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WI Natives 
Trending Topics January 1, 2022
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 […]
December 1, 2021
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
While browsing the Wisconsin Native Plant Guide, double click on the page to zoom in/out. ** Download button in upper left corner ** *Hardcopies are available for purchase at our nursery.no-repeat;center top;;auto Shop Johnson\’s Nursery For Wisconsin Native Plants We\’re a third-generation family-owned business who passionately pursues the goal of […]
November 30, 2021
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
Plant Reference Guide **While browsing the Plant Reference Guide, double click on the page to zoom in/out.** *Hardcopies are available for purchase in-store. Plant Reference Guide The Plant Reference Guide is the hardcopy catalog of commonly grown and stocked plants at Johnson’s Nursery in Menomonee Falls. The guidebook is divided […]
November 30, 2021
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 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
Build a Bird Garden in Wisconsin How to Build a Bird Garden in Wisconsin no-repeat;center top;;auto0px Build a Bird Garden in WisconsinWatching 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 […]
December 30, 2017
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 that […]
December 29, 2017
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 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 & 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 […]
November 13, 2017
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 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 […]
October 9, 2017
Perennial Mums vs. Hardy Mums When the morning temperatures turn chilly and the air smells of dried leaves, I get the overwhelming urge to buy chrysanthemums. The summer annuals on the porch are running out of steam and being threatened by the first frosts anyway. Luckily, garden centers, like Johnson’s […]
August 12, 2017
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 Rhamnus cathartica (Common Buckthorn) and Rhamnus frangula (Glossy Buckthorn). Many times I\’ll be at a customer\’s site and they […]
July 2, 2017
Rabbit Resistant Perennials and Shrubs Recently, my husband and I were babysitting my cousin\’s kids, so we dusted off my husband\’s complete set of Looney Tunes DVD\’s and put it on to watch. I learned two things from this. 1) Kids today don\’t have an appreciation for the sophisticated comic […]
June 17, 2017
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
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, 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
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 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 […]
November 8, 2012
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: 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 […]
July 5, 2012
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 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 […]