• Give your landscaping a face-lift.
• Draw out new planting beds and lay mulch and rocks as needed.
• Plant hardy perennial bushes and flowers that will withstand the seasonal changes yet provide room for the annuals that are planted in their seasons.
• Group large plant containers for a stylish, yet thrifty rehab.
• Consider using plants that span the seasons such as evergreens like spruce, boxwood and juniper or winter blooming plants such as witch hazel.
• Address any issues that have been brought on by seasonal weather such as flooding and muddy areas.
• Treat areas of the yard that need attention with fresh seed, fertilizer and weeding.
• Aerate and seed your compacted lawn areas. An early spread of rye seed will quickly green up your lawn as the more lasting grass takes roots.
• Consider stocking your lawn and garden areas with a fresh batch of worms. It's estimated each earthworm produces one-third pound of fertilizer in a year's time and aerates the soil in the process, encouraging better grass growth.
• Remember the beneficial critters in your yard can not thrive with chemical contaminates in their environment.
• Consider using all-natural products that amend the soil and work for an extended period of time. All-natural fertilizers are usually made from fish and seaweed emulsions, cow and poultry manure or blood meal. While these ingredients may not be suitable for the family dinner table they are better then their chemical cousins for your plants, not to mention the pets and children who come into contact with them. This is the pre-WWII approach to lawn care.
• Think deep. While the superficial fertilizing approach will produce a green lawn in the short-term, it delivers little long-term benefits to the soil.
• Clear out the clutter. Open up your yard for movement, entertaining and gracing the eye.
• Place foliage and trellises along narrow paths and entryways.
• Rehab those backyard eyesores with a wall of greenery and foliage to camouflage one side. This will help mask the heating/ac unit and that boat or trailer. Take into account the structural features of your home and yard such as windows, doorways and pathways.
• If your walkways are boring brighten them up with pavers, gravel and rock and floral boarders.
• If you have the space consider creating outdoor garden "rooms" utilizing lattice and shrubbery as "room dividers" then plant rapid-climbing annual vines like clematis, honeysuckle and wisteria.
• Weatherproof your decks, porches and fencing. If they need replacing consider composite and vinyl products which are strong and maintenance free. Many of the new products resist heat, peel, blister or rot and won't corrode.

Completing this checklist will surely provide you with beautiful lawns and gardens. Now, your challenge will be finding the time to enjoy the fruits of your labor!