Oak Brook, IL – With the first day of spring arriving Friday, March 20, winter decided to make one last appearance earlier this week with a surprise snowfall. While it may not feel like spring just yet, the Oak Brook Park District is encouraging residents to look ahead because warmer days are on the way, and now is the perfect time to start planning for a thriving perennial home garden.
As temperatures begin to trend upward, the Park District has begun preparing parks, trails, and outdoor spaces for another active season in the community. Residents can start easing into spring by enjoying scenic walking and biking along trails as conditions improve, playing a round of disc golf, visiting playgrounds, or simply spending time in open green spaces perfect for picnics, games, and fresh air.
Spring is also a great time to plan and prepare your home garden. To help your perennials thrive, observe sunlight, shade, and drainage in your yard to choose plants that match your site conditions. Wait until temperatures are consistently warmer before clearing garden beds, which protects pollinators emerging from winter, and consider dividing existing perennials and mapping out new additions to expand your garden.
When early spring temperatures consistently stay above freezing, you can begin more active garden clean-up. Carefully remove leaves and winter debris, cut back dead growth from perennials and ornamental grasses to make room for new shoots, and add a light layer of fresh mulch to help retain moisture and suppress weeds, keeping it away from plant stems. This is also an ideal time to prune trees and shrubs before new growth begins, helping promote healthy structure and long-term plant success.
Oak Brook Park District staff are preparing community landscapes by clearing winter debris, pruning trees and shrubs, and maintaining perennial beds throughout local parks. These efforts help ensure vibrant, sustainable spaces for residents to enjoy all season long.
Throughout Oak Brook parks, visitors will find hardy, low-maintenance perennials such as Switchgrass, Purple Coneflower, Yarrow, Butterfly Weed, Black-eyed Susan, and Prairie Dropseed. These plants not only add color but also support pollinators, making them excellent choices for home gardens as well. "Proper plant selection is the most important step in creating a garden that thrives and provides multi-season interest. Resist the urge to fill your space with every beautiful plant you see at the nursery”, says Bob Sleva, Park Supervisor, Oak Brook Park District. “Focus instead on selecting 3 to 5 species that complement each other and are well-suited to the specific conditions of your garden site. By choosing the right plants for the right place, you will create a more sustainable, cohesive landscape that is easier to maintain and more successful over time."
Whether planning your garden at home or simply spending more time outdoors, the Oak Brook Park District invites the community to embrace the spring season and enjoy everything the parks have to offer.
For more information on parks, trails, programs, and seasonal activities, visit obparks.org.