Clean Up: Rake up leaves, branches and other debris that can suffocate grass and plants.
Mow as Soon as Possible: As soon as the weather permits, set the mower one notch lower than normal and mow the lawn. Increased lighting triggers early green-up.
Fertilize: The sooner you fertilize, the better. Do not use a fertilizer with a high nitrogen content. A balanced fertilizer will be more useful to grass than plants and will help to reduce excessive top growth. Fertilizers that contain a small percentage of mineral iron will promote a darker green color to your lawn.