May flowers came early this year

May is flying by. Every time we walk out the door, we see jobs everywhere that are waiting to be done. Sitting in the shade is going to have to wait a while, I'm afraid.

This is prime planting time in our area. Even the "sissy" plants, (tomatoes, peppers, coleus, dahlias, and marigolds) should be OK to plant by the end of this month. As always, keep an eye on the overnight forecast temperatures.

A chore that can't be put off is pruning the lilacs. If you want yours to be shorter, now is the time to do it. If you wait any longer, you'll be cutting off the tiny buds for next year's flowers. This pruning must be done no later than a month after the current bloom spell.

As usual, we're seeing bare spots in many lawns this spring. This is a good time to fix those. Rake each area with a tined rake, sprinkle on the grass seeds, cover with something fine, like peat moss and keep watered. Don't let these areas dry out as the seeds need to stay moist.

Be sure to keep an eye on any recently planted flowers or vegetables in pots. Don't let them dry out, even once. Keep a hose or watering can nearby to give them a drink when needed. Don't depend on rain or a sprinkler system to do that for you as most of that water will hit the plants and run off instead of into the pot.

Have you seen any interesting birds this spring? It's fun to see something out of the ordinary. Besides the hummingbirds, some of the latest visitors to my yard are crossbills. They truly do have "crossed" bills. They have been developed by these birds to enable them to open pine cones to get at the seeds inside.

New bird watchers will probably have some luck just putting out feeders with a variety of seeds in them. Even better, try running water as the birds are able to hear that for quite a distance and it brings them in even better than food. I have a small three-tiered fountain that they love. They often use one of the tiers as a birdbath.

If you are putting in a new tree, please do a bit of research before you make your purchase. A big percentage of trees are cut down every year because people have planted the wrong tree in the wrong place. That little evergreen looks so cute in the nursery, so people often make the mistake of buying it, taking it home and planting it next to the foundation. Within a few years, it has outgrown that spot and has to be chopped down.

One of the saddest mistakes is to plant a tree under power lines. If it's a tall variety, it will have to have the whole top cut off once it nears the height of the lines. A topped tree not only looks pathetic, there is no way for it to return to its normal shape.

Raspberries are so easy to grow. Remember, they are biennials. This just means that each cane will grow the first year, bloom and set fruit the second year and then die. They do well if given a sprinkling of ordinary lawn fertilizer, (not the weed and feed type) each spring and plenty of water, especially as the fruit is developing.

Mark you calendar for June 13. That's the date for the River City Garden Club's annual plant sale. Hours will be 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Location is 416 E. Third Ave. in Post Falls. There is always a huge selection of perennials, annuals, vegetable plants, and often shrubs and trees.

The sale also features many items to dress up your yard. The best part ... these are guaranteed not to require any watering!

Elaine Cerny has gardened most of her life, starting in 4-H. She has belonged to garden clubs in three states and is currently serving as secretary for the River City Gardeners Club in Post Falls. Her column appears in The Press every other Sunday from early March until late October.