Planting Trees in Nebraska Landscape: Right Tree, Right Place
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...
Sustainable Landscaping with Fruit Trees
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....
Forest-Inspired Landscaping: Big and Small Space Solutions
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...
Forest-Inspired Landscaping: A Closer Look at Nebraska’s Forests
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,...
Forest Ecosystems in Landscaping: Layers, Light & Life
Forest Ecosystems in Landscaping: Layers, Light & Life When you think of forest ecosystems, you might picture towering trees and dappled sunlight—but what makes a forest function as a living system? In this final installment of our naturalized landscaping series,...
Ecological Landscaping: How to Use Shrubland Plant Communities
Create an Ecological Landscape Using Native Shrubs and Woodland Plants As we continue exploring Nebraska’s native plant communities, it’s time to look into the rich, transitional zones of shrublands and woodlands! Shrublands and woodlands blend between...
Resilient Landscaping: From Open Prairie to Woodlands
Resilient Landscaping: From Open Prairie to Woodlands In our last blog series, Plant Communities: Grasslands of Nebraska, we examined how grassland ecosystems are structured and their role in drought tolerance, biodiversity, and ecological stability. Now, we continue...
Ditch the Lawn, Grow a Native Prairie
Ditch the Lawn, Grow a Native Prairie In our last blog, Plant Communities: Grasslands of Nebraska, we explored Nebraska’s Tallgrass, Mixed-Grass, and Sandhills Prairie ecosystems—each uniquely shaped by climate, soil, and native plant species. Understanding what...
Grasslands of Nebraska: Native Plant Communities Guide
Understanding Nebraska’s Grassland Ecosystems Now that we’ve explored the design principles behind naturalized grassland landscapes, it’s time to examine which native plants naturally grow together to form resilient plant communities in the...
Naturalized Landscaping by Plant Community: Grasslands
Why Naturalized Landscaping Matters A naturalized prairie landscape is a sustainable, low-maintenance approach that mimics native plant communities to create thriving ecosystems. In the Great Plains, High Plains, and Midwest, grassland restoration plays a key role in...
Soft-Needled Ornamental Pines for Stunning Landscapes
Why Choose Soft-Needled Ornamental Pines? While evergreens are celebrated for their role in windbreaks, their versatility extends beyond that. For homeowners with smaller spaces, soft-needled pine trees can be a perfect choice for ornamental purposes! Evergreens can...Native Trees and Versatile Evergreens: A Naturalized Approach to Regional Landscapes
Last week, we explored the essential role evergreens play in creating sustainable landscapes as a key part of Nebraska landscapes for habitat and wildlife plantings. Often having tight, dense, and low branching profiles, evergreens offer season-long services as visual...
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,...
