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Frost protection systems tremendously benefit commercial blueberry production in Georgia. These systems are expensive and usually configured as overhead irrigation systems. For the system to provide protection, it must operate as soon as it’s needed. The best practice for maintaining a frost protection system is to perform preventative maintenance service every late fall or early winter. This publication offers blueberry growers suggestions on how to prepare their frost protection systems for future operation. Recommendations include a check-off list for maintenance and inspection of overhead irrigation systems, important considerations when preparing for freeze events.
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Pathogens in household waters pose a serious threat to human health. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have recorded many drinking water microbial-associated disease outbreaks in the U.S., causing illness, hospitalization, and even death. The two most commonly identified reasons for these outbreaks are the bacterium Legionella spreading from within building plumbing systems (66% of cases) and untreated groundwater (13% of cases). To protect human health, disinfection is considered important in most water treatment systems. This publication provides necessary information on the various disinfection options for household water as well as important points to consider before buying disinfection equipment.
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Detection of damaging nematode infestations may allow growers to significantly increase crop productivity and profitability. It is imperative that growers test their soil to determine which nematode species are present in their fields as well as their population densities. The best way to detect and identify nematode problems is through collecting soil and/or plant samples and having those samples analyzed in a reliable nematode diagnostic lab. It is highly recommended that, if you suspect a field has a nematode problem, test the soil and then consult with your local Extension agent or nematologist for advice on how to manage the nematode infection.
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The quality of drinking water from wells may be compromised during a flood. Flooding around the well increases the risk of drinking water becoming contaminated with bacteria or any other contaminants, rendering it unsafe to drink and for washing food items. This publication describes the steps to take when you suspect that your well has been affected by flooding. Steps include well inspection, calculation of the depth of water and storage capacity of the well, shock chlorination, and laboratory bacteria testing. The circular also discusses tips on how to know whether the water is safe to drink again.
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Native plants are a great choice for Georgia landscapes. They provide food and habitat for native insects, birds, and other creatures and allow the gardeners to support local ecosystems. They are well suited to their native environments and many are quite beautiful. However, they are not super plants! They need to be sited in locations that closely match their native habitat, and the general public often assumes they need little or no care. This publication outlines conditions under which native plants need supplemental water and pest protection. Using the guidelines presented here, gardeners will be able to grow healthy native plants in their landscape.
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Watermelon production faces many challenges in Georgia. The warm, humid climate favors numerous foliar diseases. Because of the long history of watermelon production in Georgia, soilborne diseases such as Fusarium wilt also present challenges to growers. This bulletin will provide background on disease symptoms, pathogen survival and infection, pathogenic races, and management.
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We can positively affect pollinator populations in our region by providing plants that help sustain them. Pollinators face the increasing challenges of habitat loss, parasite and disease pressure, and the unintended consequences of pesticide misuse. Bee forage plants can bloom season-long with careful plant selection appropriate to the region. A combination of herbaceous perennial and annual plants, trees, and shrubs can provide valuable resources to bees and other pollinators. Even grasses can be used by bees as a pollen source, while crape myrtles can provide a later season resource for pollinators. Anyone—from individual home gardeners to commercial and agricultural property managers—can promote pollinator health by selecting and planting appropriate plants. This guide provides options for selecting flowering woody plants that are attractive to bees and butterflies and sometimes have additional wildlife benefits.
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Turfgrass is an important component of many landscapes. Research has shown that landscapes support diverse, abundant, and intact bee communities in New York, California, and Ohio. In fact, the abundance and diversity of bees visiting home landscapes have been observed to approach, and even exceed, numbers in nearby natural and/or agricultural systems. If the turfgrass has been treated or is being treated with insecticides, the pollinators can be exposed directly or indirectly to the insecticides on the weeds. This can cause lethal or sublethal effects on these pollinators. The guidelines in this publication will reduce insecticide exposure to pollinators as they seek nectar and pollen from plants around lawns.
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