If you’ve lived in South Dakota for more than one winter, you already know how this works. One day you’re chipping ice off your driveway in a parka, and the next you’re sweating in a hoodie, wondering if we somehow skipped spring altogether. Much like this year, we appear to have had only half a cup of coffee with spring this year!

With that sudden blast of warmth comes the annual tradition we all know as spring yard cleanup.

Now, let’s be honest, there’s yard cleanup, and then there’s the great Sioux Falls winter reveal. Because once the snow melts, who knows what you’ll find out there. We’re talking about a greatest hits collection of windblown treasures: rogue Hy-Vee bags, a neighbor’s missing garbage lid, three months’ worth of tumbleweeds, and at least one thing that makes you say, “How did THAT get here?” If you’re lucky, maybe you’ll even rediscover something you lost last fall…like that one glove, your kid’s soccer ball, or hey, maybe even those “Eagles” concert tickets.

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Once you’ve gathered up your yard’s winter treasures, the City of Sioux Falls has made it easy to get rid of them all. The Sioux Falls spring leaf and branch drop-off sites are officially open for the season, and yes, in case you're wondering, they’re still free.

As Dakota News Now reports, there are two convenient Sioux Falls yard waste drop-off locations: one on North Lyon Boulevard near the Sioux Empire Fairgrounds and another on Chambers Street by the Household Hazardous Waste Facility. Both sites are open Monday through Saturday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and Sundays from noon to 5:00 PM.

City officials say these sites aren’t just about convenience, they’re also about keeping Sioux Falls green. Leaves are composted, branches are turned into mulch, and all of it stays out of the landfill. It’s a win for your yard and the environment.

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Before you load up the trailer, remember a few key rules: tarp your load (yes, they will check), separate leaves from branches, and ditch the plastic bags. Also, these sites are for residential use only, so if you’re running a landscaping business, you’ll need to head to the landfill instead.

Enjoy this brief, blink-and-you ’ll-miss-it window of “spring cleanup” weather before Mother Nature flips the switch, giving us our annual 30 minutes of perfect pool weather, before sending us straight back to the deep freeze for another five months.

11 Things You’ll Only Understand After Living in South Dakota

From soda to pop to sloppy Joes, different parts of the country have their local quirks and language. Simple phrases can have totally different meanings, local events may seem weird, and food may go by a unique name.

If you're new to South Dakota, here is a sort of translation guide for some odd things you may see or hear.

Gallery Credit: Ben Kuhns

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