KATHY’S HOME & GARDEN TIPS – SPRING IS HERE!
It's time to get outside and get the
lawn and garden ready for the summer season!
First let's tackle the lawn. If you want to make a really big difference in your lawn you can power rake. This is probably the most important thing you can do for your lawn in the spring. If you don't want to rent a rake you can do it by hand and get a great workout. Rake with hard, short strokes digging the dead thatch. Don't worry about the grass, its strong enough to withstand the raking. Clearing out the dead thatch allows for the grass to thicken up and grow beautifully.
After raking, it's good to fertilize. Use a fertilizer that contains a pre-emergent herbicide. This will prevent crabgrass and other weeds from getting a foothold in your lawn. Be aware that when you use a pre-emergent it will not let anything else grow. The time to seed the lawn will be around May.
Around Chicago our soil is mainly clay. The lawn soil will greatly benefit from the addition of sand and top soil. Mix the sand and top soil 1/1. Spread over the lawn and smooth in with the back of a rake.
Stand back, wait for rain and watch the grass take off! You'll be mowing before you know it!
KATHLEEN WEAVER-ZECH & DEAN'S TEAM CHICAGO
