Recent Posts

  • a pink bathtub and shower with water running out of the tub faucet.

    Wastewater is the “used” water that flows out of homes and businesses through washing machines, toilets, sinks, and tubs. It includes everything carried in that water – soap, grease, hair, feces, toilet paper – as it leaves the building through drainpipes.

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  • A person harvesting vegetables from a lush garden.

    It is the time of year where the fruits of our labor are finally paying off. Berries, squash, zucchini, and beans are ripe for the picking. But sometimes after harvesting your produce and putting it on the counter for later use, it begins to soften before you ever get the chance to use it.

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  • green lichen growing on a plastic storage box.

    We often get calls from concerned residents about a “fungus” growing on trees and killing them. Usually, the growth is lichen (pronounced like-in). While this example of nature’s creativity may be a sign of trouble with the tree, it is not the cause. Lichens are the product of a mutually beneficial relationship between an ascomycete…

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  • a close up image of an Asian longhorned tick on a leaf.

    There’s a new tick in town – well, almost. The Asian longhorned tick (Haemaphysalis longicornis) was identified in New Jersey in 2017 and has been moving down the eastern seaboard, reaching South Carolina and eastern Tennessee last fall. It’s just a matter of time before it gets to Georgia.

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  • A lush lawn with many green trees and bushes.

    We have finally made it to summer, and after such a difficult year many of us are looking forward to the respite of a good vacation. As you pack for a get-away, remember that your plants will be stuck home alone. Here are a few watering solutions to keep them thriving. The best way to…

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  • bright pink/purple beautyberry with yellow-green leaves

    There has been a lot of interest in native plants in recent years, for some very good reasons. Although some may consider native plants less striking than some introduced or cultivated species, with thoughtful selection and planning, we can use native plants to create a landscape that is more sustainable, more ecologically useful, and just…

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  • Earmuffs and ear plugs

    With warmer weather, many of us are enjoying more time outside. Unfortunately, many motorized outdoor toys and tools create noise at levels that damage hearing. Noise-induced hearing loss can have life-impacting consequences. With the use of hearing protection devices, however, we can enjoy the benefits or motorized tools and still preserve our precious hearing.

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  • close-up image of a carpenter ant

    Carpenter ants are the largest of the pest ants found in our area. There are two species in Georgia: black carpenter ants and Florida carpenter ants. Black carpenter ants are dull black with yellowish hairs covering their abdomens. Florida carpenter ants have a deep reddish colored head and thorax and a shiny black abdomen. They…

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  • A pawpaw tree in early bloom displaying its striking deep purple flower.

    Pawpaws (Asimina triloba) are small, hardy, native trees that make a lovely addition to landscapes. While many trees boast spring blooms, pawpaw flowers turn into edible fruit that feeds people as well as wildlife. The tree is the host plant for zebra swallowtail butterflies.

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  • A Japanese beetle on a leaf with many areas that have been chewed.

    Spring has sprung, and those warming temperatures have many of us outside planting – and fighting weeds. Unfortunately, spring heralds the arrival of pests of all kinds. The gut reaction of many gardeners is to grab a spray bottle from the shelf and dose the offender with a generous coating of pesticide. But there are…

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