Lawn and Garden
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Rhodesgrass mealybugs are an invasive insect native to Asia that can infest more than 100 grass species including all warm-season grasses commonly used for pastures and turf in Georgia. This publication includes information about rhodesgrass mealybug identification and biology, its host plants, damage symptoms, and control strategies, including the use of parasitic wasps.
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The granulate ambrosia beetle (previously known as the Asian ambrosia beetle) is a serious pest of woody ornamental nursery plants, fruit trees, and shrubs in Georgia. This publication provides information on identification and biology, host plants, damage symptoms, and control strategies for this aggressive pest.
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Poison ivy is a common poisonous plant in Georgia. This publication is to help hikers, campers, gardeners, and outdoor lovers identify poison ivy to stay safe and avoid potential allergic reactions.
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Many residents and properties in Georgia have a significant number of pecan trees or small backyard orchards. While pecan trees in commercial orchards are meticulously managed, noncommercial growers encounter challenges in applying the same level of intensive management to their own pecan trees. This guide provides essential tasks specifically designed for the care of these backyard trees.
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Fairy ring is an umbrella term for a disease that can be caused by more than 60 different species of basidiomycete fungi. It is particularly damaging on golf greens, but can affect all turf species in Georgia. Infection leads to localized dry spots and nutrient imbalances. No single strategy guarantees complete control, but integrating thatch reduction, water management, fertility optimization, and targeted fungicide applications can significantly mitigate disease impact.
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Urban gardeners and farmers may have concerns about potentially harmful contaminants in their soils. By determining the historical use of the land, one can test for soil contamination associated with prior use. This publication outlines appropriate testing procedures for soil contamination and recommends best gardening practices for working in urban soils.
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Magnolias, which are evergreen trees and shrubs, are a common landscape plant species in the southern U.S. Magnolia scale, native to the eastern U.S., is a serious pest of both native and non-native magnolias. Magnolia scale is found in 29 states in the U.S. and can reach the size of a human thumb, making it one of the largest scales in the country. It exclusively feeds on magnolias found in ornamental landscapes.
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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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Bermudagrass mite is a microscopic mite species (at or smaller than ~0.2 mm or 0.0078 in.) that only infests and feeds on bermudagrass and has become an increasing problem in Georgia. It can develop into a serious problem on golf courses, athletic fields, sod farms, and both residential and public lawns. Bermudagrass mite infestations can reduce the aesthetic value of the turfgrass, causing thinning and poor grass growth. The size of bermudagrass mites poses a real challenge in identifying and monitoring the population in fields.
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