The weather is improving and a lot of gardeners are ready to strap on their track shoes. Their goal seems to be trying to get to spring before spring gets to us.

Besides pansies, it is a bit early to think about planting annuals in the ground. Given another week, if the long-range forecast is favorable, I would start to think about some of the cold tolerant annuals like snapdragons, dianthus, and cape daisies. There are others.

My suggestion is to ask the person you are getting the plants from what their temperature requirements are. The above annuals will tolerate light frost or near frost. Others of our common annuals don't get mad until it's under forty.

A few, like the tropicals, which seem to be increasing in popularity, impatiens, vine crops and peppers aren't happy under fifty. A bit warmer is better.

If your annuals are for containers, you have more options. If the container can be moved and you are willing to bring it inside on the few cold nights remaining, you can do them now. In general, you gain little by getting in a hurry.

At his point it is quite safe to plant perennials. I would inquire about their history though. There is a tendency at some garden centers to use greenhouse conditions to get summer or fall blooming perennials into flower for the spring season. These might be as tender as some of the tough annuals.

Shrubs, too, are safe with a few exceptions. Butterfly bushes are tough to over-winter in pots and thus usually get special attention over the winter that makes them sensitive to early planting. I would wait until near the first of May for them. I would use that date for ornamental grasses, too.

If trees are in your plans I can't think of any problems that may lurk at this stage of the season.

I also get lots of questions about pruning now. Do not touch your spring blooming shrubs until they have bloomed. Fall bloomers can be done now. Since many of the fall bloomers often have a bit of twig dieback in cold winters, I would not get in a hurry. Wait until you see the first green and then work accordingly.

If you have a few fruit trees, do your pruning. I might wait another week or so on peaches and nectarines, but it's ok now. On the fruit trees an oil spray soon will cover a lot of insect problems. Leaf spot on stone fruits also should be addressed now.

Spring is about here. Enjoy it but don't get into a race.