Spring Green-Up: Getting the Timing Right

With Peoria's average last frost landing around April 20, mid-to-late April is when Central Illinois lawns really start waking up for the season — and it's also the most time-sensitive stretch of the whole year for getting fertilization and weed control right.

Crabgrass Preventer Has a Closing Window

Pre-emergent crabgrass control needs to be down before soil temperatures hit the mid-50s for several consecutive days, which typically happens in the Peoria area sometime in April. Once crabgrass has actually germinated, pre-emergent products stop being effective, and you're stuck fighting an established weed problem all summer instead of preventing it in the first place.

Early Fertilization Sets the Tone for the Season

A spring fertilizer application, timed alongside pre-emergent, gives grass the nutrients to green up strong and out-compete weeds for space and sunlight as it comes out of winter dormancy. Lawns that get a strong, even start in spring tend to handle summer stress better than lawns that green up thin and patchy.

Don't Rush Mowing Before the Lawn's Ready

It's tempting to get the mower out the first warm weekend, but mowing too early — before grass has actually resumed active growth — can stress turf that's still transitioning out of dormancy. Waiting until grass is consistently growing and needs it (usually a couple weeks after green-up starts) is better than an early first cut just because the weather was nice.

The Bottom Line

Spring is a narrow window where getting fertilization and crabgrass timing right pays off all season — and getting it wrong means playing catch-up through the summer.