This column was written by Marsha Overton, Coles County Master Gardener.

Today is kind of a special day for me and my Hubby. We were married 44 years ago today. It is really hard to believe that much time has passed. (Just for the record–it snowed like a blizzard the day before.) It just so happened this date was Palm Sunday. Of course this years' date is the day before Easter.

Did you ever wonder how come Easter falls on a different day each year? Well I looked it up and the explanation for it goes like this. In Western Christianity, Easter Sunday can fall between March 22^nd and April 25^th. Easter is always the 1^st Sunday after the 1^st full moon after the Spring Equinox (which is March 20.) This dating is based on the lunar calendar that Hebrew people used to identify Passover, which is why it moves around on our Roman calendar. Based on this fact, Easter can usually be one day earlier (March 22) but that is pretty rare.

This year is the earliest Easter any of us will ever see the rest of our lives. And only the most elderly of our population have ever seen it this early (95 years ago or above.) The next time Easter is this early (March 23^rd) will be 2228 (220 years from now.) The last time it was this early was 1913. The next time it will be a day earlier, March 22, will be the year 2285 (277 years from now). So now–you know why this Easter date is even more important than usual.

O.K. lets' get on with this weather. I know a lot of you are very anxious to start getting lawns ready for spring. Did you know spring is not the best time to fertilize the lawns; this is the case according to David Robson, extension educator, horticulture with the Springfield Extension Center. Unfortunately, advertising and chemical combinations in the spring makes it hard to resist the temptation to apply some form of plant food. The primary purpose of spring lawn care is to produce a lawn tough enough to survive the summer.

Normally around the first of May, when the temperatures are around 65-70 you should start to fertilize the lawn with a pound of actual nitrogen fertilizer (per 1000 square feet of turf); again around the middle of May. Check the fertilizer package for proper application information. Your late fall fertilizer applications should provide enough fertilizer to stimulate the grass in the spring. The ideal lawn care period starts Sept.1, when temperatures are on a slow decline.

Grass shoots start developing when temperatures range between 60 and 75 degrees. Grass roots are the first to start thriving when spring temperatures warm. New and deeper roots are formed, creating a network of interlocking roots. The deeper the roots, the more likely the grass plant will be able to survive hot, dry summer conditions. In fact, spring lawn care should be aimed at developing deeper and more extensive root systems, rather than shoot growth.

Unfortunately, nitrogen fertilizer promotes shoot growth at the expense of the root system. Even with cool soil temperatures, the grass plant shifts growth to the shoots to use the nitrogen applied. The root system stays undeveloped. Homeowners have been conditioned to expect a thick, green lush lawn in the spring as soon as temperatures warm. Part of the problem can be traced back to crabgrass killer combinations. Most crabgrass pre-emergence weed killers contain fertilizer to aid the greening of the lawn. The best bet is to search for a crabgrass or pre-emergence weed killer that doesn't contain fertilizer. They may be more difficult to find, but are available. Your lawn care service should also be contacted to limit early spring nitrogen.

GARDEN QUESTIONS FOR CENTRAL ILLINOIS

Q) I have been very successful in forcing some hyacinths to bloom indoor this year. Now what do I do with bulbs after they quit blooming? A) Usually they have "spent" so much energy blooming that they probably are not going to be very showy with blooms in the future. You can go ahead and plant them outdoors if you want to but for next year I would suggest you purchase new bulbs.

Q) I see some of the garden center have bulbs available now. Would it be O.K. if I go ahead and plant them now, if not why? A) This is kind of a two-part answer. First, yes you can plant bulbs in spring after the ground thaws. But, you will not get any flowers until next spring. In some instances the bulbs do not develop a good root system therefore they can fail to produce beautiful flowers. Spring-flowering bulbs must be planted in fall or early winter because they require a long cool dormant period. Cool temperatures spark the process that causes bulbs to flower. It's important to plant bulbs before the ground freezes so they develop strong roots.

Q) I have some ornamental grasses that are too big, so I need to move them. When is the best time to do this, and should I divide them before I replant them? A) Spring is the best time to transplant ornamental grasses. If these clumps are thin in the middle and new growth occurs mostly around the edges, you should divide them. After you dig the clump, use a sharp shovel or spade to cut the grass into sections; an ax comes in handy for cutting through huge woody specimens. Trim off the top growth and remove the dead stems, then set the divided clump into the ground so the crowns are even with the soil surface. Water, and keep the soil evenly moist until the plants recover.

Q) I am a new gardener and planted a couple of rose bushes last year. I never got around to cutting them back last fall–should I go ahead and cut them back now or do nothing? A) Some people like to cut their roses back in the fall. Although that will work, spring is better because you can concentrate on removing only the dead portion of the stem. It's easy to tell the difference on rose canes: Brown is dead and green is alive. Snip about an inch below the point where the stem changes color.

Master Gardeners at Annual Lawn and Garden Show

The University of Illinois Extension Master Gardeners of Coles County will be participating at the annual Lawn & Garden Show at the Cross County Mall next weekend. At 10:30 am on Saturday, the 29th, they will talk about "Management of Nuisance Wildlife Around Your Home." If the rabbits or squirrels did damage to your flower beds or containers last year, learn now what you can do to avoid that this spring. Do the deer or raccoons seem to enjoy your vegetables before you get a chance? Learn about some fencing techniques, plant combinations and other techniques that will deter the wildlife. There will be time for questions and answers following the presentation. Come a few minutes early to find the location.