Do It Yourself Backyard Landscaper

The Red Regent Apple, Malus ‘Red Regent’, is a very popular apple in Minnesota. It produces medium to large red apples with a fresh flesh that is juicy and crisp. This appealing red-striped apple has a flavor that is an outstanding balance of sweet and tart. Its well balanced flavor makes it excellent for fresh eating and cooking. The Red Regent has a good storage life and is becoming one of the most popular apples in Minnesota. The tree is moderately vigorous and easily trained. This apple was introduced by University of Minesota in 1963. Plant about a month after the first killing frost in the fall or about a month before the last killing frost in the spring. Select a planting site that has good air, drainage, full sunlight and deep, well drained soil.

Order Live Plants

The Bald Cypress, Taxodium distichum, is a lofty, deciduous conifer of slender, pyramidal habit. A stately tree, for parks, yards. Landscapers and land owners use this tree in wet areas. Bald Cypress trees have moderate water requirements. In swamps, it develops large flares at the base of the trunk, the so-called “cypress knees” In the fall, the Bald Cypress leaves may turn a rich brown. The needle like leaves are dark green in the spring and summer. The “cypress knees” only develop when grown in or near water for most of the year. This species is very adaptable to wet and dry sites and thrives in many soil types.

Order Live Plants

The Cherry, Black Tartarian, Prunus avium, has firm, sweet, dark purplish-black fruits, and inside the thin skin the flesh is sweet, juicy and extremely flavorful. It is smaller than Bing cherries, but just as flavorful and matures to a black color with a firm semi-acid pulp. It is an early bearer, with an early-to-mid-season June-July harvest which makes it an excellent choice for the home orchard. The Black Tartarian Cherry tree is very hard and disease resistant, highly recommended for the South. Pollinate with any other sweet cherry. Plant Black Tartarian in full sun and in well-drained soil. Cherry trees can be used as specimens and shade trees on larger properties.

Order Live Trees. Over 150 species.

The Black Alder, Alnus glutinosa, is a rapid growing European native that thrives in truly wet soil. The grayish brown bark is complemented by nutlets that mature in October and persist in pistillate catkins over winter. Black Alder is a good choice whe

Order Live Trees. Over 150 species.

The Austrian Pine, Pinus nigra, is a densely branched tree producing long dark needles. This evergreen conifer tree thrives in urban locations as well as in windbreaks in more rural settings. It does well in a variety of soils and is very hardy. The spreading branches of a young tree form a pyramidal outline, but at maturity, it sometimes achieves a picturesque flat topped head. This fast growing pine tree makes an attractive Christmas tree when sheared. It will tolerate both limestone or acidic soils, dry rocky locations and windy conditions. Also good for thick screens or windbreaks. For screen, space 6 feet apart. When placed in a good site it should reach 5 ft. in height in 6-7 years starting with a 2 year old seedling.

Order Live Trees. Over 150 species.

The White Flowering Dogwood, Cornus Florida, is the “aristocrat” of flowering trees because it is breathtakingly beautiful with its white blossoms. The White Flowering Dogwood has an excellent show of white blossoms in spring, and bright red berrie

Order Live Trees. Over 150 species.

The Redstone Dogwood, ‘Corunus Mas “Redstone”, also know as Redstone Cornelian Cherry Dogwood, can be used either as a small tree with a rounded form or as a large, multi-stemmed shrub. This tree is one of the first bloomers of the year. The lovely profuse yellow flowers appear in early spring and the oval, cherry red fruit develops in the summer. The Redstone Dogwood has nice winter interest with its display of mottled bark. The fruit is highly treasured by wildlife. Great for small yard or as an accent plant.

Order Live Trees. Over 150 species.

Red Heart Hibiscus, Hibiscus syriacus ‘Red Heart’, is an upright growing shrub with large, single, saucer shaped flowers of pure white with a scarlet center. Flowers bloom from July until frost. This xeriscape plant is a vigorous, upright, vase-shaped, deciduous shrub that may be massed, planted in groups, used as a specimen, a foundation plant, or shrub borders. Red Heart Hibiscus can also be used as a hedge or screen. It has no serious insect or disease problems. Annual pruning back will result in increased shoot vigor and larger flowers. It is adaptable to a wide range of soil conditions and tolerant of full sun to partial shade. These small, erect trees have numerous upright branches, which should be pruned back heavily in the early spring. Mature height of 8-12′ with a mature spread of 6-8′.

Order Live Plants

Illustrated Pruning & Planting Guide is the resource for complete, research-based pruning and planting information. This comprehensive CD-ROM by Dr. Edward F. Gilman includes more than 400 illustrations and photographs accompanied by 250 pages of text covering pruning and planting of trees, shrubs, conifers and palms. Includes the latest arboriculture innovations in practice, planting details for trees, shrubs and palms, as well as pruning guidelines for thousands of plant.

Nature Hills Nursery, Inc.

Aprium - Cot-N-Candy, Aprium Prunus armeniaca x domestica ssp.aprium ‘Cot-N-Candy’, is an apricot-plum hybrid that resembles an apricot. It looks like an apricot, but has a distinctive flavor and texture all its own. Cot-N-Candy’s flesh is extra sweet and juicy with a plumy aftertaste. It is a multi-stemmed, shrubby, small tree with a spreading crown. Cot-N-Candy is partially self fertile but you will get bigger crops if pollinated by an apricot. One of the earliest ripening fruits, in mid June in California, it also blooms very early and is difficult to grow in late frost areas. Thin fruit early to maximize size and quality. Con-N-Candy needs well-drained, moderately fertile soil. It is best to thin fruit early in season to maximize size and quality.

Order Live Plants

The Redwood, Coast, Sequoia sempervirens, towers over all other trees in the world! It has a conical crown, pyramidal in form, with horizontal to slightly drooping branches. Blooming in the spring, Coast Redwood’s blooms are very small and occur near the end of the shoot. Redwood leaves are mostly needle-like, they are flat and 1/2 inch long, stiff, sharp pointed and dark green. The bark is very thick, up to 12 inches and is quite soft and fibrous, with a bright red-brown when freshly exposed (hence the name ‘redwood’). Giant Coast Redwoods can reach over 300 feet tall and over 20 to 100 feet across. This fast growing tree does well in full sun, partial shade, and it needs slightly alkaline to acidic soils. Coast Redwood is tolerant of flooding, and does its best growth along stream banks and flood plains. It provides food and habitat for birds and many small mammals.

Order Live Plants

Check Prices at Nature Hills Nursery, Inc.

The State Fair Apple, Malus ‘State Fair’, has a flavor that is sprightly tart and good for eating and baking. It has good texture that is semi-acid to sweet. State Fair is especially recommended for trial in regions where winter hardiness and a short growing season are limiting factors, so it is one of the better early apples for northern growers. This all purpose apple is one of the better early apples, but it has a short storage life. This medium size tree is a good producer, and its fruit ripens late September to early October. It is very cold hardy and needs a pollinator. Plant about a month after the first killing frost in the fall or about a month before the last killing frost in the spring. Select a planting site that has good air, drainage, full sunlight and deep, well drained soil.

Order Live Plants

The Real Shady Mix, Flower Blend, provides color even in a shady garden spot. If you have high, filtered shade from trees or an area that gets direct sun for only a few hours a day, this shady blend of flowers will provide color and interest with as li

Order Live Plants

The Willow Hybrid tree, Salix Willow Hybrid, also called a Hybrid Willow, will, on average, and under normal conditions, grow six feet per year. Under ideal conditions and on good sites the growth rate is even faster, up to twenty feet a year. Planted as a hedge, screen, windbreak, or to line a road or drive, you can expect this tree to be over 20′ tall and 15′ wide in just three years. This deciduous tree can grow to over 70′ tall. This tree will require supplemental water until established. It is not a Weeping Willow, but an upright growing majestic tree. Many homeowners use this tree as a shade tree because of its fast growth and quick shade.

Order Live Trees. Over 150 species.