If you’re already thinking spring, you’re not alone! Montano’s starts getting calls in February from families looking to get a jump on their spring landscaping projects; not only are these clients able to book some of our first spring project slots, they also have the benefit of time to properly prepare. Let’s talk about some of the things you can be thinking about and doing now as you consider spring cleanup in your yard and plan for your landscape project in the western suburbs.

We’ve all heard the adage “you don’t get a second change at a first impression,” and it rings especially true when you’re a business owner with a brick & mortar location. What’s different today than a decade or two ago is that the first impression isn’t just for your consumers – it’s for your potential team members, as well.  

Alright, we’ll hop on the Christmas in July trend, landscaping style. When it comes to choosing plants that beautify your gardens in the Chicagoland area, most of us think about spring, summer, and fall. After all, who is worried about landscaping when we’re dealing with snow and ice? But if the curb appeal of your home is important to you year-round, there are plants and shrubs you can choose that remain lovely even when the snow flies. Here are some of our favorites.

One of the most common questions we are asked as local landscape designers is how to choose plants, trees, and shrubs that are able to withstand the extreme weather we’re accustomed to in the Midwest. Here’s the inside scoop, directly from Carlos Montano, the second-generation owner of Montano’s Landscaping.