As I looked outside this morning and saw another 3 inches of snow fallen on my lawn here in Northern Indiana, I wondered, “Is this every going to end?”

Of course, the answer is “yes” and believe it or not, it will be very soon. Before you know it, daylight savings time will kick in and the snow will melt, leaving your lawn to awake from winter slumber. As grass plants start to stir, so do the dandelions, crab grass and other pests; threatening your investment.

That means you need to start making plans now, before these problems take hold and cause damage to your lawn and landscape. Here’s what I am doing, and recommend you do as well.

Lawn Fertilizing Treatments

Mowing your lawn is one thing, but what do you do to feed and protect it? Now is the time to make a plan and stick to it. Hiring a lawn care company like TruGreen is the first option many folks consider and they are on the right track. A lawn pro can tailor a program based on where your lawn is currently, and where you want it to be by summer. In addition, having trained professionals monitor the progress means you don’t have to. If you are thinking of using a service this year, sign up now and take advantage of pre-season specials.

If you plan to treat the turf yourself, then a trip to the local big box store is in order. You will notice they are already putting out the bags of fertilizer, fungus control and insect control and marking them on sale. It’s a good idea to buy your products early so you can apply them in time to prevent most issues.

Tree and Shrub Services

In addition to lawn care fertilization, you may want to take a look at your landscape trees and shrubs. Snow packed on top of them for months at a time means they will be under stress. A good pruning in the very early spring is a good idea anyway.

You may also hire a green industry pro who offers landscaping services like insect and disease control, as well as root zone fertilization specifically designed for ornamentals. You’d be surprised how vigorous your landscape will look with proper treatment.

To sum it up, now is the time to put together your plans for both your lawn, and landscape so that when summer hits, you’ll be enjoying them, instead of working to rehabilitate them!