Your February checklist
Time your pre-emergent
Crabgrass germinates when soil temperatures reach about 55°F for several days — often late February to mid-March in central Oklahoma. Apply pre-emergent before that window, not after you see weeds.
Clean up leftover leaves
Any leaves still matted on the lawn should come up before green-up so they don't smother new growth.
Check irrigation before you need it
If your system was winterized, late February is a good time to schedule a spring start-up so leaks and broken heads are fixed before the first hot spell.
Prune at the right time
Late winter is the right time to prune many shrubs and summer-blooming plants, before new growth starts.
Pro tip
A cheap soil thermometer takes the guesswork out of pre-emergent timing — check it at 2 inches deep in the morning.