Colbi Turner

  • Watermelon – A Sweet Summer Treat

    A few weeks ago I was able to visit with a colleague of mine down in south Georgia whose county produces over $12 million dollars in watermelons each year – roughly $6k per acre in profit. While I don’t necessarily recommend that you try to grow watermelons at quite that big of a scale, they…

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  • Brood XIX – Cicadas

    For the last thirteen years, Brood XIX, or the Great Southern Brood of periodical cicadas have been living underground as nymphs, feeding on hardwood plant roots. If a mature tree wasn’t present 13 years ago, if the tree was cut down since that time period, or if the tree is not a hardwood species, cicadas…

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  • What’s That Grass Species? Crabgrass

    I recently had a call from a gentleman who had cleared some property around a house and was looking for a good ground cover to hold the soil and look nice as he prepared to sell it. While I’ve written fairly frequently about the benefits of cool-season annual grass species such as annual ryegrass for…

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  • Last week I received a call in the office for a couple that had a honey bee swarm at their house and were looking for someone to help remove it. While UGA Extension doesn’t provide bee removal, we do try our best to connect beekeepers with homeowners looking for honey bee removal. Honey bee swarms…

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  • With Masters Week upon us, I was asked if I could highlight some of the agriculture related to the Augusta National Golf Course and famous tournament – in all honesty, I’m surprised I haven’t thought to do this before now! Prior to 1856, the property on which the Augusta National sits was an indigo plantation.…

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  • The Scoop on Soils: Types and Textures

    If you’re interested in growing plants of any kind, it’s important that you understand how important your soil is. From a conservation standpoint, soil helps filter rainwater, preventing contaminants from entering the aquifer, and regulates runoff into the ground, which prevents flooding.  Soil is an important sequester of carbon, provides a home to fungi, bacteria,…

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  • Plant Spotlight: Lilies and Daylilies

    Lilies have always had a prominent place in the landscapes of my life, from my grandmother’s house, to my parent’s mountain cabin, and now to my own home. There’s something about their showy flowers and smell that has made them one of my favorite flowers and landscape plants. Both lilies and daylilies are wonderful additions…

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  • Using Manure in Your Home Garden

    Maintaining proper soil pH and fertility is essential for success in gardens. Whether you’re hoping to grow beautiful flowers or tasty vegetables, plants need essential nutrients just like any other living thing. Extension typically recommends selecting a fertilizer for your garden that matches the needs of what you’re growing and your soil test report. Animal…

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  • Improving a Weedy Lawn with Spring Management

    The other day I was out doing some work around my property and had not one, but two thistles growing in my lawn. Thankfully, thistles in their rosette stage are easy enough to kick out of the soil and kill off, but I’m glad I noticed them before they bolted, flowered, and spread. As our…

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  • Time to Start Thinking of Your Garden!

    As we get some sunny days and “false spring”, one of the first things on my mind is helping clients get ready to reach their gardening goals for the year. While it’s only February, some components of a successful garden take a bit of prep, planning, and time to get right.             First and foremost,…

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