Wodonga TAFE pruning teachers Alister Rhook and Donna Muir took a class to Glenmorus Gardens to prune roses and, you guessed it, it rained. But the job went on.

Rain is a good thing – you’ll be blessed with good luck if it rains on your wedding day and they say fresh rainwater is terrific for washing your hair, but the garden really benefits from a soaking.

There’s no need to stay inside just because it’s raining – wet weather is the perfect time for gardening.

Weeding is always easier in wet weather. The damp soil makes it a breeze to pull weeds, even those with a taproot. You may get a bit muddy, but that’s what gardening is all about.

Check your plants – rain may leave some unstable in the soil, so have a few stakes and ties ready.

The two most important jobs for rainy weather are:

* Check any plants in pots.  If the plant is sitting in a saucer you must make sure that saucer is emptied or removed during long periods of rain to stop waterlogged plants dying.

* If you have a plastic, tiered worm farm it’s advisable to put it under cover during rain, because a build-up of water in the bottom tier will drown your worms.

During or after rain is a great time to pick herbs and lettuce – they’re much tastier when it’s cool and wet.

Rainy days should also bring on an urge to turn your compost to mix the wet and dry layers. Soggy compost can’t breathe and the bacteria needed to break it down are suppressed if saturated.

Mulch your garden beds to smother any small weeds that are germinating and add valuable nutrients to the soil.

Look where you’ve been walking. Are you leaving churned, muddy tracks? If yes, plan to put in a pathway.

If you really can’t motivate yourself to work in the rain – stay inside next to the fire. While you’re warm and dry the least you can do is watch a gardening program and plan your outdoor tasks.

Broadleaf weeds are popping up in our garden beds and our lawns. Get a broadleaf weed killer or a weed and feed from your nursery and treat your lawn. Hand weeding is an option for those who don’t like spraying, but it’s slow and very time consuming.

The Friends of the Albury Botanic Gardens are looking for more members to help out in the nursery and at plant sales. Friends meet Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 9.30am to noon at the gardens.

To have your event listed, email Deb Delahunty at ddelahunty@wodongatafe.edu.au