! The lacy fine texture and open canopy complement any landscape in both sun and partial sun locations. They’ll even handle full shade in hotter climates of USDA zones 4 to 9. Unique Fringed Streamer-Like Flowers Open & Airy Canopy Purple Fruit In Fall On Female Trees Mature Height 15 - 20 feet Mature Spread 10 - 15 feet Can Handle Moist to Average Conditions   4. Japanese Snowbell Trees & Shrubs The small foliage and smooth grey bark that fissures as it matures, the Japanese Snowbell is densely packed with elliptical deep green, and glossy foliage all growing season long! Plus you and your pollinators will benefit from the abundant white, pendulous flowers that become flashes of red berries for birds in the fall! As this deciduous tree ages, its bark starts to exfoliate and reveal mottled orange streaks beneath the gray outer surface.  Smaller White-Flowering Shade & Street Tree Mature Height 15 - 20 Feet Mature Spread 6 - 9 Feet Yellow-Green Tulip-Like Early-Spring Flowers Great Fall Color & Textured Bark For Winter Interest Pollinator/Bird-Friendly   5. Real Olive Trees Fruiting Olive Trees are the natural choice in warm regions as alternatives to Russian Olives. But with the bonus of edible fruit. Olive Trees are best in warm growing zones of 7 to 10 and have all the perks and benefits of the Russian Olive without any invasive tendencies. However, these trees prefer more arid, Mediterranean conditions instead of moist, riparian sites. Open Light Shade Canopy Sage-Green Fine-Textured Foliage Drought/Xeric Loving Airy Flowers For Bees Edible Fruit For Preserving & Brining   Honorable Mentions For a smaller option with silvery foliage reminiscent of the Russian Olive, the Silver Buffaloberry is an 8-12 foot tall bush or multi-trunked tree form, that also has the added benefit of vibrant red berries for birds! It offers unique silver foliage, is extremely drought-tolerant, and spreads wide without getting too tall! Another option is the native Nannyberry Viburnum bush, you don't have to work hard for its priceless rewards - including shockingly bright fall foliage, cherry-red bird-friendly berries finish ripening to blue-black, and profusions of pure white blooms for pollinators. Growing 18 - 20 feet in height and spreading 6 - 10 feet, this incredibly cold-hardy shrub can be trimmed into a multi-trunked tree form for a more formal look! Non-Invasive Alternatives The Russian Olive tree may have cemented its presence along American roadsides and ditches, but finding alternatives that aren’t invasive is easy! Nature Hills employs Plant Sentry™ to ensure we adhere to all State and Federal Agricultural Laws and not ship this Tree into areas where it will be any kind of an issue! Find these fantastic alternatives and many more Unique Trees at Nature Hills Nursery today! Happy Planting!

It’s Apple season! But many Apples with thin skin won’t stick around for long and you’ll be rushing to use up your harvest. So you need good, old-fashioned storing Apples! Plus, once those early and mid-season Apples are done, you will still want a tree to fill your larders with Apples that will last through the late fall and winter! Late-season Apples last and last, and often get better in flavor after storage! Check out some of the best late-season winter and storage Apples for your home orchard! Honorable Mentions Storing Apples For A Year-Round Supply A Note About Apple Tree Pollinators Know When to Harvest Your Apples Tasty Long-Term Late-Season Goodness! Your usual long-storage Apple favorites include Fuji, Red Delicious, and Gala Apple trees that have a range of harvest dates and great storage capabilities! But maybe you are looking for one that isn’t regularly sold in stores! A good winter or long-term storage Apple needs good thick skin to resist bruising and cuts, plus help keep the flesh inside from drying out!   1. Wealthy Apple The Wealthy Apple Tree (Malus 'Wealthy') is a very juicy apple, with a tart and sweet, lively flavor and notes of honey, raspberry, and strawberry-like flavor. It was one of the first high-quality Apple varieties grown commercially and it is now often grown by backyard orchardists and great for smaller urban landscapes in the cold North. This mid-season Apple will be full of loads of red-blushed yellow-green fruit. The flesh is white with occasional streaks of red, which is crispy and very juicy. Very Juicy Red & Yellow-Green Apple Stores for 2-3 Months Semi-Dwarf Size Great Heirloom Apple 1,000 Chill Hours   2. Mutsu (Crispin) Apple The Mutsu Apple Tree (Malus 'Mutsu'), also known as the Crispin, is a cultivar first grown in Japan. It is a large to very large, greenish-yellow skin with a conical shape and an incredible sweet-tart flavor. Crisp and juicy with an alluring hint of tartness, the Mutsu has a unique exotic flare. Some say the flavor is closer to apple cider. Storing for a very long time, these are prolific producers! The Mutsu apple tree provides its bounty in September, and what a bounty it is! It has creamy white flesh and is delicious when eaten right off the tree, or stored for later use. Large to Very Large Green-Golden Fruit Sweet-Tart Crispy Flavor 500-600 Chill Hours Very Long Storage & Late Season Harvest Baking, Pies, Sauces, & Salads   3. Red Rome Beauty Apple Rosy red round fruit, the Red Rome Beauty Apple Tree (Malus domestica 'Rome') is a medium-large, Apple with lovely greenish-white, fine-grained, juicy flesh that is perfect for baking because it holds together great when cooked! These spur-bearing trees are named after the Ohio town where this chance seedling was discovered. Hardy throughout USDA growing zones 6 through 9, you can try pairing with an early season and a late season ripening Apple tree to extend your harvest! The late-arriving fragrant blossoms show up later to avoid lingering spring frosts to ensure an abundant crop by September to October. Flavorful Rosy Red Round Apples Fine-Grained Greenish-White Flesh Tart Long Storing Late Season Fruit Fantastic Firm Texture For Baking & Preserves Harvest September to October 700 Chill Hours   4. Granny Smith Apple One of the best-known Apple varieties for baking, and cooking, the Granny Smith Apple Tree (Malus 'Granny Smith') enjoys a long history of embodying an Apple with exceptional tartness for fresh eating and baking qualities! The greenish-white flesh is crisp and juicy! The juicy, white flesh is likewise energizing, with a crisp, tart flavor that's perfect for award-winning pies, culinary dishes...or just right off the tree! Its lovely, light-green skin (occasionally with a subtle, pink blush) presents a vibrant sight amid the branches in October, and in some growing zones can still be harvested until January! Storing remarkably well, these fruits remain crisp in cold storage or refrigeration for up to 6 months! Popular Green-Skinned Baking Apple Crisp Greenish-White Flesh Delicious Tart Apples Perfect Baking Apple - Holds Shape Well Late-Season Harvest & Stores 6 Months in Cold Storage! ~400 Chill Hours   5. Arkansas Black Outstanding color and flavor, with unique fruit on a gorgeous ornamental, the Arkansas Black Apple Tree (Malus 'Arkansas Black') will be full of dark red, nearly-black gems! This antique variety is a hardy and long-lived tree! The flavor is described as wine and honey, with hints of almonds and a mild vanilla finish, making them amazing dessert apples! It develops its best flavor after it has been stored chilled for a couple of months where it will darken and ripen where it sweetens. Dark Purple-Red Skin & Pure White-Flesh Late-Season Harvest Can Store 5 Months or More Honorable Mentions The Frostbite Apple is an extremely cold-hardy variety with sugar-sweet crisp fruit! Typically ripe late in the season in September to October, and then the red round fruit lasts 3 months in storage. For a late-season Apple with a very long hang time, the Jonagold is a standout sweet fruit! Storing Apples For A Year-Round Supply There are a few key points to remember when starting to store your Apple harvest! Apples must be of the best quality - no blemishes, bruises, or broken skin Clean your fruit well and dry the skin completely Wrap clean and dry Apples in newspaper or other clean wrapping Dry skin but higher air humidity You can wrap them in a plastic bag in a lower-humidity location Basements or cellars are great locations, crisper drawers or cardboard boxes Ideal storage conditions must include cool, dark locations above freezing with high humidity. Check your harvest frequently and immediately remove any that are bruised, showing signs of rotting, or spotting. A Note About Apple Tree Pollinators Some Apple trees are self-fruitful or partially self-pollinating, every fruiting variety does better with a friend! By planting in groupings, linear hedgerows, and high-density plantings, you’ll enjoy a far larger harvest per tree when planting your Apple with a pollination partner planted nearby. Know When to Harvest Your Apples Knowing when your Apple variety is typically ripe is the first step. It helps to know if you are growing an early, mid, or late-maturing Apple so you have an idea of when to start checking. Different apple varieties have different ripening dates, which can vary from year to year depending on the weather and your growing zone.  While picking one and taking a bite can let you know if it's time to harvest, there are a few other indicators that let you know when the time is right. Look for unbruised Apples that feel firm and heavy in your hand. The fruit should be firm and richly colored. The Apple should come off the tree easily when slightly pulled back from the fruiting spur on the tree. Cut the Apple in half to check for white flesh and if the seeds are brown. Then taste it … it should not be strongly sour or pithy.  Your local County Extension Office can be a good source for knowing when Apples are ripening in your area so check with them. Check out all of Nature Hills' #ProPlantTips on caring and maintaining your Apple tree for the healthiest plants, the most fruit, and a long lifetime of fruit! Tasty Long-Term Late-Season Goodness! Get ready to enjoy your harvest all year long! Imagine still having tasty Apples during the off-season or as winter and holiday gifts for your loved ones! All of Nature Hills’ fruiting trees and shrubs are shipped with mature 3-4-year-old root systems so you’ll enjoy fruit sooner! Find all these late-season and storage Winter Apple Tree varieties and more here at Nature Hills Nursery! Happy Planting!

Are your coniferous evergreens turning yellow or brown in their interior or dropping needles this time of year? Did you just receive an evergreen from Nature Hills this fall and the bottom of the is full of needles?  Don't fret! Every year the calls and questions ramp up in the fall, usually after the first cold snap or after the first strong autumn storm. And every year Nature Hills is here to ease your worries and remind you that Evergreens shed their old 'leaves' too! Out With The Old What To Expect In Autumn Leaf Shed During Delivery When To Be Concerned About Evergreen Needle Drop It Is Called 'Fall' For a Reason! Out With The Old Just like deciduous trees do each fall, the oldest, most interior foliage drops as a way of making room for fresh new growth in the spring! Evergreens with needles or needle-like structures, like Pines, Spruce, Fir, and other types of conifers and broadleaf evergreens - All dispose of their old leaves that don't photosynthesize efficiently any longer. While an autumn drop of needles and leaving bare branches is completely normal for deciduous conifers like Larch, some Redwoods, and Bald Cypress, other evergreens also shed their needles in the autumn as well! Just not completely. Some evergreens hold only one year of foliage on the newest growth, while others may hold two years or more. Douglas Fir Trees and Hemlocks may stick around 3-4 years while some Spruce can hold needles up to 5! Broadleaf Evergreens such as Camellias, some Rhododendrons, types of Holly, and Boxwood drop their leaves throughout the year as they become less efficient. Chances are you probably won’t even notice. What To Expect In Autumn Pine trees like White Pine hold the green, newest needles at the branch tips, but the older needles towards the interior will turn lemon yellow, brown, or tan, and fall off in a matter of a week or so. Leading to many gardeners biting their nails worrying something is wrong. Don’t worry, all Pines will do exactly this, just some more noticeable than others! Spruce, Hemlock, and Fir trees also shed their older interior needles closest to the trunk, but it is much less obvious and sometimes the shed isn’t noticeable. Arborvitae shrubs and trees this time of year will also see their older foliage turning yellow or tan and getting ready to drop. All cultivars and species of Arborvitae will drop the older foliage each fall season, but some are much more obvious than others leading to some concerned gardeners. This holds true for plants that are established, in the ground, in containers and planters …and plants that have just been delivered! Oldest needles not photosynthesizing efficiently fall away Interior needles being shaded out by new growth drop since they can’t produce food Old needles in general Just like the old hair on our heads, needles fall out to be replaced by new fresh growth! Leaf Shed During Delivery Being boxed and shipped exasperates the needle and fall leaf drop. Changes in humidity, temperature, and being out of the sun while your new plants are being shipped to you stimulate plants that are going dormant for the winter to hurry up the process of dropping those old leaves. Shipping can be a bit stressful for a plant after all!  Not just for the plant but for you too! When you receive your newly delivered tree or shrub in the fall with the bottom of the box full of shed needles - we understand that can leave you with good reason to be concerned! Don’t worry! Follow the instructions for unboxing and inspecting limbs and roots, soak your new plant, and then get it planted as soon as possible! When To Be Concerned About Evergreen Needle Drop When should you be worried when your Evergreens drop their foliage? Any time during the growing season when entire branches or limbs suddenly become defoliated (lost all their needles) Whenever needles at the tips of your branches fall off If new buds drop before opening Any time new growth falls off either still green or turns brown/tan first Sometimes Spruce trees and shrubs can in some areas of the country be susceptible to a fungus called Rhizosphaera needle cast, or Spruce Tree Needle Drop, which causes the needles to turn brown and fall off. In other areas, Rusts and other fungal issues on the foliage can cause yellowing and lead to needle drop too. Spider mites can be an issue on stressed trees as well. It’s a good idea to always check your trees and shrubs yearly and check in with your local County Extension Office to see which evergreens perform best in your immediate area and which to avoid due to a higher probability of potential issues prevalent in your region. This is because susceptibility can change from one region/climate to another, and change from year to year as well! Sanitation is key so if you suspect any issues with your trees - both deciduous and evergreen - be sure to rake up and dispose of any possibly infected dropped needles or leaves each fall. Stopping it from spreading or reinfecting your plants from year to year. Any time you are concerned about your trees or shrubs, don’t hesitate to reach out to your local County Extension Office or contact Nature Hills! It Is Called 'Fall' For a Reason! Being aware that this happens, especially in a drought year, it is more obvious and may happen earlier in the fall. The key is keeping newly planted Arborvitae soil moist until the ground freezes. It also helps to provide supplemental water during the dry periods of the year and top off the root zone with a 3-4 inch thick layer of arborist mulch. So if you have needles dropping in the autumn - It's just your trees removing old needles that aren’t pulling their weight! Get the rake and gather up this free mulch for your acid-loving plants and break out the hose! Your conifers are just getting ready for the winter and preparing for bursts of fresh new spring growth! Nature Hills is here with you to help you get your garden tucked away for the winter and will be here for bright spring beginnings too! Check out all the fantastic Evergreen Trees available at Nature Hills today! Happy Planting!