Knock Out Roses to Dogwoods: Our Top-Rated Top 4

We're halfway through spring! And in preparation for the rest of the season (and summer, which is fast approaching), we're taking a look at our top-rated top 4 - from Knock Out® Roses to the Dogwood and beyond.

We've talked extensively about Flowering Trees, including Flowering Cherries, and their beauty and many benefits. But our top-rated picks include a variety of customer favorites...not just limited to flowering selections. Check out our staples below!

1. Cold Hardy Avocado

Full of proven performers and easy-growing picks, our Fruit Tree selection is second to none. And of course, our Cold Hardy Avocado Tree is no exception. We've hand-picked the best, healthiest variety to send to your door - this tree has been grafted with rootstock combined from a hardy, disease-resistant tree and a mature tree and grown in our greenhouse with care.

Plus, our Cold Hardy Avocado Tree is one of the most versatile trees on the market. For a larger tree, plant it outdoors and watch it soar to heights of 15 to 20 feet. Or, for a shorter tree, plant in a container and you can limit growth to between 5 and 7 feet in height and place it indoors during cold weather. Basically, anybody can grow our Cold Hardy Avocado...no green thumb necessary.

2. Pink Dogwood

Dogwoods are generally associated with white blooms and iconic pops of red. But have you ever seen the Pink Dogwood? If not, it's a sight to behold: Pretty pink flowers start lighter in color, and then get slightly deeper as your tree ages...never giving you the same color twice.

Plus, the Dogwood is one of the first trees to bloom, sometimes right before the official start of spring. And you get month-to-month visual interest, with rich green foliage in the summer and a fiery red tone in autumn, marking the end of the summer season. Gray stems with bright red fruit and cinnamon-smattered bark usher in winter at year's end. It's no wonder why the Pink Dogwood is a visual star.

3. Royal Empress Tree

Famous for its quick, easy growth, the Royal Empress is the cream of the crop amongst your average neighborhood trees. But its simplicity and explosive growth rate underscore its amazing beauty...a silhouette with a dense canopy, sizable leaves and an almost tropical air. Even better? Its large impression drastically cuts your power bills, so it's the perfect summer selection, too.

And bigger leaves mean fewer branches, so you get sunlight and natural heat coming through in the winter to save on heating costs.

Best of all, our Royal Empress has no significant insect or disease problems, tolerates drought, and grows in almost any kind of soil, even clay. It's a sturdy favorite that's both long-lived and lush.

4. Double Knock Out® Roses

With one of the longest blooming periods available, from early summer to late fall, Double Knock Out® Roses give you all the amazing characteristics of the classic...just with more petals and even better disease resistance.

And not only is this cultivar more resistant to black spot, rust and mildew, but it's also more resistant to insects. So, it's virtually maintenance-free, especially since it grows thickly without pruning or shearing.

Plant them in rows - they reach approximately 4 feet in height, making a great hedge or boundary. Or, use them to add color to your home or a wonderful scent to your back patio. No matter where you place them, however, you'll have the timeless look of roses without the hassle.

But no matter which of our top-rated trees and plants you choose, you'll be well on your way to an amazing landscape. With our top 4 top-rated selections, your homescape is just a click away from best-on-the-block looks. Check out more of our favorites!