Fescue Planting – 1-2-3
September – October is the BEST time to plant a fescue lawn. I have tips on planting a new lawn or an existing lawn, whether with seed or sod. I also cover what kind of fescue is best. It is not as important as you think it is, but everyone’s...
Venomous (Poisonous) Caterpillars – Photos
Several kinds of venomous caterpillars are commonly seen in late summer – early fall. They are usually inconspicuous, so when one is encountered it’s “OUCH – what stung me???!!“. Below are photos of those you might find in the Southeast. Because they are so uncommon and because they feed on...
Turfgrasses (Lawn Grass) – Identifying
Unlike trees, which have distinctive leaves, or blooming plants, which have distinctive flowers, turfgrass identification is much more difficult for the amateur . There are five major lawn grasses grown in Georgia. Following are characteristics that will help you distinguish them: TALL FESCUE is green throughout the year but tends...
Leyland Cypress – Limited Lifespan
Nothing lives forever. Whether plant or animal, living things seem to have typical life spans: some measured in centuries and some in days. Leyland cypress is enormously popular in Southern landscapes. It’s been planted by the millions. Even so, it is not particularly suited for heat and drought. Both lead...
Hydrangea Summer Pruning – Step by Step
The recent summer rains filled the leaves and roots of my hydrangeas with water, making them strong. Now that the flowers have faded in late June I can prune them to the size I want for next year. Look at the photos below to see before and after shots. I...
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Soldier Fly Grubs – In Compost
Q: I went to my compost tumbler to empty my veggie scraps and found an awful mess of worms – thousands of them! Are they good ones or bad worms? A: These are soldier fly grubs. Though they look disgusting,...
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Fescue Planting – 1-2-3
September – October is the BEST time to plant a fescue lawn. I have tips on planting a new lawn or an existing lawn, whether with seed or sod. I also cover what kind of fescue is best. It is...
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Chickens – Light Needed for Laying Eggs
Q: What makes chickens slow down their egg production? We have six hens and have started getting only five eggs per day. A: You’re getting the right number of eggs for autumn but production will decline in winter. Much depends...
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Leyland Cypress – Dead After April Planting
Q: How can I tell if my tree is simply browning and suffering due to lack of water, or if it’s gone and dead? I have nine evergreens, all planted in April and one is not looking good at all....
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Japanese Chaff Flower – Control
Q: What is this ornery weed trying to take over my garden. When it started last year, I first thought it was my ‘Black and Blue’ sage but soon discovered it was not. It has a square stem and smooth...
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Praying Mantis – Eating a Fly
Q: I was working in the yard with my helper and we spotted this praying mantis eating a fly! A: Nature at its finest! You might also spot egg sacs on twigs in winter. I recommend you leave it in place....
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Fescue – Bulldog 51 Variety
Q: Have you had any experience with Bulldog 51 fescue? A: I have not but UGA turf expert Clint Waltz says it came out of the UGA turfgrass breeding program fifteen years ago. It’s an improved tall fescue cultivar that...
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Live Oak – Leafy Gall
Q: What is this on my live oak? A: UGA plant pathologist Jean Williams-Woodward says it is a leafy oak gall. It is harmless to the tree. Leafy Oak Gall...
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Squirrel – Chewing on Deck
Q: We installed a new cedar deck about a year ago and sealed it with an oil-based sealant two weeks ago. This week I noticed what looks like scratches and droppings in an area near the patio door. The deck...
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Oak – Wooly Leaf Gall
Q: I found this leaf with the fuzzy elongated growth stuck to it in my yard. Can you tell me what the growth is? A: It’s a wooly oak leaf gall. It’s caused by an insect that lays eggs on...
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PeeGee Hydrangea – Pruning
Q: I’m having trouble with my hydrangea trees. The branches sag too much. This past spring I pruned them down to practically nothing.They continue to grow massive flowers, causing branches to sag and break. Any ideas how to maintain a...
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Venomous (Poisonous) Caterpillars – Photos
Several kinds of venomous caterpillars are commonly seen in late summer – early fall. They are usually inconspicuous, so when one is encountered it’s “OUCH – what stung me???!!“. Below are photos of those you might find in the Southeast....
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Weeds – Identification with Pictures
Weed control in the landscape is a tough business. You have to know a lot about the weed in question just to get started! As in most situations, a picture is worth a thousand words. Go through the sites below,...
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Diagnosing (Identifying) Holes in the Yard
Sometimes many heads are better than one when it comes to solving a problem. Wade Hutcheson, my Extension colleague in Spalding county, gets plenty of calls from the citizens of his area asking his help in identifying various holes in...
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Brown Patch – Diagnosing
You have brown patches of dead grass in your lawn. Is it the common lawn disease ‘brown patch’ or is it something else? The answer is important: if it is brown patch you probably need to spray with a fungicide....
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Bermuda – Weed Control
BASIC INFORMATION: Weed Identification Pictures General Turf and Weed Info Lawn Care Calendars THREE METHODS There are three primary methods of controlling weeds. Any one method, when used alone, will not usually control all of your weeds. To consistently control...
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Lawn – Timing Spring Pre-emergent Herbicide Application
One of the sourest phrases that can be directed at a child or adult is “I told you so!” Whether you touch a hot match, leave tools out in the rain, or lift cinder blocks all afternoon, someone is usually...
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St. Augustine Grass Seed – Where to Buy
Q: Please tell me where I can buy St. Augustine grass seeds. Our lawn has some now and we like it a lot, but we’re having trouble finding seeds. A: You can’t buy St. Augustinegrass seed. The plant is very...
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Lawn – Growing in Shade
OK. I admit it. I have given up. I came to the conclusion that grass just would not grow in the corner of my lawn near the ornamental cherry trees. The shade there is so dense that my grass, no...
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Lawn – Leveling
A new home in my neighborhood had bermudagrass sod planted in March. By May, one area was a perfect checkerboard of straight lines, composed of weedy plants, surrounding the individual squares of sod. Evidently the sod installers were in such...
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Bermuda Grass – Disease – Brown Patch
Brown patch is most prevalent on bermudagrass which has been heavily fertilized when night temperatures are above 68 degrees and day temperature are above 80 degrees. Dead patches of grass may start small but can grow and join together to...
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Crapemyrtle – Pruning
One of the most confounding arguments I face is whether and how to prune crapemyrtles. They are mercilessly “murdered” by unaware landscapers and homeowners each winter… yet they still bloom in summer. Some people even believe a crapemyrtle won’t bloom...
Soldier Fly Grubs – In Compost
Q: I went to my compost tumbler to empty my veggie scraps and found an awful mess of worms – thousands of them! Are they good ones or bad worms? A: These are soldier fly grubs. Though they look disgusting,...
Fescue Planting – 1-2-3
September – October is the BEST time to plant a fescue lawn. I have tips on planting a new lawn or an existing lawn, whether with seed or sod. I also cover what kind of fescue is best. It is...
Chickens – Light Needed for Laying Eggs
Q: What makes chickens slow down their egg production? We have six hens and have started getting only five eggs per day. A: You’re getting the right number of eggs for autumn but production will decline in winter. Much depends...
Leyland Cypress – Dead After April Planting
Q: How can I tell if my tree is simply browning and suffering due to lack of water, or if it’s gone and dead? I have nine evergreens, all planted in April and one is not looking good at all....
Japanese Chaff Flower – Control
Q: What is this ornery weed trying to take over my garden. When it started last year, I first thought it was my ‘Black and Blue’ sage but soon discovered it was not. It has a square stem and smooth...
Praying Mantis – Eating a Fly
Q: I was working in the yard with my helper and we spotted this praying mantis eating a fly! A: Nature at its finest! You might also spot egg sacs on twigs in winter. I recommend you leave it in place....
Fescue – Bulldog 51 Variety
Q: Have you had any experience with Bulldog 51 fescue? A: I have not but UGA turf expert Clint Waltz says it came out of the UGA turfgrass breeding program fifteen years ago. It’s an improved tall fescue cultivar that...
Live Oak – Leafy Gall
Q: What is this on my live oak? A: UGA plant pathologist Jean Williams-Woodward says it is a leafy oak gall. It is harmless to the tree. Leafy Oak Gall...
Squirrel – Chewing on Deck
Q: We installed a new cedar deck about a year ago and sealed it with an oil-based sealant two weeks ago. This week I noticed what looks like scratches and droppings in an area near the patio door. The deck...
Oak – Wooly Leaf Gall
Q: I found this leaf with the fuzzy elongated growth stuck to it in my yard. Can you tell me what the growth is? A: It’s a wooly oak leaf gall. It’s caused by an insect that lays eggs on...
PeeGee Hydrangea – Pruning
Q: I’m having trouble with my hydrangea trees. The branches sag too much. This past spring I pruned them down to practically nothing.They continue to grow massive flowers, causing branches to sag and break. Any ideas how to maintain a...
Venomous (Poisonous) Caterpillars – Photos
Several kinds of venomous caterpillars are commonly seen in late summer – early fall. They are usually inconspicuous, so when one is encountered it’s “OUCH – what stung me???!!“. Below are photos of those you might find in the Southeast....
Weeds – Identification with Pictures
Weed control in the landscape is a tough business. You have to know a lot about the weed in question just to get started! As in most situations, a picture is worth a thousand words. Go through the sites below,...
Diagnosing (Identifying) Holes in the Yard
Sometimes many heads are better than one when it comes to solving a problem. Wade Hutcheson, my Extension colleague in Spalding county, gets plenty of calls from the citizens of his area asking his help in identifying various holes in...
Brown Patch – Diagnosing
You have brown patches of dead grass in your lawn. Is it the common lawn disease ‘brown patch’ or is it something else? The answer is important: if it is brown patch you probably need to spray with a fungicide....
Bermuda – Weed Control
BASIC INFORMATION: Weed Identification Pictures General Turf and Weed Info Lawn Care Calendars THREE METHODS There are three primary methods of controlling weeds. Any one method, when used alone, will not usually control all of your weeds. To consistently control...
Lawn – Timing Spring Pre-emergent Herbicide Application
One of the sourest phrases that can be directed at a child or adult is “I told you so!” Whether you touch a hot match, leave tools out in the rain, or lift cinder blocks all afternoon, someone is usually...
St. Augustine Grass Seed – Where to Buy
Q: Please tell me where I can buy St. Augustine grass seeds. Our lawn has some now and we like it a lot, but we’re having trouble finding seeds. A: You can’t buy St. Augustinegrass seed. The plant is very...
Lawn – Growing in Shade
OK. I admit it. I have given up. I came to the conclusion that grass just would not grow in the corner of my lawn near the ornamental cherry trees. The shade there is so dense that my grass, no...
Lawn – Leveling
A new home in my neighborhood had bermudagrass sod planted in March. By May, one area was a perfect checkerboard of straight lines, composed of weedy plants, surrounding the individual squares of sod. Evidently the sod installers were in such...
Bermuda Grass – Disease – Brown Patch
Brown patch is most prevalent on bermudagrass which has been heavily fertilized when night temperatures are above 68 degrees and day temperature are above 80 degrees. Dead patches of grass may start small but can grow and join together to...
Crapemyrtle – Pruning
One of the most confounding arguments I face is whether and how to prune crapemyrtles. They are mercilessly “murdered” by unaware landscapers and homeowners each winter… yet they still bloom in summer. Some people even believe a crapemyrtle won’t bloom...
