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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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 hybr…
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Ground Covers (C 928) Ground covers have many practical uses. Some can be used to control erosion when planted on slopes or banks. Others are effective lawn substitutes in areas that are too shady to support the growth of …
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Spanish Series: Resolución de Problemas de Prácticas Culturales en Tomate (C 1089-SP) El tomate es una de las hortalizas más populares que se cultivan en el huerto familiar. Si bien las plantas de tomate pueden producir una gran cantidad de frutas saludables y deliciosas, su cultivo pu…
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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. …
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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Firefly Outreach To showcase its dedication to conservation, Fannin County made a special proclamation to establish July 2 as Fannin County Firefly Day, coinciding with World Firefly Day and International Firefly Week.
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Georgia Green Landscape Stewards Since its launch in 2021, the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension program has certified more than 200 private properties, public spaces and pollinator gardens in 47 counties as Georgia Green Landscapes.
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Open Garden Days University of Georgia Cooperative Extension is sponsoring Open Garden Days throughout the month of June at demonstration gardens throughout Georgia.
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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.
