Spring into Growth: What to Plant, Stock, and Promote This Season in the Midwest (Spring Focus)
Spring in the Midwest is more than just the return of warm temperatures and sunshine. For wholesale nurseries, it's the heartbeat of the planting season. With the frost lifting and the soil warming up, demand for trees, shrubs, perennials, and groundcovers begins to surge. Here's how your nursery can stay ahead of the curve this spring by focusing on seasonal trends, customer needs, and plant performance.
1. Understand the Spring Timeline in the Midwest
Spring in the Midwest typically begins in March and runs through late May, though exact planting windows vary between USDA zones 4 through 6. Illinois, Wisconsin, and Michigan often experience lingering cold snaps in March and even early April, which means peak planting usually begins mid-to-late April.
2. Stock Up on Early-Blooming Favorites
Landscapers and garden centers want plants that bring instant color and early-season appeal. These early risers are often top-sellers:
- Forsythia: One of the first shrubs to bloom, its bright yellow flowers are a favorite for spring landscapes.
- Magnolia stellata and Magnolia x soulangiana: Provide dramatic blooms before leaf-out.
- Creeping Phlox (Phlox subulata): A low-growing perennial that forms vibrant mats of color.
- Hellebores: Cold-hardy and shade-loving with unique, long-lasting blooms.
3. Prepare Popular Midwest Natives
Native plants continue to rise in demand due to their ecological benefits and hardiness. Consider increasing availability of:
- Echinacea purpurea (Purple Coneflower)
- Asclepias tuberosa (Butterfly Weed)
- Amsonia hubrichtii (Blue Star)
- Rudbeckia fulgida (Black-eyed Susan)
These species thrive in the Midwest’s climate and appeal to customers looking for pollinator-friendly and low-maintenance choices.
4. Trees and Shrubs That Sell in Spring
Container-grown trees and shrubs are prime sellers during spring, especially for new home builds, municipal plantings, and residential upgrades. Focus on fast-growing and ornamental selections like:
- Acer rubrum (Red Maple)
- Quercus rubra (Red Oak)
- Cornus florida (Flowering Dogwood)
- Viburnum dentatum (Arrowwood Viburnum)
Make sure your inventory includes varying sizes—from 1-gallon up to balled and burlapped (B&B) specimens.
5. Prep for Mother's Day & Memorial Day Rush
May is a key month for retail sales and landscape installs. Be ready with flowering plants and attractive signage for garden centers. Popular Mother's Day sellers include:
- Hydrangea macrophylla
- Rhododendron and Azaleas
- Peonies
- Lilacs
6. Offer Seasonal Promotions
Drive sales with timely deals, such as:
- Early Order Discounts: Encourage garden centers to pre-book stock for April delivery.
- Bundle Deals: Offer mixed-flats of perennials or a variety of flowering shrubs at a package rate.
Loyalty Perks: Provide incentives for repeat buyers who order multiple times during the season.
7. Marketing Tips for the Season
Spring is your nursery’s time to shine. By focusing on the right plants, preparing for customer needs, and creating a proactive sales strategy, you’ll build strong momentum for the rest of the year.
- Weekly Availability Lists: Email updated inventory with highlighted bestsellers.
- Social Media Highlights: Show behind-the-scenes nursery prep, blooming plants, and customer projects.
- Educational Content: Share blog posts and care tips with your buyers to pass on to their clients.
