Q: You recommend that, in Atlanta, gardeners should apply pre-emergent on March 1 to prevent crabgrass. What date you recommend in Americus?

A: It all depends on soil warmth. Cranbgrass germinates when soil temperatures are 50 degrees and rising. In south Georgia this usually happens around Feb 15. However, last year was warmer and Feb 1 would have been better a better date. Here’s an idea: let your flowering plants tell you when to apply pre-emergent. Get the job done after forsythia and azaleas begin to bloom but before dogwoods bloom in your area.