A website from UGA Cooperative Extension

UGA Extension Forsyth County

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  • Forestry Stewardship Reaps Rewards

    A narrow road with tall trees lining it.

    As they tower above us, trees create shade to keep us cool – and lower power bills. Tree leaves catch and filter airborne soot and dust, and they absorb harmful atmospheric gasses and convert them into energy for growth. Leaves also intercept raindrops, slowing the speed of their fall and lessening their erosive force when…

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  • Prepare for Winter Weather Events

    a suburban street with downed trees covered in ice. Spectators nearby planning to clear the road.

    After our hot, dry fall, it may be hard to imagine dealing with winter storms this season. But the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecasts a neutral winter for us, and that means more warm-to-cold-to warm temperature swings, according to UGA Agricultural Climatologist Pam Knox.

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  • Plant Perennials in Fall

    A tree with a full canopy full of small white flowers.

    Fall is an ideal time to add perennial trees and shrubs to your landscape. Because the root systems of perennials continue to grow even when the rest of the plant is dormant, fall planting gives the root system the opportunity to establish in their new environment without having to undergo the heat and drought stress…

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  • How Plants Fight Back

    A close-up image of a stalk with sharp thorns protruding from it.

    Gardening is a healthy hobby. It gets us outside where, in addition to getting physical exercise, we can soak up the mental and physiological benefits of nature. Food gardeners also reap the nutritional benefits of just-picked produce and the satisfaction of self-sufficiency. We need to remember, however, that all-natural isn’t necessarily harmless.

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  • Maintain your health as you maintain your lawn

    a photo of a lawnmower taken at the level of grass

    Throughout the year, Forsyth County Extension gets calls from people with questions about maintaining healthy lawns. While we’re happy to answer those questions, it’s also important to talk about how to stay healthy while maintaining that lawn. Power equipment helps us complete lawn care tasks in less time and with less labor. Unfortunately, this convenience…

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  • Let’s test: Recommended annual tests for well water

    A anthromorphic water droplet with hands, feet, and a smiling face.

    If your drinking water comes from a private well, UGA and CDC recommend annual testing to assure quality and safety. The recommended tests for wells throughout the state are the basic test (W-1) to determine pH and levels of dissolved minerals, a test for bacterial contamination (W-35), a test for total nitrates and nitrites (W-32),…

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  • Apply pre-emergent herbicide now to reduce lawn weeds

    A bright red lawn spreader actively spreading herbicide

    At the Extension Office, we’ve lately been receiving calls and emails from people with questions about applying pre-emergent herbicides to their lawns. What kind of pre-emergent herbicide should I use? Should I apply it now? What about fertilizer? As always when dealing with ecosystem matters, the answer is, “It depends.” Things to consider include the…

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  • Livestock need adequate nutrition to cope with winter

    Image of a Feed and Forage report from UGA

    While wildlife cope with the limited food resources of winter by hibernating or migrating, those options aren’t available for domesticated livestock such as horses and cattle. These animals rely on humans to provide them with feed throughout the year.

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  • Hibernation is one strategy for coping with winter

    A small furry rodent curled up and hibernating in some brown leaves.

    Winter officially started with the winter solstice in late December, but the lead-up to the season arguably begins in June. That’s when the summer solstice marks the day of the year with the longest span of daylight. After the summer solstice, the time between sunrise and sunset gets a little shorter each day, until we…

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  • Let’s Remember Georgia Farmers during Holiday Celebrations

    An outline of the shape of Georgia, inside pictures representing Georgia's farm industry-poultry, blueberries, cattle, swine, onion, peanuts, and cotton

    or many holidays and family celebrations, food is a central feature. What would an Independence Day picnic be without watermelon? Can you host a tail-gate or game-day party without chicken wings, hamburgers, or bar-b-que? In my family, dinner get-togethers aren’t complete without an apple, peach, blueberry, or pumpkin pie, depending on the season. And my…

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