Plant of the Week: Alice Oakleaf Hydrangea
Alice oakleaf hydrangea is our Plant of the Week for the last week of June. Oakleaf hydrangeas are multi-season plants, with interesting attributes in all 4 seasons. Although they are native to the southeastern U.S., they are adaptable and grow almost everywhere. About Oakleaf Hydrangeas These hydrangeas have the best ability to adapt to environments […]
Welcome KC ‘Infraray Red’ Scarlet Oak
As January comes to a close, we welcome another new tree to the Kansas City landscape, ‘Infraray Red’ Scarlet Oak. This a is a tree to add to landscapes. Another Grimm’s Gardens arboretum selection, ‘Infraray Red’ will outlast the autumn blaze maples, and out-color any oak on the market. What do most buyers want when […]
Big Shade Trees
One of the more commonly asked for trees in the nursery are big shade trees. It does not surprise me. After all, shade in a hot summer climate is important to a wide range of people. Not only do big shade trees provide a lot of cooling to the lawn and landscape, they also help […]
Hardworking Natives
Natives are becoming more and more popular. And with the uncertainty of fluctuating weather patterns, using natives has become more important for all gardeners. Nonnative plants can be great in the landscape, as long as they are not proven to become invasive, which a lot of them are. But using regionally selected native plants for […]
Tough Trees for the Urban Canopy
Why do we need tough trees? What challenges do we face in the urban canopy toady that requires specific planning for canopy diversity? Trees are our best choice for the fight against air pollution, poor air quality, heat islands, and climate manipulation. When we have trees in our landscapes, parks, and streetways, our overall health, […]
The Importance of Bark
Bark is of one of my favorite attributes of trees. Yes, leaves and flowers are more important to landscapers and homeowners, and even insects. But bark is not only important for overwintering insects, it is also important as a means of identification, as well as protective cover for the tree. And bark changes so much […]
Drought Tolerant Plants – Learning From 2022
Drought in 2022 has been very tough on a lot of gardeners, not just those in Kansas and Nebraska. However, a lot of good has also come from the drought and heat. We have learned a lot about our landscapes, and just how tough our plants can be. Besides drought, we have also had extensive […]
Beautiful Maples
Its that time of year again. Time for the going to all your favorite places to view fall color. Here in Northeast Kansas, we do not need to go far to find beautiful maples; we can go to any of our local towns. Indeed, Hiawatha, KS is known as the City of Beautiful Maples. But […]
Trees for Birds – The Top 6 for Landscapes
Trees for birds? Are trees not for birds? It really makes a difference what kind of trees you plant. With September and fall tree planting right around the corner, we need to plan ahead for the kinds of trees to plant. Too often, we plant trees for ourselves, and what we want, not thinking about […]
