The local nursery is impatiently waiting for spring to really start

SIOUX FALLS, SD (Dakota News Now) – Friday is the eleventh day of spring, but Mother Nature hasn’t gotten the memo as another winter storm moves through Dakota News Now’s viewing area and the weather is affecting local nurseries as well as other green fingers.

Oakridge Nursery and Landscaping has been around for 44 years. Co-owner Damon Coughlin took over from his parents in 2016 and has seen many amazing fountains.

“It has been many years that we have had late snowfalls and late cold weather. This year is one of the snowiest and coldest years I have ever seen. We are a few weeks behind normal,” Coughlin said.

For many plants, it’s not recommended to put them in the ground until Mother’s Day, but Coughlin says the weather still affects foot traffic in the nursery.

“They can buy and label things, but they still don’t get it to plant. “If we get the snow and the weather we’re supposed to get tonight and tomorrow morning, that could slow people down a little bit if there’s a new layer of snow and it’s windy and cold for the rest of the week,” Coughlin said.

Some things that can be planted now are trees, shrubs, and bare root things, but it’s still a challenge.

“The cold doesn’t bother them, when you can go out and dig a hole in the ground,” Coughlin said.

Coughlin wants to remind people that even if the winter blues get to you, they won’t last forever.

“It’s all going to work out, in the end we just have to be patient and we’re going to wait for mother nature to cooperate so we can go out and do what we want to do,” Coughlin said.

If you really can’t wait for the snow to melt, there are ways you can fill your need for plants.

“If you want to get that feeling of spring and summer, go outside to the greenhouse. We are full of annuals, house plants and everything. If you want to have some green in that house, before we go out, get some house plants, succulents, cacti or something like that to bring it outside,” Coughlin said.

Now is a good time to do some research. Including if you have a landscaping project, what types of plants you want to use, or determining what types of trees are allowed if you’re hoping to add a tree to your boulevard.

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