You will want to utilize a great all purpose soil conditioning product that's great for lawns, gardens and ornamental plantings. It's really amazing all the many benefits it provides.

• Humate is a natural product and has no chemical additives.
• Humate is an organic compost containing a high concentration of humic acid which is recycled back into the soil.
• Humate holds nutrients in a usable form and releases them to the growing plant as needed. It stretches out the food availability between feedings.
• Humate helps aerate the soil. It assists in preventing formation of large lumps and stratification of the soil.
• Humate activates the decomposition of new compost and grass clippings.
• Humate increases the water-holding capacity of soils. Soil containing humate resists drought more effectively and produces better yields where rainfall or irrigation may otherwise be insufficient.
• Humate improves the workability of the soil. Heavy clay soils can be worked into satisfactory seed beds and marginal soils into profitable soils. Soils are more crumbly.
• Humate reduces soil erosion by increasing the cohesive forces of very fine soil particle and promotes desirable drainage and water intake.

BENEFITS OF HUMATES ON YOUR LAWN:

• Promotes decomposition of grass clippings and thatch, turning them into valuable soil nutrients
• Improves soil structure (clay soils will become crumblier, sandy soils show improved moisture retention)
• Increases availability of soil nutrients, improving plant nutrition
• Enhances seed germination, emergence, and survival
• Improves root development
• Improves plant vigor and appearance (visual quality)
• Little or no increased frequency of mowing
• Makes your plants less susceptible to stress

In addition to humates, Soil Activator contains 17 other trace elements for the health of your lawn and garden. It is a 'must' product for anyone with a mulching blade mower. Use Natural Guard Soil Activator twice a year, once with the first spring feeding and again in the fall - at a rate of 20 lb. per 2,000 sq. ft. 

20 lb. bag - $14.99      40 lb. bag -  $25.99   

• Finish up pruning of trees, summer blooming shrubs, and fruit trees.  Don't prune spring blooming shrubs until after they bloom.

• It is too early to prune roses bushes.  The best rule of thumb on roses is to prune them when the forsythia bushes are in bloom and it's best to leave the compost on roses until you prune.  This will help keep them dormant as long as possible.  

• Gradually remove your compost cover from perennials. Cut back any perennials you didn't get cut back in the fall.  It is best to cut them back before they produce new growth, so as not to injure the new growth.   

• Cut back perennial grasses.  Cut as close to the ground as you can.

• Apply fertilizer to perennials, trees, evergreens and shrubs.

• Plant pansies and violas for early spring color. (Weather permitting)    

• Apply pre-emergent herbicides before weeds start to grow for season long control of weeds.

• Apply Ferti-lome Pro Green to get your lawn off to a great start.  Mow short so the sun can warm up the soil and get your grass growing.