Your patience paid off. Let’s get planting!

You did it! All those milk jugs and months of patience are about to pay off. If your seedlings have two sets of leaves, you can keep reading to learn how to transplant to larger pots or into your garden, if the threat of frost has passed. In the Fox Valley, this is usually around May 1 – 10. If the seedlings aren’t quite there yet or frost is still possible, keep them in their milk-jug greenhouse, but remember to open them up on warm (55+ degrees) spring days and close them if we’re expecting cold temps.

For those with two sets of leaves, it’s transplanting time. These native seedlings are ready to stretch their roots, find their place in the soil, and start thriving in the great outdoors.

Why native plants matter for clean water

Planting native isn’t just good for your garden. It’s good for our water, too. Native plants help keep soil in place, soak up rainwater, and filter out pollutants before they reach our lakes and rivers. Every transplant is a small act of care for clean water and healthy communities.

Want to keep the momentum going? Come get your hands dirty at one of our upcoming shoreline volunteer days. And if you’re curious about how winter sowing works, you can check out our starter guide here.

Ready to sign up and dig in? Details for our shoreline volunteer opportunities are just a click away: 2026 Shoreline Volunteer Days