Martha Stewart's Month-by-Month Spring Landscape Guide Seasonal Care Expert guidance from Martha, backed by SavATree’s science-based approach Timing is everything when it comes to caring for your trees, shrubs, and lawn. The transition from late winter into spring, and then into early summer, is when your landscape is most responsive to proactive care. Martha Stewart may be America’s foremost authority on beautiful living, and for nearly 45 years she’s trusted SavATree to help ensure her legendary properties meet her high standardsfor health and beauty. As a seasoned gardening expert, Martha’s philosophy is simple: start early, stay observant, and support your landscape before problems take hold. It’s the same philosophy SavATree has followed for those 45 years—combining expert diagnosis with environmentally responsible solutions to help landscapes thrive. Below, Martha shares how to care for your outdoor space this spring from March through May: what to do, when to do it, and why it matters. March: Start Strong with a Clean, Healthy Foundation March is about preparation. As your landscape begins to wake up, the steps you take now set the tone for the entire growing season. Martha always begins with a clean slate. Winter leaves behind fallen branches, compacted soil, and debris that can harbor disease or insect activity. Clearing these materials improves appearance and allows air, light, and nutrients to reach the soil more effectively. From there, she turns her attention to pruning. Removing dead, damaged, or crossing branches helps trees and shrubs direct energy toward healthy growth. It also reduces risk, as weak limbs are far more likely to fail during summer storms if left unaddressed. This aligns with best practices in proactive tree care, where early pruning supports structure and long-term health. Soil health is another priority this time of year. Martha recommends testing your soil to understand nutrient levels and pH balance. Healthy soil is the foundation of everything above it—trees, shrubs, and lawn all depend on it. Adding compost or organic matter now improves structure, supports beneficial microbes, and prepares your landscape for the demands of spring growth. Finally, March is the ideal time to get ahead of insect pressure. Horticultural oil applications can help manage overwintering insect populations, such as scale, aphids, and mites, by smothering eggs before they hatch. April: Build Momentum with Early Growth and Prevention By April, your landscape is actively growing, and your role shifts from preparation to support and monitoring. In the garden, Martha takes advantage of cooler temperatures to plant early-season vegetables like peas, lettuce, and spinach. These crops thrive in mild conditions, setting the stage for a productive growing season. Lawn care also begins in earnest this month. Applying a slow-release, organic-based fertilizer provides steady nutrition without overwhelming new growth. If your lawn has thin or bare areas, overseeding now allows grass to take root before summer heat arrives. April is also when vigilance becomes critical. As temperatures rise, insect activity increases. Martha regularly inspects her plants by looking for early signs of stress, discoloration, or feeding damage. Catching issues early allows for more targeted, less intrusive solutions. She also plans ahead for tick management. Rather than reacting once ticks are active, Martha schedules her first treatment in advance for May. This proactive mindset reflects the broader principle in plant health care that prevention is far more effective and efficient than reacting after a problem escalates. May: Strengthen, Protect, and Prepare for Summer Stress May is a pivotal month. Your landscape is growing, but it’s also becoming more vulnerable to heat, drought, pests, and storms. One of Martha’s go-to practices this time of year is mulching. A layer of organic mulch helps retain soil moisture, regulate temperature, and suppress weeds. It also improves soil health over time as it breaks down. Proper mulching is simple but powerful, and when done correctly, it supports nearly every aspect of plant health. With the risk of frost behind her, Martha shifts to planting annuals and perennials to add color, texture, and seasonal interest. Healthy planting practices, combined with strong soil and proper spacing, help ensure these plants thrive well into the summer months. Lawn care remains a focus, particularly in preventing disease. Spring conditions—especially periods of rain—can create an environment conducive to fungal issues. Enhancing soil health and maintaining balanced nutrition helps lawns resist these pressures and maintain consistent growth. Tree care becomes especially important in May as well. Martha prioritizes structural pruning to reduce the risk of storm damage. Removing weak branches now can prevent costly damage later. SavATree emphasizes this same proactive approach by addressing potential hazards early to protect your home, your landscape, and your investment. Why Timing Matters: A Smarter Approach to Seasonal Care What ties all of Martha’s recommendations together is timing. Each action, from pruning to fertilizing, aligns with how plants naturally grow and respond to their environment. At SavATree, this is the foundation of plant health care. Our preventative services are designed to strengthen your landscape before stress, insects, or disease take hold. Starting early in the season leads to stronger growth, better resilience, and fewer issues later on. Partnering with Experts for a Healthier Landscape While these seasonal tips can make a meaningful difference, every landscape is unique. Soil conditions, plant varieties, weather patterns, and past stress all play a role in how your property responds. That’s where expert guidance matters. SavATree’s ISA Certified Arborists® combine local knowledge with science-based solutions to create customized care plans for your trees, shrubs, and lawn. From early-season treatments to ongoing monitoring, our approach is designed to protect what you love and help it thrive. As our experts often say, the best landscapes don’t happen by chance; they’re cared for with intention. And with the right timing and the right expertise, you can set your landscape up for success all season long. Contact us today to schedule a consultation with an expert arborist.