rlstew2
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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,…
Posted in: Garden -
Did you know that the Georgia State Gamebird is the Northern bobwhite quail? Historically, our state was known as an excellent quail-hunting destination due to the large amount of quail habitat we had. Since the 1960’s, Georgia has seen significant decline in quail populations and the number of quail hunters, primarily due to the loss…
Posted in: Animal Agriculture -
January 14th officially closed out the 2023-2024 hunting season for deer, and as I write this on January 10th, I’ve not so much as seen one from my stand since Thanksgiving. While the hunting season might be over, its never too early to start thinking about what you might want to change or improve for…
Posted in: Animal Agriculture -
The behavior of deer and other wildlife can vary greatly from season to season. Last week, we discussed how pre-rut, peak-rut, and post-rut deer behavior are different, and what implications that can have for hunters. In the later part of deer season, most animals are looking for the best food sources possible, and the shortest…
Posted in: Animal Agriculture -
As a county agent, I am often asked to guest present for different organizations. This week, the Wilkes County Iris Gardening Club asked if I would come give a presentation to their membership about native plants for Georgia. Native plants are an interesting subject to me as the definition of what is “native” is variable…
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There’s nothing worse than going to use a piece of gardening or landscaping equipment and realizing it’s nonfunctional for one reason or another. While the up-front investment on quality equipment can be significant, it often comes with fewer problems and a longer lifespan when cared for properly compared to inexpensive equipment and tools. Generally, I…
Posted in: Misc. -
Last week, we discussed some of the challenges that feral swine have brought to the Southeastern U.S. and why the feral swine population has become such an issue. It’s clear that this nuisance species is not going anywhere, so what can we do about them? Unfortunately, control and management of feral swine is not an…
Posted in: Animal Agriculture -
I’m always thankful when I’m out and about at community events, because I am inevitably told that folks recognize me from the paper and enjoy reading my articles. My response nearly every time is to ask what topics they’d like me to write on. This week, someone suggested I write about “fertilizer math”. …
Posted in: Uncategorized -
Okay, I know you’re probably sitting here and contemplating why I’m writing a gardening article in November, but hear me out! Having an effective vegetable garden takes more planning than what a lot of people realize, so I’m just trying to get you ahead of the curve. Most of Lincoln County has acidic soil with…
Posted in: Garden -
Planting a variety of trees on your property can enhance it’s natural beauty, provide shade, and attract wildlife with shelter and food. We often recommend planting trees in the fall in Georgia, since this allows the root system of the plant to get established before the hot and dry demands of the next summer. One…