GEORGIA

Small patches of yellowing grass can have several causes, but a mealybug is giving lawn owners another reason to investigate. Unlike familiar insects found on houseplants, this pest feeds on turfgrass and can be difficult to notice at first. Its presence cannot be confirmed from brown patches alone. That makes identification especially important before changing…

Liriope can stay green through winter, so cutting it down in October may leave a bare patch where you expected tidy foliage. Those grassy clumps might look tired after summer, especially when older leaves develop brown tips. But removing everything now means waiting months for fresh growth to fill the space. The timing of that…

Yellow dust coating windshields and patio chairs usually gets blamed on spring pines. When it shows up in October, plenty of homeowners assume something odd is going on. One large evergreen common in yards and parks releases its pollen in fall instead of spring. Its cones open on a schedule that sets it apart from…

Camellia buds lying on the mulch before a single flower has opened can be a disappointing sight after months of waiting. Bud drop is common enough that many shrubs shed a few without real cause for concern. Heavy losses, though, usually point to stress the plant went through weeks earlier. Buds form months ahead of…

Longleaf pine needles can grow up to 18 inches long. That makes them some of the longest pine needles in North America. I find that fact pretty wild. Those same needles fall to the ground every year for free. Southern landowners rake and bale them by the millions. Georgia ranks among the biggest producers of…

Mothballs scattered around a crawl space have been a go-to snake remedy for generations. Plenty of homeowners still swear by the trick after hearing it from a neighbor. Most of those little white balls are registered pesticides, so their use is governed by law, not tradition. Every package carries a label spelling out exactly where…

Bald eagles carrying sticks across a gray October sky can look out of place to anyone who links nesting with spring. Many pairs in coastal Georgia and near large lakes start repairing old nests weeks before the weather turns cold. Some return to the same tall pine year after year, adding fresh material each fall….

Water that sits in a freshly dug planting hole for hours is one of the clearest warnings a yard gives. Plants set into that kind of spot often struggle no matter how they are fed or watered. Red clay holds moisture because its tiny particles pack tightly, leaving little room for air or drainage. Some…

A pretty shrub once sold in garden centers now covers more Georgia forest than kudzu ever managed. Yes, the same vine famous for swallowing barns and telephone poles is losing the race to a bush. Its small dark leaves look tidy and harmless, like something you would happily trim into a hedge. Birds love its…

Hay bales stacked by the front steps for Halloween often end up spread across garden beds once November arrives. Mulch made from leftover decorations sounds like a thrifty way to finish the season. Hay and straw are not the same, though, and the difference shows up later. Hay is usually cut with seed heads attached,…

Lavender plants that looked tidy their first summer often turn into sprawling clumps with bare, gray centers a few years later. New growth keeps moving outward, while the middle looks more like dry sticks than foliage. Some woodiness is normal, since lavender is a small shrub, not a soft perennial. Problems start when old stems…

Store-bought fall displays often look great for a couple of weeks before the mums brown out. Living plants chosen for cooler weather can carry a porch well past Halloween, sometimes right through winter. Plenty of options handle mild days and chilly nights without much fuss. Pots with different heights, colors, and textures look fuller than…

Red mulch can make a front bed pop, and Georgia garden centers stack it by the pallet each fall. Many bags say little about what is actually inside. Much of the dyed mulch on shelves comes from recycled wood, not fresh bark. Old pallets and scrap lumber often end up ground and colored. That source…

Burgundy plumes arching over a sunny bed can make a fall planting look finished almost overnight. Purple fountain grass earns that spot with deep red leaves and soft seed heads that move in the breeze. Garden centers stock plenty of it now, often beside the mums. Its tag may call it a perennial, but that…

One snip with your shears this October could cost you next summer’s whole pink flower show. Fresh cuts made now wake up tender shoots, and the first hard freeze can scorch them overnight. Experts at the University of Georgia say this timing mistake also lowers winter cold tolerance in the whole plant. The trouble grows…

Thousands of small dark birds rising together near sunset can look more like one shifting shape than a flock. The whole mass bends, separates, and comes back together before suddenly changing direction again. These swirling gatherings become especially noticeable in late fall and winter, when large numbers of birds gather at communal roosts in parts…

Plenty of mums bought for the front steps end up in the trash by Thanksgiving, which feels like a waste for a plant that can live for years in the right spot. Moving them into a garden bed can work, but the odds depend on what kind of mum you bought and how soon it…

Empty garden beds left behind by tomatoes and peppers do not have to sit bare until spring. Several cool-season vegetables can still go in now, even with the first frost approaching in parts of the state. Shorter days slow growth this late in the year, so seeds and transplants often take longer than packets suggest….

Your garage shoebox might be housing a tiny tenant that pays no rent and prefers to stay out of sight. Cooler October nights in Georgia push plenty of small creatures toward walls, closets, and forgotten storage corners. This particular visitor is shy and brownish, with a violin-shaped mark sitting just behind its six eyes. It…

Lift a pile of damp oak leaves near the garden edge, and something small and brown may slither out. The surprise can make anyone jump, even when the snake is barely longer than a pencil. Several small snake species live in Georgia yards, and many spend fall tucked into leaf litter and mulch. Leaf piles…

Frosted bermuda blades crunch under your shoes on the first cold morning, and every step can leave a mark. Footprints like that can show up as darker tracks later, since frozen blades break under weight. Bermudagrass going dormant for winter is normal, and the tan color alone is nothing to worry about. How the lawn…

Plastic skeletons and carved pumpkins usually steal the show on Halloween, leaving the porch around them bare. Living plants can fill that gap and keep the display fresh after the candy is gone. Several fall bloomers hold color into November, so they earn their spot past a single night. Warm afternoons on a Georgia porch…

Pruning away a strange cluster of shoots might seem like the obvious solution, but some rose problems cannot be fixed with garden shears. Knock Out roses sometimes develop tightly packed, distorted growth known as witches’ brooms. When this symptom appears alongside unusual red shoots and excessive thorniness, rose rosette disease becomes a serious concern. The…

Bobwhite quail rarely spend the entire year behaving the same way, and fall brings an important change to their daily lives. Once breeding season winds down, birds that spent warmer months in pairs or family groups begin gathering into coveys. These groups help quail stay alert while moving between feeding spots and protective cover. You…

Fruit trees depend on winter weather more than you might realize, and an unusually wet season can influence how they perform when spring arrives. A strong El Niño often shifts weather patterns across the southern United States, bringing increased chances of cooler and wetter conditions. But that does not mean every orchard will experience the…

Beautiful flowers can sometimes be the ones you need to approach with the most caution, especially when their appearance hides a potential danger. Large trumpet-shaped blooms bring striking color to gardens, yet certain plants producing them contain toxic compounds. Their attractive flowers can make them particularly tempting to curious children and pets. Appearance alone is…

Halloween might seem like an unusual time to think about planting trees, but your yard could benefit from getting new roots established before winter arrives. Fall offers an opportunity to plant while the soil still holds warmth and cooler air reduces moisture loss. Choosing the right tree matters more than simply getting something into the…

Ripe persimmons dropping beneath a backyard tree might attract more than the usual birds and squirrels looking for an easy meal. Coyotes are opportunistic feeders, and fallen fruit can become part of their diet when available. A tree producing plenty of ripe persimmons may give them another reason to explore nearby properties. That possibility deserves…

White paint on a young fruit tree trunk might seem unusual, but growers use it for a practical reason that has nothing to do with appearance. Winter sunshine can warm exposed bark during the day, followed by a sharp temperature drop after sunset. That sudden change can contribute to bark injury on vulnerable trees. Young…

Your Thanksgiving cactus may already be covered in colorful flowers while the holiday is still weeks away, leaving you wondering whether something has changed. Early blooming does not necessarily mean your plant has a problem. These popular houseplants respond to environmental signals rather than following a holiday calendar. Shorter daylight hours and cooler nighttime temperatures…

Paperbush has a surprise waiting long before most winter flowers appear, and October is when the first signs become easier to notice. While many shrubs are slowing down, this unusual plant is already preparing its next floral display. Small clusters begin developing at the branch tips months before they open. That early preparation is part…

Trees planted before Thanksgiving can get a valuable head start, even when the rest of your garden seems ready for winter. Cooler weather reduces heat stress on newly planted trees, while soil temperatures may remain warm enough for roots to grow. That combination makes fall an appealing planting season. But choosing the right tree matters…

Groundhogs are busy preparing for winter long before the first freezing night arrives, and their fall behavior can explain sudden activity around your yard. Unlike animals that remain active throughout winter, groundhogs enter true hibernation. That makes the weeks leading up to colder weather especially important. They spend late summer and fall building fat reserves…

Frost can turn a beautiful stand of canna lilies into a patch of blackened, drooping leaves almost overnight, leaving gardeners wondering what survived. The damage looks dramatic, but the foliage is not the whole plant. Cannas grow from underground rhizomes that may remain alive after the leaves freeze. What happens below the soil matters more…

Cyclamen leaves drooping over the edge of a pot can be frustrating when the soil still feels moist beneath your fingers. Adding more water might seem helpful, but moisture alone does not tell you whether the roots are healthy. Sometimes the problem starts below the surface. Cyclamen prefer cooler growing conditions and can struggle when…

Japanese barberry may look attractive in a landscape, but its ability to spread beyond garden beds makes it a choice worth reconsidering. The good news is that you do not have to sacrifice seasonal interest when replacing it. Native shrubs can offer appealing foliage and berries without introducing another invasive plant. One option worth considering…

Fall leaves scattered across your flower beds might not be the wind’s doing, especially when a brown bird keeps hopping through the same spot. Georgia’s state bird, the brown thrasher, has a habit of tossing leaves aside while searching for food. Its long bill helps it investigate the ground beneath fallen foliage. What looks like…

Bright orange spiders hanging in garden webs can look like Halloween decorations, especially when their rounded bodies resemble tiny pumpkins. The timing makes them even more noticeable. By October, some garden spiders have reached maturity, making their colors and webs easier to spot. Their appearance may seem unusual, but these spiders are part of normal…

An unfamiliar snake with a raised head and flattened neck can look intimidating when you encounter it near a garden bed. Eastern hognose snakes sometimes put on an impressive defensive display when disturbed. Despite the dramatic posture, they usually prefer avoiding confrontation. October sightings can happen as these snakes move around during suitable daytime temperatures….

Forsythia can look untidy by October, especially when long branches stretch beyond the shape you wanted earlier in the year. Trimming those stems might seem like a quick cleanup job. Unfortunately, many of the buds for next spring’s yellow flowers are already on the branches. Cutting them now could leave you with fewer blooms when…

October is slipping away, and bare patches in a tall fescue lawn may not have much time left to fill in before winter. Fescue grows best during cooler weather, which makes fall an important season for establishing new grass. But seeds still need suitable soil temperatures and time to develop roots. Waiting until cold weather…

October plant sales offer a chance to bring home plants, but the best finds start with planning. Georgia Southern’s Botanic Garden hosts a fall plant sale for gardeners looking beyond familiar local nursery selections. Availability and event details can vary, so check the announcement carefully. Think about the planting spaces you want to fill before…

While other trees begin dropping their leaves, a loquat may be preparing to show off beautiful, fragrant flowers. That surprises gardeners who expect trees to bloom mainly in spring. Loquats often flower in fall or early winter, depending on conditions. Their timing also explains why flowers do not always lead to a dependable fruit harvest….

When a Leyland cypress leans after wind, straightening the trunk may seem like the obvious solution. The trouble is that a visible lean can sometimes signal movement below ground. Roots that have shifted or torn may not anchor the tree securely. That is concerning when the tree stands near a house, driveway, or path. Hurricane…

Blackened dahlia leaves after a frosty night can make the plant look finished, but the important part may still be underground. Frost damages tender foliage before it harms the tubers beneath the soil. That difference matters when deciding what to do next. Resist the urge to dig everything up immediately after the first cold morning….

Halloween decorations can look harmless on your shrubs, but stretchy fake spider webs create a problem that is easy to overlook. Birds moving through branches may become tangled in loose fibers. Bats can also encounter decorations placed near their usual flight paths. The risk comes from the material itself, especially when it stretches between twigs…

Tangled stems and browning leaves can make a clematis look ready for the trash by late October. Cutting the whole vine down and calling it done feels like the tidy choice. Hold off on that for now, since many clematis types bloom on stems they grew this year. Removing them in fall can cost you…

Stepping on the lawn after a downpour and feeling the ground sink under your shoe often signals a mole. Heavy rain softens the soil, which makes digging much easier for an animal that spends nearly its whole life underground. Earthworms also move closer to the surface when the ground stays wet. Moles follow that food,…

Tan, circular patches showing up a few days after a soaking storm are a common sight in Georgia lawns this fall. Heavy rain seems like it should help grass, especially after a dry stretch. Too much water at once, though, can create problems the lawn was not ready for. Walk the yard and note whether…

Discounted palms at the end of the season can look like a bargain too good to pass up. Planting one now seems like a quick way to add tropical style before winter. Palms grow new roots mostly when the soil is warm, and that growth slows sharply as temperatures drop. Trees planted this late may…

Tiny white balls scattered across oak leaves can look like insect eggs, especially when several appear together on the same branch. Their appearance can be misleading. Some of these unusual growths are actually galls formed when tiny gall wasps interact with developing leaf tissue. The oak responds by producing plant tissue around the developing insect,…

Most shade gardens are winding down by October, but a few spotted blooms can still surprise you in a Georgia bed. Toad lilies open right as hostas and ferns start to fade, often catching even experienced gardeners off guard. Their small, speckled flowers look a lot like orchids up close, with purple spots on pale…

Pyracantha loaded with orange or red berries can look a little wild by October, with long shoots reaching in every direction. Trimming it back into shape seems like a quick weekend fix. Doing that now can remove much of the fruit that makes the shrub worth growing in winter. Berries form on older wood, so…

Purple leaves can make a vegetable bed look surprisingly colorful in fall, especially when most summer plants have already faded. Some edible crops offer more than a harvest. Their rich foliage can bring ornamental appeal to garden spaces that might otherwise look plain. Purple mustard greens are one example, combining colorful leaves with a peppery…

Muscadine vines that have sprawled across the arbor all summer can look like they need a serious cut right now. Long runners tangle together, and the canopy may be thick enough to shade out the fruit. Grabbing loppers in October feels like a smart way to get ahead of it. Muscadines respond better to heavy…

Coleus plants with bright, patterned leaves often look their best right before the first frost of the season wipes them out. In Georgia, that first frost can arrive anywhere from mid-October in the mountains to well into December along the coast. Saving your favorites does not require digging up the whole plant. A few short…

Mowing a steep bank is one of those chores most homeowners dread every summer. Grass on a slope also tends to thin out, leaving bare soil that washes away in heavy rain. Creeping phlox offers a lower-maintenance way to cover that ground and keep it covered year round. It spreads into a low, dense mat…