This year we have encouraged community and school gardens all across Georgia to add pollinator habitat to their gardens. The Pollinator Spaces Project website provides information to help gardeners learn about pollinator health and to create beautiful pollinator spaces. Local UGA Cooperative Extension agents have been hosting pollinator workshops during the year. All this adds up to beautiful, new pollinator habitat across the state!
To be included in the tally of gardens, growers send Becky Griffin (beckygri@uga.edu) photographs of their new spaces with some information about their garden. These new gardens are awarded a certificate of participation in Georgia pollinator history!
Lithia Springs Community Garden makes pollinator plants an important part of the space!
As of now, 18 Georgia counties are represented with over 48 pollinator gardens. To see photos of these gardens, and perhaps get inspired visit the garden gallery. Also, a story map has been created which highlights five of the spaces. This story map will be updated this winter with an interactive Georgia map.
Zach White, of Reinhardt College, recently hosted a showing of Flight of the Monarchs. This movie reminds us of another reason to add pollinator habitat. The migration of the monarchs is remarkable and many of us with pollinator plants have been excited to be a part of the migration.
The reasons to add pollinator plants are many:
Increased pollinators activity assists in food production
These plants add an element of beauty to the food garden
Your work will aid in conservation efforts
Pollinator plants also attract other beneficial insects
You can enjoy watching the insects!
If you want to be part of this program contact Becky (beckygri@uga). We would love to include your garden.
Check out the Big Shot throw line launcher. It’s a slingshot for tree work.
Want to put a rope in a tree? It has to be in the right place in the tree and it can be difficult to get it there. Tired of throwing and throwing and not setting a line?
Warren Williams, Instructor at North American Training Solutions, demonstrates one in the video below. According to Warren, the Big Shot can launch lines up to 100 feet in tight places and, “It is pretty easy to learn how to use it, doesn’t take a ton of practice.”
It can be used with a standard throw weight and throw line system, or with the specially-designed bullet-style weights. The Big Shot throw line launcher is available from many different venders. It starts at about $125 and goes up – as they say, you get more if you pay more.
This week we are fortunate to have Tim Daly as a guest blogger. Tim is a UGA Cooperative Extension agent for Gwinnett County, Georgia. Those of you work in community gardens in Gwinnett probably already know Tim. We are excited he is available to clear up any confusion about organic gardening. Tim writes….
Organic gardening has become quite popular among gardeners, but a considerable amount of confusion exists about exactly what it is and what it is not. Organic gardening uses a combination of methods and strategies to produce healthy plants.
It also requires a thorough understanding of the ecological relationships among soil, plants and other organisms in the garden. Contrary to popular belief, organic gardening is neither a method of pest control, nor the avoidance of the use of all chemical pesticides.
The Belvedere Community Garden is an ecosystem.
Organic starts with healthy soil
Organic gardening requires a long-term outlook in regard to soil preparation. Developing healthy, fertile soil helps to provide plants with necessary nutrients. Organic gardeners use natural, organic fertilizers and mineral amendments to improve the overall quality and fertility of their garden soil.
Healthy soil is key!
Most synthetic fertilizers provide nutrients that are immediately available to the plant. However, they do not contribute to the overall health and long-term fertility of the soil.
Organic matter in the soil is important because it breaks down and releases nutrients for the plants. It also improves the soil’s water- and nutrient-holding capacity and provides a habitat for beneficial microorganisms. Organic matter in the soil can be increased by the addition of manure, topsoil, peat moss, compost and other suitable materials.
The garden is an ecosystem
The first key to successful pest control is to begin by purchasing healthy, quality plants that are free of insects and diseases. Next, encourage beneficial insects, such as lady beetles, lacewings and certain species of wasps, to stay in your garden. Certain herbaceous plants, such as dill, wild mustards and yarrow, provide shelter and food for these beneficial organisms. Plant these among your vegetables.
North Fulton Annex Community Garden has an area dedicated to plants that attract beneficial insects.
Choose plants that have varieties with known resistance to diseases and insects as a method of reducing pests. For example, some varieties of tomatoes have been bred to resist certain fungal diseases.
Remove and dispose of plant material, such as leaves, branches and fruit, that has fallen to the ground. Reduce the incidence of disease by keeping plant leaves and stems as dry as possible. Use drip irrigation rather than overhead watering to conserve water and reduce the amount of time plants remain wet.
Organic pesticides are available
When necessary, use organic pesticides. There are several choices available. Botanicals, such as rotenone, pyrethrum and neem oil products, are plant-derived materials.
Microbial pesticides that control certain insect pests are formulated from microorganisms or their byproducts. An example is DiPel, which contains a species of bacteria that targets certain caterpillar pests.
Minerals, such as sulfur and copper, are the primary organic materials used to control fungal and bacterial diseases. Always remember that even if a product is considered to be organic, it is still a pesticide. Exercise caution when using these products. Some organic pesticides are as toxic as or even more toxic than many synthetic chemical pesticides.
There are pros and cons to organic gardening. Understanding the basics of this practice and what it involves will help you succeed in having healthy, productive plants no matter what growing method you follow.
Thanks, Tim, for this great information! Tim is a great resource for vegetable gardeners, being a frequent connoisseur of homegrown tomatoes. You can reach Tim at UGA’s Gwinnett County office at tdaly@uga.edu.
Do not think because an accident hasn’t happened to you that it can’t happen.
Starting a Chainsaw Safely
There are three safe and good options for starting a saw:
Put the saw on the ground, place your boot in the handle to stabilize the saw, then pull.
Put the saw on the ground, place your knee on top of it to stabilize the saw, then pull.
Pinch the saw handle in your legs to stabilize the saw, then pull.
You see a lot of folks using a drop start. That is when the chainsaw is held with one hand and the recoil rope with the other. Both arms are moving when the saw is started. This technique is not safe, OSHA will fine you, and you will need to replace the recoil rope frequently.
It is our goal to help you create a culture of safety in your workplace and we hope you have found this newsletter useful. There are some other great resource available to you.
The Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA) also has some great resources you can use. Have you seen their Fatality & Near Miss Rescue Alerts? They come out on Monday. The email is a list of accidents and near misses related to tree care. It is clear, concise, and can provide much to talk about with your colleagues. It is also very easy to subscribe and to unsubscribe.
If you are on Facebook, you might want to check out and like dripline.net. It is an informal way to find out what is going on in the tree care industry. Accident reports, humorous stories, tree epidemics – anything and everything tree care – is here. Never a dull moment on this page!
The lack of rainfall in the second half of the growing season has hindered the production and storage of energy that normally takes place in warm-season turfgrasses from late summer through fall. In effect, warm-season turfgrasses could enter winter dormancy with depleted carbohydrate reserves. Dr. Clint Waltz, Extension Turfgrass Specialist with the University of Georgia, is concerned that winter hardiness and spring green-up issues could result from a rough end to the growing season. The weather over the next few weeks will decide how warm-season turfgrasses cross the finish line into dormancy.
“The limiting factor is water,” said Waltz. The biological activity that is necessary to gather and store carbohydrates requires water and we need some rain. With soil temperatures at the 4″ depth holding in the 60’s for October and the forecast through the end of the month calling for high temperatures near 80 degrees for much of the state, there may be some opportunity for growth where irrigation is available. However, gains will be marginal as the day length, temperatures, and radiant heat levels continue to drop. Applying 1/2″ inch of irrigation per week may be sufficient to help mitigate spring green-up issues and prevent crown desiccation if dry weather continues. Fertilizer is NOT recommended for warm-season grasses at this point in the season, especially nitrogen. Applications of potassium are generally recommended to promote winter hardiness, but without adequate water, the benefits of these applications may not be fully realized.
What can turf managers do to prepare? Irrigate if you can, do not fertilize, minimize mowing and wear damage, and avoid practices such as aeration that would induce additional plant stress as the turfgrass enters dormancy. When using irrigation systems, be sure to follow the parameters of the Georgia Water Stewardship Act of 2010 and stay informed on the latest drought information at www.georgiawatersmart.com. For more information on landscape watering visit www.Georgiaturf.com and download the publication “Best Management Practices for Landscape Water Conservation.” Most importantly, contact your local UGA County Extension Agent at http://extension.uga.edu/about/county/index.cfm or call 1-800-ASK-UGA1
Do you want to grow beautiful orange pumpkins for Halloween? But, after years of seeing your crop succumb to disease you have become discouraged. And, after learning that most of the pumpkins you see for sale at church pumpkin patches are grown in New Mexico (think LOW humidity), you have given up. Well, I have great news for you!
University of Georgia researchers have developed and released a new pumpkin variety bred especially to handle Georgia’s summer climate. Orange Bulldog was developed by UGA researchers from germplasm collected in South America. It shows greater resistance to viruses than conventional pumpkins. The vines show resistance to powdery mildew and downy mildew. This is really great news for Georgia gardeners!
Orange Bulldog Pumpkin. Photo credit: UGA
The pumpkins average about 10 pounds. Most have an internal cavity which is perfect for carving. The color ranges from a salmon color to a burnt orange. And, seeds were readily available for 2016 and should be for 2017.
Many community gardeners don’t take advantage of our Georgia winters and finish their garden as the temperatures get cool. As you get ready for the garden break, don’t leave a weedy mess!
A garden plot left full of weeds is not just an eyesore that is unfair to your fellow community gardeners, it can be detrimental to your future crops.
The Weed Seed Bank – don’t make deposits
Weed scientists have a saying:
One year’s seeding means ten years weeding!
If a weed is allowed to produce seed those seeds will happily deposit in your plot to germinate at another time. In weed science terms, you have added to the dreaded weed seed bank. Plant seeds are tough and are a plant’s mechanism for long-term survival.
Some seeds from a legume collected beneath permafrost in the Yukon germinated. The estimated age of those seeds? 10,000 years old!
A sample of seeds dated 237 years old from a British museum herbarium germinated.
Garden Debris Can Create a Welcome Over-Wintering Spot for Pests
Pests like Mexican bean beetles can overwinter in garden debris waiting for your spring planting of bush beans. Don’t give them that extra edge.
What are some alternatives? If you aren’t growing cool-season vegetables, try growing a cover crop. Or, cover your plot with plastic and do some winter solarization. At the very least, clean your plot and add a cover of mulch.
Give next year’s warm-season crops a good start while being a good community garden neighbor.
Put your soul into your work, not your hand or foot:
Always carry the chainsaw with the bar pointed behind you, as shown above. If pointed forward, even when off, you could trip and fall on it. Be sure the hot muffler is located away from your body as you walk.
Engage the chain break any time you take a step with a running saw. Glenn Peroni of North American Training Solutions has demonstrated with one of his famous saw impersonations.
Hear the clicking as Glenn engages the chain break? Can you tell how many steps he is taking?
Always shut the chainsaw off before setting it down and before carrying it any distance. It is extremely dangerous to carry a chainsaw while the engine is running.
Let the chainsaw cool before you transport it. Use a scabbard or bar guard to cover the chain when carrying or transporting a saw. The scabbard will protect you and the saw.
Consider purchasing and using some type of carrying case for use during transit and long periods of storage. A case provides protection for you and your valuable equipment. It also makes a great place to store important maintenance instructions (owner’s manual) and tools required for daily maintenance like a bar wrench and a chain file for light sharpening or touch up! Plus, you look sharp.
So how many steps did Glenn Peroni take in his Saw Song Performance? If you guessed at least three, you would be correct.
Only three safety trainings left this year and the one in Columbus is full! Sign up quickly!
