Iowans who have itchy green thumbs this spring may be wise to curb their enthusiasm for a week or two, according to one gardening expert. Horticulturist Deb Brown says some yard work activities need to wait a while yet. Since much of the state hasn’t had much rainfall, if the grass still feels soft and spongy under foot, then it would be smart to keep off of the grass and not rake. Brown says it’s okay to prune some plants, but not large trees because that can damage them. She says it’s easy to fight cabin fever by starting lawn care, but that may harm the lawn. If you fertilized your lawn last fall, Brown says you don’t need to do anything right now. Wait until the grass is growing well, or until you’ve mowed it once or twice. Brown says it may also harm the lawn to be raking or even just walking on it. She says that compacts the soil and makes it tough for grass to grow. She recommends waiting until April 15th before uncovering plants because another freeze is still possible.
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