As the days begin to get longer and the sky less dreary, your thoughts should be turning to your yard. The brief holiday from raking leaves and mowing grass is soon to end. In fact it is almost time to start waking up those plants.
Plants that flower in the summer or fall can be pruned during the winter months. Ornamental grasses such as Pampas, Monkey or Mondo grasses should be mowed or cut back in February or very early March, before growth begins. If these "grasses" have become too large or are spreading where you don't want them, you can also separate them by digging up sections of the plant and replanting them in a new location.
If you have Bermuda or Zoysia lawns, you can apply a pre-emerge weed control product for March spring weeds. However, putting "weed and feed" down in March is a waste of money since the plants are not very active and will not take up the nitrogen. There are several other commercial products available for Bermuda and Zoysia. Some pre-emerge products specify that your lawn must be fully dormant before application, so read the labels carefully before you make a purchase.
Fescue, for example, should have a pre-emerge treatment in the fall. Do not apply pre-emerge in the spring unless your fescue is in a shady location and typically survives the summer heat. If you have a significant wild onion and/or wild garlic problem in your Zoysia and Bermuda lawns, they can be controlled with the pesticide 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D). Onion and garlic should be actively growing and you may need to reapply the pesticide 2,4-D in 10 to 14 days. Spray only when the wind is calm and do not water for 24 hours.
Your soil should have been tested in the fall but if you have not done so, it is still a good time to take a sample to your County Extension Office. Soil pH should be between 6.0 and 6.5 for fescue and Bermuda. You are advised to begin the fertilization program for Bermuda in mid-April, and Fescue should not be fertilized in the spring unless it is in a shady location.