The beautiful water lilies that graced your pond with blooms this summer need special care this winter. They are tropical in origin and will not become dormant to survive our winters unless you live in Zones 9 or 10. There are several methods for over-wintering these plants. One will be just right for you! The key to successful over-wintering is the following: It is extremely important not to place the water lily into the pond before Mother Nature is ready for it. This means DO NOT place the plant into the pond before the water temperature is at least 70 degrees F even if the air temperature is high! Cold water will bring about the demise of the plant and negate your hard work and patience. The simplest and most successful way to insure survival of these tropical plants is storage in a greenhouse. There they will over-winter nicely in…
A Bit of Dirt – Fall 2008
The full pdf copy of this edition is available here. PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE – by John Atkinson EVERY DAY IS A GIFT! Where do we go from here? What do we do with this gift? First: Let me say “thank you” for a remarkable year! My commitment to Gwinnett County Master Gardeners will continue, but it is time for me to “move ahead” to a different area of service. We have a new crew coming in that will keep the boat afloat and steer us on a course that will move us in new directions. We have a bank of talent in our current membership. Help your leadership tap into your interests and talents. Try something new! This may be your year to take the opportunity you had put aside. Master Gardeners are especially equipped and motivated to train and share their skills with their neighbors about plants and growing things….
Cogongrass: An Invasive Weed In Georgia
– The Bugwood Network, The University of Georgia Cogongrass (Imperata cylindrical) is a perennial colony-forming grass that grows up to 3 feet tall. Leaves have an off-center and whitish midrib and rough edges. Sharp, branched, white rhizomes help identify this plant. It is best identified by the large fuzzy panicle of flowers and seeds, giving the plant a cottony or silky look. Flowering occurs in late spring. A native to Southeast Asia, it was first introduced into the southeastern Untied States in the early 1900’s. It was initially planted for forage and erosion control; however it is unpalatable for livestock and not well suited for erosion control due to its aggressive behavior. Currently it is found in the southeastern United States and is sparse in South Georgia. It is an extremely aggressive invader with the capability to invade a range of sites. It forms dense mats that exclude all other…