News Stories - Page 96

Learn how to properly prune ornamentals at an upcoming University of Georgia course offered on its campus in Griffin, Ga. The one-day course will be offered Feb. 15 and Feb. 22 from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. at the UGA Research and Education Garden on Ellis Road.

From time to time national news services pick up articles about someone who sold one walnut tree for thousands of dollars. This may stimulate the imagination of those who have large walnut trees in their landscape. These articles usually fail to mention that the tree was near a high quality hardwood veneer operation and had many burls that produce the most valuable veneer. The tree owner probably also guaranteed that there was no metal in the tree. No one living in Georgia can replicate this scenario.

Agriculture uses about 70 percent of the world’s fresh water supply, but a growing population’s increasing demand for drinking water means farmers need to learn how to do more with less water.

Gardeners love rich soil, rain and the outdoors. Unfortunately none of those things are fit for a beautifully wrapped holiday package.

Fraser firs top the list of favorite Christmas tree varieties, but almost all the Fraser firs sold in Georgia come from North Carolina. One University of Georgia horticulturist is working to change that by popularizing a hybrid that combines Fraser firs with their Japanese cousins — Momi firs.

Poinsettias are the best selling potted plant in the United States, with 34.7 million plants being produced in 2011 alone. Unfortunately, popularity doesn’t always guarantee survival.