Paul Pugliese.

  • Fairy Ring Mushrooms

    We’ve had numerous calls this season about mushrooms popping up in lawns and landscapes.  When the “fungus among us” forms a circle or arc pattern, it’s commonly known as a fairy ring.  In some cases, fairy ring mushrooms can cause a discoloration or abnormal growth of turfgrass in lawns.  According to medieval folklore, they were…

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  • Fall Armyworms in Lawns and Pastures

    In late summer, almost every year, caterpillars invade pastures, hay fields, and home lawns throughout the state. Particularly in pastures and hay fields, damage may be severe before the worms are noticed. The grass is usually not killed, but hay yield and forage can be reduced to almost nothing over whole fields in extreme cases.…

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  • The following table lists common plants known to be toxic when ingested by horses. While this is not a complete list, it contains many plants commonly found in pastures and landscapes in Georgia.  Horses generally will not consume the majority of these plants unless deprived of their normal forages. Plant Name(s) Botanical Name/Family Toxic Plant…

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  • Transplant Shock

    As a general rule, anytime a tree or shrub dies within the first year of planting, there is usually a root issue involved.  Spring planted trees and shrubs are generally more stressed from summer heat, since their roots are still underdeveloped during the first year.  This results in excessive wilting, which causes well-intentioned gardeners to…

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  • Lichens on Trees

    Chances are, some or maybe even all of your trees on your property have a scaly-like substance all over them. What is it? And could it be a sign the tree is dying? UGA Extension Agent Paul Pugliese will answer those questions on the Farm Monitor.

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  • Sooty Mold

    Sooty mold can be a very confusing plant disorder to troubleshoot for many backyard gardeners and commercial landscapers.  Quite often small trees, shrubs, and flowers that have no obvious insect or disease problems can be completely covered by this mysterious black mold.  Even more perplexing is the fact that the same varieties of flowers and…

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  • Father’s Day Gifts

    I may be a little biased, but I believe the best Father’s Day gifts are garden books, tools, gloves, seeds, or plants.  Each of these items involves me and my son getting our hands dirty in the garden.  The best gifts are the those that create lasting memories of planting or building something that we…

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  • Crape Myrtle Murder Mystery

    The crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica) is one of the most commonly planted ornamental trees for home landscapes and urban areas.  By definition, crape myrtle is technically a small tree or large shrub.  Crape myrtle is one of the most popular flowering shrubs/trees grown in Georgia because it provides abundant summer color with minimal maintenance.  Crape myrtle…

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  • Snakes and Turtles

    What would you do if you found a snapping turtle or a 6 ft. snake in your backyard?  This time of year, we get many of these kinds of wildlife questions at the County Extension office.  Reptiles are emerging from their winter slumber to find food and a future mate.  It is interesting to note…

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