Shop With Confidence: FREE Growing & Glowing Promise

Free Shipping on Orders $199+

How Reserving Spring Plants Works At NatureHills.com

How Pre-Ordering Plants For Spring Works At NatureHills.com

Charlotte Weidner |

Reserve Plants from Nature Hills Nursery

As frost settles on fading blooms and bare branches glisten in the morning light, a hush falls over the garden. The hum of pollinators quiets, leaves return to the soil, and the world seems to take a long, peaceful breath. For gardeners, this time of stillness carries both a twinge of sadness and a spark of anticipation, that bittersweet moment when Nature whispers, "Rest now, and dream."

Putting the garden to bed for the winter doesn't mean the joy of growing has to stop. This is the perfect season to plan ahead, to imagine next year's colors, fragrances, and textures while cozy inside with a cup of tea and a notebook full of possibilities. When you reserve your plants from Nature Hills Nursery, you're planting the promise of spring before winter even begins to thaw.

Our reservation system lets you secure your favorite nursery-grown, landscape-grade plants early, locking in today's prices and ensuring your future garden wakes up right on schedule with the first warm days of spring.

don't be sad winter is here, order spring online today

A Lavender Plant for calming fragrance, a Holly Plant paired with an Arborvitae for timeless cheer, or even a live Rose Plant for a touch of elegance that lasts far beyond the season.

How It Works: Packaging, Handling & Shipping

When you place your order, Nature Hills immediately reserves your chosen plants from our nursery inventory. Think of it as claiming your future garden before everyone else. Your plants remain under expert care, kept healthy, hydrated, and perfectly acclimated until Mother Nature signals that it's go time in your region.

As spring temperatures rise and your soil warms, we'll ship your plants at the right time for your USDA growing zone. That means no guessing games, no premature deliveries, and no planting too early. Our shipping schedule is backed by decades of experience growing and delivering healthy plants nationwide. You'll receive a notification when your order ships, carefully packaged to arrive in top condition and ready to plant.

Packaging begins with healthy, pest-free specimens, carefully inspected for quality. Each plant is placed in a sturdy, ventilated box that keeps roots moist without becoming soggy. Find more FAQs here.

Because weather matters, Nature Hills monitors nationwide conditions and ships each order for optimal arrival. This ensures freshness and quality, so your live plant gift arrives ready to thrive. You'll receive tracking information as soon as your order leaves our nursery. Visit our Plant Care Resource Guide for detailed after-care instructions on every plant we sell.

order your spring garden online at nature hills

Why Gardeners Love Spring Reservations

  • Lock in This Year's Prices: Avoid spring price increases by ordering early. Your total stays locked, no matter what the market does later.
  • Get Mature, Well-Developed Plants: Our plants continue growing strong roots while they're held in our nursery, arriving more established and ready to thrive.
  • Dormant Arrival = Easy Planting: Most pre-ordered plants ship dormant in early spring, making planting easier and reducing transplant shock.
  • Beat the Spring Rush: Popular varieties like Roses, Hydrangeas, Fruit Trees, and Flowering Shrubs sell out fast. Pre-ordering ensures you never miss your must-haves.
  • Arrives When It's Safe to Plant: Shipments are timed to your local climate, ensuring each plant arrives ready to grow.
  • Tough, Outdoor-Grown Plants: Our plants are grown outdoors, hardened to real conditions, and ready for your landscape.
  • Nursery Direct Shipping: With Nursery Direct, your plants travel straight from our fields to your doorstep, no middlemen, no warehouse delays.

Care & Maintenance

Once your live plant delivery arrives, here's how to help it flourish:

  • Water deeply but ensure well-drained soil. For container plants, submerge the pot until bubbling stops, then allow excess water to drain.
  • Match sunlight and soil needs: Lavender prefers full sun, Holly tolerates partial shade, and Roses love rich, moist soil and plenty of light.
  • Mulch around the base to regulate moisture and temperature, but keep mulch away from stems.
  • Use the Finger Test for watering: press two inches into the soil; if dry, water deeply.
  • Be patient: dormant or bare-root plants are quietly growing roots before new shoots appear.

Caring for Potted Plants When the Ground Is Frozen

If your new potted shrub or tree arrives and the ground is too frozen to dig, don't worry, Nature's timing is flexible:

  • Deciduous Plants: Store containers in an unheated garage or shed where it stays cool but not freezing solid. Water sparingly until planting time.
  • Evergreens: Place pots outdoors in a shaded, wind-protected area and insulate with mulch or straw. See winter watering tips for details.

Mother Nature's Timing, Perfected

Just like Nature's rhythm, our pre-order process ensures plants transition naturally from dormancy to bloom. You'll open your box in spring to find healthy, resting plants ready to awaken, stretch their roots, and grow strong. Planting dormant stock builds a resilient foundation for years of beauty and bounty.

pre-order your spring garden online at nature hills nursery

Growing Memories That Last

There's quiet magic in winter, the in-between moment when gardens sleep but dreams grow wild. Frost may still lace the windows, but beneath the soil, life stirs. By reserving early or gifting a living plant now, you're keeping the heartbeat of your garden alive all year long.

So rest easy this winter. Reflect on the blooms you've nurtured, the soil you've turned, and the beauty yet to come. With Nature Hills' careful Nursery Direct process, expert packaging, and weather-smart shipping, your garden's next chapter is already waiting to unfold. Order now, dream big, and when the thaw comes, step outside to meet the garden you've been dreaming of all winter long.

Happy Planning, and Happy Planting!

Previous Next

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the buy-now-ship-later reservation process work at NatureHills.com, and what happens after I place my order?

When you place a reservation order at NatureHills.com, your chosen plants are immediately secured from nursery inventory and kept under expert care until conditions in your USDA growing zone are right for shipping. Nature Hills monitors regional temperatures and soil conditions nationwide, then ships your plants at the optimal time for your specific zone so they arrive ready to thrive. You will receive a shipping notification when your order is on its way, packaged in a sturdy, ventilated box designed to keep roots moist and plants healthy in transit. Reserve your plants now to lock in today's prices and get a head start on your best spring garden yet.

When is the best time to place a spring plant reservation so I do not miss out on popular trees, shrubs, or perennials?

The best time to reserve your spring plants is in fall or early winter, well before the new growing season begins. Popular trees, shrubs, and perennials sell out quickly as fellow gardeners plan ahead during the off-season, so waiting until spring often means missing your top choices. Placing your reservation now locks in today's prices and guarantees your plants are held in expert care at our nursery until optimal shipping conditions arrive for your USDA growing zone. Visit naturehills.com today to browse availability and secure your selections before inventory runs low.

How does Nature Hills determine if a plant is restricted in my area, and what are my options if the variety I want is out of stock?

Nature Hills monitors state and federal agricultural regulations to flag plants that are restricted due to invasive potential or quarantine laws, and any restrictions will be noted on the product page before you complete your purchase. If a plant you love is out of stock, the reservation system is your best tool, as reserving early during fall and winter secures your spot in nursery inventory before spring demand peaks. Check the product page regularly for restocking updates, or contact the Nature Hills customer service team directly for availability timelines and recommendations for similar varieties suited to your USDA growing zone.

When will my reserved spring plants actually ship, and can I request a later ship date if my local weather is still too cold?

Your reserved spring plants will ship when soil temperatures and weather conditions in your specific USDA hardiness zone signal that it is safe to plant, a schedule backed by decades of nationwide growing and delivery experience. Nature Hills monitors regional conditions closely so your order goes out at the right time for your area, not a moment too soon. If you have concerns about a late cold snap or unusual weather in your region, reach out to the Nature Hills customer service team directly to discuss your shipping preferences before your order goes out.

How do I confirm that a reserved plant suits my USDA hardiness zone, sunlight levels, and soil conditions before committing to an order?

Before placing a reservation, visit the individual plant page on naturehills.com, where each listing includes the recommended USDA hardiness zones, sunlight requirements such as full sun, part shade, or full shade, and preferred soil conditions. Cross-reference those details with your own zone, which you can confirm using the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map at planthardiness.ars.usda.gov by entering your zip code. If you still have questions after reviewing the plant details, reach out to the Nature Hills team before reserving so you can order with complete confidence.

How deep and wide should I dig the planting hole for spring arrivals, and why does keeping the root flare above soil level matter so much?

For most trees and shrubs, dig your planting hole two to three times wider than the root ball but no deeper than its height, so roots can spread easily into loosened soil without sinking. Keeping the root flare, the point where the trunk widens at the base, at or just above the surrounding soil grade prevents moisture from pooling against the bark, which leads to rot, disease, and long-term decline. Planting too deep is one of the most common causes of tree failure, even in otherwise healthy specimens. When your Nature Hills order arrives, measure your root ball before digging, set the plant in place to confirm the flare sits slightly proud of grade, then backfill with your native soil and water thoroughly to settle any air pockets.

What steps should I take to care for reserved plants immediately after unpacking them from their shipping box?

When your reserved plants arrive, unpack them promptly and inspect for any shipping stress, then move them to a shaded outdoor spot for 2 to 3 days to allow them to acclimate before exposing them to full sun. Water thoroughly right away, making sure the root ball is evenly moist but not waterlogged, and check the soil daily since newly shipped plants can dry out faster than established ones. Once acclimated, plant at the correct depth for your species, water deeply again, and apply 2 to 3 inches of mulch around the base to retain moisture and regulate soil temperature during those first critical weeks of establishment.

What should I do if my reserved plant arrives dormant, bare-root, or leafless, or if it is slow to leaf out after spring planting?

If your plant arrives dormant, bare-root, or without leaves, this is completely normal and expected, especially for early spring shipments when plants are intentionally held in a dormant state for safe transport. Dormancy protects the plant during shipping and does not indicate poor health. Once planted in well-prepared soil, most plants will begin leafing out within two to four weeks as soil temperatures climb above 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Water consistently, be patient, and perform a simple scratch test on a stem to check for green tissue beneath the bark, which confirms your plant is alive and on its way.

How do I choose the right spring plants for specific landscaping goals like foundation planting, privacy screens, hedges, or mixed borders?

For foundation plantings, choose compact evergreens like dwarf arborvitae or boxwood that mature at a scale suited to your home's height, typically staying under 4 to 6 feet. Privacy screens and hedges call for fast-growing upright varieties such as Green Giant Arborvitae, which can gain 3 to 5 feet per year in zones 5 through 8, while mixed borders benefit from layering spring-blooming shrubs with ornamental grasses and perennials for season-long interest. Browse Nature Hills by plant use category and filter by your USDA hardiness zone to narrow your options quickly, then reserve your selections now to lock in pricing and ensure zone-appropriate spring delivery.

Can I reserve spring plants for container gardening or small patio spaces, and how should I prepare and plant them once they arrive?

Yes, Nature Hills offers a wide selection of plants well-suited for containers and patio spaces, including compact roses, lavender, and dwarf shrubs that thrive in confined growing environments. When your reserved plants arrive in spring, timed specifically for your USDA growing zone, choose containers with at least 12 to 18 inches of depth and ensure they have adequate drainage holes to prevent root rot. Use a high-quality potting mix rather than garden soil, as it provides better aeration and moisture retention for container growing. Plant at the same depth the specimen was growing in its nursery container, water thoroughly after planting, and place in an appropriate sun exposure based on your specific variety's requirements.