MC Halbrook

  • 13-year Cicada Emergence, What We Know

    People all over social media are buzzing about this 13-year cicada emergence! You see things like “invasion” and “America’s Cicada ‘apocalypse.’” Numbers are projected at millions or even trillions of bugs emerging. In 2024, we will see the emergence of both 13-year and 17-year cicadas in addition to the cicadas that emerge every year. For…

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  • Late winter/early spring is an excellent time for land owners and managers to perform prescribed burns. But why would we do this? The US Forest Service lists several reasons to use Prescribed Fire as a land management tool: Who does this help? Historically, the Southeastern United States was predominantly Longleaf Pine ecosystems. This includes the…

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  • This weekend at the Glynn County Arbor Day Celebration, we had a resident ask about pruning her Crape Myrtles. She said: I see that all of my neighbors have trimmed theirs and I feel like I am the last one to do it! When am I supposed to prune my Crape Myrtles? And do I…

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  • Treat for Summer Weeds

    Summer weeds? Already? Yes, even though it is February, now is the best time to think about treating for weeds you see in the summer. At this time of year, we will apply Pre-emergent herbicides. For some vocabulary: Pre-emergent: applied prior to weed seed germination and emergence Post emergent: applied as spot treatment directly to…

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  • B.O.L.O – Chinese Tallow/Popcorn Tree

    image describing the Chinese Tallowtree and identifying characteristics.

    The Chinese Tallowtree is an invasive that was introduced as an ornamental but has spread across the southeastern US. This tree spreads by seed, that it produces prolifically, and root sprouts. They have high levels of tannins in their leaf litter that will alter soil conditions. You may have heard it called the Popcorn Tree…

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  • Winter Landscape Protection

    Protect your ornamental plants during the harsh cold conditions this winter. Cold damage can occur on any part of the plant, but we typically notice it first on the leaves and stems. Ice will form within the plant’s cells and plant tissue will die, resulting in brownish-black and mushy plant material. We may not see…

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  • Irrigation: A Word from UGA Specialists

    The sun rising over sprinklers watering plots at the Athens Turfgrass Research and Education Center.

    As we enter the cold seasons, it can be stressful to prepare your gardens. This can be especially worrisome along the Georgia Coast as we prepare for warm winters but can experience unexpected frosts and freezes. The cooler temperatures today are certainly welcome after a blistering summer. However, you may have questions seeping in as…

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  • Recycling 101: Plastic Films

    Did you know that you cannot put your plastic films in the regular recycling? Films such as grocery bags, newspaper bags, thin plastic wrapped around products purchased (such as toilet paper or paper towels), plastic cereal liners, and bags that zip closed. The great news is that you can still recycle these items! It will…

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  • Hazardous Home Chemical Disposal

    You’ve used your pesticide or fertilizer and now it is time to throw it out. How though? You know that reasonably you shouldn’t just throw it away and dumping it would be bad for the plants and ground water. How do you get rid of these chemicals? Pesticide Manufacturers must put proper disposal information on…

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  • Preparing for Tropical Storm Idalia

    Image of the path of Tropical Storm Idalia as of 1:46PM on 8-28-23

    As we monitor for Tropical Storm Idalia, you should take precautions and prepare your household for extreme weather events. Please note: this blog post is being made at 1:50PM on 8-28-2023. There will be updates to the path of the storm that you should monitor through the National Weather Service. Sign up for CodeRED emergency…

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