Blog
Trees That Birds Love: Top Native Trees for Bird Habitat
From black cherry to hackberry, explore our top native trees for bird habitat in Nebraska. These resilient species provide food, shelter, and nesting support for birds all year long.
Bird Habitat with Native Trees & Shrubs: Nebraska Bird Month Guide
May is Nebraska Bird Month—and there’s no better time to create a bird-friendly yard. Learn how native trees and shrubs support birds through every season.
Maximizing Spring Growth: Mulching and Fertilizing Tips
Now that Arbor Day is behind us, it’s time for the final spring tasks! Learn how mulching and fertilizing can maximize growth for your trees and native plants.
Forest-Inspired Landscaping: Big and Small Space Solutions
Forest-inspired landscaping can work in yards of any size. Whether designing a shaded corner or planting a windbreak, learn how to layer native plants for beauty, habitat, and function—just in time for Arbor Day!
Forest-Inspired Landscaping: A Closer Look at Nebraska’s Forests
Discover how Nebraska’s native forest communities can guide your own forest-inspired landscaping. From towering canopy trees to shade-loving groundcovers, this article explores key plant layers and species that bring biodiversity, beauty, and resilience to your home landscape.
Forest Ecosystems in Landscaping: Layers, Light & Life
Forests offer rich biodiversity and natural structure that can inspire resilient landscaping at home. Learn how the canopy, understory, and herbaceous layers work together—and how to apply these principles to your own shaded or wooded space.
Ecological Landscaping: How to Use Shrubland Plant Communities
Shrublands and woodlands offer layered, dynamic plant communities that support erosion control, biodiversity, and beautiful, low-maintenance, ecological landscapes. Learn how to apply these systems at home.
Resilient Landscaping: From Open Prairie to Woodlands
Curious about how native landscapes evolve? Discover how resilient landscaping bridges the gap from open prairie to woodlands. Learn how to select native trees and shrubs that thrive in transition zones, enhance biodiversity, and create self-sustaining ecosystems. Whether you’re restoring land or designing a low-maintenance native garden, understanding these plant communities will help you create a thriving, resilient landscape. Read more now!
Ditch the Lawn, Grow a Native Prairie
Want a landscape that’s beautiful, low-maintenance, and eco-friendly? Ditch the lawn and grow a native prairie! Learn how to convert your yard into a thriving grassland with native plants, proper seeding techniques, and long-term maintenance strategies.
Grasslands of Nebraska: Native Plant Communities Guide
Want to create a thriving, drought-tolerant landscape? Explore Nebraska’s Tallgrass, Mixed-Grass, and Sandhills Prairie ecosystems to understand how native plants naturally group together for long-term sustainability.
Naturalized Landscaping by Plant Community: Grasslands
Want a beautiful, low-maintenance yard that thrives in dry conditions? A naturalized prairie landscape uses native plants to restore soil health, conserve water, and support pollinators. Discover how to design your own resilient ecosystem!
Drought-Tolerant Trees for the Midwest | Best Native Picks
Discover the best drought-tolerant trees for Midwestern landscapes! These resilient native trees, including Chinkapin Oak, Northern Catalpa, and Common Persimmon, thrive in dry conditions while supporting wildlife. Learn how to select and establish the perfect trees for a low-maintenance, water-wise landscape. Read more now!
Drought-Tolerant Shrubs for Midwestern Landscapes
Looking to create a resilient, low-maintenance landscape? Drought-tolerant native shrubs are the perfect solution for Midwestern gardens. These hardy plants not only conserve water but also provide essential habitat for pollinators and wildlife. Discover our top native shrub selections for dry conditions and learn how to successfully establish them in your landscape!
Soft-Needled Ornamental Pines for Stunning Landscapes
The Eastern White Pine (Pinus strobus) is a stunning addition to any landscape, known for its open, airy grace and year-round beauty. With soft, blue-green needles and a bronze carpet of fallen foliage, this tree creates a picturesque scene while providing habitat for wildlife. Thriving in sunny, sheltered locations, the Eastern White Pine prefers well-drained soils and protection from cold winds and heavy snow. Whether as a specimen tree or a backdrop for other plantings, its rapid growth and elegant silhouette make it a standout choice for ornamental use in the Great Plains.
Native Trees and Versatile Evergreens: A Naturalized Approach to Regional Landscapes
Native trees and evergreens play a vital role in creating resilient and sustainable landscapes across the Great Plains. From the hardy eastern red cedar to the versatile Black Hills spruce, these trees offer year-round beauty, protect against harsh winds, and enhance soil health. In this article, we explore how native and regionally appropriate species can transform your landscape into a thriving, naturalized ecosystem.
Evergreens: The Backbone of Winter Landscapes
In the Midwest, winter can leave our landscapes looking sparse and even lifeless at times—but it doesn’t have to be that way! Evergreens, like the popular Taylor juniper, offer year-round beauty and essential benefits for sustainable winter landscaping. With its slim,...
Cold Hardiness of Native Plants, Shrubs, and Trees
It seems that winter has arrived. Not so much in terms of snowfall, but certainly with frigid nights, not-so-warm days, biting winds, and often dreary skies. We humans have various means of dealing with the cold. A wardrobe of warm weather garments, a toasty hearth,...
Why Nebraska Native Trees Are Essential for Resilient Landscapes
Why choose native trees? Nebraska’s native trees are the toughest in the country — proven to withstand our extreme climate and support biodiversity. Learn why adding them to your landscape benefits the environment, your community, and future generations.
The Nitty Gritty About Pruning Young Trees
Pruning is an important aspect of young trees. Without proper pruning, future trees structures would be compromised and cause damage and injury to the tree, persons, and property. So, why do we prune trees? When is the best time to prune? How do you prune trees?...
Trees: Let’s Show Them Some Respect!
While surfing the internet on a -13 degree day in Nebraska I searched for the benefits of trees. We all appreciate trees, if not directly, then indirectly in the form of pollution control, oxygen production, and energy conservation. Many of us appreciate them for...
