When it comes to lawn watering, April is too early to go automatic.

Save plans to program your sprinkler system for later months, when the ground is less likely to retain wintertime moisture.

You can still dig in and start preparing for the planting season. Here’s how:

Start from the bottom up and aerate your lawn. If you can, aerate after a rain or snow shower to allow the extra moisture to help prepare soil for the process.

Then take a top-down approach by checking the height and width of your trees, shrubs and perennials. Prune any overgrowth you find — it makes excellent compost when shredded.

Denver Water’s summer watering rules, run May 1 to Oct. 1.