It's hard to think about spring during fall planting. But some of Mother Nature's first, and arguably most beautiful, specimens require us to think ahead. Somewhere between fall cleanup and putting the blade on the snow truck, our focus turns to these tiny miracles: BULBS.

Where do you come in? So glad you asked! There are some tips, tricks and helpful products when it comes to installing bulbs and boosting your yield. But, without human hands and a mindful eye on timing, these little guys would wither in their boxes or rot underground before ever getting the chance to bloom. The planting window matters: get them in the ground once nighttime temps settle into the 40s, roughly six weeks before the soil freezes. Bulbs need a snooze called cold stratification to bloom in the spring. And some varieties like longer naps than others. Daffodils like to get a head start, so tuck them in first. Tulips prefer to bed down a bit later in the fall.

What's next? It may sound obvious, but picking the right spot is key. After you determine your area has enough sun and good drainage for the soil, you'll want to dig a hole about 3x as deep as the bulb is tall. If you are planting in mass, an automatic auger is a lifesaver. For the love of God, do not forget the Bulb-Tone®! Place the bulbs with the whiskers down and the point up. Cover with soil and pat down gently. After you water it well, simply let them nap until spring does its thing.

The supplies you need for planting bulbs are available at Christensen's

Now that you have the basics, let's talk pro tips.

• Plant in odd numbers or in clusters, rather than in rows. It will look more organic and impactful when they bloom.
• Add a layer of mulch after planting to help regulate the soil temps and deter squirrels from digging up the bulbs.
• If there is a known varmint issue, mix in a bit of chicken grit or gravel to keep them from digging without harming the plants. You can also grate Irish Spring soap or spray diluted Downy in the areas to keep critters from munching on the leaves.
• We want to keep that foliage long after it blooms, until it turns yellow and dies back naturally. That's how the bulb recharges for next year.
• Bigger bulbs generally mean bigger blooms, so they are worth a little more money.
• Label where you planted so they aren't accidentally dug up in the spring before the flowers emerge.

Where do we go from here? Straight to Christensens to pick out your bulbs, of course! Our knowledgeable staff can help you choose varieties and products to turn these tiny miracles into a full-on magic show come spring.

Planning Ahead: Christensen’s Early Order Program Is Expanding

Every year, the Bulb Early Order Program gives Christensen's customers an opportunity to save a little while helping us plan ahead for the season.

When orders are submitted by the early order deadline, customers receive a small discount, and we get a better idea of what we need to have on hand when the season arrives. It’s a simple approach that helps everyone plan with a little more confidence.

This year, we’re expanding that same idea beyond bulbs. We’re introducing an early order program for tree stakes and burlap, two products that many of our landscape contractor customers rely on toward the end of the year to protect their plantings through Michigan’s winter weather.

Orders are due by October 5th to receive the early order discount!

Why make the addition? Better planning benefits everyone. Obtaining an earlier, clearer picture of demand allows Christensen’s to plan inventory more accurately, resulting in in-stock products when customers need them. For contractors, placing orders early saves money and it’s one less thing to worry about as the season gets busy.

We appreciate everyone who participates in our early order programs. Your early commitments help us serve you better, and we hope this expanded program makes it a little easier—and more rewarding—to plan ahead.

Mid-September is almost upon us, and it is a busy time of year. Now until early November could almost be considered the best time to plant, allowing your plants to "root out" and get comfy before the first freeze.

The graphic below shows some quick statistics and typical weather behavior. 

So, can you plant after that November freeze? Yes, but...

Be a little more careful with your plant choices. The later in the season you plant, the shorter your list of options gets.

Perennials

Shrubs

Trees

Most are a yes. However, there are some trees that are considered a fall hazard for digging and planting. Oaks, Redbuds, Dogwood and Amelanchier are considered fall hazard. A full list of fall hazard trees is available on our website under the Resources tab. If a customer chooses one of these trees in the fall, Christensen's requires a waiver to be signed.

If you do plant...

When planting late in the fall to early winter, remember to mulch and use anti-desiccates (on all evergreens). Also keep watering – Shrubs and Trees will continue to take up water until full dormancy. If you plant something on the "no" list just know it is risky. But If you are careful with the plants and add a little help, they stand a good chance of winter survival.

Christensen's will be here for you well into November and the sales staff available to answer all of your fall planting questions. Stop in, give us a call (1-888-454-8733) or email (sales@christensensplantcenter.com).

It's Sunday morning and stores aren't open yet. You're still in your pajamas anyway. So you go online to shop for a new piece of furniture. But it's so difficult to visualize that new chair, couch or side table in your living room. Wait, there's a button that says "Show Me" or "Try It In Your Space". Suddenly, a picture of that sofa appears on your screen with the instructions to point your device where you want to "place" it. 

Augmented reality is a fun tool. It allows you to "try before you buy", saving money and hassle.

It's also an opportunity for you, as a business owner or project manager/sales person. But who has the resources to develop that kind of technology? The hardscape vendors you buy from through Christensen's have done the work for you. They've developed everything from project galleries to augmented reality. What have you used from this list?

Oaks Landscape Products provides several inspirational opportunities. The Oaks Landscape Project Gallery includes 5 pages of image projects. Their website also has an extensive list of technical information and guides in their Resource Center. You can find it on their website on the top ribbon. Find the Landscape Project Gallery and more under the Inspiration drop-down menu on the top ribbon.

High Format offers over a dozen Inspiration Galleries on their website, each with detailed pictures and specs of the products used in the project. Downloads are also available, providing project details as well as links to an Outcropping Layout App and Outcropping Height Guide Tool.

Hi! I am Molly and I have been with Christensen’s for 14 years. Many of you may remember me from my days on the perennial lot. These days, I am the perennial buyer, sadly working at a desk (not so sadly during a heat wave or rainstorm). My main goal is to source fresh, quality perennials that are landscape ready!

I wanted to give you a little peek behind the curtain, so that you can understand all that goes into offering the best customer care possible!

Let me start with the most important aspect of my job: timing. The plant buyers are always working one to two weeks out. For example, today is Monday July 13^th. By the end of this week, I will have trucks for the week of July 20th set in stone and am unable to make additions or changes.

You might be wondering, why do I need to know this?? As the contractor, it’s important to understand the lead time required to get your material to Christensen’s. Basically, the buyers need a week or two, sometimes more (depending on time of year) to get you exactly what you need. If you need something ASAP, let us know ASAP so your material arrives fresh and in a timely fashion.

If a project requires a large quantity of a plant, or something funky no one has ever heard of, please let us know, in advance! We want to help! But we order your plant material from all over the country, and with the logistics involved, it takes proper planning on our part.

There is another snake in the grass to be wary of. Say you give me the list of materials and deposit right on time, I order it for the following week, and all is good. Then the dreaded “bounce back” email arrives, notifying me that the plants are no longer available: crop loss, water issues, pruning issues, someone stole them for another order. Whatever the reason, your plants are not coming as planned.

As a buyer who prides herself on meeting deadlines, this is not an ideal situation for either of us. After follow-ups with your salesperson, who will then notify you of the snag, the plants are added to my “get it here now!” list and your arrival date is pushed back at least another week.

Why am I sharing this bit of information? It’s a gentle reminder that some things are out of our control and many issues can be mitigated with advance planning. For example, after receiving a “bounce back” email, there still might be a chance to meet your deadline because it’s several weeks away.

The moral of the story is that we, the buyers, are committed to providing you with quality material, in stock when you need it. That quality, however, requires regular turnover. Therefore, we may not have the quantity or item you’re looking for on any given day. Advance notice allows the buyers to work with you to source the material you need when you need it. When situations out of our control pop up, please know that we work hard to make it right.

Thanks for reading, and I look forward to your orders!

Christensen's offers a full selection of fertilizers for landscape professionals. With so many options available, choosing the right product can sometimes feel overwhelming. Here's a quick guide to help you match common landscape applications with the fertilizer best suited for the job.

Quick Fertilizer Guide

1. New planting Trees and Shrubs → Bio-Tone Starter Plus + Root Stimulator
2. Long-term feeding → Osmocote
3. Acid-loving shrubs → Holly-Tone
4. Established Trees and Shrubs → Plant-Tone
5. Flowers → Flower-Tone
6. Roses → Rose-Tone
7. Bulbs → Bulb-Tone
8. Turf → Milorganite

If you'd like a little more detail, here's a closer look at each fertilizer and where it fits best in the landscape.

Application Tips

• Bio-Tone: Mix into the backfill during planting.
• Root Stimulator: Water in at planting.
• Plant-Tone, Holly-Tone, Rose-Tone, and Flower-Tone: Mix into planting beds during installation or apply to the soil surface around established plants and water in.
• Osmocote: Apply to the soil surface under mulch or lightly incorporate into the root zone.
• Milorganite: Broadcast over turf and water in.

Christensen's prides itself on partnering with landscape professionals to help them install and maintain beautiful, successful landscapes.

While fertilizer can help plants establish and thrive, more is not always better. Fertilizer is most effective when plants are healthy and actively growing. Avoid fertilizing plants that are drought-stressed or experiencing significant transplant shock. Sites amended with quality compost may also require less fertilizer than expected. In most cases, proper watering, soil preparation, and planting practices will have a greater impact on long-term plant success than fertilizer alone.

As we enter the summer months, and even into fall, why not think of adding something out of the ordinary into the landscape by using a fountain pond? Christensen’s has long been a distributor for EasyPro, based out of Grant, Michigan. This year, we've added products from another Michigan based company, Blue Thumb.

Blue Thumb offers something a little different with their fountains, ranging from vase fountains, to real stone fountains and even metal fountains.

While planning for later this year, or even next, keep in mind the option of adding a small, relaxing element into the plan. If I was redoing my patio, I would surely add in a fountain set to relax with after being at work. 

Next time you're at Christensen's, please ask any of us about the fountain pond options from EasyPro and Blue Thumb and we will get you all the information.

For the past several years, it seems that every new pest or disease affecting boxwood has sparked another round of conversations about removing these iconic shrubs from the landscape. Most recently, the arrival of box tree moth in southeastern Michigan has many homeowners wondering if it is time to replace their boxwoods with something else. In my opinion, the answer is still no. Boxwood has earned its place in our landscapes over decades of performance. Few shrubs can match its year-round color, versatility, deer resistance, and ability to provide structure and formality in the garden. While box tree moth is certainly a challenge, it is a manageable one.

The key is understanding that box tree moth is an insect pest, not a death sentence for every boxwood plant. Like many landscape pests, it can be effectively controlled through regular monitoring and timely treatment. Homeowners and landscape professionals who inspect their plants for feeding damage, webbing, caterpillars, or defoliation can often identify problems before significant damage occurs. Several treatment options have proven effective when applied at the proper time. For example, Btk (Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki) is readily available. The reality is that maintaining healthy boxwoods through monitoring and treatment is often far less disruptive and less expensive than removing mature plantings and starting over.

When considering alternatives, it is important to remember what would be lost. Boxwood has long been the standard for foundation plantings, formal hedges, and landscape accents because few shrubs offer the same combination of size, density, evergreen foliage, and tolerance of pruning. Even Michigan State University Extension, while discussing alternatives, acknowledges that there are currently no perfect replacements that fully replicate the performance and appearance of boxwood. Replacing established shrubs often means waiting years for new plants to reach the same size and visual impact already present in the landscape.

For landscape contractors and homeowners in southeastern Michigan, my recommendation is simple: don't give up on boxwood. Learn to recognize the signs of box tree moth activity, work with a knowledgeable landscape professional, and implement a treatment program when necessary. With proper care, boxwoods can continue to provide the timeless beauty and structure that have made them a landscape favorite for generations. The best boxwood replacement is often the healthy boxwood already growing in your yard.

Installing joint sand on paver projects is crucial for both the structural longevity and lasting aesthetics of the installation. All joint sand fills the gaps between concrete pavers to lock them together, creating a rigid yet flexible surface. It evenly distributes weight, stops pavers from shifting, prevents weed growth and keeps out insects.

Today though, we're tip-toeing into air-cured, resin paver joint sands.

If you’ve been installing pavers for a while, you already know joint sand can make or break a job. It’s the last stage of the project and often the final step before you collect your check.
With polymeric sand, installers must keep a close eye on the weather, temperature, and even ground moisture levels that may keep your concrete pavers too moist on a shady day.

That’s where air-cured resin sands have been gaining traction. From our side of the counter at Christensen’s, we’re seeing more contractors make the switch simply because it takes a lot of the guesswork out of the process. Site prep and scheduling are more straight-forward. Yes, it’s initially more expensive than traditional polymeric. But it’s also more forgiving and less weather-dependent. With resin sand, you’re not racing the clock or watching the weather the same way you are with polymeric. There’s also no chance of polyhaze showing up after the pavers have dried and your crew has left the site.

The installation is straightforward. 

1. Clean the compacted pavers surface, leaving it slightly damp (not flooded)
2. Sweep or squeegee the sand into the joints with the help of a garden hose.
3. Sweep off the excess
4. Lightly mist to settle everything in.

After that, it cures from the top down as the resin becomes exposed to air. No mixing, no polyhaze, and no stressing about a surprise rain shower rolling through right after you leave.

Gator Nitro Joint Sand (stocked at Christensen’s) brings something extra to the table with its semi-permeable setup. It firms up hard and allows water to pass through. This can help with jobs where drainage matters or where permeable specs come into play.

Gator Nitro-X Fine Joint Sand installs the same way as the original Gator Nitro, but features a finer grain, making it a better fit for tighter joints and more refined surfaces. This tighter joint surface encourages water to sheet from your paved area. This may be especially useful near pools where you may grade towards a drain channel.

At the end of the day, resin joint sand isn’t necessarily about replacing every bag of polymeric sand you use. It’s about having another tool that’s a little more foolproof when conditions aren’t perfect or timelines are tight. Resin sand may offer a smoother day on site, and fewer return trips just to deal with joints.

Not sure how we got here. But alas, we're in Hydrangea chaos, yet again. Lately, it seems like every hydrangea has an evil stepbrother trying to knock him off. I must tell you that we carry way too many and there are thousands more to choose from. (That may be a slight exaggeration.) Oh, where to start! (I am only listing what you should expect Christensen’s to carry)

Let’s start with arborescens (Smooth Hydrangea). Arborescens flower on new wood. So, prune if needed and they will re-flush.

‘Annabelles' remain a staple and Christensen’s sells hundreds.

Incrediball® is considered an improved ‘Annabelle’ with bigger flowers and stronger stems. They are tolerant of both clay and alkaline soils as well as salt and shade.

The Incrediball® Series includes:

Invincibelle® comes next. The original Invincibelle® was considered the “Pink Annabelle”. It disappeared fast and was replaced by Invincibelle® Spirit II, which is still pink but with stronger stems to hold up the large flowers.

P.S. For every Invincibelle® series Hydrangea sold, Proven Winners donates $1.00 to Breast Cancer research.

Let’s move on to the “Big Leaf Hydrangea” (macrophylla).

Over the past few years, there has been a slew of new varieties added to the reblooming Endless Summer® Collection. Some have been around for a couple of years but are just now getting their 15 minutes of fame.

The collection includes:

Making it’s Christensen’s debut in 2026 is Dream Cloud® with their white, mop-head flowers and on a 3-4 x 3-4’ plant.

Before we head into the paniculatas, I would like to highlight a few other lacecaps from the Tuff Stuff® series. Christensen’s has carried these for a few years now and they have held up very well in the nursery. The original Tuff Stuff® is a 2-3’ tall rebloomer with blue or pink flowers. Christensen’s will also carry:

OK, now we can discuss paniculatas.

Hydrangea paniculata Bobo® are The O.G. panicle hydrangea, no evil stepbrothers in sight. Bobo® are 24-30 x 36-48”, with strong stems, a rounded habit, white flowers and look like they belong on a macrophylla (big round ball flowers) and not a paniculata (usually more of cone shape). The flowers are also sterile, so they just bloom and bloom. 

Hopefully your coffee cup is full - here comes the mess.

‘Limelight’ has been around forever. Reaching 8x8 with green flowers that age pink, red, burgundy. For now, these are still available.

‘Quick Fire’ Hydrangea and all its children bloom about 1 month earlier than other paniculatas, providing a little longer show.  They come in at 8’ x 8’, start flowering white then age pink with great fall color.

Little Quick Fire® is one of my favorites and a dwarf of ‘Quick Fire’, at only 3-5’ x 3-5’. The flowers are white, age pink and the red stems stand out on the plant.

Moving on to another standard - Pinky Winky®. “Pinkys” come in at 6-8’ x 6-8’ with white flowers that age pink. The flowers can also be up to 12” long making for a very showy plant

Now there is also Pinky Winky Prime®. It is touted as having much stronger stems than its parent. Otherwise, it’s similar to the original.

Phew, almost to the end. (You thought I was joking!)

Puffer Fish® Hydrangea’s claim to fame is it has so many flowers you cannot see the plant! According to Proven Winner, "Puffers" are a Bobo® but puffier on a compact 3-5’ x 3-5’. The flowers are white and age green on strong stems.

Powerball® is one of the newest from Proven Winners. Powerball® has mop head flowers on strong stems, starting lime, aging white and pink. It is also a solid rebloomer with a size of 3-6’ x 3-6’.

Believe it or not, there are still more. We didn't even discuss "Oakleafs". I'll cover those later this summer.

I’m always on the look-out for new varieties that will grow well in Michigan. But they tell me, in order to get a new variety through the gate I have to remove one.