ELAINE CERNY: MY GARDEN PATH — April showers will bring May flowers

In fact, April has already brought quite a few flowers … those of the perennial type. These include tulips, daffodils, primroses, crocus, scilla, lenten roses and violas, just to mention a few. Remember to leave the foliage on those tulips and daffodils after they finish blooming. This is important as the bulbs are then building up for next year’s bloom. To help this along, scratch in some bulb food and water it in.

Lawns are starting to grow and could use some attention about now. Mow, then aerate and sprinkle on fertilizer. Water that in, and you’re good to go. Be sure to dig out any unwanted grass which has sprouted in your flowerbeds. Spray with grass killer if you must, but if using something like Roundup, be VERY CAREFUL. This stuff is a major killer and will destroy any type of green plant that it touches.

Have you heard the term and wondered exactly what graupel is? Also referred to as snow pellets or soft hail, graupel is a kind of precipitation which forms when supercooled droplets of water collect and freeze on the surface of falling snowflakes, resulting in the creation of small pellets which look like tiny hail. Hail is not formed this way and is usually much larger and seen in thunderstorms.

If you have more than one type of clematis, it can be difficult to keep track of which one needs what kind of pruning. You might keep a “cheat sheet” so you won’t have to guess. There are three groups:

• Group A: This is the easiest as it blooms on old wood. They don’t have to pruned at all. After they finish blooming, they can be lightly pruned if wanted.

• Group B: Have largest flowers. Bloom on old wood in spring and again on new wood in fall. Light pruning can be done in early spring.

• Group C: This type only blooms on new wood, which means the entire vine can be cut to the ground in early spring.

Here’s an interesting tidbit I recently read: if your tulips are being eaten by deer, plant them among tall daffodils. Deer won’t eat those and their scent will protect your tulips.

If you haven’t already planted your “cool weather” seeds in the garden, go ahead and do it soon. These include things like lettuce and kale. Just wait until mid-May at least, for the “warm weather” seeds such as corn.

As for plants, the recommended date for those sissy plants like tomatoes is to wait until after Mother’s Day. In the meantime, you’ll need to either leave them unpurchased at the nursery, or buy them and take care of them until mid-May or later. This means hauling them out during the day, (if nice) and bringing them back inside to spend the nights.

Your days of sitting around the house will soon be over, so enjoy it while you can!

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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 an active member of the River City Gardeners Club in Post Falls. Her column has appeared in The Press every other Sunday from early March until late October for the past 12 years.