Residents Learn Gardening, Landscaping at Workshop

Robert Brannen of the UGA and Gwinnett County Extension Office spoke to Peachtree Corners residents Dec. 3 at City Hall about Lawn Care with Integrated Pest Management, especially as it relates to the watershed.

The topics included gardening, landscaping, and creating a healthy environment in backyards. Mr. Brannen urged residents to only use pest control when absolutely necessary and to follow the application instructions, he also noted that most insects are not actually pests but a part of ecosystem.

He discussed what one should look for when selecting plants to ensure they are properly located to best survive. Extension Publications can be found here, which include native plans and specific growing information; http://extension.uga.edu/publications/

“You should water only at night (between 8p.m. and 4.a.m.) to best avoid disease, and deep watering twice a week is plenty for younger grasses, a deep root system is essential for a healthy lawn” Brannen said, adding that the daily light watering creates shallow root systems which leads to diseases like brown patch.

The Extension provides training in landscaping, pest management, identification of weeds and plant diseases as well as research information for property owners to achieve their highest goals as a homeowner and professional.

Residents can send their soil samples, for a fee of $8, can be sent to the UGA Cooperative Extension Office in Lawrenceville and water analysis testing for pH or lead can also be perform, prices vary depending on test performed.

For more information or to ask a question about your garden, contact: mgardener@gwinnettcounty.com or call 678.377.4010.