#ProPlantTips: Order your Plants Early!

Nature Hills Nursery | February 14, 2026

Gardening: Everyone’s New Favorite Hobby

During this whirlwind of a year, did you ever glance outside your windows and realize that your landscaping needed an update? Or get tired of your same old, same old garden layout?

Has Pinterest or Instagam ever inspired you to start growing your own garden? Maybe even you thought of growing your own vegetable garden?

Well, in either situation, you weren’t the only one! This past year, people have had a lot of time to dig into new fun hobbies, such as gardening and landscaping.

These new hobbies led to people buying any and every plant to spruce up their landscaping!

People were buying plants left and right! Although it is wonderful that everyone was rediscovering their gardens, others did not get their plants in time! But what do you expect after a year like 2020?!

Better late than never, right? Well, that’s not too true when it comes to plant shopping!

We don’t want anyone to be caught off guard, so this is why we are urging every one of you to buy your plants early from here on out!

Time to Plan(t) Ahead

As you might know, online shopping gets more and more popular every year, especially throughout this past hectic year. So this is why you want to stay ahead of the game and order your plants ASAP!

While everyone was plant shopping last year, the plant industry, it’s supply chains, and the customers were all thrown for a loop. This is why we are here today, to tell you to buy your plants early this year!

There’s no such thing as too early, especially when you’re shopping for your spring garden!

Growing plants is not like making widgets, so we are not able to simply turn on a machine and make more plants like we can with other things. Garden planning is a lot of work! Between planting, watering, treating and growing the plants, the process becomes rather timely.

The plants that we are selling this upcoming spring, actually started growing about three to four years ago, which is why it's a good idea to order your plants to reserve the upcoming delivery!

Did you know that some of our grafted evergreen trees and specialty crops were actually propagated nearly eight years ago? Yes, you read that correctly! Who would have known in 2013 that sales would boom as greatly as they did in 2020 and 2021.

This is why plants sometimes sell out quickly, especially since we don’t have a crystal ball to anticipate future sales!

No matter what type of garden you dream of, Nature Hills has the plants to achieve it!

From perennials, trees, shrubs or maybe you might be looking forward to some vegetable gardening, Nature Hills has it all. But there is a chance that your favorite plants will be selling out this year.

You may not have a lot of time left! Make sure you know your garden design, and order your plants before the early spring season!

Begin your garden planning now before you miss the opportunity to buy your favorite plants before they are sold out!

No need to visit your local garden center! Let the plants come to you by ordering all your favorites at Nature Hills Nursery! Almost any plant that you can think of is right at your fingertips!

Reasons to Act Fast!

In this past year, considering we had spent a lot more time at home and it was difficult to go to the grocery store, people were trying new hobbies and growing their own edible gardens.

A variety of delicious fruit trees, as well as small fruits such as blueberry, blackberry, raspberry, and strawberry plants were a hot seller.

Fruit plants are more productive during an early planting time, so get your favorite edible plants ordered and shipped now for the best growth possible.

Bare root plants are another type of plant that you want to reserve quickly! Their season is shorter than most and will be shipped to your location during the proper planting time depending on your hardiness zone.

Everyone wants to keep up with the newest and hottest trends - right? Well, new plant trends greatly affect plant sales too, which is why we are urging you to take action today.

New plant cultivars bring so many new attributes to the table with new color, new form, new variegation, a more compact size, or maybe a new skinny version.

On the growers end, it takes a while for them to get enough of these new plants in production, making it hard to open the gates with huge numbers of these new, hot selling plants.

These plants are what our favorite “plant nerds” are always on the lookout for, which also means the limited supply is the first to sell out!

Plant growers try to stay ahead of the game by planting the favorites to match the demand, but it takes time. Have a first come, first serve mentality to become the trend setter of your town with these breathtaking new plants!

We have all learned to adapt to this unpredictable year and prepare for the unexpected.

So just when we all may think everything is fine and dandy, Mother Nature may just decide to throw us a curveball with a late frost or hailstorm. Or something unknown may eliminate some of the plants that we have grown, leaving yet again a limited supply.

There are thousands of what-ifs, but a limited supply of plants. So if you’re wondering when it is a good time to order your plants - the answer is NOW!

Stay ahead of the game and order your plants today at Nature Hills Nursery!

Previous Next

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the best time to order plants online to get the best selection?

The best time to order plants online is as early as possible, ideally before the spring rush begins. Plant inventory is limited by nature, since growing quality nursery stock takes three to four years on average, and some specialty grafted trees can take up to eight years to propagate. High demand can quickly deplete available stock, leaving late shoppers with fewer options or sold-out favorites. Place your order now to reserve your plants and secure the best selection for your spring garden.

Why should I order trees and shrubs early instead of waiting until spring?

Ordering trees and shrubs early is critical because plants are living things that take years to grow, not products that can be manufactured on demand. Many of our grafted evergreen trees and specialty crops were propagated up to eight years ago, meaning current inventory is finite and cannot be quickly replenished when demand surges. Popular varieties sell out fast, especially during high-demand seasons like spring. Place your order now to reserve your plants and guarantee you get exactly what you want for your garden.

How early should I place my plant order so my top picks do not sell out?

Order your plants as early as possible, ideally in late winter or very early spring, well before the season you intend to plant. Because plants take three to four years to grow to sellable size, and some specialty grafted trees and evergreens take up to eight years to propagate, inventory is truly limited and cannot be quickly replenished once it sells out. Do not wait for warmer weather to start browsing, as the most popular varieties will already be gone by then. Visit naturehills.com now to reserve your selections and secure delivery before stock runs out.

Is it too early to buy outdoor plants even if I cannot plant them yet?

It is never too early to order your plants, and ordering ahead is actually the smartest move you can make as a gardener. Plants are living crops that take three to four years or more to grow to selling size, so popular varieties sell out fast and cannot simply be restocked on demand. Ordering early reserves your spot in line for spring deliveries, ensuring you get exactly the plants you want rather than settling for whatever remains. Visit naturehills.com now to browse availability and place your order before your top choices are gone.

When should I buy flowering plants for my garden to guarantee availability?

Order your flowering plants as early as possible, ideally well before the spring season begins. Unlike manufactured products, plants take years to grow and cannot be produced on demand, meaning popular varieties sell out quickly once the busy season hits. Place your order now to reserve your selections and ensure timely delivery when planting conditions are right for your zone.

How do I know which plants to order early based on my climate and growing zone?

Knowing your USDA Hardiness Zone is the essential first step, as it determines which plants will thrive in your region and helps you time your orders appropriately. Plants like grafted evergreen trees and specialty crops can take up to eight years to propagate, meaning popular zone-specific varieties sell out fast, especially in Zones 4 through 6 where the growing season is shorter and demand for cold-hardy cultivars is high. Visit naturehills.com, use the plant search filter to shop by your hardiness zone, and place your order as early as late winter to secure the best selection for spring planting.

Can I order trees and shrubs online in winter and have them shipped at the right planting time?

Yes, you can absolutely order trees and shrubs online during winter, and ordering early is actually the smartest move you can make. Nature Hills allows you to place your order well in advance and will ship your plants at the appropriate time for your growing zone and local planting conditions. Keep in mind that many of the plants available for spring delivery have already been growing for three to four years, and specialty grafted trees can take up to eight years to reach sellable size, which means popular varieties sell out fast. Place your order now to reserve your plants and secure your spot in the shipping queue before your top choices are gone.

What are the benefits of buying landscaping plants, trees, and shrubs early in the season?

Ordering your plants early in the season ensures you get the specific varieties you want before popular selections sell out, which happens quickly given that many trees and shrubs take three to four years to grow, and specialty grafted evergreens can take up to eight years to propagate. Supply is genuinely limited and cannot be ramped up on demand the way manufactured goods can, so early shoppers have a major advantage over those who wait. Browse the Nature Hills catalog now and place your order as soon as you have your garden plan ready to secure your plants for spring delivery.

How do I plan my garden plant order so I get the best prices before popular varieties sell out?

Order your plants as early as possible, ideally in late winter or early fall before the spring rush, since popular varieties sell out fast and restocking is not simply a matter of flipping a switch. Many of the plants available each spring were propagated three to four years ago, and specialty grafted trees and evergreens can take up to eight years to reach selling size, meaning inventory is genuinely limited. Browse Nature Hills at naturehills.com now, build your wish list by hardiness zone, and place your order early to reserve your selections before demand outpaces supply.

Which types of plants should I buy now and plant later to get a head start on the growing season?

Ordering early is especially important for high-demand items like grafted evergreen trees, specialty crops, perennials, and fruiting plants, since these can take three to eight years to propagate and tend to sell out fast. Spring-blooming shrubs, bare root fruit trees, and ornamental trees are particularly smart to reserve ahead of time, as they ship during narrow seasonal windows. Place your order now to secure your plants and ensure timely delivery when planting conditions in your zone are ideal.