"4. KCnRichmond Jan 13, 7:06 pm
Crabgrass, wiregrasses and moss all love compacted soil (Sir toppam
hats
point) A good thorough plug aeration in the fall will help a great
deal.
Pelletized lime at about 1000 sq ft per 40 lb bag twice a year and
pelletized gypsum (when aerating) will loosen the root bed. "

And putting down all that lime without regard to the soil PH will
likely raise the PH above the desirable range. Test the soil and put
down the correct amount, only if it needs it.


"In PA, do you
use any sort of ice melt, because that in itself will compact the soil.
It
doesn't kill the grass itself, it just compacts and of course, that
does the
killing. Crabgrass germinates 3 times a year. February, around Mothers
Day,
and about Aug. 10th. (in zone 7 -- check your ext agency web site for
your
zone) "

Crabgrass most certainly does not germinate in Feb in PA. If that were
true, you'd have to be putting down
pre-emergent in Jan and I've never seen a lawn service or homeowner
doing that. Crabgrass germinates
when the soil temp is about 60, which doesn't occur until May in PA,
which means mid to late April is the correct time to apply
pre-emergent.