Ornamentals

Overview

Ornamental flowers, trees, shrubs, and grasses are effective ways to add beauty and interest to your yard. With a wide variety of colors and textures, as well as options for nearly any climate or growing condition, ornamentals can be a low-maintenance, fun way to enhance the beauty of your landscape and add value to your property. This page offers Extension information about the flowers, trees, shrubs, and grasses that keep gardeners busy and Georgia beautiful.

Publications

Extension Publications

• Weed Wizard: Controlling Florida Betony in the Landscape
• Growing Hostas
• Poisonous Plants in the Landscape
• Junipers
• Home Garden Apples
• Conversion Tables, Formulas and Suggested Guidelines for Horticultural Use
• Fertilizer Injectors: Selection, Maintenance and Calibration
• Greenhouse*A*Syst: Water Source Use and Expansion Assessment
• 2009 Georgia Gold Medal Winners
• Home Garden Pears
• Developing a WaterSmart Landscape
• Nursery Crop Selection and Market Implications
• Hobby Greenhouses
• Care of Ornamental Plants in the Landscape
• Pruning Ornamental Plants in the Landscape
• Growing Dogwoods
• Winter Protection of Ornamental Plants
• Best Management Practices in the Landscape
• Professional Grounds Management Calendar
• Gardening in Containers

To see an expanded list of these pubs , go to the CAES Publications site or the FACS Publications listing.

News

For the latest news about Extension, visit Georgia FACES. News you can use about Georgia family, agricultural, consumer and enviromental sciences.

• Allan Armitage recognized for a career full of contributions to horticulture
• April 2012 was warmer and dryer than normal
• Goats and sheep are great for clearing out unwanted brush
• Prune azaleas to remove dead growth, disease
• Water thirsty trees with soak hoses, drip irrigation
• Azaleas need loving care to maintain their beauty
• There are no truly deer-resistant plants
• Springtime is tree-planting time
• Aluminum is the key to changing hydrangea bloom color
• Adding mulch to new plant material is essential

Websites

UGA-affiliated

• Department of Horticulture
  Describes the department's academic degree and research programs. Includes calendar of educational events as well as educational resources.
• Georgia Master Gardener
  Gives an overview of the program to train and certify individuals in horticulture and includes extensive links.
• Home & Garden Drought
  Resources to help home owners and gardeners respond to drought.
• Warm Season Grass Breeding: Ornamentals
  Descriptions of various cultivars of ornamental grasses.

External sites

• State Botanical Garden of Georgia
  Site detailing the attractions, programs, research, and events at this "living laboratory" for learning about gardening and nature.
• Walter Reeves
  A wealth of gardening resources and tips from this well-known Extension garden specialist.
• Your Southern Garden
  The South's best source of educational and entertaining gardening information. A co-production of the University of Florida/IFAS and the University of Georgia, with sponsorship from the Scotts Company.

Training

Cooperative Extension offers training within local communities on a wide array of topics. To see if there are training events in your area, please visit our calendar.

• Master Gardener Volunteer Training
  Individuals are trained and certified in horticulture and related areas, then volunteer their expertise and services, under the direction of their Cooperative Extension Agent, to help educate others through horticultural projects that benefit the community.