Fayette County Extension Agriculture & Natural Resources
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From our "Know and Grow in Fayette County" blog
Growing Fayette- May 2026 Newsletter
Warm Season Lawns Having a beautiful lawn is possible when you know proper management for the turf species you have. Our warm season lawns have been coming out of dormancy for the past few weeks and now is the time to start considering fertilizing them. If you haven’t had a chance to get your soil […]
Growing Fayette- April 2026 Newsletter
Master Gardener Extension Volunteer Plant Sale-Saturday, April 25th The Fayette County Master Gardener Extension Volunteers will hold a plant sale on Saturday, April 25, from 8:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. The new location for the sale is at 205 Lafayette Avenue, Fayetteville near the Lafayette Educational Center (Building D). Master Gardener Extension Volunteers will be […]
Growing Fayette- February 2026 Newsletter
Ideas for your Valentine Plant Spotlight-Lenten Rose (Helleborus orientalis) Adding a pop of color to your shade garden this winter is easy with the Lenten Rose (also known as a Hellebore). Lenten Roses are herbaceous evergreens that will naturalize in your shady garden space and might help with erosion on slopes. Plants develop into clumps […]
Growing Fayette- January 2026 Newsletter
Welcome to a New Year and a new newsletter from the Fayette County Extension Office. In this new format, you will be linked to different publications from the University of Georgia as well as be able to sign up online for some of our educational programs. January is National Radon Awareness Month and Georgia Homes […]
Other Upcoming Events
Jun 18
Georgia Butterfly Life: The Vital Role of Native Host Plants in Your Garden
Fayetteville, GA
Georgia is home to over 160 species of butterflies, with some estimates reaching up to 176 species. Discover the vibrant butterflies of Georgia and the vital role of native host plants. Learn why incorporating local species is the essential first step to building a thriving, successful butterfly garden. This program will be presented by our very own Master Gardener Extension Volunteer, Charlane Hemphill.
This is a FREE program with an optional tour of the Fayette County Extension Education Garden after the program. Please dress accordingly.
Aug 11
Pollinator Paradise: If You Build It, They Will Hum
Fayetteville, GA
Think your backyard is just a patch of grass? Think again! Behind every blooming flower is a bustling world of "unstung heroes" - our native bees, butterflies, and beetles. While honeybees get all the headlines, our local native pollinators are the true engines of our ecosystem and they’re looking for a place to call home.
Join us for this free program and learn about the role of native plants, native bees, and other pollinators. Leave this program with a better understanding of how to create a wildlife habitat for all pollinators. The educator for this program will be Fayette County Master Gardener Extension Volunteer (MGEV) Charlane Hemphill.
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Home Garden Publications
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Home Garden Plums (B 1518) This bulletin offers information about plum production, pruning, thinning, fertilization, and variety selection in the home garden. Plums belong to the Prunus genus and consists of many species of different origins and diverse fruit types. Most commercially grown varieties are derived from either Japanese or Asian plums (P. salicina and its interspecific hybrids) or European plums (P. domestica). Japanese plums are primarily for fresh consumption, while European plums are for both processing and fresh consumption. The products obtained from processing plums include prunes (dried fruit, the predominant product), canned fruit, jam, jelly, juice, and beverages.
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Home Garden Bunch Grapes (B 807) Bunch grapes are often called “pod” grapes in rural Georgia since they produce large clusters of fruit. Georgia's climate is not well-suited to home garden production of European bunch grapes, but American bunch grapes and hybrids between the two species (French hybrids) grow well in Georgia. If grapes are well cared for and sprayed when diseases and insects threaten, you can expect yields of 20 to 30 pounds of fruit per vine.
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Home Garden Asparagus (C 1026) For gardeners who are willing to put in a little effort and have some patience, asparagus can be a rewarding and delicious vegetable to grow. This publication explains how to grow asparagus in a home vegetable garden.
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Growing Cucumbers in the Home Garden (C 1034) Cucumbers are one of the most popular crops in today's home garden. This publication helps you to select the varieties to suit your needs.
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Heirloom Vegetables in the Home Garden (C 1302) This publication discusses heirloom vegetable choices and some of the common issues that growers may encounter when growing heirloom vegetables in a home garden setting. Additional author: Whitney Richardson, University of Georgia Center for Urban Agriculture, with technical assistance from Makenzie English, University of Georgia Department of Horticulture Program Assistant.
Well Water Publications
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Lead and Copper (C 858-10) Private wells are exclusively supplied by groundwater. The source waters for most public water systems in south Georgia (and some in north Georgia) are also supplied by groundwater. Generally, lead and copper concentrations in the major underground aquifers in Georgia are far below the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) action levels. They enter the household drinking water system and exceed the action levels almost exclusively via corrosion of plumbing materials. Many homes built prior to the 1988 still have lead solder connecting copper pipes, unless later on replaced by PVC pipes. Also, indoor plumbing fixtures are often made of lead and copper or their alloys, such as brass. Corrosive water can dissolve small amounts of these metals from plumbing which, upon drinking, may be harmful to your health. In 1992, the lead and copper rule, published by the EPA, became effective and required that municipal water suppliers must treat water to reduce concentrations below action levels of 0.015 milligrams (mg) lead per liter or 15 parts per billion (ppb) and 1.3 mg copper per liter or 1.3 parts per million (ppm). Keep in mind, however, that the EPA does not regulate private water supplies (such as well water), nor can the EPA control the lead and copper contamination that may result from your household pipes.
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Mercury in Your Water (C 858-13) Mercury in your drinking water poses a threat to your health. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has set the current standard for mercury in drinking water at 2 parts per billion (ppb). The amount of mercury in public water systems is regulated according to EPA standards. If your water comes from a public system, it is routinely tested to ensure safe mercury levels. However, if you are concerned about mercury levels in your municipal water supply, you should request a consumer confidence report from your water provider or visit EPA’s site at www.epa.gov/ccr. Unlike users of public water systems, those who use private water supplies (such as wells, springs, and cisterns) are responsible for ensuring the quality of their own drinking water. Since private systems are more susceptible to mercury than public water systems, private well owners should take steps to guard their health. Measures include routine testing and wellhead maintenance and protection.
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Uranium in Your Water (C 858-14) Uranium in your drinking water may be harmful to your health. If your water comes from a public system, it is routinely tested to ensure safe levels of uranium. If your source of household water is a private well, cistern or spring, you are solely responsible for the quality of your own drinking water. Private well owners are encouraged to monitor uranium through water testing.
Lawn and Landscape Publications
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Native Plants for Georgia Part I: Trees, Shrubs and Woody Vines (B 987) This publication focuses on native trees, shrubs and woody vines for Georgia. It is not our intent to describe all native species — just those available in the nursery trade and those that the authors feel have potential for nursery production and landscape use. Rare or endangered species are not described. Information on each plant is provided according to the following categories: Common Name(s)/Botanical Name/Family, Characteristics, Landscape Uses, Size, Zones and Habitat.
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Conversion Tables, Formulas and Suggested Guidelines for Horticultural Use (B 931) Pesticide and fertilizer recommendations are often made on a pounds per acre and tons per acre basis. While these may be applicable to field production of many crops, orchardists, nurserymen and greenhouse operators often must convert these recommendations to smaller areas, such as row feet, square feet, or even per tree or per pot. Thus pints, cups, ounces, tablespoons and teaspoons are the common units of measure. The conversion is frequently complicated by metric units of measure. This publication is designed to aid growers in making these calculations and conversions, and also provides other data useful in the management, planning and operation of horticultural enterprises.
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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.
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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.
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Millipedes and Centipedes (B 1088) Millipedes and centipedes do not carry diseases that affect people, animals or plants. Millipedes do occasionally damage seedlings by feeding on stems and leaves, and may enter homes in large numbers during periods of migration and become a considerable nuisance. They do not cause damage inside the home, although they may leave a stain if they are crushed. Centipedes, which have poison glands and can bite, pose an occasional threat to humans.
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The Management and Use of Bahiagrass (B 1362) Bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum Flugge) is a long-lived, perennial warm season grass that is grown extensively in the southeastern United States. It is most commonly used as a pasture species, but can be used for hay production, erosion control, and wildlife habitat. Bahiagrass can also be used in "sod-based rotation" sequences that have been found to suppress pest problems (nematode and disease issues) in crops such as peanuts.
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Weed Control in Home Lawns (B 978) Weeds can be major pests of home lawns. Due to differences in color, leaf size, shape and growth habit, weeds detract from the natural beauty of desirable turfgrasses. Additionally, weeds compete with turfgrasses for sunlight, soil moisture, nutrients and space. Many weeds can quickly become the dominant species in a lawn. This publication contains comprehensive information about weed control in home lawns.
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Annual Bluegrass Control in Residential Turfgrass (B 1394) Annual bluegrass (Poa annua L.) is a problematic winter annual weed in residential turf. Compared to most turfgrasses, annual bluegrass has a lighter green color, coarser leaf texture and produces unsightly seedheads. Contrary to its name, both annual (live for one season) and perennial (live for many seasons) biotypes of annual bluegrass may be found in turf. This publication describes methods of control for annual bluegrass in residential turfgrass lawns.