Horticultural & Environmental Sciences

Gardeners and local homeowners call upon the Extension Service for answers to their personal gardening questions. Information is available on landscaping, lawns, pest control, fruit and vegetable production, annuals, perennials, trees, pastures, and traditional agricultural production. The University of Georgia offers a large assortment of publications on their website. You can read and print the publications from: www.caes.uga.edu/publications

Soil and water samples can be tested for safety, and to make informed decisions about effectively using water, fertilizers, and pesticides in the backyard environment. Visitors can bring samples of plants, weeds, or insects for identification and sound advice. Please remember that we accept cash or check only.

Steps in Soil Sampling
Recommendations about when and how to apply nutrients are only as good as the soil sample submitted for analysis. To obtain a representative soil sample, the following steps are useful: identify sampling locations (zones), determine the sampling depths, use the right sampling tools, sample at the right time, and handle the samples accordingly. Soil samples can be brought to the office in a ziplock bag.  The soil must be completely dry when you bring it in. We will take care of transferring them over to UGA soil bags for mailing.
 
1. Sampling Locations 
Use a zigzag approach when taking samples. Collect 8-10 soil samples from each location (zone)  Bring in dry soil only.  For trees and shrubs, take soil samples from six to eight spots around the dripline of the plants.
2. Sampling Depth
 The depth of sampling depends on the type of plants being grown. For lawns, sample to a depth of 4 inches. For gardens, ornamentals, mixed fruit trees, and wildlife plots, collect sample to a depth of 6 inches.
3. Sampling Time
 Soil sampling should be done well in advance of planting or spring green-up. This allows adequate time for sample analysis, data interpretation, and fertilizer and lime application.
 4. Sampling Tools
 Use clean sampling tools and containers to avoid contaminating the soil sample. Never use tools or containers that have been used for fertilizer or lime. Tools like trowels, shovels, spades, hand probes or hand augers may be used to collect samples.
 5. Sampling Procedures
 Clear the ground surface of grass thatch or mulch . Using a trowel, push the tool to the desired depth into the soil. Push the handle forward, with the spade still in the soil to make a wide opening. Then, cut a thin slice from the side of the opening that is of uniform thickness, approximately ¼ inch thick and two inches in width, extending from the top of the ground to the depth of the cut. Collect from several locations. Combine and mix them in a plastic bucket to avoid metal contamination. We need just 2 cups of well mixed  DRY soil. Samples are mailed usually one time a week to The University of Georgia Soil Lab and returned test results should be back to you in a 10-12 day period. The cost for each routine sample test is $8.00 each. We take cash or check only!


Vegetable Gardening Information
Check out this link for information to assist you with planting your vegetable garden and much more.
http://apps.caes.uga.edu/urbanag/Home&Garden/indexFS.cfm?section=Vegetable%20Gardening. If you have any questions, give us a call at 678-377-4010.

Garden Entry Information for Gwinnett County Fair - How is your garden for 2010? All the rain in our area has been a great time to be an experienced gardener or even a beginner. Here is your chance to show off those prize vegetables and begin planting for The Gwinnett County Fair Field Crop Entries. Click on this link for information about the various classes and entry dates. 2010 Field Crop Entry Information.

WATER TESTING

Gwinnett Extension offers a variety of water testing services. Click on the link below for "how to" instructions. Please remember that there is a fee for testing and that we accept cash or check only.