This guide is for homeowners around Lake Winnipesaukee, Gilford and Laconia, and the wider Greater Lakes Region who want May to feel organized instead of reactive. Belknap Landscape delivers property maintenance, landscape construction, and design and permitting when projects outgrow weekend tools. Read it once with a calendar open, then walk your property with photos instead of memory.
Step one: mow height and stripe honesty
Cool season turf around Belknap County rewards consistent height more than aggressive scalping. If stripes from last week still look ragged, the issue is often uneven deck settings or soft soil from late rain, not fertilizer alone. Note worn turn marks near driveways and mailbox pads where plows compressed soil. If those zones need grading or reseed timing, flag them before you book color elsewhere. Pair this step with our first mow timing article if April got away from you.
Step two: mulch depth without volcano collars
Pull mulch back from trunks and stems until root flare reads clean in daylight. Depth should support moisture, not bury cambium on maples and ornamental cherries that line many lake roads. If beds sit against stone that sheds toward the lawn, refresh edges before irrigation starts so water paths stay predictable. When beds touch shoreline rules, loop in design and permitting before you change grade visibly toward the water.
Step three: irrigation and hand watering handoff
If you rely on hoses today but plan to add or expand zones later, photograph spigot locations and any pressure quirks you noticed last summer. May is early enough to align pipe routes with landscape construction crews before patios and walls lock in trench paths. If you already own in ground systems, confirm heads clear new growth on tree and plant health visits so spray arcs do not batter bark all season.
Step four: hardscape movement after thaw
Walk steps, landings, and low walls with a slow eye for new gaps. Freeze cycles in March often finish settling in April warmth. If a tread rocks, capture video while weight shifts so estimators see the failure mode. Tie loose joints to drainage observations from dock path drainage if your lot carries water toward stone work.
Step five: pest and plant pressure at bed edges
Deer browse, rabbit chew, and winter desiccation on evergreens show clearly before new growth hides scars. Mark plants that need selective pruning versus full replacement. Our tree and plant health team prefers decisions backed by dated photos instead of guesses after leaves fill in.
Step six: what belongs in maintenance visits now
Weekly or biweekly property maintenance in May should cover edging, selective pruning, bed cleanup, and early weed passes before seed heads mature. Send crews a short list of event dates so louder tasks do not land the same week as guests. If you need a single deep reset instead of season long rhythm, say that up front so scheduling matches reality.
Step seven: when to escalate to construction
Regrading, wall rebuilds, new walks, and drainage that crosses property lines belong in scoped construction work. Bring HOA letters, surveys, and neighbor emails when they exist so we do not duplicate paid advice you already purchased. If shoreline stabilization is in play, lead with photos taken at normal water level, not only at extreme low drawdown.
Step eight: photo pack before you call
Send wide shots from each corner, close shots of failing joints, and one image that shows how water moves after a heavy rain. Add your town, shoreline or inland context, and the first weekend you care about for curb appeal. That packet keeps phone calls short and site visits focused.
Bottom line
May rewards homeowners who treat maintenance as a sequence, not a shopping list. Use the steps above, cross check older articles on frost and dock paths if your lot is waterfront, then contact us with photos when you want Belknap crews to carry the load.