Great Plains Nursery

Great Plains Nursery We are a specialty nursery, growing native trees and shrubs for the Midwest region. We grow native trees & shrubs from seed collected through out the state.

They are grown in specialized Rootmaker growing containers and RootTrapper bags to promote a fibrous root system. We also offer design and planting services, specializing in conservation, habitat and windbreaks.

Yesterday we shared some information about fertilizing your young shrubs and trees. Today, let's talk mulching!Mulching ...
05/13/2026

Yesterday we shared some information about fertilizing your young shrubs and trees. Today, let's talk mulching!

Mulching is the final step to prepare your trees, shrubs, and landscape beds for the rigors of summer.

How Much? After doing your best to eliminate relentless, encroaching weeds and grasses, apply 2–3 inches of mulch around trees, shrubs, and perennials. Keep mulch a few inches away from trunks and stems to prevent rot.

Where to Focus: Mulch is most important in exposed or newly planted areas, especially in windbreaks or native gardens. Established beds may only need a quick refresh.

Skip the Blanket Coverage: Mulching is not required everywhere; gaps in the mulch layer, especially in perennial beds, expose bare ground and cracks, crevices, and other suitable nesting sites for many of Nebraska’s native solitary bees!

Don’t Forget Water! Even if your region has received welcome spring rain, it’s important to monitor soil moisture, especially in windbreaks planted within the last year. Spring is critical for root development and foliage expansion, and adequate moisture sets the stage for healthy summer growth.

Do you need mulch?

We offer high-quality hardwood mulch for just $28 per yard—perfect for protecting your new plantings, reducing weeds, and conserving moisture through summer.

Call us today to schedule pick-up or delivery! (402) 540-4801.

With spring well underway, the landscape is no longer waking up—it’s in full stride. New growth has pushed out, blooms h...
05/13/2026

With spring well underway, the landscape is no longer waking up—it’s in full stride. New growth has pushed out, blooms have come and gone for many species, and warmer temperatures are becoming the norm. While there may still be a few lingering tasks, fertilizing and mulching are the last items on the spring landscape to-do list. Today, we’ll focus on fertilizing.

Fertilizing can give plants a welcome boost, particularly in environments where competition for nutrients is high—such as new or established windbreaks growing in brome or other aggressive grasses. In those cases, a modest application of nitrogen, such as 2–3 tablespoons of urea (46-0-0) applied within the dripline and watered in, can support continued growth.

That said, not every plant—or every symptom—calls for additional nitrogen.

In some soils, particularly those that are sandy or low in organic matter, other nutrient deficiencies can appear. The image shown here is an example of magnesium deficiency, which often presents as yellowing between the veins of older leaves, along with less vigorous new growth. Because nutrients like magnesium can leach more readily from these soils, it’s not uncommon to see these symptoms even when plants are otherwise well cared for.

Before applying fertilizer, it’s worth considering what your soil may actually be lacking. A soil test can help take the guesswork out and ensure that any nutrients added are both appropriate and beneficial.

Landscape trees and shrubs growing in turf settings are often able to obtain sufficient nitrogen from lawn fertilization and may not require additional inputs.

The goal isn’t to fertilize everything, but to respond thoughtfully to what the landscape is telling you. Mulching, which we’ll cover next, plays an equally important role in conserving moisture and supporting long-term plant health.

For more information on fertilizing shrubs and trees and nutrient deficiencies, visit: https://extension.umd.edu/resource/fertilizing-trees-and-shrubs-and-nutrient-deficiency-symptoms/?mc_cid=3796f1a11a&mc_eid=UNIQID

After highlighting Bur Oak and Chinkapin Oak as long-term canopy builders, it’s worth looking at another native tree tha...
05/08/2026

After highlighting Bur Oak and Chinkapin Oak as long-term canopy builders, it’s worth looking at another native tree that plays a different, but equally important, role in the landscape: Black Cherry!

While oaks are building the future, Black Cherry gets to work right away—establishing quickly and supporting the food web almost immediately. It serves as a host plant for over 200 species of caterpillars, which in turn become a critical food source for nesting songbirds during the spring and summer months.

In eastern Nebraska, Black Cherry typically matures around 30–40 feet, creating a mid-sized canopy that adds structure, shade, and habitat without the longer timeline required by larger canopy trees.

It may not be the longest-lived tree in the landscape—but it plays a key role in building early canopy and habitat, especially when paired with longer-lived species like oaks. It is most effective when incorporated into mixed habitat plantings, shelterbelts, and naturalized landscapes, where it contributes both ecological and seasonal value.

For more information: https://greatplainsnursery.com/product/black-cherry/

Not quite two suns like Tatooine… but it’ll feel close today!Southeastern Nebraska, and Lincoln specifically, will see s...
05/04/2026

Not quite two suns like Tatooine… but it’ll feel close today!

Southeastern Nebraska, and Lincoln specifically, will see sunny and warm (near 85°) conditions. Couple that with gusty winds and you're looking at some stress on newly planted trees and shrubs. While storms are possible overnight, the forecasted precipitation is not enough to rely on. Rainfall is under 0.10", with higher amounts only if storms hit directly. Newly planted trees need about 1 -1.5 gallons of water at each watering!

Give them a deep soak today—early morning or this evening—to help them handle the heat and whatever tonight brings. And May the fourth be with you.

For more information on water needs for your newly planted landscape trees and shrubs, visit: https://extension.umn.edu/planting-and-growing-guides/watering-newly-planted-trees-and-shrubs

05/03/2026

World Laughter Day was Friday…we’re just keeping it going!

For those of you in the southeastern part of Nebraska, we faced a frost advisory heading into this weekend. With tempera...
05/02/2026

For those of you in the southeastern part of Nebraska, we faced a frost advisory heading into this weekend. With temperatures as low as 32°F, sensitive outdoor vegetation may be damaged or killed if left unprotected.

So today, we’re sharing a word from UN-L Pro-Hort:

“Many homeowners are noticing damage to newly emerged leaves on many trees. Leaves of trees including ginkgo and hackberry had young leaves that developed brown or black tips and edges. This is likely due to the multiple nights of frost or nearly freezing temperatures. Many of our trees had just begun pushing new leaf growth when the cold temperatures hit. This new growth wasn’t mature enough to deal with the unusual quick drop in temperatures that we had. Give the trees time and they will push new growth, while many will drop those damaged leaves.”

The good news is that this is the last of it (for now) and that healthy, established trees should recover just fine. It may not look great today, but this is a temporary setback—not long-term damage.

What you can do:

* Be patient—avoid pruning right now
* Continue normal watering (don’t overcorrect)
* Give trees time to naturally rebound. Nature adjusts, and so do our trees!

As we continue our journey through spring, we’re arriving at one of the best parts: the arrival of familiar migrating so...
05/01/2026

As we continue our journey through spring, we’re arriving at one of the best parts: the arrival of familiar migrating songbirds!

Some will continue their journey north, while others will remain in our yards to raise their broods! Although we fill our bird feeders with a variety of seeds, nuts, and perhaps suet, the preferred delicacies of many of these cheerful neighbors are…caterpillars!

Caterpillars are protein- and fat-filled meals that provide essential nutrients for a nest of young songbird chicks (we assume they are also a good source of dietary fiber and come in a dazzling array of flavors). Multiple studies show that native plants serve as hosts for large numbers of moths and butterflies. Their larvae feed among the canopy—often unnoticed and causing minimal harm—but play a critical role in supporting the food web.

For example, the oak genera (Quercus spp.) is preferred as a larval host for over 200 species of moths and butterflies, some of whom may be feeding the family of the joyful chickadees in your backyard.

We’ve recently highlighted two excellent options—Bur Oak and Swamp White Oak—but today, in honor of Bird Month beginning tomorrow, we’re taking a look at another standout oak for supporting birds: Chinkapin Oak.

This adaptable species thrives in the alkaline conditions common across Nebraska and the Great Plains. In the wild, it’s often found on dry, rocky sites, yet in the landscape it performs especially well in well-drained soils, developing into a broad, open-canopy tree that provides both shade and structure over time.

It’s also one of the earlier oaks to produce acorns—often within 7 to 8 years—making it a reliable food source for birds and other wildlife sooner than many of its counterparts.

Durable, adaptable, and quietly productive, Chinkapin Oak is a strong reminder that the right tree doesn’t just grow well—it supports everything around it!

Learn more: https://greatplainsnursery.com/product/chinkapin-oak/

Having celebrated Arbor Day this past weekend, we’ve been talking a lot about what trees give us—shade, habitat, beauty....
04/29/2026

Having celebrated Arbor Day this past weekend, we’ve been talking a lot about what trees give us—shade, habitat, beauty. But in urban environments, one of their biggest jobs is something you don’t always see: managing stormwater.

It’s easy to overlook, but in cities, rain doesn’t soak into the ground the way it should. Instead, it hits hard surfaces like roofs, streets, and driveways, then runs off, carrying everything with it—fertilizer, pesticides, oil, and other pollutants—which quickly and directly flows into nearby waterways. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, polluted runoff is one of the greatest threats to clean water in the U.S.

That’s where trees step in. They slow rainfall before it ever reaches the ground, giving water time to disperse. They also absorb and store moisture, and their root systems help pull water back into the soil instead of letting it run off.

In fact, urban trees can reduce stormwater runoff by 15–27% each year. It’s a reminder that trees aren’t just part of the landscape—they’re part of the solution. As we continue rebuilding our canopy, this is part of the story: Not just planting trees, but planting the right ones, in the right places.

Swamp White Oak is one of those trees. Native to the Midwest and well-adapted to both wet and dry conditions, it’s especially effective in areas where water tends to collect or flows quickly through the landscape. Its deep root system helps improve soil structure and encourages water to soak in rather than run off, while its broad canopy slows rainfall before it ever reaches the ground.

Learn more: https://greatplainsnursery.com/product/swamp-white-oak/

We joined Arbor Day Foundation for their Arbor Day LNK free tree giveaway! Today from 12-3:00PM!Come snag yours at the A...
04/26/2026

We joined Arbor Day Foundation for their Arbor Day LNK free tree giveaway! Today from 12-3:00PM!

Come snag yours at the Antelope Park bandshell!

04/24/2026

Last week, we had the opportunity to take part in the Tree to Trail event in Nebraska City. We joined more than 80 volunteers to plant 105 trees along the newest section of the Nebraska City Trail.

It’s pretty incredible to think that in 20 years, each of those volunteers can walk that trail and say, “I helped plant that!”

Thank you to everyone who participated! And to everyone, everywhere doing their part to help regrow our canopy this Arbor Day, thank you! It adds up.

Happy Arbor Day!

04/24/2026

Get those warm-ups in for Arbor Day weekend!

Address

3074 COUNTY Road I
Weston, NE
68070

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 4:30pm
Tuesday 8am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 8am - 4:30pm
Thursday 8am - 4:30pm
Friday 8am - 4:30pm

Telephone

+14025404801

Website

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