Trim Evergreen Trees
If they need shaping, give juniper and pine trees a light trim now, after they’ve established their new spring growth.
Know Your Storm Plan
Confirm the location of your gas and water shutoff valves and learn how to turn off the electricity, in case of severe summer weather.
Clean Bathroom Fans
Give yours a refresher by removing the cover and wiping it and the blades with a damp cloth. Be sure to disconnect the power at the circuit breaker first.
Test Garage Doors
To keep kids safe, check the auto-reverse feature by placing a block of wood in each door’s path; if it doesn’t bounce back after hitting the wood, call a pro.
Weed Smarter
Hand-pulling is easier after a summer rain, thanks to softened soil. For dry weeding, use a hoe to cut just below the soil line.
Tackle Sidewalk Mildew
Concrete looking grimy? Spray with outdoor mildew remover before scrubbing away. Hose the area generously before and after to prevent damage to surrounding plants.
Fill in the Garden
Bare spots in your beds? Add groupings of container plants to fill them out. Since potted plants dry out faster than those in the ground, add water-retaining crystals to the potting mix to keep the soil moist.
Turn off the Sprinklers
Avoid a soggy lawn by tapering off watering two to three days before hosting a cookout.
Refresh Mulch
Adding a new layer will brighten up garden beds. If you’ve already got a good 1 to 2 inches down, give it a stir to revive the color.
Add Some Light
Use solar lamps or lanterns to illuminate walkways or steps so that guests unfamiliar with the terrain can find their footing.
Edge Garden Beds
Use a half-moon edger to create crisp, clean lines around beds and borders.