This unusually warm winter could actually end up damaging our lawns and gardens. No snow is actually not good for the health of them.
"Especially if we get these warmer growth periods followed by a sudden, hard freeze," says John Trappy who is a lawn expert at the University of Minnesota.
As far as wanting to do yard work with the warmer than normal temps? You may be tempted to get out and rake your lawn, but it's not a good idea.
"You can actually do more harm than good if you get out there and do too much," Trappy explains. "Whether it be pruning, or raking leaves, being too aggressive for plants that aren't fully able to outgrow any kind of stress that they're experiencing."
Trappy says there's still some concern that the lack of insulating snow could end up hurting plants, but unfortunately they won't know the full extent of damage until later in the spring.
"You know, until we start getting soil temperatures that are around the mid-forties or so, really things aren't going to start growing," Trappy told WCCO Radio. "So you just gotta try to stay patient."
There's one more outdoor issue the weather has caused. Ticks are emerging much earlier than normal.
They have already been reported around the state despite it being just early-February, normally dead in the middle of winter.
Alex Carlson with the Metropolitan Mosquito Control District reveals the culprit.
"We had a pretty mild winter, so fewer ticks may have died off during the winter," Carlson says.
This could be cause for concern, especially with temperatures in the 50's most of the week.
"Deer Ticks do tend to emerge on warm winter days, anytime the temperature is above freezing they tend to come back out," he says. "So we're expecting to see them pretty widespread this week."
And if you do find a tick on your body?
"The Department of Health recommends using a tweezer and grabbing it as close to the head of the tick as possible," Carlson explains. "And then pulling it out from the head. Then putting it in rubbing alcohol or flushing it down the toilet."
So if you're going to be in a wooded area or one with tall grass, dress accordingly.
Unlike mosquitos, ticks are not affected by drought which means despite being overly dry across the state, ticks are still plentiful.