Preemergent goes on when the forsythia bloom in your neighborhood. We're getting spring blooming in Texas right now, so this is a very local trigger.

Fertilizer goes on AFTER the initial flush of new growth in the spring. You can either watch it carefully yourself or you can simply wait until May (Memorial Day).

Watering: Deep and infrequent is the mantra for watering. This is for all turf grass all over the place. Deep means 1 inch all at one time. Put some cat food or tuna cans around the yard, and time how long it takes your sprinkler(s) to fill all the cans. Memorize that time. That will be the time you water from now on. My hose, sprinkler and water pressure takes 8 full hours to fill the cans. Your time will likely be less. I like gentle watering. As for watering frequency, that depends on the daytime air temperature. With temps in the 90s, deep water once per week. With temps in the 80s, deep water once every 2 weeks. With temps in the 70s, deep water once every 3 weeks. With temps below 70, deep water once a month. Note that you have to keep up with quickly changing temps in the spring and fall. This deep and infrequent schedule works in Phoenix and in Vermont, so it should work for you. The reason for deep and infrequent is to grow deeper, more drought resistant roots and to allow the soil to dry completely at the surface for several days before watering again. If it rains, reset your calendar to account for the rainfall.

Seeding: Avoid seeding in the spring if you can. Spring is the time when the summer annual weeds (crabgrass, etc.) are germinating. When you seed grass seed you are falling directly into Mother Nature's grand trick to get you to spread crabgrass. If you withhold watering as described above, you should have minimal summer weed issues.

Mowing: Mulch mow at the mower's highest setting for most NJ lawns. If you have a creeping bentgrass lawn, then mow at the mower's lowest setting.

Would the timing application change with regard to the combination granular crabgrass pre-emergent/fertilizer products?