There's much to be done with your lawn so prepare early for a beautiful Spring. Though it may still be a cold Winter it's probably the best time to get prepared for a great Spring lawn.

So let's get started.

It's been said that the best defense is a great offense so if you're defending your lawn from weeds and especially crab grass, building a healthy lawn is the best defense.

1. Remove debris. Rake out old leaves and matted grass, trim back any tall grass or weeds.
2. Set boundaries. East coast soil is generally moist and pliable at first thaw so it's a good time to redefine boundaries.
3. The time for time-released. Winter fertilizers should be slow release with specially controlled, water insoluble, nitrogen.

Things NOT to do.

1. Watch the nitrogen. Erroneous sources recommend early doses of nitrogen fertilizer. We think it's better to wait until the third mowing. Early nitrogen can cause damage to fragile Winter-state grasses.
2. Hold the herbicides. Crab grass does not begin germinating until May so again, wait.
3. Not right for seeding. Early Fall is the right time to seed. If you can stand to wait, hold off until next season. If you must seed now, mid-April is an appropriate time.