ANR
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As is the case with many invasive plants, the Callery pear tree was brought to the U.S. with good intentions. According to the U.S. Forest Service, a USDA employee imported Pyrus calleryana from Asia in 1917 to impart blight resistance and increase fruit productivity of European pear trees under cultivation. One cultivar, P. calleryana ‘Bradford’,…
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I’ve recently been in contact with a client who had questions about installing sod on the “gravel, clay, and dirt” yard of their new house. She was wondering if she should do a soil test. While the answer is yes, a soil test is only the first of several actions needed to prepare a construction…
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While most boring beetles attack only dead and dying trees, non-native granulate ambrosia beetles (Xylosandrus crassiusculus), formerly known as Asian ambrosia beetles, also attack many species of healthy young trees. They tend to attack deciduous trees with thin bark, such as maple, dogwood, redbud, crape myrtle, ornamental cherry, fig, peach, and plum trees. Granulate ambrosia…
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Late February to mid-March, before plants emerge from dormancy, is the time prune trees and shrubs and apply pre-emergence herbicides to lawns. Pruning basics Pruning is healthy for plants. Strategic pruning stimulates growth and flowering and also opens the canopy to improve airflow and light infiltration for disease prevention. Aesthetically, pruning helps us maintain the…
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For beginning birders, listening to experienced birdwatchers effortlessly differentiate between a Carolina and a black-capped chickadee, compare their life lists, and discuss their travels to see specific bird species can be daunting. But enjoying watching birds doesn’t need to be complicated, especially if we start with the birds in our own backyards. My philosophy around…
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Forsyth County is part of the Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District (Metro Water District), a pioneer organization in regional water planning that was established by the Georgia legislature in 2001. Since then, through the adoption water saving practices by industry, individuals and businesses, per capita water use in the 15-county region has dropped by…
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Insurance is a tool to manage financial risk. Since life is full of risks, there are an astounding number of insurance products to protect against them, including life, renters, short- and long-term disability, vacation, and pet insurance. Within each insurance category are different types and levels of risk coverage. Understanding how insurance protects our financial…
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Every New Year, the top resolutions focus on aspects of health improvement, like eating healthier, exercising more, or quitting smoking. These are challenging goals that require a long commitment. Testing your home for radon gas, however, is quick, easy, and could have a profound impact on your health. Radon is the 2nd leading cause of…
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According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the United States has 45 million “birders” over the age of 16. If you’ve traveled at least one mile from home to watch birds, or if you’ve spent time trying to identify birds around your home, you qualify as a birder. Eighty-seven percent of birdwatchers fall into…
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Wednesday morning, the outside temperature was 23 degrees Fahrenheit. The furnace at my house stopped working on Sunday, so the inside temperature was 56 degrees. This was an unpleasant reminder that it’s time to do all the winterizing tasks that help keep our homes comfortable during cold weather and potential winter storms. Task 1 –…
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