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. UGA Extension offers information about the flowers, trees, shrubs, and grasses that keep gardeners busy and Georgia beautiful.
For information about commercial horticulture and nursery production, see our Ornamental Horticulture section.
Our Programs and Services
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Master Gardener Extension Volunteer Program Intensive horticultural training to individuals who then volunteer in their communities by giving lectures, creating gardens, conducting research, and many other projects.
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On-Site and Telephone Consultation Available in many situations for home owners and consumers.
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Pesticide Safety Education Program Georgia's Pesticide Safety Education Program promotes the responsible and safe use of pesticides throughout Georgia. We accomplish this by providing the educational resources, training programs, and materials needed to help both private and commercial pesticide applicators achieve certification and subsequently to maintain the knowledge to safely and effectively make use of restricted-use and all other pesticides.
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Soil and Water Testing Services Increase your yield, test your water quality, and more.
Recent Publications
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Flowering Bulbs for Georgia Gardens (B 918) A wide variety of bulbs grow well in Georgia. Most are grown for their flowers and some for their foliage. They are grown as pot plants, in shrub borders, naturalistic plantings and in mass displays. …
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Control of Lace Bugs on Ornamental Plants (B 1102) Lace bug damage to the foliage of trees and shrubs detracts greatly from the plants' beauty, reduces the plants' ability to produce food, reduces the plants' vigor ad causes the plant to be more susce…
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Pruning Ornamental Plants in the Landscape (B 961) This publication provides guidelines for proper pruning that may help assure healthy vigorous plants and lasting landscape beauty. First, we'll discuss the three basic Ts for successful pruning: tools…
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Is My Tree Dying? (C 1100) This publication outlines a tree inspection process that will help the homeowner identity potential problems and more effectively discuss the tree's condition with an Extension agent or certified arbo…
Websites
UGA-affiliated
Georgia Master Gardener Gives an overview of the program to train and certify individuals in horticulture and includes extensive links.
Trellis: Master Gardener Blog Engaging Georgia Master Gardener Extension Volunteers in meaningful discussion about volunteering, outreach, and community.
Trial Gardens at UGA The Trial Gardens at UGA trials the newest varieties of annuals from all over the world and puts perennials to the test to find those that stand up to southeastern heat and humidity. It's also open to the public year-round.
Ornamental Plant and Tree Pathology Provides plant disease information to assist Georgia growers and county extension personnel.
UGA Department of Horticulture Learn more about the horticulture department at the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.
External sites
Walter Reeves A wealth of gardening resources and tips from this well-known Extension garden specialist and host of "Your Southern Garden."
Coastal Georgia Botanical Gardens at the Historic Bamboo Farm Regional botanical garden provides education, public outreach, and applied research in horticultural and environmental sciences and a facility of the University of Georgia's College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and UGA Extension, with support from the "Friends of the Coastal Gardens."
State Botanical Garden of Georgia Site detailing the attractions, programs, research, and events at this "living laboratory" for learning about gardening and nature.
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Economics of Pollination Sharon Kane and Becky Griffin have put together a powerful map displaying the economic importance of pollination across Georgia.
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CFMG Habitat For Humanity On a stormy day in September 2009, a crew of Central Fulton Master Gardeners were nearly knee-deep in mud, installing landscaping on their first house for a partnership with Atlanta Habitat for Humanity.
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Hickory Horned Devil The hickory horned devil (Citheronia regalis) caterpillar is a marvel of nature's creativity, boasting a fearsome-looking appearance that is both terrifying and scientifically intriguing.
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Smokin Hot Garden Although the heat in Georgia is brutal outside, there are many landscape plants that are in their glory this time of year.
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Summer Irrigation This Smart Irrigation Month, remember to keep plants hydrated to ensure their survival.
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Landscape Refresh Cold temperatures in December have left many residents with gaps in their landscapes — here is how to fill them.
