While I think that the "FAQ" as outlined by swanoir was presented tongue in cheek ('the humus'), many of the subsequent comments and/or links to threads that could/should be included in a FAQ were presented in a more serious tone. And maybe they do make sense as a foundation to a real LD forum FAQ. But I've also sensed something else in these comments that may contribute to the apparent lack of communication between new posters seeking advice and those that regularly frequent this forum and offer it. And that is that the long checklist provided by Miss R must be (or should be) answered in detail before posting. Well, of course not! But it is definitely something worth reviewing and giving some thought to. This checklist, or something very similar, is what most designers utilize when first meeting with a prospective client. It gives them a feeling for what the client wants to do with the property, how they intend to use it, what they hope to get out of it and how much effort (time/$$) are they are intending to put into it. Hopefully, reviewing an outline or checklist such as this could help to refine and focus some of those blank slate questions and even educate those new posters totally unfamiliar with the process the degree of complexity, the number of variables and exactly what is involved in the formulation of a landscape design. Even DIY landscape texts intended for the homeowner with no previous design or landscaping experience offer similar checklists to get one started thinking about the process. Obviously, this is overkill for those questions that are more issue-specific, but I think very appropriate for those that are much broader and far less focused.

The jump point is usually May first, across the majority of the United States (including MA). While fertilization earlier than that using organics isn't going to cause a problem, there's no real reason to. The lawn doesn't need it if you winterized. If you didn't winterize, a weak fertilization when growth resumes might not be a bad idea. Half rate on Milorganite or around 7 to 8 pounds of soybean meal per thousand will do it fine. Then feed normally May 1-May 20th. But it also wouldn't be an error to just wait for May. The grass will manage. Time between fertilizations...variable. Post May, I won't feed until August again. The grass doesn't need summer fertilization. Although again, done organically, it's not a problem. It's just not strictly necessary. Fall is the season to hit it hard. I feed monthly August to October, which starts to release three weeks post feeding. After that, winterize when it's time and call it a year. Southern grasses will differ as their growth tendencies differ. Northern lawns are more cyclic. Feeding like that means you never run out of nitrogen and rarely, if ever, see signs that the lawn can use a feeding (if you do, it happens in late April when you're already thinking about it anyway).

Up, up and not away!

Dear Tamara, It was false pride displayed and false slight was felt - it just gives some bad information in it (the use of sand), which strikes me as strange as having that information 10 years back, when we Aloe aficionados knew even then of its deleterious effects as a recommended ingredient for a generic Aloe soil mix, one that had to be simple to acquire the parts for and make. Whether you know that I wrote most of it, or don't, is of little matter. I'm happy to update it, but it's got some information wrong that would likely be deleterious to Aloe growing. I approve the adds of the bells and whistles (you got to put the butts in the seats), but the sand suggestion leads me to believe that we Aloe were folk not involved. I could, of course, not be remembering correctly and have written the blasphemous words myself. I of course, as contributor to the first Aloe FAQ, feel a nurturing sense to correct and polish our current version so that it's unequivocal, as written and used, that even an Aloe at the precipice of death can likely be brought back, provided you use a sandless recipe that the community is happy to provide IVillage again, in an effort to make the Aloe FAQ is usable to one and all, particularly those with Aloe vera (the real one, but mainly the non-real ones).