Illinois Spring Planting Guide: What You Need to Know Now

It's officially spring and the grass is beginning to green in Illinois, but before you fire up the lawnmower or start digging in your flower beds, there are a few important things you need to know.

Spring Chores in Illinois

Did Illinois' recent 70-degree temps and sunshine have you chomping at the bit to start beautifying your yard for the warm months ahead? I was feeling the urge badly over the weekend, so I started painting my hallway just to keep me occupied and my hands out of the dirt.

I may be far from a green thumb, but I've lived in Illinois long enough to know that planting too early in the spring can lead to disaster. And I have some tragic tales to prove it.

When Is It Safe to Start Planting in Illinois?

Figuring out when to actually start prepping your yard for summer can feel like a total guessing game in Illinois, but the key to success revolves around one important thing: frost.

The Illinois Department of Agriculture says the sweet spot for planting comes six weeks after the last frost, which usually happens in mid to late April.

If you plant when your garden or flower bed soil is too wet or too cold, you run a high risk for failure.

So, what can we do in our yards right now when the weather is nice?

Yard Preparations to Do in the Spring

If you’re feeling ambitious (or just tired of staring at winter leftovers), you can start prepping your garden beds now. It's a great time to clear out debris, turn the soil, and start seeds indoors. You can also prune bushes and trees that don't bloom in early spring.

Now, what about our grass? Here's some great advice from WGN's "Plant Daddy":