Like a receding glacier, Winter withered and melted, leaving behind a scarred and battered landscape.  Its tenuous grasp was loosening, and its legacy becoming more apparent, but March would surely deliver us unto Spring, eventually…

Spring officially arrives March 20th, and Winter will be nothing more than a distant, contemptuous memory. Within less than two weeks, Spring will be knocking on our proverbial doors, which ultimately means it’s time to get busy in our yards and gardens. First and foremost, Spring Clean Ups:

Spring Clean Ups position our yards and gardens to exploit the best of Spring’s warmer temperatures and rain fall. Essentially, a clean up allows us to put our best foot forward by:

Raking and cleaning out accumulated leaves and debris.
Pulling dead annuals and cutting back dead perennial stalks and ornamental grasses.
Pruning any dead, diseased, weak or crossing branches, except for Spring-blooming plants, like Forsythia & Lilac. They should not be pruned until after they’ve bloomed.
Edging or re-edging bed edges and tree rings.
Adding mulch to beds and tree rings.
Assessing and addressing lawn issues, like salt damage, snow mold, etc.

The weather will, undoubtedly, swing from one extreme to the other, but make no mistake, Spring is just a stone’s throw away. Reach out to Sweeney’s, and schedule your Spring Clean Up today! It’s one of the most important first steps you and your landscape can make. We proudly serve the communities of Villa Park, Elmhurst, Oakbrook, Oakbrook Terrace, Glen Ellyn, Lombard, Wood Dale, Itasca, and more!

Sweeney’s:  A Plant Based Company

Plant of the Week

 

Storm Cloud Blue Star Amsonia

Native perennial with dark stems emerge in Spring, followed by masses of periwinkle-blue, star-shaped flowers that bloom May – July.  Prefers sun to partial sun, and moist, well-drained soil.  Grows 24-36″ tall and 36-48″ wide.  Drought tolerant.  Deer resistant.  Attracts butterflies.

“March, when days are getting long,

Let thy growing hours be strong

To set right some wintry wrong.”

-Caroline May

Best wishes,

Kim Sweeney