Leif - Knechts Nurseries & Landscaping

There’s a Whole Lot of Rubbing Going On. Protect Your Trees!

Leif September 2, 2020

Autumn Brilliance Serviceberry

Leif April 26, 2019

One of the best small flowering trees of use in southern Minnesota is the lovely Autumn Brilliance Serviceberry. In late April to early May , beautiful lacy white blossoms cover this close cousin of our native serviceberry, just at the time when we are longing to see lots of flowers

Oak Trees Rock!

Leif May 9, 2018

Many people are surprised to learn that oak trees can fairly quickly develop into high quality strong and beautiful trees that will add value and enjoyment to your landscape. A few simple steps will ensure that in just 5 to 10 years, an oak tree will become an impressive part

Needle Shedding on Evergreens

Leif October 21, 2015

This is a re-print of this blog that we published October 2013. We have received phone calls from customers and thought it was relevant to re-publish the blog. Autumn is a time of change as all living organisms prepare for the onset of winter, many birds migrate south, weasels and

Successful Summer Planting

Leif July 10, 2014

Contrary to what many people think, planting in mid-summer is an excellent time to get new landscape plants to establish themselves very quickly and very happily. All they need is just enough water and never too much, good planting technique, and just enough fertilizer and never too much. The long

The Mighty Oaks

Leif April 6, 2014

Yesterday, our crew peeled back protective layers of white plastic and closed cell foam blankets to reveal hundreds of small special air root pruning pots, each holding one or two acorns planted last October. When those acorns were collected, culled to select the very best, and carefully planted, it was

Winterburn on Evergreens

Leif March 30, 2014

We are starting to get calls about concerns people have for evergreen trees and shrubs with needles that are turning brown, which is a condition called winterburn. Winterburn is generally worse in years when there has been a really long period of snow cover, especially if continuous snow cover has

A Good Time to Prune

Leif March 26, 2014

As snowbanks disappear and soils remain frozen or too wet to work, it’s an excellent time to prune trees and shrubs. During the next couple of weeks, most of the stored energy of trees and shrubs remains in the root systems. When selected branches and twigs are pruned off to

Ancient Touchstones

Leif March 18, 2014

Gardening is America’s most popular hobby, and is likely to maintain this status for reasons that reach far into the origins and ancient past of humankind. I believe that the deep satisfactions we experience when creating beautiful gardens are rooted in sensibilities people developed when small nomadic bands survived by hunting

Feel the Rhythm, Feed the Soul

Leif March 12, 2014

Our lives are woven of rhythmic threads of many kinds. With some of the rhythms of life, we are keenly aware of the dynamics involved, and others often go unrecognized as the demands of daily life consume our attention. Most obvious to us are the rhythms of sleep and wakefulness,

Fat Albert Blue Spruce

Leif March 10, 2014

Harsh winters like this one that we have experienced this year are a good test for judging the merits of evergreen trees. Fat Albert Blue Spruce is a tough and incredibly beautiful selection of Colorado Blue Spruce that is sure to receive test marks that put it at the head

Fall Fiesta Sugar Maple

Leif March 5, 2014

Sugar Maples have earned the admiration of millions upon millions of people throughout North America for their breathtaking fall color, the strength and usefulness of their wood, wonderful cooling shade, and for providing the sap that makes maple syrup production possible. Fall Fiesta Sugar Maple is a selection by Minnesota’s

Peak Performance Trees

Leif February 20, 2014

At Knecht’s Nurseries we produce Peak Performance Trees by placing them into specially designed and constructed plastic pots that have dozens of openings in the side walls, and even on the bottom of the pots. When tree roots contact these openings they are soon root pruned by the air drying