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.
-
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.
-
On-Site and Telephone Consultation Available in many situations for home owners and consumers.
-
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.
-
Soil and Water Testing Services Increase your yield, test your water quality, and more.
- 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…
- Key to Diseases of Oaks in the Landscape (B 1286) This publication contains a guide to diseases of oak trees in the landscape.
- 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 …
- Growing Indoor Plants with Success (B 1318) Interior plants are an ideal way to create attractive and restful settings while enhancing our sense of well being. In addition, houseplants can be a satisfying hobby and can help purify the air in ou…
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.
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 providing 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.
-
Starting Seeds
It’s almost that time of year again: January is the month for seed catalogs galore.
-
Transplant Shock
Fall- and winter-planted trees and shrubs can more quickly become established in their new environment while they are dormant, giving them far more resilience during their first summer.
-
Holiday Gift Plants
Here are some simple guidelines to keep your poinsettias and Christmas cacti healthy and ready to shine again next year.
-
December Nights, Holiday Lights
Every fall, the Coastal Georgia Botanical Gardens goes through a “magical metamorphosis,” and this year, CGBG is kicking off its holiday schedule with a one-night-only walk-through festival Nov. 20.
-
Tree Sex
When planting trees, not appreciating different tree genders can lead to many unwanted problems.
-
Killer Tree
When oxidized, a chemical in black walnut trees can be toxic to plants, animals and people.