April in Hubbard County is mud and meltwater, the Straight River running high and the lawns coming out from under the snow flattened and gray. Spade Outdoors starts right there — the first cleanup of the year, raking loose the matted grass, pulling winter's sticks and grit off the turf so green has room to come through. From then until October it is mowing and trimming on a steady rotation, edges kept sharp along drives and walks. The last pass of the fall takes the leaves off before the ground locks up again. Watching a yard turn from gray to green is what makes a northern spring worth the wait.