Maintenance quietly replaces anticipation, and the landscape begins asking different questions than it did in spring.

This checklist is designed for May in the Northeast, where the garden may be ready, but the weather may not always cooperate.

Early spring is the time to address garden cleanup and minor lawn repair, before growth accelerates.

Heavy snow and blizzard conditions can cause snow damage to shrubs, boxwoods, arborvitae, and other evergreens, but knowing when to intervene can prevent long-term harm.

This is not a month for dramatic changes. It’s a month for structure, maintenance, and preparation. What you do now determines how smooth spring will feel.