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78 publications were found on Landscaping
  • 2023 Georgia Ag Forecast Series: Green Industry 2023 (AP 130-1-12) 1. 2022 was a good year for many green industry firms, with many firms seeing increased profits. 2. There are many unknowns going into 2023 that will impact green industry sales, including higher inflation and interest rates, mixed signals within the economy, and the impact of varying strength of the housing market in Georgia. 3. Green industry sales in Georgia are projected to be similar to 2022 …
  • 2024 Georgia Ag Forecast Series: Green Industry 2024 (AP 130-2-12) 1. 2023 was a good year for many green industry firms, but not as good as 2020–2022. 2. The unknowns going into 2024 include higher inflation and interest rates, mixed signals within the economy, increased input costs, and variability in the housing market. 3. Green industry sales in Georgia are projected to be lower than 2023 levels.
  • Armyworms in Sod (C 1130) There is considerable confusion regarding the life cycle and timing of fall armyworm infestation in turfgrass. It is not unusual for fall armyworms to infest newly planted sod in a home landscape, especially during late summer to fall. When fall armyworm infestation is detected, sod producers are often blamed for selling fall armyworm-infested sod. The reality, however, is that not all fall armywo…
  • Attracting Birds to Your Backyard (C 976) To attract and maintain a bird population, a habitat should provide (1) food, (2) shelter/nesting areas and (3) water. This publication describes several ways to attract birds to your backyard.
  • Azalea Bark Scale (C 1260) Azalea bark scale (ABS) poses a serious threat to azaleas, rhododendron, and Pieris (Andromedas) in Georgia. ABS is a soft scale insect; the nymph and female soft scales secrete a protective coating of waxy crust on their body that cannot be separated from the scale insect. ABS also is found on blueberry, hawthorn, huckleberry, poplar, and willow. ABS is found in cracks or crevices in the surface …
  • Best Management Practices in the Landscape (C 873) Research has shown that if you properly select, install and maintain ornamental plant, you greatly increase their survival and performance in the landscape. Following BMPs (Best Management Practices) not only conserve moisture in the landscape but will assure overall health and vigor of the ornamental plants.
  • Care of Ornamental Plants in the Landscape (B 1065) Most established ornamental plants in the landscape require care to stay healthy and attractive. Regular fertilization, pruning, watering, mulching and pest control are all part of a good landscape management program. This publication provides guidelines for the care of established ornamental plants in the landscape. Low-maintenance alternatives to traditional cultural practices are discussed thro…
  • Chainsaw Chains and Bars (C 1208) The action end of a chainsaw, or the part that cuts, is made of the bar and the chain. Chainsaw chains come in many sizes and configurations and not all saws can handle all bars. To make the right choices for the job, a saw operator should be aware of the cutter type, pitch, gauge, and cutter configuration when purchasing a chain or a chainsaw.
  • Chainsaw Safety Tips (B 1364) This publication discusses tips for purchasing the correct chainsaw for your needs and how to use it safely.
  • Classic City Garden Awards Series: 2016's Best New Plants from the Trial Gardens at the University of Georgia (AP 116-4) New ornamentals have long been considered the lifeblood of the green industry. This publication contains recommendations for best-performing new annuals based on research conducted at the Trial Gardens at the University of Georgia, showcasing the plants that were awarded the Classic City Award in 2016.
  • Common Landscape Diseases in Georgia (B 1238) This publication describes some of the most troublesome diseases of Georgia's landscape plants. The following material will help you identify these diseases and offers recommendations for treatment. Knowledge about the common diseases of Georgia landscape plants will allow professional and amateur growers alike to better fight plant diseases and produce healthy plants.
  • Community and School Gardens Series: Garden Fencing (C 1027-9) This publication describes options for fencing a community or school garden, including fence types and materials.
  • Community and School Gardens Series: Garden Sheds (C 1027-7) This publication provides information about storage sheds for community and school gardens, including local building codes, siting a shed, and alternatives to traditional sheds.
  • Community and School Gardens Series: Irrigation (C 1027-12) This publication describes irrigation methods suitable for community or school gardens, including overhead sprinklers, hand watering and drip irrigation.
  • Community and School Gardens Series: Less Expensive Sources of Plant Material, Amendments and Tools (C 1027-6) This publication offers advice on finding less expensive sources of plant material, amendments and tools for community and school gardens.
  • Community and School Gardens Series: Planning an Edible Garden (C 1027-1) This publication describes three steps for planning a school garden: garden location, soil and terrain, and choosing crops.
  • Community and School Gardens Series: Raised Bed Materials (C 1027-5) This publication describes the advantages and disadvantages of various materials used for building raised beds, including types of wood, composite materials, recycled materials, and kits.
  • Community and School Gardens Series: Raised Beds vs. In-Ground Gardens (C 1027-3) This publication describes the advantages and disadvantages of raised bed and in-ground gardens and may be used as a guide when planning a community or school garden project.
  • Community and School Gardens Series: Raised Garden Bed Dimensions (C 1027-4) This publication helps determine the ideal dimensions of raised beds for community and school gardens by focusing on three things: materials, slope and accessibility.
  • Community and School Gardens Series: Siting a Garden (C 1027-2) This publication provides recommendations for properly siting a school or community garden, taking into account sunlight exposure, water availability, slope, garden access, tool storage, compost bins and other amenities.
  • Community and School Gardens Series: Stocking the Toolshed: Hand Tools (C 1027-8) This publication describes the types and quantities of hand tools that work best for community and school gardens, including shovels, rakes, trowels, hand pruners, gloves, children's tools, and carts and wheelbarrows.
  • Composting: Recycling Landscape Trimmings (C 981) Citizens throughout Georgia are recycling newspaper, cans, glass and plastic in an effort to divert these materials from the waste stream. Another important part of waste reduction involves recycling leaves, lawn clippings, and tree and shrub trimmings instead of placing them curbside for the county or municipality to pick up. These landscape riches from Mother Nature can be easily recycled and tu…
  • Control of Common Pests of Landscape Plants (B 1074) Many species of insects or mites attack Georgia landscape plants. Homeowners have difficulty controlling these pests because they often are not aware of the problem until both the infestation and the damage are extensive, or they may apply insecticides improperly or at the wrong time. Brief descriptions of major groups of pests (or the damage they cause) found on Georgia landscape plants are provi…
  • Crape Myrtle Bark Scale: An Emerging Invasive Pest in the Nursery and Landscape (C 1234) The crape myrtle bark scale (CMBS) is an emerging threat to crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia spp.) in Georgia. As the name indicates, this scale pest attacks the bark of crape myrtle, the only known scale insect that infests crape myrtle bark. A native of Asia, CMBS was first confirmed in Dallas, Texas, in 2004. Since then, the pest has gradually expanded its range to the southeastern states. In Georgi…
  • Developing a WaterSmart Landscape (C 930) A water smart landscape is more than just water-efficient. It's a landscape that has been carefully designed, properly installed and managed to reduce pollution, improve conservation and ensure year-round beauty.
  • Dollar Spot of Turfgrasses in Georgia: Identification and Control (C 1091) Dollar spot is an ever-present turfgrass disease that affects all warm and cool season grasses in the state of Georgia. The publication contains important information on the biology of the causal agent, detail description of the disease symptoms (aided by high quality-detailed pictures), relevant up-to-date information on conditions favoring the disease, as well as cultural, genetic and chemical m…
  • Effects of Low Temperature on Plants (B 1467) Temperatures affects plant growth and distribution. This publication explains how low temperatures (chilling and freezing) affect plant growth in production greenhouses, nurseries, and landscapes. These three environments have different causes and effects, each requiring unique responses to avoid injury. This publication outlines different techniques that can be used to avoid cold injury to plants…
  • Environmental Enhancement with Ornamental Plants: Butterfly Gardening (C 975) Butterfly populations can be greatly enhanced by devoting a portion of the landscape to butterfly habitat. In addition to their natural beauty, butterflies serve as valuable plant pollinators.
  • Environmentally Friendly Landscape Practices (C 967) With proper planning, planting and maintenance, a healthier landscape can be created with less expense, less work and less damage to the world around us.
  • Fall Gardening: A Collection of Information and Resources (AP 105) This publication is an annually-updated guide to fall gardening information and resources for Georgia. Topics include planting tall fescue lawns, soil bag flower beds, planting pansies like the pros, planting collards, turnips and cabbage, planting a home fruit orchard, mulching with leaves, gardening chores, cleaning and storing garden tools, treating for fire ants, and additional resources.
  • Fences for the Farm (C 774) Fences may be used to protect or divide property, to improve its appearance, to confine animals, or to exclude animals. This publication covers the planning for, type of, materials for, and maintenance of permanent and temporary fences.
  • Flowering Annuals for Georgia Gardens (B 954) Annuals are the mainstay color plant of many home gardens. They are also used in increasingly large numbers in commercial and municipal landscapes because they provide landscape color in a very short time with minimal investment. Properly cared for, many annuals will brighten the landscape continuously from spring until frost kills them in the fall.
  • Georgia Master Gardener Handbook (AP 106) The Georgia Master Gardener Handbook, 8th Edition, is the official reference text produced by the University of Georgia and developed for Master Gardener training. For more information about the Georgia Master Gardener Extension Volunteer Program, visit www.GAmastergardener.org. This book, published in 2021, is currently available at $95 per copy (including tax). Single copies (no certificate or…
  • Gloomy Scale Insects: Pests of Trees in Urban Areas (C 1286) Gloomy scale (Melanaspis tenebricosa) is a serious insect pest that affects maple trees in urban Georgia. It can go undetected for years. Affected trees can show branch dieback and canopy thinning after 6–10 years, when the population reaches extremely high densities. A waxy shield covering protects females from predators and insecticide exposure, and usually gives them a convex shape. The armore…
  • Great Plants Under 20 Feet for Small Spaces (C 999) Well-chosen small trees and shrubs can provide privacy from your neighbors, separation from a road with heavy traffic or a screen to hide unattractive areas. By selecting plants that mature to a height of 20 feet or less, you can create a natural fence.
  • Ground Covers for Shaded Landscapes in North Georgia (C 1238) This circular discusses the most common ground covers, both native and non-native plants, that are suitable for culture in North Georgia landscapes in shaded areas.
  • Growing Hostas (C 955) Hostas are quickly becoming one of the most popular perennial plants grown in our landscapes. Sometimes referred to as plantain lilies, hostas are reliable plants for both shade and partial sun situations. This publication includes variety recommendations.
  • Hort Management: For Landscape Managers (B 1261) HORT Management is an allied program for estimating landscape management costs. This program assists the user in estimating labor, material and equipment costs on a particular job, a break-even price, and bid price on a job. Industry average data and time/task data is used throughout the program, such as the time it takes to mow 1,000 sq. ft. with a certain size mower and equipment cost per hour o…
  • Hort Scape: For Landscape Installers (B 1317) Hort Scape streamlines the bidding process once the user builds a coded database of plants, including common and botanical names, plant sizes, plant costs, and per plant installation costs. Then, using the bid estimator, the user inputs the plant codes and quantities for the plants used on a particularly job, and the associated information on each plant is brought over from the database to the est…
  • Insect Identification Guide for Southeastern Landscapes (B 1409) This publication contains photos and descriptions to help identify pests in Southeastern landscapes. Beneficial and pest insects are both included. NOTE: This publication is designed with tabs and cutouts that are not necessarily apparent when printed on a home printer.
  • Irrigation for Lawns and Gardens (B 894) In order to maintain a lush, green lawn and productive garden, supplemental water in the form of irrigation is often needed during peak water use periods. Two basic types of irrigation are suitable for the home landscape: sprinkler irrigation and drip (or trickle) irrigation. This publication contains comprehensive information about irrigating lawns and gardens.
  • Landscape Basics: Color Theory (B 1396) This publication explores color relationships in the landscape, ways of seeing plants in terms of color, and various ways to use color successfully in plant selection and landscape design and composition.
  • Landscape Basics: Crop Rotation and Cultural Practices Help Reduce Diseases in Seasonal Color Beds (B 1423) Landscape professionals must consider many factors when choosing the right flowering annuals to plant for a particular location. Primary considerations include high visual impact, consistent bloom for color, foliage for texture and color, sun exposure, growth habit and low-water tolerance. Cost plays an important role as well. Many landscapers typically choose common annual ornamentals and tropica…
  • Landscape Basics: Designing a Quality Control Program for Your Company (B 1420) Well-groomed landscapes are often a result of considerable effort by landscape companies. Employees make them happen with routine care and, above all, attention to detail. A quality landscape and the image employees present on the job speak highly of the professionalism of the firm. Quality control (QC) is everyone's responsibility and an essential part of a landscaper's job. This publication desc…
  • Landscape Basics: Success with Herbaceous Perennials (B 1424) Whether in a commercial installation or residential garden, perennial plants can be successfully used to offer more landscaping choices, distinguish your firm from the competition and create a niche for your landscape business. Perennial plants are complex, and it is best to contract or hire a professional landscape architect for the design phase and train knowledgeable staff in proper maintenance…
  • Landscape Design Series: Choosing a Landscape Design Professional (C 1032-1) The landscape is a very important aspect of a home. Having a beautiful, creative and functional landscape requires some understanding of design principles, plant materials and outdoor structural elements. A landscape installation can be very simple or extremely complicated. Designing irrigation systems, outdoor lighting, stone walls and patios requires skills that go beyond those of the average ho…
  • Landscape Design Series: Drawing a Landscape Plan - Site Analysis (C 1032-4) Designing a beautiful landscape for the home can be a very enjoyable and satisfying experience. With a little homework, a landscape plan is within reach of most homeowners. Before great ideas can become a plan, you must determine the limitations and assets of the site. This publication briefly describes how to create a site analysis for landscape design.
  • Landscape Design Series: Drawing a Landscape Plan, The Base Map (C 1032-3) Preparing a landscape plan can be an enjoyable and satisfying experience if you do a little homework and follow a few guidelines. A simple landscape base map can be drawn without a computer, special software or even expensive drafting supplies, and is the first step in developing a landscape plan. The base map is an accurate representation of the existing landscape, scaled to fit the paper, showin…
  • Landscape Design Series: Working with a Garden Designer (C 1032-2) Designing a landscape is much like designing the interior of a house. Colors, patterns and textures must be arranged in a manner that is functional and suits the taste of the owner. The one major difference with landscape design is that most of the elements are living, providing seasonal change, forever growing taller and wider, and occasionally dying. An experienced garden designer has the abilit…
  • Landscape Plants for Georgia (B 625) This publication includes a list of good plants for Georgia organized into various sizes and groups. The design qualities of plants—their form, size, color and texture—are emphasized according to the principles and requirements of good landscape design and plant maintenance. Hardiness and disease and insect resistant qualities are also considered.
  • Lantana Lace Bug Biology and Management (C 1262) The lantana lace bug, Teleonemia scrupulosa Stål (Tingidae: Hemiptera), is a serious pest of lantana (Lantana camara L.). Although lantana is regarded as an invasive weed both in the United States and worldwide, many popular cultivars continue to be planted in residential and public ornamental landscapes and gardens. Previously, the lantana lace bug was deliberately introduced to several countries…
  • Make Every Drop Count: Managing a Water-Wise Landscape (C 895-4) Water-wise landscapes not only save water, they save time by requiring less routine care than most traditional landscapes. This publication offers guidelines to help you achieve these goals and conserve water when managing your landscape.
  • Make Every Drop Count: Proper Planting Results in Healthy, Water-Efficient Plants (C 895-3) Planting ornamental plants correctly increases their survivability and performance in the landscape, and it helps them develop a vigorous, healthy root system that increases their drought tolerance during periods of limited rainfall. This pubication provides research-based guidelines for proper planting.
  • Make Every Drop Count: Xeriscape - Seven Steps to a Water-Wise Landscape (C 895-1) A landscape designed, installed and managed according to Xeriscaping's seven steps uses up to 50% less water than a traditional landscape. And, a well-designed water-wise is just as attractive as a traditional landscape.
  • Native Plants for Georgia Part IV: Grasses and Sedges (B 987-4) This publication describes and illustrates 48 grasses and 10 sedges native to Georgia. It is not the intent of the authors to describe all native grasses and sedges, but those that are most widespread or those having practical application for wildlife habitats, erosion control, restoration projects or landscape culture. A few of the plants are noted as being weedy or invasive and may not be approp…
  • New Native Little Bluestems (C 1081) Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) is a drought tolerant, low maintenance native plant. This ornamental, warm season perennial grass tolerates a wide range of soil conditions and is easily grown. Its purplish bronze blooms and vertical clusters of slender leaves make it a lovely addition to any landscape. It is cold hardy in Georgia, although it may suffer moderate damage in cold winters in…
  • Oak Lecanium: An Insect Pest of Trees in Landscapes (C 1285) Oak lecanium, Parthenolecanium quercifex (Hemiptera: Coccidae), is a common soft scale insect pest of oak trees and other woody plants. They infest trees under high stress, such as those planted in parking lots, greenscapes, and other urban areas. Like other soft scale insects, oak lecanium scales feed on tree sap, and they excrete the excess sugars as honeydew. Sooty mold fungus grows on honeydew…
  • Ornamental Plantings on Septic Drainfields (C 1030) Ornamental plantings can be attractive and beneficial options for the expanse of open ground designated for a septic drainfield. Properly chosen plants help manage moisture and nutrient levels in the soils around the drainfield, and can discourage activities that may cause site compaction and reduce the effectiveness of the system. The drawback is that poor plant choices can create costly maintena…
  • Pampas Grass (C 983) Pampas grass is a large perennial grass native to Brazil, Argentina, and Chile. Mature plants can reach 10 feet tall and 6 feet wide. In late summer, silvery-white plumes rise several feet above the foliage and make a bold, dramatic statement in the landscape.
  • Poisonous Plants in the Landscape (C 957) While most of us are familiar with common poisonous plants that cause dermatitis (skin irritations) such as poison ivy or poison oak, we fail to recognize common ornamental plants in the landscape that may cause internal poisoning when ingested. Although most adults would not intentionally eat the leaves or fruit of ornamental plants in the landscape, young children or pets sometimes do. The purpo…
  • Professional Grounds Management Calendar (C 802) This publication is a monthly guide for professional managers of commercial, recreational, municipal, institutional or private grounds in Georgia.
  • Rain Gardens in Home Landscapes (EB 101) This publication includes three parts. Part 1 discusses stormwater as a pollution source for streams and water bodies, and provides a background on why rain gardens in our landscapes have great environmental value. Part 2 includes a thorough definition of rain gardens and their purpose, and gives step-by-step instructions on how to design a rain garden for a specific site. Part 3 discusses appropr…
  • Safety Checklists for New Landscape Employees (B 1415) These checklists can be used to introduce new landscape workers to safe work practices. They ensure that job safety training includes safety instruction. Included are sections on general safety precautions, equipment safety, lawn mower safety and pesticide safety.
  • Safety for Hispanic Landscape Workers (B 1334) Hispanic workers predominate in Georgia's urban agriculture industry, comprising almost three-fourths of the workforce. Employers must ensure comprehension and safety compliance, address language barriers to create a safe workplace, use physical demonstrations, diagrams, bilingual materials and, if available, an interpreter. This publication covers general precautions, equipment safety, pesticide …
  • Selecting Salt-Tolerant Native Trees for the Georgia Coast (B 1477) This publication explains the different sources of salt in the soil, the effects of high salt and salinity in plants, measurements of salinity in soils and water, and a list of salt-tolerant native trees alongside their ability to withstand high salinity. The information in this bulletin was requested by the green industry, county faculty, and the public.
  • Selecting Trees and Shrubs as Resources for Pollinators (B 1483) We can positively affect pollinator populations in our region by providing plants that help sustain them. Pollinators face the increasing challenges of habitat loss, parasite and disease pressure, and the unintended consequences of pesticide misuse. Bee forage plants can bloom season-long with careful plant selection appropriate to the region. A combination of herbaceous perennial and annual plant…
  • Shade Trees for Georgia (C 1013) Shade trees are a staple of Southern landscapes and include a variety of species, forms and seasonal appeal. In the Southeastern U.S., shade trees are used most often to provide relief from the summer sun and heat. Additionally, shade trees can be utilized to channel summer breezes to desired locations, add monetary value to a property, define outdoor spaces, and improve landscape sustainability b…
  • Spanish Series: Control de Bermuda en Céspedes Residenciales del Sudeste de los EEUU (B 1393-SP) La bermuda es una planta perenne de estación cálida ampliamente utilizada para su uso como césped en el sudeste de los Estados Unidos. [Although improved common (Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.) and hybrid bermudagrasses (Cynodon dactylon x C. transvaalensis Burtt-Davy) have desirable qualities as turfgrasses for heat, drought and wear tolerance, bermudagrass is a problematic weed when grown in mixed…
  • Spanish Series: Seguridad para Trabajadores Hispanos de Jardineria (B 1334-SP) Los hispanos representan la minoría más grande de los Estados Unidos con 42.7 millones de habitantes. Los trabajadores hispanos predominan en la industria de la agricultura urbana del estado de Georgia y conforman casi las tres/cuartas partes del total de obreros del estado. Los supervisores deben garantizar la comprensión e implementación de la seguridad laboral. Es imprescindible reconocer las b…
  • Success with Mixed Containers Using Perennial and Woody Plants (B 1418) This publication offers information on types of plants suitable for mixed containers, with an emphasis on perennial and woody species and cultivars, as well as aesthetic qualities, cultural conditions and placement within the container.
  • Success with Pansies in the Winter Landscape: A Guide for Landscape Professionals (B 1359) This publication provides guidelines for the planting and care of pansies to ensure success, including planting time, bed preparation, plant spacing, planting procedures, fertilization, freeze protection, and common insect and disease problems. Since seasonal color is a high-cost investment in the landscape, it is important to get the maximum return on your investment by following these planting a…
  • Think Outside the Boxwood: Alternative Plants for Gardens and Landscapes (C 1107) Since 2014, boxwood blight has been steadily spreading throughout Georgia landscapes and threatening large and economically important boxwood plantings. This publication provides alternative plants to replace boxwood in landscapes across Georgia. It offers updated information on new cultivars and cautions against use of plants on the GA-EPPC invasive plant list as well as species and cultivars aff…
  • Tips for Saving Water in the Landscape (C 1010) Research has shown that a landscape that has been carefully planned and installed and properly managed will be healthier, less prone to insects and diseases, and will require less irrigation. Georgia's landscape and turf industry and UGA Cooperative Extension are urging citizens to implement inexpensive and easy-to-perform landscape management practices that decrease the need for irrigation and/or…
  • Tropical Plants Offer New Possibilities for Georgia Gardens (B 1272) The goals of these investigations were to achieve an aesthetically pleasing landscape while experimenting with mixing various plant habits, leaf textures and colors, and even flowers, and to raise consumer awareness, both at industry and public levels, of the alternative uses of tropical plants in the landscape. This publication presents plant performance data collected over a three-year period in…
  • Turfgrass Fertility Series: Turfgrass Fertility: Understanding Fertilizer Labels, Macronutrients, and Micronutrients (C 1058-2) A regular fertilization program is important to maintain healthy, attractive turf and should include applying the correct analysis of fertilizer, using the correct amount, and fertilizing at the proper time. Turfgrasses require a number of nutrients for growth. Three of these—carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen—are rarely lacking because grasses get these elements from carbon dioxide in the atmosphere an…
  • Using Water Wisely with Automated Irrigation Systems (C 870) In Georgia, irrigation supplements rainfall and most years, even in summer, irrigation isn't needed every day. With a little careful observation, you can learn to determine your landscape plants' water needs.
  • Water-Wise Landscape Guide for the Georgia Piedmont (B 1444) Do you want a landscape that is beautiful, saves you time, effort and money and uses less water? If you do, a water-wise landscape is for you. Water-wise landscapes are designed, organized, and maintained by practices that use water strategically and wisely. Follow the seven basic steps outlined in this guide to create a beautiful water-wise yard or home garden.
  • Weed Wizard Series: Controlling Florida Betony in the Landscape (C 867-11) Florida betony is a “winter” perennial and has a square stem with opposite leaves. Florida betony (also called rattlesnake weed and hedge nettle) is a problem weed in both turfgrasses and ornamentals.