June 2015 – Page 2 – Center for Urban Agriculture

Dollar Spot: What is this problem leaving small spots in lawns?

November 30, 2015June 5, 2015 by Willie Chance

This disease is dollar spot. Find info below on identifying and managing lawn diseases.

The UGA publication Turfgrass Diseases in Georgia, Identification and Control contains a Simplified Turfgrass Identification Key to help turf managers identify turf diseases. You can see a copy of it below or see the entire publication.

Simplified Turfgrass Identification Key for Dollar Spot

Distinct patches of yellow to brown colored grass are present.

Patch is small, circular, sunken, and rarely exceed 3 inches in diameter. Individual leaf blades develop white lesions. [Dollar Spot]
Patch is greater than 6 cm in diameter. Individual leaf blades may or may not develop lesions.
- No lesions
  - Circular rings of dark green grass 10-20 cm wide. Concentric ring of dead grass may be present. Mushrooms may be present. [Fairy Ring]
  - Irregular chlorotic patches up to 0.5 m across. Lower leaves are chlorotic first and then chlorosis moves to upper leaves. Runners easily pulled from roots. Roots may be short, rotted, and black. Roots may have dark strands of mycelium parallel to the root axis. [Take-All Root Rot]
- Lesions on leaf buds or leaf blade
  - Rings or circular patches of blighted grass. Gray to brown shaped lesions on leaves or leaf sheaths. [Brown Patch]
  - Rings or circular patches of blighted grass. No lesions on leaves. [Large Patch]

Distinct patches are absent.

Yellow to orange flecks on leaves or stems. Flecks are easily rubbed off. [Rust]
Yellow to orange flecks are absent.
- Leaf lesions are present.
  - Lesions first appear small and water-soaked. Old lesions become dark often surrounded by a yellow zone. Lesions have a wide range of size and primarily occur on warm season grasses in Georgia. [Leaf Spot/Melting Out]
  - Small, brown leaf and stem lesions enlarge rapidly to oblong spots. Often spots extend across entire leaf. Spots are tan to gray with purple to brown borders. A general chlorosis may appear. Primarily occurs on St. Augustinegrass in summer.[Gray Leaf Spot]
  - Leaf lesions are reddish brown with a yellow halo. Leaves turn yellow and finally tan to brown as they die. Primarily occurs on Centipedegrass, Bentgrass, and Zoysiagrass in Georgia. [Anthracnose]
- Leaf lesions are absent.
  - Large number of pinhead-sized “balls” that are slimy or crusty. Grass does not die or turn yellow. Slime is easily removed. [Slime Mold]
  - Turf is chlorotic and slow growing. Small to large areas affected. Grass may be mottled and associated with general decline. As temperature increases the affected areas will die. Roots stunted but usually not discolored. [Pythium Root Rot/Pythium Blight]

The publication also has information on:

For disease management information see Turfgrass Diseases in Georgia: Identification and Control

For pesticide recommendations see 2015 Turfgrass Pest Control Recommendations for Professionals

Free composting classes for the metro area!

November 30, 2015June 5, 2015 by Willie Chance

UGA Extension is a collaborator on a healthy soil initiative in this summer and fall. This initiative includes free composting classes all over the Atlanta area. Here is a list of the free composting classes and a link to the list online.

2015 Healthy Soil Composting Classes in the Atlanta Area

Wednesday, August 19^th UGA Extension Fulton County Fulton County

6:30 – 8:00 p.m. City of Alpharetta

To register phone Fulton County Extension at 404-613-7670 or email Rolando Orellana at jrolando@uga.edu

Saturday, August 22^nd Truly Living Well Fulton County

10:00 a.m. Wheat Street Garden For more information visit www.trulylivingwell.com

To register contact farm@trulylivingwell.com or 678.973.0997

Saturday, August 29^th Terra Nova Compost DeKalb County

10:00am – 12 noon Gilliam Park Community Garden, Kirkwood, Atlanta

To register please visit http://terranovacompost.com/events or phone 678-786-6568

Thursday, September 3^rd (Vermiculture) UGA Extension Cobb County Cobb County

6:30 – 7:30 p.m. Cobb County Extension Office Classroom

To register phone Cobb Extension at 770-528-4070

Saturday, September 5^th AFB-Fred Conrad Clayton County

9:00 – 11:00 a.m. Morrow Community Garden

To register visit gardens@acfb.org

Saturday, September 12th Terra Nova Compost Fulton County

10:00 a.m. – 12 noon Good Shepherd Agro Ecology Center, Atlanta

To register please visit http://terranovacompost.com/events or phone 678-786-6568

Monday, September 14^th UGA Extension DeKalb County DeKalb County

6:30 – 8:00 p.m. Embry Hills Library, Chamblee

To register please contact DeKalb County Extension at 404-298-4080

Thursday, September 17^th UGA Extension DeKalb County DeKalb County

6:45 – 8:00 p.m. DeKalb Extension Auditorium, Memorial Drive

To register please contact DeKalb County Extension at 404-298-4080

Saturday, September 19th Truly Living Well Fulton County

10:00 – 12:00 noon Wheat Street Garden

For more information visit www.trulylivingwell.com.

To register contact farm@trulylivingwell.com or 678.973.0997

Saturday, September 19th Terra Nova Compost Fulton County

10:00 a.m. – 12 noon Peachtree Hills Park Community Center, Atlanta

To register please visit http://terranovacompost.com/events or phone 678-786-6568

Tuesday, September 29^th UGA Extension Clayton County Clayton County

6:30 -8:00 p.m. Clayton County Extension Office

To register contact Winston Eason at weason@uga.edu

Tuesday, September 29^th UGA Extension Cobb County Cobb County

6:30 – 8:00 p.m. Cobb County Extension Training Room

To register phone Cobb Extension at 770-528-4070

Saturday, October 17th Terra Nova Compost Fulton County

10:00 a.m. – 12 noon Patchwork City Farms

To register please visit http://terranovacompost.com/events or phone 678-786-6568

Saturday, October 29^th AFB-Fred Conrad Gwinnett County

6:30 -8:00 p.m. Norcross CG

To register visit gardens@acfb.org

Reconnecting Our Roots Garden

November 30, 2015June 3, 2015 by Becky Griffin

The first thing you notice when you enter the gate of the Reconnecting Our Roots garden is the peace. Even though it is just a street or two off the Marietta Square, it is quiet. There are raised beds for vegetables, an outdoor classroom, a sensory garden, and plenty of tables for seating. For a brief video walking tour of the garden visit Reconnecting Our Roots Garden Tour.

The goal of this garden is unique. The garden was made to offer a space for youth and families under court supervision. Moms have an opportunity to visit with children who are no longer in their custody. As Cobb County Extension Master Gardener Coordinator Renae Lemon says, “it is a happy place where Moms and children can connect with dignity.” Probation officers can meet with the youth under their supervision here as well.

Benefits of the Reconnecting Our Roots Garden

The vegetable garden part of this space is equally important. Community members and program participants can learn how to grow good, nutritious food. UGA Master Gardeners will lead the way in education here. Also, the outdoor classroom can be used for cooking demonstrations and nutrition classes. Food harvested here will go to the families that use the garden as well as other families in need.

Debbie Ponder of Reconnecting Families has put a lot of work into getting this garden started with the supportive Cobb County community. The property is on two city parcels owned by Zion Baptist Church and the church is partnering with Reconnecting Families and Cobb County Extension. With the full support of Cobb County Juvenile Court Judge Juanita Stedman, the garden has attracted many supporters. The Rotary Club of Marietta, Food Well Alliance, Cobb County Impact, the Cobb EMC Foundation, BB&T, WellCare and Leadership Cobb have invested in this garden and are committed to seeing it succeed. This garden will change families!

Cobb Extension Agent Neil Tarver says of the garden, “Some obvious benefits gained from Reconnecting Our Roots Community Garden is using gardening to serve the clients of Reconnecting Families and supplying them with wholesome locally grown food. But by developing two previously barren lots they’re helping to beautify and stabilize an underdeveloped part of Marietta as well.”

Over the summer the gardeners will add blueberries and also an ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliant walkway with ADA compliant garden beds. On Saturday, June 20th the garden will host a pollinator event. Interested people can come and bring a pollinator plant which will be planted in the garden. For more information about this event or the garden contact Renae Lemon at Renae.Lemon@cobbcounty.org. This garden is off to a huge start!

Happy Gardening!

Reddish Spots Caused by Spot Anthracnose on Dogwood Leaves

November 30, 2015June 2, 2015 by Willie Chance

Dogwood spot anthracnose

Spot anthracnose causes reddish spots on dogwood leaves

Disease Symptoms(Reddish Spots):

Small, reddish spots first appear on flower bracts. Reddish spots appear on leaves; leaves become distorted from infection in bud stage. Disease may cause leaves to drop.

Disease Management:

Rake and remove fallen leaves.
Disease will not cause significant damage to the tree.
Fungicides applied at swollen bud stage for flowers and leaves can reduce infection, but are only recommended for young, newly-transplanted trees.
Kousa variety is moderately resistant to disease.

Compiled by: Dr. Jean L. Williams-Woodward, UGA Extension Plant Pathology, Athens

Ticks: Protect Yourself While Working Outside

November 30, 2015June 1, 2015 by Willie Chance

Protect yourself from ticks while working outside — Use tweezers to remove ticks. Pinch the tick close to the mouthparts to remove as much as possible. If the tick head is left behind, don’t worry. Having a tick attach itself to your skin is like having a thorn. Your body will expel it over time. *Image credit: Nancy Hinkle.*

Adapted from an article by Merritt Melancon, news editor with the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences

Ticks in Georgia

Ticks are in every part of Georgia. The most common ticks in Georgia are lone star ticks, carriers of uncommon diseases called “ehrlichiosis.” However, the American dog tick is also present in the state, and it is known to carry Rocky Mountain spotted fever—a flu-like illness that can cause complications for young children and those with suppressed immune systems.

The best course of action to prevent disease is to avoid tick bites altogether, said Nancy Hinkle, a UGA Extension veterinary entomologist.

She advocates:

Wear long pants tucked into your socks or boots when walking or working in heavy brush. “It does look dorky, but it’s the most effective way to protect yourself from ticks,” she said. “The ticks have to crawl all the way up your boot and up your pants leg before they get to you, and that’s more of a chance for them to fall off or for you to find them before they attach.”
Bug repellents that contain DEET to repel mosquitoes will work somewhat, but they are far from bulletproof.
Repellents containing the pyrethroid, permethrin, work best to repel ticks, Hinkle said. The key is to apply it to clothes early and to let it dry completely before an outing. The permethrin will stay on clothes through multiple washes, but the solvent can also deteriorate plastic and some synthetic fibers.
If you find that you’re picking up ticks in a yard, it may be time to mow the grass and trim the hedges. Keeping things tidy will help knock down tick populations or at least convince them to move.

Even if you’re diligent with your permethrin and you tuck your pant legs all the way into your boots, it’s important to check yourself for ticks when you get home.

For parents, Hinkle recommends a once-a-day tick check for kids if they’ve been playing in the woods or near the woods. If you find a tick within 24 hours of it attaching itself, there is little chance of it transmitting anything that could hurt you, Hinkle said.

That being said, sometimes they are tricky to remove. The best method is use tweezers or your fingers to grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible and pull. Be careful not to squeeze the body of the tick during the process because that can empty the tick’s stomach contents into your bloodstream, Hinkle said.

“Fortunately the old, urban myth about not removing the mouthparts is meaningless,” Hinkle said. “If portions of the mouthparts are left behind, the body will eventually work them out—just as when we get a thorn or splinter under our skin.”

Tick bites will cause an itchy, sometimes-raised spot to appear after the tick is removed. These can be uncomfortable, Hinkle said, but that’s normal.

“The (lone star tick) is the most common tick in Georgia, and it is also the tick that makes us itch the most,” she said. “When I get a lone star tick attached to me, I’ll itch for four or five weeks, with a pruritic, indurated lesion (an itchy, hard sore) at the bite site.” “Unfortunately there’s not much we can do about the itch, other than anti-itch creams; it’s our immune system’s way of removing the tick’s salivary secretions over time.”

The time to watch for symptoms of Rocky Mountain spotted fever is about a week to two weeks after exposure to the tick. If you’ve been exposed to a tick and experience body aches or headaches, a fever, fatigue or have a spotty rash on your hands or feet, you should visit the doctor and tell them about your tick bite. The disease can be cured with antibiotics, but left untreated, it can be dangerous, especially for children under 5 years old, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

For more information on Rocky Mountain spotted fever, visit www.cdc.gov/rmsf. For more information about preventing ticks, see UGA Extension Circular “Protect Yourself From Ticks.”

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