Paul Pugliese.

  • Tree bark injuries

    weed trimmer damage

    Split bark, or vertical cracks along the lower tree stem of young trees, most commonly occurs on thin-barked trees. Large cracks can become long-term open wounds that are more susceptible to wood-boring insects, fungal diseases and wood decay.  Read More

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  • bed of Indian hawthorns with mulch

    Now is the time to add a blanket of mulch to perennial flowers and shrubs. Maintaining a mulch layer at least 3 inches deep will significantly reduce weeds and help newly planted trees and shrubs get established and stay healthy.  Read More

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  • Mole

    Moles are insectivores that are closely related to shrews and bats. In the fall, there is a lot of mole activity because white grubs are starting to hatch out near the soil surface. This is one of the mole’s favorite snacks. Moles tunneling under the lawn can be a symptom of a grub problem, especially…

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  • Give the gift of knowledge

    soil bags

    The gift of knowledge is one that any farmer or gardener can truly appreciate. Research is continually finding new and better ways to deal with the challenges farmers and gardeners face and University of Georgia Cooperative Extension publications document those recommendations.  A soil sample kit or a UGA Extension publication on your loved one’s favorite…

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  • Getting to the ‘Root’ of the Problem

    mulch over tree roots

    In this Extension Corner segment, UGA Extension’s Paul Pugliese shares how to deal with mature tree roots that destroy lawns or cause problems around landscaping.

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  • In this Extension Corner segment, UGA Extension’s Paul Pugliese talks about gardening with children.

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  • School Gardens

    Over the past year, I’ve been contacted by several elementary and middle schools in Bartow County about starting school gardens! This is an exciting time in education as our local schools work toward becoming certified in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM).  Having a school garden is a natural extension of the classroom and gives…

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  • Leyland Cypress Problems

    Question: Why are the branches on my Leyland cypress trees dying back?  Over the last decade or so Leyland cypress became extremely popular as screening plants. They provided homeowners with a cheap, very rapidly growing privacy screen. Unfortunately, when a plant becomes so popular that it is planted everywhere, formerly minor pest problems can develop…

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  • When Your Roses Are Not So Rosy

    If you grow roses in Georgia, you need to be aware of a common problem known as rose rosette virus. This is actually an old virus that’s been around since the 1940s, but really wasn’t actually identified as a common problem until around 2011 is when pathologists actually confirmed that this was an issue.

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  • Lawn Maintenance Calendars

    Every year, local county Extension offices receive hundreds of phone calls from homeowners with questions about “when” to do this or that to their lawns.  When do I fertilize? When do I plant grass seed?  When do I core aerate?  When do I apply pre-emergent herbicides?  These are just a few examples of the many…

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