Spring Cleanup Checklist for Boston Yards and surrounding areas: What to Do in April Before Mowing Season

Published June 2026

Boston winters are hard on yards. By the time the last snow melts in late March, most lawns around here are buried under matted leaves, fallen branches, sand and salt from the sidewalk, and whatever the wind blew in since November. A good spring cleanup is what gets your yard ready for the growing season — and April is the month to do it.

We've completed more than 340 spring and fall cleanups across Greater Boston since 2020, so this checklist comes straight from what our crews actually do, in the order we do it.

A Somerville backyard after a spring cleanup visit.

1. Pick up branches, trash, and winter debris

Start with the big stuff. Winter storms drop branches, and snowbanks have a way of collecting trash that only shows up when they melt. Walk the whole property — including the strips along fences and between houses, where debris piles up in Boston's tight lots.

Fallen branches and matted winter debris in a Somerville backyard — the first thing to clear in spring.

2. Rake out the dead layer

Matted leaves and dead grass smother new growth and invite fungus. A thorough raking does two things: it removes the layer blocking sunlight, and it gently lifts the grass blades so air reaches the soil. If your lawn stayed under leaf cover all winter, expect a lot of bags — this is usually the biggest part of a spring cleanup.

Matted winter leaves raked into a pile during an April cleanup in Boston.

3. Clean out garden beds and edges

Pull dead annuals, cut back last year's perennial stalks, and clear leaves out of the beds. This is also the time to redefine bed edges before everything starts growing and the line between lawn and bed disappears.

Cleared beds with fresh mulch after a spring cleanup in Cambridge.

4. Deal with early weeds now, not in June

Weeds get a head start in April while your grass is still waking up. Hand weeding beds and weed-whacking fence lines early in the season is far less work than fighting knee-high growth in June. Weeding is part of over 500 of the landscaping jobs we've done — it is never not needed.

Spring weeds and dandelions overtaking a bed in Medford — far easier to clear in April than in June.

5. Check sidewalks and curb strips

Boston properties are judged from the sidewalk. Sweep or blow off the winter sand, edge the curb strip, and clear any weeds coming up through pavement cracks. It's a small job that makes the whole property look maintained.

A clean, edged brick walkway between two Boston homes.

6. Plan your mowing schedule

Grass in Massachusetts usually needs its first cut in late April or early May. If you want a weekly or biweekly mowing schedule for the season, set it up now — crews fill their routes fast once the season starts. (Mowing is our most-requested service, with over 850 visits completed.)

A freshly mowed Boston backyard at the start of the season.

What about mulch?

Fresh mulch right after a cleanup is the classic one-two. Beds are clear, edges are crisp, and mulch locks in the clean look while suppressing the weeds you just pulled.

Before: a tired Boston side bed with thin, faded mulch.

After: 15 bags of fresh brown mulch and new plantings.

Want it done for you?

If you'd rather spend April weekends doing anything other than raking, we can handle the whole checklist in one visit. Every job we do is documented with before and after photos, so you can see exactly what was done. Request a free quote on our website or give us a call:

617-910-8271