Blog, Maintenance, summer
Three straight days of dangerous heat, and heat index values between 105° and 115° aren’t just hard on us—they’re hard on our landscapes, too. During periods of extreme heat, like we experienced early this week across Nebraska, you may notice your trees...
Blog, Native Landscaping, Nature & Wellness
Looking for the best climbing trees for kids in Nebraska? Large shade trees with exceptional climbing branches, cooling canopies, and wildlife value — such as Silver Maple, Northern Red Oak, Shingle Oak, American Sycamore, and Ohio Buckeye — can help create outdoor...
Blog, Diversity, Native Plants, Natural Design, Plants for Pollinators
If you follow us on social media or subscribe to our newsletter, you’ve recently discovered that our top-selling shrub of 2025 was Prairie Willow (Salix humilis). And truthfully, we are not surprised at how well-loved this native is. Prairie Willow may not be flashy...
Blog, Maintenance
Shhhh… the trees are sleeping — but we’re not! Pruning is one of our most important winter activities. With over 19,000 trees growing in our fields, it takes our team several weeks to complete this work each year. Winter dormancy gives us a rare and valuable...
Blog, Winter Tree and Shrub Care
This year, December arrived and ushered in the holiday season with a beautiful blanket of snow! My kids were excited that it already felt like Christmas and happily pulled all their snow gear out of storage to rush outside and play. It may not have been the same...
Blog, Native Landscaping
Fall’s Last Holdouts: Trees That Keep Autumn Alive Earlier this week, I shared one of my favorite fall trees on social media, which inspired a bigger question: What is a fall holdout? A fall holdout is a tree that stretches autumn to its limit, keeping its color,...
Blog, Native Landscaping
The Science of Fall Color As the air cools and the days shorten, trees begin a quiet transformation that turns science into art. You learned – probably as early as elementary school science class – that plants are green because they contain chlorophyll in...
Blog, Native Landscaping
Around this time of year, we commonly gravitate towards the beauty of fall colors and the many beautiful trees and shrubs that fill our outdoor spaces, with showy reds, golds, and oranges each October. Yes, these knockouts provide the perfect backdrop for fall photos,...
Blog, Foraging, Nature & Wellness
How Does Time Outdoors Improve Mental Health? It is well documented that spending time outdoors, particularly in green spaces where we can ground ourselves and connect to the earth, is one of the best forms of therapy. The American Psychological Association...
Blog, Foraging
If you’ve been following along lately, we’ve been talking a lot about foraging in the Great Plains. From wild fruits to backyard favorites, Nebraska’s native bounty makes a delicious addition to fall treats. And now we’re entering one of our...
Blog, Diversity, Native Plants, Plants for Wildlife
Birds on the Move: Supporting Fall Migration with Native Plants According to BirdCast, peak migration for most of Nebraska will begin around September 18 and continue through about October 16. Knowing when peak migration happens not only helps bird enthusiasts plan...
Blog, Edible Landscaping, Native Plants
Foraging Fruiting Natives Foraging isn’t just a passing trend; it’s a movement inspired by a renewed longing for sustainability and a deeper connection with nature. From garden design to food tourism, many are rediscovering the joy of gathering what nature...
Blog, Maintenance, Weather Resistant
Can You Storm-Proof Your Landscape? I asked you not to panic a few times in our recent newsletter, but with all this talk about storm damage, potential tree failure, and hiring an arborist, well… you may have started to panic a little! The first question that...
Blog, Maintenance, Native Plants, Weather Resistant
Summer Storms: Spot Tree Trouble Before It Breaks Ah, July. Blue skies and backyard barbecues. Weather that, if you are like me, you enjoy under the sun while your kids frolic in the yard with a water gun in one hand and a popsicle in the other. However, I have many...
Blog, Maintenance
Roots are the hidden engine that powers everything your tree does. When roots haven’t had time to expand beyond the original planting hole, your tree is much more vulnerable to heat stress and drought. That’s why consistent watering—especially during the...
Blog, Diversity, Native Landscaping
Arborvitae alternatives for Nebraska landscapes are becoming an important topic for homeowners frustrated with these popular evergreens. Arborvitae (Thuja spp.) is a common choice for privacy hedges and living screens — especially since it’s widely available at big...
Blog, Natural Design, Planting Guidelines
How to Choose and Site Native Trees for Your Landscape Planting trees in your Nebraska landscape brings lasting beauty and ecological value, but larger species require thoughtful planning. From overhead power lines to underground utilities, proper tree placement can...
Blog, Edible Landscaping, Natural Design, Plants for Wildlife
At Great Plains Nursery, we’re passionate about helping you build landscapes that support both people and wildlife. While many classic orchard fruit trees are not native to the Great Plains, they can still play a meaningful role in a diverse, wildlife-friendly yard....
Blog, Plants for Wildlife
Last week, we shared some favorite trees for bird lovers. Today, we’re taking it a step further by highlighting a few native shrubs that birds love just as much! Native shrubs do more than fill space in your landscape, they can provide essential habitat for...
Blog, Plants for Wildlife
Bird Month continues, and as promised, we’re digging deeper into how specific trees can transform your landscape into a thriving bird habitat. Last week, we explored how native trees and shrubs support bird populations by offering food, nesting sites, and...
Blog, Plants for Wildlife
May has arrived, and that means it’s time to celebrate Nebraska Bird Month! From blooming flowers to the vibrant songs of our local birds, there’s no better time to show your love for nature—and all the feathered friends that make Nebraska so special. One of the...
Blog, Maintenance
Maximizing Spring Growth: Mulching and Fertilizing Tips With our Arbor Day plantings complete and our focus shifting beyond ecosystem planning, it’s time to turn our attention to practical care. The turn of the calendar’s page, the abundance of blooms and...
Natural Design
Forest-Inspired Landscaping: Big and Small Space Solutions As we wrap up our forest blog series, we shift from exploring Nebraska’s native forest ecosystems to showing you how to apply those concepts in your own landscape. From shady backyards to wide-open...
Blog, Natural Design
Forest-Inspired Landscaping: A Closer Look at Nebraska’s Forests In our last blog, we introduced the concept of forest-inspired landscaping using Nebraska’s unique forest ecosystems. We highlighted how layered plant structures create beauty, biodiversity,...
