The ground under Cortland is the deep black loam that made DeKalb County farm country, and it grows grass with the same enthusiasm it grows corn. The Best Gardens Landscaping Inc. spends the green half of the year keeping pace with it — mowing, edging, trimming, and clearing the cleanups that bookend the season in April and October. When the soil finally locks up, the equipment changes and the work becomes plowing, shoveling and salting, drives and walks opened while the sky is still dark. Spring out here does not ease in so much as break loose all at once, and being ready for that first warm week is half the job. The other half is showing up in February with a plow.