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Understanding your soil composition is the first step to fostering an optimal soil ecosystem. A basic soil test measures the level of organic matter, pH, and macronutrients — nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K). CAES News
Healthy Soil 01/02/23 Emily Cabrera
The winter months are a great time for gardeners to start catching up on projects they have postponed or to begin planning crop rotations and ordering seeds for the upcoming year. One of the most critical steps to ensuring a productive growing season is to test and prepare the soil, as it will be the foundation that your plants — and success — depend upon.
Georgia 4-H youth participate in the State Land Judging Competition at the C.W. Stripling Irrigation Research Park in Camila, Georgia. CAES News
4-H Land Judging 09/08/21 Craven F Hudson
More than 25 Georgia 4-H youth participated in the 2021 State Land Judging contest at the University of Georgia’s C.M. Stripling Irrigation Research Park in Camila, Georgia. Four counties from across the state brought teams to compete.
Late summer is the right time to prepare soil for September to October plantings of cool-season crops such as cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, collards, kale, Swiss chard and Brussels sprouts. CAES News
Winter Garden Prep 08/12/21 Bob Westerfield
The end of summer into early fall tends to be the hottest time of the year in the state of Georgia. Many of us are about tired of laboring in our summer gardens, and the heat, humidity, and disease and insect pressure have certainly taken their toll on our summer crops. However, for those of us who still have the gardening itch, the last weeks of summer are the ideal time to prepare your garden for winter vegetables.
College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences researchers tested biodegradable pots made from (left to right) wood pulp fiber, cow manure and coconut coir. CAES News
Sustainable Gardening 11/12/20 Allison Ruth Fortner
Professional and home gardeners alike can grow landscapes sustainably with the help of biodegradable plant containers, but gardeners may wonder whether these containers decompose quickly enough to avoid hindering plant growth.
UGA CAES soil scientist Matt Levi devotes much of his time to improving Georgia's soil inventory by studying the soil profiles on farms across the state. CAES News
Matt Levi 01/28/19 Clint Thompson
University of Georgia soil scientist Matthew Levi is using technologies like digital soil mapping, spatial modeling and remote sensing to help his research colleagues and Georgia farmers improve their production practices.
University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Agent Josh Fuder and his son, Graham, inspect an ancient artifact he uncovered in his backyard garden. As a child, Fuder loved digging in the soil for buried treasures and pretending to be an archeologist. He hopes his son inherits his love of items from days gone by. CAES News
Ancient Find 06/22/17 Josh Fuder
While digging in his home garden, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension agent Josh Fuder find what he believes to be an arrowhead. UGA experts say his find is likely used a corner-notch spear point from the Middle Archaic Period (5000-3000 B.C.).
University of Georgia horticulturist Carol Robacker has released 'Raspberry Profusion,' a cultivar that blooms heavily from May to September. Its raspberry-colored sepals, wonderful fragrance and foliage is more spectacular than older varieties. CAES News
Foundation Plants 10/17/16 Paul Pugliese
What makes a good foundation plant for your home landscape? Any plant that can tolerate extreme heat, highly compact soil and a highly alkaline soil pH is a good candidate.
Corn plants are surrounded by water in a field in Kansas in 2014. Heavy rains leave farmers with no way to get in their fields to tend or harvest their crops. CAES News
Wet soil 10/13/16 Frank M. Watson
Rainfall from Hurricane Matthew has left soil in coastal south Georgia completely saturated. Rainy conditions like these wreak havoc on gardeners and farmers who need to do yard or field work. In many cases, the best way to deal with the situation is to wait for drier conditions.
'Java White' looks as though it has been kissed by snow, creating a daring look on a porch patio or in a landscape. CAES News
Copper Plants 08/31/16 Norman Winter
Copper plants were sold generically for years, but that is now passé thanks to varieties like ‘Beyond Paradise,’ ‘Bourbon Street,’ ‘Ceylon,’ ‘Tricolor’ and ‘Jungle Cloak.’ They partner well with blue flowers like salvias or light blue plumbago.
Curcuma gingers blooms like this Jewel of Thailand are actually comprised of colorful bracts. CAES News
Glorious Gingers 08/10/16 Norman Winter
With names like ‘Jewel of Thailand,’ ‘Jewel of Burma’ and ‘Garnet,’ ginger plants add exotic flair that will takes your breath away, says University of Georgia gardening expert Norman Winter. And, they don't require a lot of work.