Complete Horticultural Consulting

Tree Care for Drought Stressed Trees

Soil Aeration, Vertical Mulching, Mycorriza Treatment - Soil compaction exacerbates drought stress. Just like turf, trees benefit from soil aeration. Vertical mulching ads organic matter to tree root zones. Mycorriza are beneficial fungi that increase root capacity for trees.

Deep Root Irrigation - During times of drought and municipal water restrictions it is is important to irrigate trees. Using soil injection equipment puts the water where trees need it; in the root zone

Deep Root Fertilization - Plant nutrients get into plants by dissolving into the water that enters tree roots. In times of drought, trees do not get the nutrients they need due to the lack of water in the soil. Injecting fertilizer dissolved in water into the soil around the root zone of trees is the best way to fertilize trees during drought.

Treatment With Plant Hormones- Certain plant hormones decrease tree canopy growth in favor of root growth. This can boost a tree's resistance to drought by increasing root capacity.

Pruning- Nothing in the life of a newly planted tree or shrub can affect its health like pruning. Do it right and you'll improve the tree or shrub's health and longevity. Do it improperly and a plant's life can be shortened. Proper pruning improves the looks of a plant and its health.

Pest Management- Drought stressed trees attract pests. Insects and fungi that attack drought stressed trees must be controlled to assure tree health.

 

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CHC Tree Health Assessments

Trees are a vital part of our environment and can be an asset to any property. However, trees that are near homes can worry homeowners due to concerns about liability. Drought can damage trees. Our International Society of Arboriculture Certified Arborist Steve Pettis SO-5226A can evaluate your trees for structural soundness and make recommendations for tree health remediation. We do not perform tree removals but can make recommendations for removals.

Arborists Maintain Tree Health
Who do you call when you need someone to prune a one hundred year old, one hundred and fifty foot tall oak tree that sits ten feet away from your house? Who do you call if your favorite 80-year-old pecan is starting to decline? A CHC certified arborist, that’s who.
Arborists are the surgeons of the tree trade as well as the physicians. CHC arborists can:
• diagnose tree problems (diseases, insect infestations, and decline)
• design and implement strategies to mitigate poor tree health
• consult in emergency tree care.
CHC doesn't perform tree removals but can assist you in finding qualified professionals in our area.
At some time or another, everyone will need an arborist. Remember, trees are investments that can become liabilities if not cared for properly.
What does it mean to be a ‘certified’ arborist? It means the arborist has been through a rigorous training and testing process to assure that he or she meets the standards set by the International Society of Arboriculture for a qualified professional arborist. These persons are well trained in tree health, pest management, soil fertility, assessing storm damage, cabling and bracing, and proper pruning techniques. In other words, they are specialists in the care of trees.

Fine pruning- Large landscape trees can benefit from proper pruning. Our arborists skillfully prune your trees or recommend the best ways for homeowners to prune large trees, recommending the latest pruning techniques.
Tree protection- Damage incurred during construction kills trees. Trees should be protected. Our arborists can design and implement a tree protection plan for your next development project. We can also consult with developers during the planning of their landscapes.

What we have learned about trees from recent tropical storms and hurricanes:
• Trees growing in confined soil spaces near homes, driveways and sidewalks are prone to blowing over.
• Root defects such as girdling roots cause trees to blow over.
• Apparently healthy trees can blow down when structural roots have decayed or soil becomes soft from heavy rain.
• During high winds large and old trees are likely to blow over.
• During high winds recently planted trees are likely to blow over
• However, well established young to medium-aged trees that have been well maintained are less likely to blow over during high winds. The PREVENTATIVE CARE trees receive is crucial to a trees’ longevity.
• Trees that are preventively pruned are less likely to fail than neglected trees.
• Trees with one dominant trunk will fair better than trees with multiple stems.
• Trees with bark inclusions are prone to falling apart.
• Large pruning cuts create decay and cracks that can lead to breakage in storms.
• Trees in a group blow down less frequently than single trees.
• Tree trunks can be hollow without openings in the lower trunk; these are prone to failure in storms.
• Trees that have failed before are likely to fail again.
• Construction activities within about 20 feet of the trunk of existing trees can cause the tree to blow over more than a decade later.

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CHC Commercial Lawn, Shrub and Tree Consulting

CHC Commercial Landscaper, Turf Care and Tree and Shrub Care Consulting Services can help green-industry businesses such as:

• Arborists and Tree Care Companies
• Commercial Landscapers
• Turf managers
• Commercial landscape managers
• Property Managers
Commercial Services include:
• Landscape renovations to increase curb appeal
• CHC Diagnostics: disease, insect and weed identification via digital imagery,
• Integrated Pest Management Plans for plant nurseries, turfgrass managers, landscapers and homeowners
• CHC Arboricultural Consulting Arborists can perform tree health assessments and provide IPM plans
• Start-up assistance for new green industry businesses
• Expert advise via email and digital imaging

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CHC Homeowner Turf Care and Consulting

Let CHC evaluate your entire landscape and you will soon enjoy a pest-free, better looking yard. Your lawn will be healthier and more environmentally sound due to our customized Integrated Pest Management Plans. When your lawn and landscape plants are healthier, you will have less weed, disease and insect pest problems. The recommendations you will receive will be backed by scientific research. Your entire landscape can be annually evaluated by our plant health experts.

CHC Complete Homeowner Lawn, Tree and Shrub care consultation services can help you to:
• Enjoy a greener healthier lawn with our proven Homeowner Do It Yourself Lawn Care Plan which includes a fertility, maintenance and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) plan
• Increase curb appeal of your home with our Homeowner Tree and Shrub Care Plan which includes proper pruning recommendations and an Integrated Pest Management Plan
• Enjoy peace of mind knowing our ISA Certified Arborists have inspected your large trees and given you an accurate Tree Health Assessment.

The CHC Shrub and Tree Care program was designed with plant health as the primary concern. Remember, your shrubs and trees not only increase your home’s value but contribute to the health of the environment. No tree and shrub species is the same so they must all be treated properly according to the species’ needs.

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Nursery Consulting Integrated Pest Management Planning and Scouting Programs for nurseries; Nursery worker training

 

Pest management is an essential component of all nursery operations. The intense cultivation of identical plants provides the perfect habitat for hundreds of potential pests that would be otherwise restrained by nature in a natural environment. Nursery practices that provide the perfect environment for plants in production often do the same for insects and diseases. The term pest can refer to any insect, disease, or weed that is capable of costing a nurseryman money. Employing Integrated Pest Management, the use of all tactics including pesticides as a last resort to control pests, can save producers money. CHC provides customized IPM Plans, regular scouting and chemical recommendations for nurseries.

Complete Horticultural Consulting personnel are highly trained and educated in all areas of pest diagnosis and management as well as plant health maintenance and enhancement. CHC experts also have a broad network of contacts in the green and pest diagnostics industries as well as a combined 14 years of on-the-job plant care and pest management experience. Utilizing services provided by CHC will alleviate pest management burdens from the busy nursery manager and give him peace of mind that his or her plants are protected.

 

The Integrated Pest Management (IPM) plan should be your first step towards improving your profitability. IPM programs incorporating pest monitoring in California, New York, Maryland, Canada and elsewhere have demonstrated 25-50% reduction in pesticide use with an increase in crop quality. A recent survey from Florida showed that, in 80% of ornamental horticulture firms surveyed, the owner or a family member was responsible for making pest management decisions. The same survey showed that these growers had a relatively low level of awareness for potential pest problems.

Do you feel confident that you’re making the best decisions you can? Let CHC help you improve the control of pests, increase the numbers of salable plants and reduce the use of pesticides on your nursery.


CHC can also assist nurseries in becoming WPS (Worker Protection Standards) compliant.
Services offered by CHC Commercial Nursery Division:
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Plan development
IPM scouting
Pesticide record keeping/WPS compliance assistance
Pest diagnostics
Plant health management
Soil and water testing and analysis
Pest and pesticide updates
Pesticide application
Employee training/seminars: Pruning techniques, pest scouting and pesticide exam preparation
Fertility management
Nursery efficiency analysis

The objective of IPM programs is to lower pest status by reducing pest numbers and/or damage potential at a reasonable cost in terms of profitability, environmental disruption, safety, and ecological backlash (delayed resistance, resurgence, induction of secondary pests to full pest status, destruction of non-target organisms).

CHC experts can help answer these IPM questions:

• Is a pest present?
• Does it pose a threat to plant health or economics of production at this time?
• In what density does the pest occur?
• Are there substantial natural controls or other regulating forces present?
• What is the location of infestation?
• What is the treatment threshold for the pests?
• Should it be controlled at this time?
• What control method would be best (most suitable) in this situation?
• When should treatment be made?
• Are there other considerations to making your decision?
• What precautions are necessary?
• Was the pest treatment effective?
• What adjustments to my IPM program can be made to avoid the necessity for further treatments?

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Pasture Management Consulting

Maximize forage output and lower feed costs by utilizing CHC's customized Pasture Management Plans.
PLANTING The best pasture output for Northeast Georgia pastures can be achieved by utilizing hybrid bermudagrass that is overseeded with annual ryegrass in the wintertime. Often producers go through the winter with no forage due to the lack of equipment needed to overseed. CHC's experts can provide initial pasture renovation to hybrid bermudagrass and subsequent ryegrass rotations.

FERTILITY Bermudagrass/ryegrass rotations perform optimally when proper fertility is maintained. A regular CHC pasture management regime will determine what pH and fertility levels are and how much nutrients producers need to add. CHC can also apply your lime and fertilizer for you.

WEED CONTROL Controlling weeds is important. Good fertilization, grazing management and mowing reduces weeds but often herbicides are needed. CHC licensed and certified applicator's can recommend and/or apply herbicides to control weeds in pastures and hay fields.

EROSION CONTROL Soil is a precious resource and should be conserved at all costs. All producers should protect their pastures from erosion. On extremely sloped areas, it is going to be very difficult to get anything at all to grow there without effort. Horses and other livestock are going to churn up the ground and these areas are going to erode. Implementing CHC pasture management plans can stabilize soil preventing deep rills (gullies) and soil loss.

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Vegetation Management

Kudzu, privet, eleagnus and other invasive plants can take over a property. CHC can help property owners and managers get rid of these invasive plants. Let our staff of licensed experts come up with a vegetation manaement plan for your property. Our licensed experts can combine physical removal methods with the application of herbicides get rid of your invasive plant problems.

 

 

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Arborist Training

ATTENTION PROFESSIONALS:
Commercial Arborist Training- Quality arborist training is hard to find. In-house training is time consuming for managers. Let CHC's training staff come to your office and give you a quote on training that can benefit your employees, help them acquire industry certification credits and make your company stronger. Please visit
www.THETREEINSPECTOR.COM for more details.

UGA Center for Continuing Education Professional-Level Short Courses for Tree Industry Experts 2008

ISA Certified Arborist Recertification Course

 

Number of sessions & hours: 1 session/5 hrs.

Date(s) & Days: Saturday, July 19, 2008

Times: Noon – 6pm

ISA Certified Arborist pre-certification class 2008 to be held at the University of Georgia Center for Continuing Education

Course Description – Steve Pettis, local ISA Certified Arborist, will prepare students to become a Certified Arborist. An International Society of Arboriculture Certified Arborist is a tree care professional who has chosen to further his or her education through formal study at the university level to gather as much knowledge, education, and training as possible to be able to be most effective in their career. A Certified Arborist is prepared to care for trees using the latest techniques and stays up to date with the newest tree care information through his/her association with the ISA.

Through a series of 8 classes, students will be exposed to the information they need to know for certification. This series of classes does not include the actual exam but will include practice exams. The ISA Certified Arborist Exam is given across the state many times per year and will be given in Athens at some date following this class. Individuals must apply to sit for the exam through the ISA website at www.treesaregood.com . Candidates must have three years of associated experience or a closely related degree and pay a fee to the ISA to sit for the exam. Online Registration Form

International Society of Arboriculture Certified Arborist Test Prep Course

Date(s) & Days: Thursdays, September 18 - November 6, 2008

Times: 6:30–8:30pm

Online Registration Form

Arborist Training 2005 Held at Gwinnett Technical College

Arborist Training 2006 Held at Gwinnett Technical College

ISA Certified Arborist Course Spring Sememester 2007

Our spring 2007 ISA Certified Arborist Test Preparation Course was a big success. We trained 21 green industry and government professionals to take the test.

ISA Certified Arborist Course Fall Sememester 2007

Our fall 2007 ISA Certified Arborist Test Preparation Course was a big success. We trained 16 green industry and government professionals to take the test.

ISA Certified Arborist Course Spring Sememester 2008

Our spring 2008 ISA Certified Arborist Test Preparation Course was a big success. We trained 14 green industry and government professionals to take the test.

ISA Certified Arborist Course Fall Sememester 2008

Our fall 2008 ISA Certified Arborist Test Preparation Course is coming soon...


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Why Hire A Certified Arborist? Who do you call when you need someone to prune a one hundred year old, one hundred and fifty foot tall oak tree that sits ten feet away from your house? Who do you call if your favorite 80-year-old pecan is starting to decline? A certified arborist, that’s who. Arborists are the surgeons of the tree trade as well as the physicians. They diagnose tree problems (diseases, insect infestations, and decline), implement strategies to mitigate poor tree health, and provide emergency tree care. At some time or another, everyone will need an arborist. Remember, trees are investments that can become liabilities if not cared for properly. What does it mean to be a ‘certified’ arborist? It means the arborist has been through a rigorous training and testing process to assure that he or she meets the standards set by the International Society of Arboriculture for a qualified professional arborist. These persons are well trained in tree health, pest management, soil fertility, assessing storm damage, cabling and bracing, and proper pruning techniques. In other words, they are specialists in the care of trees. If you were hiring a company to do any tree work at your home, I would recommend only using certified arborists. When soliciting for quotes, ask for proof of insurance and references as well. Always get three estimates. You will usually be required to sign a contract, so read it carefully. Tree work is tough and physically demanding. Imagine spending your whole day climbing towering trees with spikes on your boots and a chainsaw attached to your belt. At first glance one might think these people are a little crazy, especially when one sees one of them walk out to the end of a limb sixty feet in the air. Crazy that is, until you realize they are always wearing safety rigging that is attached to the main trunk of the tree. The rigging is the same type used by mountain climbers. Every responsible tree person wears safety rigging, a hard hat, earplugs, and eye protection. When an arborist does a consultation, he or she evaluates tree health and tries to recommend a plan to stop any tree decline. The arborist might recommend pruning to remove any dead wood or to shape the tree. If the tree has any unsafe branches or bad branch angles, the tree professional might cable the offending limbs. Cabling involves using heavy gauge stainless steel cable and eye bolts to secure limbs and trunks. The arborist may recommend a fertilization regime to increase the tree’s vigor and stop any decline. Trees are often fertilized using a 3-2-1 ratio liquid fertilizers injected into holes that are drilled in the soil around the tree. If the tree is not salvageable, then the arborist will recommend removing the unhealthy tree. Often, the tree will be in a location where it cannot be felled easily. Maybe there is a structure under or near the tree or the tree is near the property line. In this case, the arborist may decide to rope the tree. Climbing the tree, the arborist ties ropes to the branches. Then the branches are cut off one by one allowing the rope to break the fall. In essence the tree is removed from the top down. The branches will be lowered down gently to workers on the ground to prevent any unwarranted damage. After removal, the company will chip the tree into mulch with a machine or haul it away. Reputable companies will leave the property only after they have cleaned up the mess and the customer is satisfied. Trees are assets that add value to one’s property and should be cared for properly. With the help of certified arborists, homeowner’s trees will remain healthy and safe through proper fertility management and pruning. Return to top	What Is Integrated Pest Management? To reduce plant diseases next year, practice good garden sanitation this fall. Plant diseases overwinter on diseased plant debris and these pathogens and insects reinfect the next spring if allowed to remain in gardens and flowerbeds. If you can reduce the amount of debris that you carry over in your garden, you can significantly reduce your chances of plant diseases next spring. Begin your fall cleanup by removing or plowing under dead annuals from flowerbeds and dead vegetables from the garden. Removing or plowing under old, spent plants from plantings will reduce inoculum and prevent build up of harmful organisms such as fungi, bacteria, and nematodes. This in turn will reduce the amount of disease incidence next year. Remember, composting doesn’t always kill pathogens. A compost pile must reach temperatures in the range of 110 to 160° F to effectively kill disease-causing organisms. Simply maintaining a debris pile in the back yard will not destroy plant pathogens effectively. Compost piles should be turned monthly and should remain moist to achieve maximum decomposition. If you had a severe problem this year, it may be better to bag up your garden debris and get rid of it. Pruning is the second step to good fall garden sanitation. Using sharp, clean pruners remove dead or diseased branches from trees and shrubs. Pruning cuts should be made six inches behind disease-infested wood. And dead wood should be removed completely if possible. Always disinfect pruners between each cut using 10% bleach or alcohol. Wait until January or February to make drastic or severe pruning cuts. The last step in good garden sanitation is cleaning and storing lawn and garden tools properly. Clean the blades of pruners, saws, and mowers using 10% bleach or alcohol and oil them appropriately. Remove any soil from the digging blades of shovels, trowels, and hoes. Store the tools in a dry storage area off of the ground. Sanitation is the first step in pest management using an integrated approach. IPM, Integrated Pest Management, is a pest management philosophy where all tactics, biological, cultural, and chemical, are used to control pests. This approach reduces our reliance on pesticides and is beneficial for the environment. Return to top
Commercial Pesticide Applicator Licensing (compiled by Steve Pettis from The Georgia Department of Agriculture Pesticide Division Web site) The Georgia Department of Agriculture regulates pesticides in Georgia. They do this by requiring commercial users of pesticides, farmers who use restricted use pesticides and all pesticide dealers to be licensed. Pesticides are divided into two categories; general use pesticides that anyone can purchase and use in compliance with the labeling and restricted use pesticides which require a license to purchase and use. Georgia Department of Agriculture Pesticide Inspectors enforce federal Environmental Protection Agency and state pesticide regulations by annually inspecting places of business and randomly inspecting applicators on the job. Farmers (row crop producers as well as ornamental nurseries) who wish to purchase and use restricted use pesticides should obtain the Private Applicator’s License. This license allows the holder to purchase restricted use pesticides and use them on his or her own property and to supervise employees who use pesticides working on the farm. The license is obtained by watching a 3-hour video at your local County Extension office then passing a short exam. There are many commercial pesticide license categories but the Turf and Ornamental Category or CAT 24 is the most commonly acquired and the appropriate license for a person who wishes to apply pesticides to another person’s landscape for a fee or for government employees who use pesticides. Having the General Standards and the CAT 24 license allows one to purchase restricted use pesticides and use them on his/her property or have any employee do the same. If an applicator wishes to apply those chemicals to another person's property for a fee as in the fictitious case of 'Mikes Lawn Spraying', then that person must pay for a Contractor's License from the GA Dept of AG which requires an applicator to have liability insurance and pay $15.00. To obtain the CAT 24 license one must study for and take two exams: the General Standards (which everyone must take no matter their category) and the category test (in this case Category 24 Turf and Ornamentals). The cost is usually $25.00 per person but government officials are exempt from the fee. The University of Georgia Extension Service has a memorandum of understanding with the GA Dept of AG to provide applicators training to become licensed and to help applicators maintain their licenses through approved continuing education credits. Many local Extension Agents annually host big training and testing seminars and recertification programs.The training covers the General Standards and the Category 24 material and usually runs from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm with a one-hour lunch break. The Dept. of Ag then comes in to administer the test from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm. So, how do you as an individual go about obtaining your license? Testing occurs throughout the state several times per month. You can find the testing dates and locations at the GA Dept of Ag’s web site www.agr.georgia.gov . Follow the links to ‘Divisions’, ‘Plant Industry’, and finally ‘Pesticides’. There you will find a list for testing dates. You should purchase the General Standards and the Category 24 Turf and Ornamentals books from your local Cooperative Extension Office or you can order them by using the form that is located on the examination schedule at the Dept of AG web site An order form The cost for the two books is $40.00 . A check or money order (cash will not be accepted) in the amount of $25.00 made payable to the Georgia Department of Agriculture must be presented at the exam location prior to taking the exam. You will be required to maintain your license by acquiring educational credits. The Category 24 license requires you to obtain 10 credit hours every 5 years or your license will lapse. Approved classes are held all over the state throughout the year. Your local County Extension Agent can tell you where credit opportunities are occurring. Return to top .	Soil: The Backbone of a Landscape Organic matter is defined as decomposing plant material and is one of the most important constituents of soil. It holds water, releases nutrients, improves soil structure and tilth, and increases productivity of plants. Soil health, a term used by those of us in the field of agriculture, is a term used to quantify the general status of soil and the organisms that live in it. Soil health can be improved by the addition of decomposed organic matter to the soil. One can think of plants as miners. Plants mine nutrients from the soil to use in plant processes that build tissue and regulate biochemical processes. In nature, these would be returned to the soil when the plant dies and decomposes. In home gardens, when we harvest vegetables or in the landscape when we remove leaves, dead limbs, fallen trees, and lawn clippings, we are mining nutrients, too. Eventually, removal of nutrients from soils without replenishment leads to poor soil structure, reduced productivity, and poor soil health. The organisms that live in the soil (the soil microflora and microfauna such as earthworms, nematodes, fungi, bacteria, insects, etc.) suffer when soil organic matter is not replenished. Restoring soil health takes time. Like everything in the gardening world, it takes time for problems to build up and it takes time to remedy them. Adding organic matter every fall and spring to your garden and flowerbeds can remedy poor soil health in a few years. Organic matter can be in the form of home compost or store bought compost. Store bought composts include mushroom compost, peanut hull compost, and cow manure. My favorite store bought compost is mushroom compost. If mushroom compost is used continuously year after year the soil organic matter content will increase and the physical condition of the soil will improve. It has been shown that soils with appropriate amounts of organic matter are able to support beneficial microbes that suppress soil borne diseases and organisms that aid plant development. Also, mushrooms are made of chitin, the same substance that insects, nematodes, and soil borne fungi are made of. The theory is mushroom compost contains and encourages organisms that suppress harmful soil borne organisms. When adding organic matter, apply it liberally over the area. Set your tiller to its deepest setting, and till it in thoroughly. Be aware that some of these composts contain high amounts of nutrients, especially nitrogen, and should be incorporated into the soil well in advance of planting crops or ornamentals. Get mushroom compost into your soil now to reap benefits in the spring. Return to top
Pasture Management Increases Forage Production Georgia has a large number of horses and horse enthusiasts. Although it is an increasingly suburban state, the growing popularity of horseback riding has encouraged many people to turn the counties old fields and unused land into pasture. With this article I hope to make a brief synopsis of pasture and forage plant types and their usefulness to livestock owners. Permanent pastures are established in perennial warm or cool season grasses and legumes that persist for several years. Temporary pastures are seeded each year with cool or warm season annual grasses and legumes. Temporary pastures are usually plowed and a seedbed prepared each year. The best land for pastures in the Piedmont region is along streams. The low, moist areas, if adequately drained, are excellent for summer pastures. The better upland soil is good for spring and fall grazing crops. Dry weather often occurs in spring, summer and fall. Use drought-resistant plants on the uplands for summer grazing. A wide variety of both annual and perennial grasses and legumes can be grown in Georgia. When selecting a forage crop or mixture of forage crops for grazing or hay production, consider the following factors: How well is the crop adapted to the soil type, moisture conditions and climate? What is the type and expected performance of the livestock that will use the forage? How intensively will the crop be managed? Perennial grasses are widely used as the base crop for permanent pastures. Grow perennials or reseeding annual legumes with perennial grasses where they are adapted. Annual grasses and legumes can be used for winter or summer temporary grazing. Temporary pastures provide high-quality forage that can be used in stocker programs or used to supplement permanent pastures for beef cows. There are many different types of forages and forage systems. The following is a very brief synopsis of the most common types of forage types and species. Perennial Warm Season Grasses Perennial warm season grasses grow during the warmer part of the year and persist for several years when well managed. These grasses are dormant during the winter. Bermudagrass Bahiagrass, Dallisgrass Annual Warm Season Grasses Warm season annual grasses are established from seed and are productive during spring and summer. These plants are frequently used as temporary forage for stocker cattle and mature cows. Pearl Millet, Sorghum x Sudangrass Hybrids, Sudangrass, Browntop Millet Perennial Cool Season Grasses Perennial cools season grasses are ones that grow during the cooler parts of the year and comes back every year. Some of these grasses must be over seeded every year in the fall to supplement grass loss during the summer months. Tall Fescue, Orchardgrass Bluegrass Annual Cool Season Grasses The cool season annual grasses are productive in late fall and spring and widely grown throughout Georgia. They provide high quality grazing when over-seeded in permanent pastures or planted on a prepared seed bed. Rye, oats, whet, barley Perennial Warm Season Legumes Legumes are plants that are in the bean family. Warm season perennial legumes are productive during the warmer months and live for more than 1 year. Most fix nitrogen and reduce the need for fertilizers. Alfalafa, lespedeza Annual Warm Season Legumes The warm season annual legumes are productive during spring and summer. They are not frost tolerant and do not survive winters. Annual lespedeza, soybeans Perennial Cool Season Legumes The perennial cool season legumes are most productive in spring and fall. Stands usually survive for more than 1 year. White clover, red clover Annual Cool Season Legumes Cool season annual legumes are generally seeded in the fall and provide forage in late fall and spring before flowering and producing seed in late spring. These plants die after seed is matured and do not live over the summer. Many species of clover (including crimson, arrowleaf, hop and bur clovers), vetch, As you can see there are many choices when selecting a forage for your horse, cow or other livestock. Research forages thoroughly and consult with a private consultant or your local County Extension Agent before choosing one or a combination for your pastures. Forage selection is a complicated but very important issue for livestock enthusiasts. Return to top	Ponds Need Attention, Too Ponds are not simply water. Ponds consist of a soil layer at the bottom of the pond where decomposing organic matter collects, a fish population, a phytoplankton bloom that colors the water and plants. Ponds need maintenance and care to perform their best. Ponds must be balanced chemically and biologically. Alkalinity and acidity must be balanced. Organic matter must decompose at a regular rate to prevent build up. Oxygen levels must be at a certain level for animals such as fish to thrive. Phytoplankton must flourish to color water to prevent sunlight from penetrating to the pond's bottom and causing weeds to flourish. Ponds should be tested at regular intervals. Most importantly, fish should be harvested to keep fish populations healthy. Return to top

 

CONTACT US
Complete Horticultural Consulting, LLC

Phone: (706) 621-1248
Email: steve@completeHORTconsulting.com

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