Recent Posts

  • There is a large push across our country to promote reading during the summer months. If a child stops reading when school gets out in May or June, and does not read again until school starts, they will intellectually be months behind their classmates when school starts again. This creates issues for children and teachers…

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  • LAWN BURWEED – IT’S A STICKY PROBLEM Tim R. Murphy – Retired Extension Weed Scientist, The University of Georgia The weed in question is most commonly lawn burweed (Soliva pterosperma), a.k.a. spurweed, stickerweed, sandbur, sanbur and sandspur. Lawn burweed is a winter annual member of the Aster family. The weed germinates in the early fall months…

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  • Collaboration of UGA Entomology Department, Center for Invasive Species and Center for Urban Ag A flurry of recent press coverage has created a surge of interest in the Asian giant hornet, Vespa mandarinia. The coverage is not traced to any recent event. The insect was found last September 2019 in Vancouver Island (Canada) and again…

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  • I get quite a few calls about lichens. Most clients bring in a sample or send me a picture of a frilly something growing on their tree or shrub and say, “This is killing my plant!”  Well, actually, its not.  Lichens (pronounced “liken”) are not parasitic. Lichens are made up of symbiotic organisms, a fungi…

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  • Energy drinks (Red Bull, Monster, 5 Hour energy), soda, coffee, and tea seem to be the first thing people reach for when they need a boost of energy. That boost of energy usually comes in the form of caffeine. Caffeine works by blocking the effects of adenosine, a brain chemical involved in sleep. By blocking…

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  • Properly planned meal preparation can help both your waist line and your budget. Meal preparation means food inventory, recipe research, grocery shopping, cooking, meal portioning, and storing your meals. Most families do the cooking, portioning, and storage on a daily basis. With proper planning, most of the cooking that you do all week long can…

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  • There has been a lot of interest recently in raising your own laying hens. Before you buy chicks, there are many preparations to make. Preparing for proper housing, nutrition and health will make sure that your chicks survive to produce eggs for your dining pleasure.

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  • Composting is a simple way to add nutrient-rich humus which fuels plant growth and restores vitality to depleted soil.  It’s also free, easy to make and good for the environment. Using compost improves soil structure, texture, and aeration and increases the soil’s water-holding capacity.  Compost loosens clay soils and helps sandy soils retain water. Adding…

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  • The weather is warming and warm season perennial grasses are coming out of dormancy. Our lawns are greening up nicely and its time to start setting them up for a beautiful green summer. Knowing the right time to apply fertilizers, soil amendments, and pest control options is critical to the sustainability and health of your…

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  • A routine is defined as a sequence of actions regularly followed. In the blink of an eye, the COVID-19 virus has altered each of our defined and refined daily routines. Part of your daily routine may have included going to the gym or participating in a group exercise class at a local fitness studio. While…

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