Throughout the year, we will update this segment with news and information about important environmental and horticultural topics.

We will strive to include local, regional, and national topics of interest. 

- Garden Club of Georgia - Planting Info Newsletter (Environmental Edition)

Topics of interest:

 

- https://www.nwf.org/Our-Work/Wildlife-Conservation/Monarch-Butterfly

- City of Atlanta Passes 100% Clean Energy Resolution

- Bat Endangered Species Intervention
 
- US Lists Species of Bumble Bee as Endangered

- ROSES IN BLOOM Click here for a comprehensive guide, full of tips and techniques, to grow and maintain a beautiful rose garden. Learn about the different varieties, as well as a month-by-month guide to their care and maintenance.

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ENVORNMENTAL MINUTE

 

Immediate Attention

At this Monday's meeting, Melissa Snyder shared the Environmental minute. In the interest of time, please watch this video on Protecting the Okefenokee, and take a few moments to fill out the quick forms to contact our reps and our governor. The forms will populate who your representatives are once you type in your address on the form, and then follow the prompts. From what I can tell (lots of red tape), this should be done by the end of November. Barbara Bourque, GCG Legislative Chairman, wrote an article about this in the Fall Edition of your Garden Gateways publication, page 3. Please consider supporting this worthwhile cause. Thank you, Daisies!

Okefenokee video:   https://youtu.be/te_sUWPFYQg

1. Ask Georgia legislators to sign the Okefenokee Protection Act. https://protectgeorgia.org/#/366

2. Urge Governor Kemp to oppose Twin Pines Minerals mining permit application now being reviewed by Georgia EPD. https://protectgeorgia.org/

 

 

 

 

No Rain? No problem...Did you know that there is current research happening

with drought tolerant turf grass?

Tif Tuf has been widely and successfully used in the industry for several years now. It was released by our

own UGA. Tif Tuf demonstrated a 40% water savings over the leading Bermuda grass without loss of turf

quality. For this reason, it has been widely accepted in the sod industry.

Other varieties include, Tahoma 31, TamStar and CitraBlue. There are 2 forthcoming zoysiagrass

varieties. There is a great deal of research in progress and on the horizon in regards to plant

breeding. Utilizing modern technology, growers are able to monitor many helpful and useful traits.

There is a nationwide campaign on the horizon aimed at educating consumers on why they should

choose a drought-tolerant grass and how to effectively manage it to reap al ofl the benefits.

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What Are Native Plants?

There are many definitions for native plants. Several references say native plants are those that grow naturally in a particular region without direct or indirect human intervention. Other references place a historical timeline on native plants, saying they are plants that were present in a particular area prior to European settlement of that area. Others say they are plants that have inhabited a particular region for thousands of years. Even the federal government published an "official" definition in the Federal Register, defining native plants as those that are "naturally occurring, either presently or historically, in any ecosystem of the United States."

 

Why Plant Native Plants?

• A native plant community, left undisturbed and incorporated into a landscape, is low-maintenance and self-sufficient. 

• Native plants provide "watchable" wildlife habitats.

• Ecological preservation is another reason for using native plants.

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Marietta Daisies Garden Club Environmental/Horticulture Committee Report

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Things To Do in Your Yard In the Fall
Source: Walter Reeves
November
WEEK 1
Rake fallen leaves - Blow or rake fallen leaves regularly from newly planted fescue lawns. Remove as
many acorns as possible from all lawns.
Plant Spring bulbs - This is the best time to plant spring-flowering bulbs now that the soil is cooler. Add
fertilizer as you dig the bed.
Dig up elephant ear bulbs - Dig caladium, elephant ear and dahlia bulbs now while you can still find
them. Store in boxes of peat moss.
WEEK 2
Bring camellia blooms indoors - Enjoy sasanqua camellia blooms. Cut a few to bring indoors and float in
a crystal saucer for a dining table centerpiece.
Trim chrysanthemums - Shear chrysanthemums and asters down to four inches once the flowers fade.
Replace mulch under trees - Rake out fallen leaves and replace the mulch under crabapples and
dogwoods to prevent disease next year. Neaten perennial flower beds. Remove dry stems and dead
leaves. Put fresh mulch under shrubs, trees and perennials.
Fill bird feeders - Fill bird feeders with black oil sunflower seeds. Birds will find and eat each seed and
you won’t accidentally feed chipmunks and rats on the ground.
WEEK 3
Fertilize recent plantings - Fertilize again the pansies, snapdragons, cabbage and dianthus you planted a
few weeks ago. Use a powdered, water-soluble fertilizer now but switch to a product containing
“nitrate nitrogen” December thru March.
Prepare a composting area - Prepare your composting area for fall leaves. You can make a cheap bin
from 4-foot-wide fence wire 10 feet long. Bend it into a circle and join the ends together. Pile in leaves
as you rake them. Spray each layer with water.
Clean up old vines - Clean all of the old vines from tomato cages before putting them in storage. Pull up
okra stalks plus squash and bean vines.
Bring herbs in for winter use - Bring some rosemary inside to dry for winter use. Freeze basil in water-
filled plastic containers.
WEEK 4
Divide ferns - Divide your hanging basket of Boston fern into thirds and plant into three new baskets.
Hang in a sunny window; by spring they’ll be big enough to put outside.
Plant shrubs and trees - Continue to plant shrubs and trees. Even though its chilly outdoors, the soil is
still warm enough to encourage root growth. Remove all of the twine, wire or paper trunk cover on
each one.
Tie up roses - Tie up loose canes of climbing roses so they don’t slap against the arbor or each other on
windy days.
Water recent plantings - Water weekly the pansies and other cool-season flowers you planted earlier.
Spray or dig out weeds - Spot-spray or dig out chickweed, violets and wild onions you find in your lawn.
see Chickweed Control
Root Confederate rose before hard frost. 

FOR A FULL REPORT AND INFORMATION 

 
Have a topic or interesting fact to share? Please contact Lorelle LoCurto.