Spring is officially here, and if that has you longing for blooming flowers or itching to get into the garden, plant experts--including Sharon Yiesla, who is a Plant Knowledge Specialist at the Morton Arboretum--say not so fast.
"I just want encourage people to be really patient. It's really kind of too early to do a lot of things other than maybe a little cleanup," says Yiesla.
She also says despite recent swings in temperatures, don't expect to see anything too out of the norm.
"Most of the things that are coming out of the ground or starting to flower now are plants that normally would come out early. Those are plants that are better able to tolerate cold temperatures after warm temperatures. Things like snow drops. People may see their witch hazel shrub blooming," explains Yiesla.
As for peak spring blooms, they usually occur mid April to May. Yiesla says that's also when people can start planting trees, shrubs or perennials, but she cautions only if the soil is ready.
"If the soil is too wet, you can do damage to it because walking on wet soil or digging in wet soil can lead to compaction. That makes it harder for plants to grow so we really want some of this moisture to drain away," says Yiesla.
Yiesla also says people should wait to plant annuals until frost is completely done