Common gardening problems cropping up

Judging from some of the questions I've been getting lately, it is time to address common gardening problems.

One of the most frequently asked questions is "Is this a normal year?" Second up is "When will conditions be right for my plants?" and "When are we going to have an average year again?"

Here are some observations: Normal means nothing when it comes to the weather; conditions are likely to be opposite for whatever plant you're trying to grow; and average years are simply mathematical calculations. That said, remember that millions of plants are able to thrive despite the weather.

So what's wrong with the plants in your garden? One answer is winterkill.

But it never got that cold this winter, you say. That's the problem.

Plants survive the winter best when temperatures cool gradually in the fall, stay cold and gradually warm up in the spring.

Think back and you will recall there were unseasonably warm spells followed by drops in the temperature well below freezing. The alternating cycles kept plants from hardening off, so winter damage was rampant.

Roses seem to be among the most affected. Hybrid tea roses are the least hardy, so they are showing the most damage. Many needed to be replaced, and those that did survive probably needed severe pruning.

In addition, many broad-leafed shrubs lost their foliage, but most have recovered without permanent damage. However, if they aren't showing good growth, cut back the dead wood.

The hot/cold temperature cycle during May took a toll on vegetable transplants as well. If plants are turning yellow, use a transplant fertilizer to perk them back up, but be careful not to apply too much nitrogen.

Excessive heat early in the season can be fairly destructive as the tender leaves haven't yet developed their cutin — or waxy layer — that keeps them from drying out. Keep your plants watered adequately, but do not drown them. Overwatering is the cause of many plant deaths as the small absorbing roots don't get enough oxygen.

If that wasn't enough, there are, of course, the usual diseases that are starting to affect plants. Roses are showing rusty spots on the leaves, and powdery mildew is rampant on some rose varieties as well as Jonathan and other varieties of apples.

Spraying for mildew on apples will not be effective because the leaves are already fully formed. Spraying should start as the buds first emerge.