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 tested, come to the Extension office before applying fertilizers to check the nutritional content of the soil. For $9.00 per bag, the University of Georgia will analyze your soil to help with the proper application of fertilizer based on the turfgrass you are growing. Below are links to our lawn calendars to help you with managing your lawns throughout the growing season. If you notice problems in your lawn, bring in a sample to our office or send us a photo to fayette.extension@uga.edu so we can help you.
Bermudagrass Lawn Calendar: https://turf.caes.uga.edu/content/dam/caes-subsite/georgiaturf/docs/pcrp2024/2024_Bermudagrass_Calendar.pdf
Zoysiagass Lawn Calendar: https://turf.caes.uga.edu/content/dam/caes-subsite/georgiaturf/docs/pcrp2024/2024_Zoysiagrass_Calendar.pdf
Centipedegrass Lawn Calendar: https://turf.caes.uga.edu/content/dam/caes-subsite/georgiaturf/docs/pcrp2024/2024_Centipedegrass_Calendar.pdf
St. Augustinegrass Lawn Calendar: https://turf.caes.uga.edu/content/dam/caes-subsite/georgiaturf/docs/pcrp2024/2024_Centipedegrass_Calendar.pdf
Invasive Awareness- Crapemyrtle Bark Scale (Acanthococcus lagerstroemiae)
Native to Asia
Hosts: Crapemyrtle (Lagerstroemia indica) and American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana)
Adult females and males are distinct: females are stationary and covered in a white felt sac (1.1-2.9 mm long), and males are winged, pink and rarely seen.
Invasive felt scale found primarily on crape myrtle trees. Infestations are scattered around the southern US.
Nymphs are tiny and pink when young and may turn brown or grey when they grow larger and older.
Causes reduced flowering and dark bark from sooty mold growing on honeydew.
Looks similar to azalea bark scale, but this scale is not found on crapemyrtle.
Content from Invasive Species Extension Newsletter, May 2026, Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Heath, University of Georgia. Image: Rebekah D. Wallace, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org
Plant Of the Month- Turk’s Cap Mallow-Malvaviscus arboreus
Turk’s cap mallow is a spreading 2-3 ft shrub that produces bright-red hibiscus like flowers that never fully open. The plant gets its name as the flowers resemble a Turkish turban as petals overlap to form a loose tube with the stamen protruding out of the center. These unique flowers are produced towards the end of the summer when temperatures are hot. Plant this shrub in part shade and enjoy seeing hummingbirds, butterflies, moths, insects, birds, and other wildlife visit the flowers and fruit.
Image: Rebekah D. Wallace, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org
Upcoming Programs
Please check out our Upcoming Adult ANR Events listed at the Fayette County Extension Website, extension.uga.edu/Fayette. This year, we have online registration available for most of them. Listed below are our programs for January. A listing of additional programs coming up are available on our website.
14th: Shade Gardening for Pollinators: Register for our FREE Zoom program.
21st: Sweet Potatoes with Tom! Register online.
28th: Herb Gardening: Register online.
Kim Toal, is the Fayette County Extension Coordinator and Agent for Agriculture and Natural Resources. For additional information about Fayette County Extension, please call our office at 770-305-5412 or check out our website at https://extension.uga.edu/fayette.
