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Green Bay Nursery's Learning Center

Green Bay Nursery's Learning Center

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Botanical Gardens

When is the time to plant trees & shrubs?

Potted nursery stock or balled and burlaped trees and shrubs can be planted from spring in to fall.

Usually April to November for trees and shrubs, May thru the summer for annuals and May thru October for perennials. Weather may shorten or lengthen these time periods.

How far ahead should I call for landscape construction?

For a spring installation we suggest that you call the October or November before. If you contact us in May the installation would take place in July. If you contact us in late summer or fall expect about a two week turn around time.

How much does landscaping cost?

Landscaping is one of the best investments you can make when planning a home improvement project. It is possible to receive up to 200% return on your landscape investment when you sell your home, and a well landscaped home sells faster.

When landscaping their home, homeowners will spend on average between 5% and 15% of their homes value, and will complete their landscaping in two to five installation phases. Although it can be slightly more cost effective to install an entire landscape in one phase, smaller phases of $3,000 to $9,000 are common. Projects below $2,000 generally take less than one full day for a crew to install and are less efficient due to travel and set up time.

To determine how much to allocate for landscaping certain areas of your yard, first make a list of some general types of landscaping you may need, and prioritize it (example: #1 lawn & brick patio, #2 front foundation planting, #3 trees, #4 back foundation planting, #5 privacy plantings, #6 pergola, #7 water garden, #8 landscape lighting, etc.)

Your Landscape Designer can then help you in assigning some rough costs to each item you've listed based on a discussion of tastes and the size of the area to be landscaped. Because the foundation plantings are directly related to the size and quality of the home, a percentage of home value can be used to determine a reasonable range to allocate towards the areas around the home. For example, a 1.5% to 2.5% of home value is a realistic number to spend on a front or back foundation planting, and about half of that on the sides of a home.

Communicating to your Designer some basic information regarding personal tastes, interests and budget is the first step towards receiving a landscape plan that's tailor made for you.

Is landscaping a good investment?

Landscaping is one of the best investments you can make when planning a home improvement project. Landscaping can add up to 15 percent to a home's value, and a well landscaped home sells faster.

  • Landscaping can add between 7 and 15 percent to a home's value. Source: The Gallup Organization.
  • Homes with "excellent" landscaping can expect a sale price about 6 to 7 percent higher than equivalent houses with "good" landscaping, while improving landscaping from "average" to "good" can result in a 4 to 5 percent increase. Source: Clemson University.
  • Landscaping can bring a recovery value of 100 to 200 percent at selling time. Kitchen remodeling brings a 75 to 125 percent recovery rate, bathroom remodeling a 20 to 120 percent recovery rate, and addition of a swimming pool a 20 to 50 percent recovery rate. Source: Money Magazine.
  • A mature tree can often have an appraised value of between $1,000 and $10,000. Source: Council of Tree and Landscape Appraisers.
  • In one study, 99% of real estate appraisers concurred that landscaping enhances the sales appeal of real estate. Source: Trendnomics, National Gardening Association.
  • In one study, 83% of Realtors believe that mature trees have a "strong or moderate impact" on the salability of homes listed for under $150,000; on homes over $250,000, this perception increases to 98%. Source: American Forests, Arbor National Mortgage.
  • Landscaping can reduce air conditioning costs by up to 50 percent, by shading the windows and walls of a home. Source: American Public Power Association.
  • Trees can reduce bothersome noise by up to 50 percent and can mask unwanted noises with pleasant sounds. Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
  • Trees can reduce temperatures by as much as nine degrees Fahrenheit. Source: American Forests.
  • A single urban tree can provide up to $273 a year in air conditioning, pollution fighting, erosion and storm water control, and wildlife shelter benefits. Source: American Forests.

Top reasons people garden: To be outdoors (44%); to be around beautiful things (42%); relax and escape the pressures of everyday life (39%); stay active and get exercise (35%). Source: American Demographics, Roper Report.

Pruning Instructions

How do I care for my new lawn and what about weeds?

Planting Instructions

UWEX Proper Tree Planting

Don't Bury the Root Collar of Your Tree

Should I use a weed barrier under bark mulch?

GBN Soil Conditioning Recipe

Care For Your New Plants

Weed Control for landscape beds

What type of mulch is better?

Why Won't My Hydrangea Bloom?

Landscape Plants Rated by Deer Resistance

Plants Animals Don’t Prefer to Eat

Plants the Deer Generally Dislike

Landscape Plants for Special Situations

Plants for Fragrance

Planting to Attract Birds

Plants That Attract Butterflies

Plants That Attract Hummingbirds

Trees & Shrubs for Fall Interest

What shrubs & perennials grow in clay soil?

If the soil is properly amended with Green Bay Nursery’s Soil Conditioning Recipe, most varieties will perform well in clay soils.

View Attached PDF

Why are hardiness zones important in choosing trees and shrubs?

These numbered zones refer to the winter temperatures in your area. Consult a hardiness zone map to find out what zone you are in. Here, most of our area is in zone 4, with winter temperatures going as low as 30 degrees. Some areas near the lake (Door County) are zone 5, with winter temperatures as low as 20 degrees. So, the larger the zone number, the warmer the climate in winter. Most plants have tags or information available on what zones they will grow in. Stick with plants that will grow in your zone. Otherwise, you most likely will waste the money you spent on a plant trying to grow it in an area colder than it is adapted for. You can experiment with a plant or two that is one zone warmer than yours. Plant in a microclimate area in your yard. An example of a microclimate is any protected area in the yard that cheats the zone number. For instance, a protected place near the house on the south side might be an example of a microclimate.

Now that the snow is leaving, I see all these tunneled areas of dirt all over my lawn

This is damage caused by voles, which are small rodents related to mice. They reproduce with 5 young per litter, up to 10 litters per year, so early control is important. Some methods of control are by reducing the hiding places in your yard by eliminating fallen leaves, keeping grass shorter, getting the help of a cat, live trapping, or setting traps baited with peanut butter. Some have tried putting poisoned bait down the holes. All of these methods may only be partially effective.

It's early May and some of my perennials are growing and some aren't. Are some dead?

In the spring, perennials don't all wake up on the same day.  The soil temperature, the variety of plant, and the maturity of a plant all have a lot to do with how fast perennials emerge each spring.  Shady areas stay cooler longer and perennials come up more slowly there.  Bark mulch keeps the soil cooler too.  Older plants may come up quicker than plants you planted last year.  Check all of your plants in late May and you'll have a more accurate assessment of the heath of your perennials.

Some of my spring flowering bulbs are not coming up. What's wrong?

Well, sometimes squirrels steal bulbs from one yard and hide them in your neighbor's yard.  :)   Also, if your planting site is too wet then bulb can rot.  Plant spring flowering bulbs from mid-September to mid October for best results.

Rabbits and voles have eaten the bark on my trees. Can I save the tree?

If the bark has not been eaten all the way around the tree, the tree is likely to survive if the damage is not too great. If the tree has been girdled, or in other words, the bark has been removed in an entire circle around the tree, bridge grafting can save the tree. The University Extension Office has a leaflet available on bridge grafting as well as a bridge grafting class. If an evergreen has been girdled, you will not be able to save it.

What time of year do I use Dormant Oil and what does it do?

Dormant oil should be used in early spring, before the buds break into leaf. Dormant oil will smother and kill many over-wintering pests and scale. It is a preventative measure that is worth the time it takes by reducing numbers of pests the rest of the year. Dormant oil is also environmentally friendly.

When is the best time to rake my lawn and what are the benefits?

The best time to rake your lawn is in early spring before the grass has begun to actively grow and on a dry day. If you wait too long to rake, you risk the possibility of pulling the grass out by the roots. Raking is sometimes called Dethatching but that term is miss-leading.  Raking in the spring simply stands up your matted grass and helps your lawn wake up.  The old grass blades that come out of your lawn are just dead leaves, not thatch.  Thatch is a matted layer of old roots that sometimes builds up in a lawn directly beneath the leaf crown and above the soil line.  The best way to control the build up of true "thatch" is to aerate your lawn in September.

When the thatch layer in your lawn becomes too excessive, it can smother the grass, blocking out the flow of air, water and nutrients. In addition, it creates a hiding place for pests and diseases.  Core aerating the lawn will make holes in the lawn to alleviate these issues.  Plugs of soil will be brought to the surface containing micro-organisms which like to eat thatch.

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  • Garden Center Hours
  • OPENING SOON!!! 2118 LAWRENCE DR, DE PERE WI
  • Green Bay Nursery
  • 2118 Lawrence Dr
  • De Pere, WI 54115
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