Travis Tankersley
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Each spring, as The Masters Tournament unfolds just down the road in Augusta, Georgia, the nation is treated to the iconic sight of azaleas in peak bloom. Those vibrant colors signal that spring has arrived across Northeast Georgia—and they also serve as inspiration for homeowners looking to achieve similar beauty in their own landscapes. Azaleas…
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Agriculture has long been the backbone of Madison County’s economy and heritage. From cattle operations and hay production to poultry, row crops, timber, and specialty agriculture, farmers and landowners across the county work every day to produce food, fiber, and natural resources that support our communities. One of the missions of the University of Georgia…
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The Madison County Extension Office will be hosting a free educational class that covers irrigation system design and maintenance for home landscapes and gardens! Mark your calendar for March 31, 2026 at 5:30 PM! Registration will end at 5:00 PM on Friday, March 27,2026. The meeting will be held at the Madison County Extension Office…
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When Mother Nature decides to turn the thermostat down below freezing, it affects more than just water lines and power bills. Many plants develop wilted leaves, blackened stems, and may look as if they’ve been scorched. Others will not show signs of damage until spring, when they come out of dormancy. The following is a…
Posted in: Agriculture -
It is that time of year again when leaves are falling and completely covering landscapes. If you don’t enjoy raking, bagging, and dragging leaves to the curb, you can reuse them as mulch. In nature, leaves act like a blanket that protects the roots of trees and plants from very cold temperatures. If you remove…
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Do you really need to bag and haul away your grass clippings—or could they actually be the key to a greener lawn? The University of Georgia Cooperative Extension is encouraging homeowners to consider grasscycling as a sustainable alternative to bagging lawn clippings. Grasscycling is the practice of leaving clippings on the lawn after mowing, allowing…
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Georgia pond owners are grappling with an increasing presence of two invasive aquatic plants—Duckweed (Lemna spp.) and Watermeal (Wolffia spp.)—that are threatening the health of freshwater ecosystems across the state. These tiny, free-floating plants reproduce quickly and can blanket pond surfaces within days, leading to severe consequences such as oxygen depletion, fish kills, and ecosystem…
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Now that spring has sprung and we’ve enjoyed our early bloomers, it’s time to take care of a few maintenance tasks in the garden. Shrubs like forsythia, early azaleas, and dogwood all bloom early in the spring. It’s time to prune them after they bloom and before they set buds for next year. A few…
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The brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB), Halyomorpha halys, is an invasive pest that has become a significant issue for both agriculture and landscaping in the United States. Native to Asia, it was introduced in the mid-1990s and spread rapidly, largely due to its unique overwintering behavior. The BMSB seeks dark, dry areas like vehicles and…
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Deciduous fruit trees, bushes, and vines in the home garden need ongoing care, and one of the most crucial yet often overlooked tasks is pruning. Proper pruning and training help shape the plant, improve fruit quality, enhance its longevity, and reduce the risk of disease and damage. It is a practice that supports the plant’s…