Being the Home+Garden editor has its bright spots. But every spring, I have the unenviable job of saying no. A lot. I’m always having to tell people not to rake their frozen lawns, not to divide perennials when there’s still frost in the soil and not to plant tomatoes in April. Being Captain Bringdown isn’t a whole lotta fun. That’s why I’m so thrilled to be able to say yes — at least to a few things.

Yes, you can rake your grass. The soil should have firmed up by now. (Use a light-weight, fan-shaped rake and go easy. Remember, grass plants are plants.)

Yes, you can seed if you’ve got bare spots in the lawn. (Wait to fertilize, though, until the grass is long enough to mow.)

Yes, yes, yes, you can clean out your gardens, improve the soil and plant leaf lettuce, peas, onions and other cool-season veggies.

Of course, it’s still way too early to plant tomatoes. But there’s one more thing you can do: Empty those containers filled with half-dead spruce tips. They looked great last fall. They look sad and tired now.

Think spring. Plant pansies. And say yes to gardening!