We are planning to head down there early Saturday morning to grab some centipede sod plugs. I have a couple of bare spots near the driveway that are keeping me from achieving lawn perfection this spring. My neighbor in Wakefield already has his mower out twice a week and the friendly competition is heating up. Plus, the food trucks at the market are always worth the drive.

If you are heading down Lake Wheeler, keep an eye on the weather forecast. Those low areas near the creeks can get incredibly soggy if we get one of our classic spring downpours. I always check the Walnut Creek gauge before heading out. While you are thinking about your spring landscaping, please make sure your drainage slopes away from your foundation. A good rain garden is great, but water in the crawl space is a nightmare. It is also a good reminder to review your flood insurance policy before the tropical storm season starts later this year.

I love this sale. I am hoping to find some French marigolds and lavender to plant along the perimeter of my chicken coop in Rolesville. It keeps the flies down and makes the whole yard smell wonderful. Last year I built some simple raised beds using scrap cedar from our deck project, and the native herbs did beautifully there. If anyone needs tips on building simple, predator proof garden borders around their coop, let me know.

Do not buy bulk mulch from the guys parked on the side roads outside the market gates. Half of it is full of weed seeds and trash wood. Go to a licensed yard. If you are planning to build any retaining walls for your new flower beds, remember that anything over four feet tall requires a structural engineer and a permit from the city. Do not try to DIY a major slope change in our clay.

Just go at seven in the morning or you will spend two hours idling in traffic on Saunders Street.

Hank is absolutely right about the traffic. Getting there early is key to getting the best selection and avoiding the worst of the crowds. Chris, just a quick note on those sod plugs. Make sure your soil pH is around five to six before you lay them, as centipede grass dislikes sweet soil. The extension office booth can hand you a free soil test kit to send off to the state lab.