March 7, 2023
winter to spring transition plants food for local wildlife before spring comes ftimg
by Julia Feltes
Categories

Winter to Spring Transition: On the Cusp

At first glance, Wisconsin in late winter might seem like a world frozen in time, hibernating under a white blanket, but there is more than meets the eye! Slowly, but surely, nature is starting to make moves. The following are some plants that will help carry wildlife through late winter, just before spring has finally sprung.
December 14, 2022
top selling plants 2022 update at johnson's nursery in menomonee falls wisconsin ftimg
by Johnson's Nursery
Categories

Top Selling Plants [2022 Update]

The top-selling plants of 2022 include a list of those most used plants by our customers including municipalities, land managers, and private homeowners. This is a fun insight into the most planted trees, shrubs, evergreens, perennials, and fruit trees in 2022.An amazing realization is that people are choosing Wisconsin native […]
December 1, 2021
by Johnson's Nursery
Categories

Native Plant Sale

Native Plant Sale Available for on-site shopping only.June is Wisconsin native plant appreciation month at Johnson\’s Nursery. We team up with our friends at Wild Ones to offer native plant enthusiasts an opportunity to save big. All active Wild Ones members receive 40% off Wisconsin native plants in containers at […]
November 30, 2021
PRG 2023 plant reference guide cover for web 800x100 ftimg
by Johnson's Nursery
Categories

Plant Reference Guide

While browsing the Plant Reference Guide, double click on the page to zoom in/out.** Download button in upper left corner **Plant Reference Guideno-repeat;center top;;auto *Hardcopies are available for purchase in-store.Plant Reference Guideno-repeat;center top;;auto Plant Reference Guide The Plant Reference Guide is the hardcopy catalog of commonly grown and stocked plants […]
November 30, 2021
planting trees johnsons nursery ftimg
by Johnson's Nursery
Categories

Planting Trees, Evergreens & Shrubs

How to Plant & Handle Trees, Evergreens & Shrubs Properly planting trees is one of the best investments you can make for the long-term health of your trees. When done properly, your plants will flourish and cause less heartache in the future. These recommendations are from decades of experience and […]
November 30, 2021
rootmaker container range at johnson's nursery ftimg
by Ben French
Categories

RootMaker Containers

What Are RootMaker Containers What are RootMaker Containers? no-repeat;center top;;auto0px What Are RootMaker ContainersRootMaker containers specialize in the growth of a fibrous root system. Johnson\’s Nursery uses them in the production of Wisconsin native trees, shrubs, and conifers. They are different than the typical, solid-wall container in a few ways. […]
November 30, 2021
understanding nursery stock sizes container grown trees paul ftimg
by Johnson's Nursery
Categories

Understanding Nursery Stock Sizes

Understanding Nursery Stock Sizes Understanding Nursery Stock Sizes Most commonly, growers use caliper, container size, and height (inches or feet) for units of measurement for nursery stock. Why do we need multiple units? Because all plants are uniquely different and grow differently. In any of those 3 size units, it’s […]
November 30, 2021
how to attract monarch butterflies to your yard ftimg
by Johnson's Nursery
Categories

How to Attract Monarchs to Your Yard

How to Attract Monarch Butterflies to Your Yard With the addition of the Monarch butterfly to the Red List of Threatened Species and categorized as Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), many people have asked us how they can help this beloved creature. While they face […]
November 30, 2021
how to build a bird garden birdscaping wisconsin ftimg
by Carrie Hennessy
Categories

Bird Garden in Wisconsin

How to Build a Bird Garden in Wisconsin Build a Bird Garden in Wisconsinno-repeat;center top;;auto0px Watching backyard birds is relaxing, entertaining, and educational. Seeing a bright red cardinal in the middle of winter is uplifting. A visit from a ruby-throated hummingbird outside the breakfast nook can be a great way […]
December 30, 2017
johnsons-nursery-introductions-ftimg
by Johnson's Nursery
Categories

Introductions & Originations

Introductions & Originations   Johnson\’s Nursery Originals; J.N. Plant Selections Introductions Johnson’s Nursery is proud to have numerous nationally recognized plants that originated in our fields. You may be familiar with trees and shrubs touting the cultivar names of ‘J.N. Select’, ‘J.N. Upright’, or ‘J.N. Select A’. These are plants […]
December 29, 2017
prune your hydrangea how to ftimg
by Johnson's Nursery
Categories

How to Prune Hydrangeas

How to Prune Your Hydrangeas How to prune your hydrangeas generally depends on which of the four groups it falls in: Smooth, Panicle, Bigleaf, and Oakleaf. We cover other pruning methods in Pruning & Your Plants; however, this specific article aims to help you identify which type of hydrangea you […]
December 29, 2017
grow agreements ftimg
by Johnson's Nursery
Categories

Grow Agreements

Grow Agreements Grow Agreements Simplify Logistics Why A Grow Agreement? If you’ve ever been excited about a big project only to discover your initial vision and goals were diluted because your preferred plant material was not available in the quantities or sizes you wanted. If you’ve ever had to answer […]
December 29, 2017
plant size investment mature plants height big trees specimen thuja occidenalis pyramidalis ftimg
by Carrie Hennessy
Categories

Plant Size & Investments

Plant Size & Investments There is an old grower\’s adage about plant size — \”If it\’s not growing, it\’s dead\”. Aware of this truism, Johnson\’s Nursery provides a range of mature heights and spreads for shrubs, trees, and evergreens. A plant’s mature size and how well it performs commonly depends […]
November 13, 2017
wisconsin natives native categories johnson's nursery ftimg
by Johnson's Nursery
Categories

Wisconsin Natives

Wisconsin Natives At Johnson’s Nursery, we love our native plants. They fill unique roles in our landscapes, are adapted to our soils and climate, and have co-evolved with our other Wisconsin native species to create the mosaic of diversity that is Wisconsin. In addition to their special use by wildlife, […]
November 13, 2017
urban approved johnson's nursery wisconsin plants quercus schuettei hybrid swamp white bur oak ftimg
by Johnson's Nursery
Categories

Urban Approved

Urban Approved The goal of the Urban Approved standard is to be the starting point when selecting plants for difficult sites in built-up areas. Decisions regarding the Urban Approved title are made conservatively, and we will not grant the title to a plant that has not been adequately tested. What […]
August 12, 2017
battling buckthorn ftimg
by Carrie Hennessy
Categories

Battling Buckthorn

Battling Buckthorn Wisconsin gardening comes with many obstacles: rabbits, deer, cold winters, and invasive non-native plant species. In the war against invasive plants, one of the worst enemies is Buckthorn, specifically Common Buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica) and Glossy Buckthorn (Rhamnus frangula). Many times we’ll be at a customer\’s site and they […]
July 2, 2017
rabbit resistant perennials ftimg
by Carrie Hennessy
Categories

Rabbit Resistant Perennials and Shrubs

Struggling with relentless garden intruders, we sympathize with cartoon characters' rabbit battles. While some enjoy their bunny visitors, others endure garden havoc. Amid rapid breeding and failed repellent attempts, the solution lies in using rabbit-resistant plants in your landscape, saving gardeners from furry frustration.
June 17, 2017
naughty natives part 2 ftimg
by Ben French
Categories

Naughty Natives pt 2: Shrubs

Naughty Natives – Part 2: Shrubs If you missed Part 1 of the \”Naughty Natives\” series, we highlighted trees. And here in Part 2, we\’re discussing shrubs. This \”Naught Native\” series aims to highlight the Wisconsin native plants that have a bad reputation as \”weed plants\” or that they are […]
May 16, 2017
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by Carrie Hennessy
Categories

2017 Spring Plant Draft Picks

2017 Spring Plant Draft Picks We’re excite to announce the 2017 spring plant draft picks. Tulip blooms dotting the landscape aren’t the only sign that spring has arrived. Football fans eagerly watch to see who their favorite teams will acquire to create a winning line up in fall. These players […]
April 9, 2017
deer resistant plants ftimg
by Johnson's Nursery
Categories

Deer Protection, Buck Rub & Resistant Plants

Deer Resistant Plants, Buck Rub & Protection Deer resistant plants is a very common topic in Wisconsin, especially in fall. It\’s often an initial question on new landscape projects of all sizes. Deer resistant, repellent, deterrent, and deer proof can all be used synonymously with the topic. Ultimately, fencing is […]
May 11, 2016
foundation shrub alternatives ftimg
by Johnson's Nursery
Categories

Foundation Shrub Alternatives

Boxwood Instead of Yews Foundation Shrub Alternatives Foundation shrub plantings are a great addition to the landscape, enhancing the aesthetic value and the beauty of any structure. Many different plants will thrive in this setting-but usually we see a common list of several shrubs that are used (Yew, Spirea, Potentilla, […]
December 11, 2012
understanding cold hardiness mike yanny ftimg
by Mike Yanny
Categories

Understanding Cold Hardiness

Understanding Cold Hardiness The hardiness of Wisconsinites is seldom matched. We can take whatever nature throws at us and revel in it. We bask in our cold, snowy winters. Heck, some of us even take off our shirts in freezing temperatures at Packer games in Lambeau Field in January. We […]
November 8, 2012
sumac rhus native shrubs in wisconsin at johnson's nursery ftimg
by Johnson's Nursery
Categories

LIST:
Sumac Comparison

Sumac Comparison Genus: Rhus The Sumac (Rhus) family includes a selection Wisconsin native shrubs noted for their fern-like foliage, site adaptability, and wildlife value. They\’re a very strong plant in native and land restoration projects because the majority of the family are colonizers, meaning they\’re vigorous and will spread; therefore, […]
October 1, 2012
sumacs good bad beautiful ftimg
by Mike Yanny
Categories

Sumacs: The Good, the Bad & the Beautiful

Every time I hear Clint Eastwood in the news, it brings to mind his movie, "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly". What a great movie! If films were made for and by plants, I think Sumacs would have had the leading roles in the slightly different but photosynthetically correct version of a movie called, The Good, the Bad and the Beautiful.
July 5, 2012
physocarpus ftimg
by Mike Yanny
Categories

Physocarpus

Physocarpus ‘Phor-all-of-us’ When I was going to school back in the 70’s, Physocarpus opulifolius — Common Ninebark was considered by many to be a pedestrian plant. It was thought of as ordinary or somewhat wild looking. It was viewed in a similar light as Zabel’s Honeysuckle (Lonicera tatarica ‘Zabelii’), which […]
June 22, 2012
rose comparison chart selecting roses ornamental shrubs rugosa belle pointevine
by Johnson's Nursery
Categories

LIST:
Rose Comparison Chart

Rose Comparison Chart The Rose Comparison Chart is a list of common shrub roses grown at Johnson\’s Nursery. Roses are versatile, smaller, ornamental shrubs used in landscapes, and vary in flower colors and shapes such as rugosa, shrub, low/mounding, and groundcover. Rose blooms vary between recurrent and everblooming. Everblooming indicates […]