1 Inspect wooden decks. With the coldest and rainiest months mostly behind us, it’s time to prep outdoor spaces for greater use. Your home’s deck is a fine place to start. Look for signs of rot or damage. If the wood seems worse for wear, it might be time to reseal. (Learn how in the feature story on page 24.)
2 Eat pie. Mar. 14 is Pi Day, and to honor the mathematical constant that represents the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter, why not enjoy some fresh pie? Bake one from scratch using early season cherries or rhubarb from your local farmers’ market, or visit a neighborhood bakery to purchase one just out of the oven.
3 Fertilize the lawn. Late spring, when grasses are returning from winter dormancy, is one of the best times to feed your lawn. Doing so not only provides a lush green carpet throughout the summer, but also helps create a dense environment that discourages weed growth.
4 Get involved. Organize a trash cleanup in your community to commemorate Keep America Beautiful Month in April. A little effort goes a long way: Meet at a park to pick up litter, volunteer to sort recycling, or contact your city to request more public garbage cans around town.
5 Gift a book. Mark your calendar for Mar. 2, National Read Across America Day, a celebration of literacy and the joy of books. Give a youngster in your family one of your favorite childhood books or check out the recommendations at readacrossamerica.org. —Katie Henry