The cool, wet weather in much of the state, even into early
June, may bring thoughts
of cuddling up with a blanket. Many plants feel the same way.

“It’s just been too cool for our plants to grow as we expect
them to,” said Wayne
McLaurin, a horticulturist with the University of Georgia
Extension Service. “We’ll get
some good growth when temperatures, especially nighttime
temperatures, stay above 70
degrees.”

But when many homeowners see their plants not growing as they
should, they fertilize
to give them a boost. “That’s just about the worst thing you can
do,” McLaurin said.

Extra fertilizer can burn these young, tender plants, whether
vegetables or ornamentals
in the ground or in pots, before they get a good start.

When plants show burn symptoms — black-brown spots, withered
leaves or yellowing
— they’re more vulnerable to disease organisms, too, he said.
Disease-causing bacteria,
fungi or viruses invade the plant where it’s weakest. Already
weakened plants often
can’t outgrow the infection and will die.

“Keep an eye on your plants and remove and destroy leaves or
limbs that show disease
symptoms,” McLaurin said. “If you wait until the plants are
devastated, you haven’t
got a chance to save them with any treatments.”

To help fight diseases in young plants, make sure they have good
air flow all around
them and, when possible, aren’t touching. Thin out thickly
planted beds or rows. “That
can help air flow and slow the spread of organisms, if they’re
present, from plant to
plant,” he said.

Check the soil and drainage saucers in all your potted plants to
make sure they’re
draining well, too. Standing water can cause roots to rot,
eventually killing the plant.
Poke holes into the soil to allow air to move through the soil,
drying the roots and
providing vital oxygen.

McLaurin said spring and winter vegetables are faring well,
though. Leafy greens are
thriving — cabbage, spinach, kale, lettuce and broccoli are
doing fine during this
unusually cool spring.

Only the summer vegetables are waiting for warm weather before
they take off.
Tomatoes, okra and squash show the least growth in this chilly
spring.

McLaurin said even ornamental plants show little sign of normal
spring growth. “They,
too, grow better when temperatures rise and stay above 70,” he
said.

“You just need to have a little patience with the weather,” he
said. “When it warms up,
your plants will start growing.”