• Feed birds throughout winter months
• Remove leaves from lawn before snow
• Pot hyacinth, amaryllis and paperwhite narcissus for indoor bloom
• Never fertilize from Nov. 15 to Mar. 1 – this is actually a Maryland law for homeowners – see more details of the Maryland Fertilizer law at http://mda.maryland.gov/pages/fertilizer.aspx
  • Fertilizer may not be used to de-ice walkways and driveways.
  • It is against the law to apply fertilizer to sidewalks, driveways or other impervious surfaces. Any product that lands on these surfaces must be swept back onto the grass or cleaned up.
  • Do not apply fertilizer within 10 to 15 feet of waterways.
  • Do not fertilize lawns if heavy rain is predicted or the ground is frozen.
  • Observe fertilizer blackout dates: No lawn fertilizer applications between November 15 and March 1. Lawn care professionals have until December 1.
  • Enhanced efficiency controlled release products may be applied at no more than 2.5 pounds per year, with a maximum monthly release rate of 0.7 pound of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet.

Source: University of Maryland Home and Garden Information Center http://extension.umd.edu/hgic