No, I used Scott's Winterizer. Greenup is slow this year, but I expected that on a first year lawn, and the weather here hasn't been cooperating very well.

With where you are and your earlier photo, I'm impressed enough that I'm giving it a try this year. Warranted, second year greenup will be a bit earlier and faster as well.

My home lawn has been organic for 7 years now and Im always the first to green up regardless of which fert I've used and I've used a lot. Restore, Cock-a-doodle-do, Milorganite, Scotts, and SBM.

I'd say mulching those leaves into the soil is probably helping at least as much as the winter fert. When the soil warms and the little beasties can start processing that organic matter you're going to get a nice green up.

decklap, great to hear. My uncle is the first to green up on his block, using only cockadoodledoo.

what is suppose to be so special about scotts winterizer?

Nothing other than an insanely high percentage of nitrogen. I'd suspect any number of other products work about the same

Fertilizer is only one factor in spring greenup. I think more importantly is what types of grass you have. For example, Midnight-type KBG's are known for very long winter dormancy and late spring greenup. Other cultivars are known for much better winter color retention and performance. I don't expect to see my lawn (Midnight and Compact-type cultivars) "waking up" until late april, no matter what winterizer was put down. My lawn is one of the last to greenup but I've learned to accept this.

it's only percentage. It just means you can cover more area with less bulk. It also matters what is it in the product. If I recall, Scotts organic contain feather meal, blood meal, meat meal to name a few and feather meal and blood meal contain the highest percentage of protein by weight. Feather meal breaks down very slowly. Blood meal works extremely fast. No idea on meat meal since there doesn't seem to be much info about it as fertilizer.

well that actually sounds like a decent product. something to react quickly, like the chemicals, and at the same time getting some long term action, like grains.

Another factor in spring green up is moisture. Did you water more or less than the neighbors over the past few weeks? It could be the organic fert resulted in a better water holding capacity?????

I don't water yet. I don't start until it gets much warmer. It is still cold here. I am about as far north as you can get in New Jersey.

I don't think I've every needed to water in the spring. Mother Nature does all the work. It takes a good while just to even dry out from winter thaws.

Me either shmosh! Springs in Michigan are usually VERY wet! LOL!!

Interesting info. on Scotts Winterizer, never heard of it.

Thanks for the info.