Is the grass always greener? Picture of ‘Prairie Sky’ Switch Grass on the left, courtesy of Kickapoo Creek Nursery. What to look for when choosing a grass? While most people’s first idea of grass tends to be of the short green grass we see in our lawns, ornamental grasses come in a large range of…
How to choose appropriate plants and trees for your location
Whether your landscaping needs a face lift, or you are starting with a blank slate it is important to choose plants that will thrive in your location! There are multiple things you need to look at when picking out plant material. First, what zone do you live in? You want to choose trees and plants…
Tree Health 101: Common Issues with Mature Trees
A tree can grow for years, and then it seems that suddenly it stops growing, has yellow leaves, deformed leaf or stem growth, or is showing signs of die back and stress. As it turns out, even old trees need care and attention! For most newly transplanted trees, a homeowner or gardener will take vigilant…
Common Garden Pests: How to Treat Plants Without Harming Pollinators
It’s that time of year again…Japanese beetles, tomato horn worms, flea beetles, bagworms, spider mites…I could go on. And I am sure if you are reading this blog you have had some experience with at least one of these garden pests. The next problem is treating for these pests while leaving the bees, butterflies, and…
Container Tree and Shrub Planting 101
In the age of Pinterest and DIY it’s fun to do it yourself (and usually cheaper!). With warmer weather finally here people are ready to get out into the yard and play in the dirt. However, not everyone has experience in planting ornamentals. That’s where we come in! Not only does our nursery carry a…
Spring Landscape Bed Prep
After a long, cold winter landscape beds can look drab. With a little time and effort those drab beds can be looking fresh and ready for spring in no time! The first step to sprucing up your beds would be to remove any dead plant material. This could mean raking dead leaves, trimming back dead…
How To: Remove Suckers
How To: Remove Suckers Trees need check-ups just like we do. You may commonly see suckers, which are small stems growing from the tree taking place in the summer and fall time. This is a sign that the tree is experiencing problems and you need to remove them. Suckers obtain energy from the…
Creating a Windbreak/Privacy Tree Line
How do I get started on my windbreak or privacy screening tree installation process? First, selecting trees that will grow and mature in your zone is very important. Across the United States, specific trees adapt to soil and climate better than others. Evergreen trees are most commonly known for windbreak or privacy screening purposes. This…
Building a Home and Family Business: Our Story
Jerry Prochnow, President of Kickapoo Creek Nursery, started his first job in high school at Custer Brothers Nursery located previously in Normal, Il. This is where he found exactly what his passion was and discovered what it would grow into. Helping customers and working on his expertise of planting and growing material would create a…
Hydrangeas: How Can I Change the Color and Is it Easy?
Hydrangeas are not only beautiful with boasting color but can be transformed with a touch of care. Kickapoo Creek Nursery has a selection of hydrangea plants you can try this trick including “Let’s Dance”, “Pink Diamond”, and “Endless Summer”. Hydrangeas are a popular plants that grow everywhere in the world, produced from early spring to…