It may be tempting when rain is forecast to toss handfuls of fertilizer around the garden to be watered in by Mother Nature. Unfortunately, if it hasn’t rained recently and the ground is crusty, most of that fertilizer could end up in runoff, where it does no good and may even harm waterways and ultimately the ocean. Instead fertilize with a light hand and scratch it into the soil so it won’t be carried away. Another temptation arises after a rainstorm - to work in the garden pulling weeds or planting. It’s best to wait a couple days for the garden to dry out a bit so heavy footsteps won’t compact the wet dirt, making it hard for roots and future rainfall to penetrate.