Every February and March, we start getting calls from homeowners who are ready—really ready—to get outside and do something in their yards. We get it. After a Wisconsin winter, a warm weekend has a way of making you forget that there’s still frost in the ground.
The good news: you don’t have to wait as long as you might think. The trick is knowing which projects to tackle when—and how getting a jump on your material orders means you won’t be scrambling when everyone else in Racine County suddenly decides it’s time to mulch their beds on the same warm Saturday in April.
Here’s a practical, Wisconsin-specific guide to spring landscaping timing.
What “Spring” Actually Means in Southeast Wisconsin
In our part of the state—Union Grove, Burlington, Racine, Kenosha, and the surrounding area—spring doesn’t arrive on a calendar. It arrives when the ground thaws.
Our last average frost date is around May 10–15. But that doesn’t mean you can’t start landscaping until May. It just means you need to know which projects care about frost and which ones don’t.
If a project doesn’t involve tender plants or seeds, you can usually start it once the ground isn’t frozen solid—often as early as late March or early April in a normal year.
Month-by-Month: What to Do When
Your yard is still frozen, but this is the best time to plan and order materials. Delivery lead times get longer in March and April when everyone else is calling at once. Get your mulch order reserved now—you’ll thank yourself in April.
Once the snow is gone and the ground softens, you can rake out old mulch, cut back ornamental grasses, and remove last year’s perennial stalks. Edging your beds now—before mulch goes down—sets you up for a clean, sharp look all season.
This is typically when we start delivering mulch in volume. The ground is workable, spring rains are coming (which help settle mulch), and you’re ahead of the rush. Mulching early actually gives plants a head start—it warms soil faster and locks in early moisture.
Stone and gravel projects—pathways, decorative beds, patio base work—can start in earnest once the ground has fully thawed and dried out a bit. Wet, soft ground makes placement harder. A week of dry weather makes a big difference.
After May 15, you’re past the last frost window and safe to plant annuals, tender perennials, and vegetable starts. This is also peak flagstone and boulder season—weekend project weather, family in the yard, and your landscape at its most visible.
When to Mulch — and Why Earlier Is Better
A lot of homeowners wait until everything is “fully spring” before mulching—warm weekends in May, flowers already blooming, the whole nine yards. That’s fine, but you’re leaving some benefits on the table.
Why Mulching in Early April Wins
- Weed suppression from day one: Weeds start germinating as soon as the soil warms. Mulch down early means you’re blocking them before they get started.
- Soil warms faster: A 3-inch layer of dark mulch acts like a blanket—it absorbs heat and transfers it to the root zone, giving your perennials and shrubs a head start.
- Moisture retention before summer heat: Spring rains do a lot of work for your plants. Mulch keeps that moisture in the root zone instead of evaporating.
- You beat the rush: April deliveries have more flexibility than mid-May, when everyone wants delivery on the same two weekends.
Wait until the ground has dried out a bit after snowmelt before spreading mulch. Working wet, muddy beds just makes a mess and compacts your soil. A week of dry weather in late March or early April usually does it.
How Much to Put Down
If you’re refreshing existing beds, 1–2 inches is usually enough to restore color and fill thin spots. Starting from scratch? Aim for 3 inches—thick enough to suppress weeds, thin enough not to suffocate plant crowns.
Not sure how much to order? Use our volume calculator or give us a call with your bed dimensions. We do this every day.
Stone, Pathways & Hardscape Projects
Decorative stone, crushed granite pathways, flagstone patios, and boulder placements all have one thing in common: they don’t care about frost dates. They care about stable, workable ground.
| Project | When to Start | What to Watch For |
|---|---|---|
| Decorative stone beds | Early April | Ground should be workable and dry |
| Gravel pathways | Early–Mid April | Compact a stable base first; avoid frost heave |
| Flagstone patios | Mid April–May | Sand base needs firm, dry ground to set properly |
| Boulder placement | April onward | Ground needs to support equipment weight |
| Topsoil / bed prep | Late March–April | Till when soil is moist but not soggy |
One thing we see every spring: homeowners wait until mid-May for stone projects, then realize they can’t get delivery until June because everyone else had the same idea. The earlier you can plan and order, the more flexibility you have on scheduling.
Why Ordering Early Matters More Than You Think
We’re a family business that’s been doing this for over 25 years in SE Wisconsin. One pattern we see every single year: the homeowners who call in February and March get exactly what they want, when they want it. The homeowners who call in May when the weather suddenly turns beautiful are sometimes waiting a week or more for delivery.
Spring is our busiest season by far. Here’s what that means practically:
- Delivery windows fill up fast in April and May—sometimes we’re booked out a week or more on popular weekend delivery dates
- Certain mulch varieties sell out early—especially specialty options like Eastern White Cedar and Hemlock
- Popular stone varieties move fast—if you have a specific color or size in mind, don’t wait
- You can schedule delivery for exactly when you’re ready—order in March, tell us when you want it, we’ll plan accordingly
Call us in late February or March with your list. We’ll go over quantities, pricing, and schedule a delivery date that works for you. No pressure to commit on the spot—just get on our radar early and you’ll have a smoother spring.
Your Spring Landscaping Checklist
Here’s a simple sequence that works for most SE Wisconsin homeowners:
- Late winter (now): Sketch out what you want to do this spring. Which beds need fresh mulch? Any new stone or hardscape projects? Measure your beds so you’re ready to order.
- February–March: Call Erickson’s and set up your material order. Lock in your delivery date.
- Early spring (late March–April): Rake out old debris, cut back ornamental grasses, and edge your beds. This prep work is easier before mulch goes down.
- April delivery: Mulch goes in. One morning’s work transforms your whole yard.
- Mid April–May: Stone and hardscape projects. Now that mulch is down, you can see exactly what you’re working with for pathways and patios.
- After May 15: Plant your annuals and tender perennials into beds that are already mulched, edged, and looking sharp.
The best-looking yards on the block in June are almost always the ones where the homeowner was out there in April—not May. Early prep shows all summer long.
What We Have Ready for Spring
We stock up over winter so we’re ready to go as soon as the ground thaws. Here’s what we typically have fully stocked by early April:
- 12 varieties of mulch—from economy hardwood ($24/yard) to premium cedar and hemlock—all manufactured on-site from whole trees
- 65+ varieties of decorative stone—the area’s largest selection, including hard-to-find options like lava rock and white marble
- The area’s largest selection of granite boulders and flagstone for patios, water features, and garden accents
- Sand, gravel, and soils for bed prep, leveling, and pathway bases
Stop by our display yard in Union Grove and see everything in person. Photos don’t do the stone justice—colors and textures look different once you’re standing next to them. We’re open Monday through Friday 8am–5pm and Saturday 8am–3pm.
Ready to Plan Your Spring Projects?
Give us a call now and get ahead of the rush. We’ll help you figure out quantities, pick the right products, and set up delivery for when you’re ready.