When did we move to Seattle?

I don’t know about you, but with all the rain we’ve been getting, maybe we should just give up and plant rice. Just kidding, but this is getting downright depressing. I know it’s still April, but a few days of sun sure wouldn’t hurt.

If you can find a break in the weather, there are some chores you can attend to. If you haven’t pruned your roses yet, this is the month to do it. Cut off any dead canes, down to some live green tissue. Other canes to go are those coming up along the main stalk. Roses are much better at avoiding diseases if they have good air circulation in the center of the plant.

Besides cleaning up the flowerbeds and lawns, you may want to aerate the lawn. It helps your lawn to be healthy. If you’ve been wanting to prune a tree or shrub, do it right away ... before they leaf out. Remember the rule of thumb: trees can be pruned any time of the year except when the leaves are either falling or opening up.

Veterinarians would like this advice passed on: Please keep your house cats indoors. They will live longer and healthier lives. Contrary to popular belief, cats never need to be outdoors and can live their entire lives in the house.

Another chore to attend to as soon as possible is to get after the dandelions in your yard. Either spray directly on each one, or better yet, dig it out by the roots. In any case, never let them go to seed as each plant will produce hundreds of seeds.

There are some flowering plants which are hardy enough to plant now, but many more need to wait. Some of the toughest ones include pansies, violas, and snapdragons. These are considered “half hardy” perennials here. In states to the south of us, they will return year after year. Many petunias fall into this category also.

Arbor Day is April 27. This is always a great time to plant a new tree or two. Be sure to make your purchase at one of the local greenhouses. That way you’ll be sure to plant something which will be hardy for our area.

Go ahead and pot up those dahlia tubers. They will bloom sooner if started in the house now. Put each tuber into at least a 6-inch pot. Don’t water until you see shoots coming up as they easily rot. Keep in a sunny window until the end of May.

One of the earliest plants to bloom is the forsythia. With their cheerful yellow blooms, they are a welcome sight on a dreary day.

Today’s words of wisdom: “gardeners always know the best dirt.”

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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.