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Spring is Still Six Weeks Away

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Last week was Groundhog’s Day and according to the news, Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow, so there are six more weeks of winter left. Whether or not you believe in the prognostication abilities of said rodent, winter for much of the U.S. has hardly materialized this year. It seems almost surreal that less than 14 inches of snow has fallen so far this winter in the Chicago area, especially considering that we had over 22 inches in just one day in early February of 2011. I speak with Spring-Green Franchisees throughout the U.S. on a regular basis. Many of the southern locations are well underway and they are completing early applications on home lawns and landscapes. Winter weed control  is the primary focus on the still dormant warm season grasses.

Lawn Care in Transition Zones

Those Franchisees that are in the Transition Zone are chomping at the bit to get started with the mild weather that they have been experiencing so far this year. For those who may not be familiar with the term “Transition Zone,” it is the dividing line between the warmer south and the cooler north. In regards to lawn care , it is the area where it is too cold for most warm season grasses to survive during the winter and where it is too hot for cool season grasses to survive during the summer. There is one grass, Turf-Type Tall Fescue , which can handle both extremes better than any other type of grass.  It is the predominate grass grown in the Transition Zone. For those Franchisees in the northern areas, it is too earlier to start fertilizing lawns  or doing much else in the way of outdoor garden work. Even though many home improvement stores are sending out advertisements with pictures of fertilizers, garden tools and even plants, there is still a distinct possibility that cold weather will return and snow will fall. In many states, it is against the law to apply fertilizer on frozen ground. The best thing to do is enjoy the mild weather, and be patient as spring will return in just six weeks – if you believe a groundhog.