General Resources | Flowers and Foliage Plants | Fruits and Nuts | House Plants | Lawns | Ponds and Water Gardens | Recycling and Composting | Trees and Shrubs | Vegetables and Herbs | Wildlife
General Resources for Home Gardeners
Cultural Information
- Central North Carolina Planting Calendar for Annual Vegetables, Fruits, and Herbs
- Consumer Horticulture Resources
- Insect Notes
- NC Agricultural Chemicals Manual
- Plant Disease Information Notes
- Successful Gardener
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zones in North Carolina
- A Small Backyard Greenhouse for the Home Gardener (PDF)
- Seed and Seed Quality (PDF)
Soils and Soil Testing
- Careful Soil Sampling: The Key to Reliable Soil Test Information (PDF version)
- A Gardeners Guide to Soil Testing (PDF)
- A Gardeners Guide to Protecting Water Quality (PDF)
- Minimizing The Risk of Soil Contaminants in Urban Gardens (PDF)
Water Use and Landscaping
- Efficient Irrigation
- Fertilizer Recommendations and Techniques to Maintain Landscapes and Protect Water Quality
- Wise Water Use in Landscaping
- How to Plan and Design a Wise-Water-Use Landscape
- Drought Tolerant Plants for North Carolina Landscapes
- Planting Techniques for Trees and Shrubs
- Using Compost in Landscape Beds and Nursery Substrates
Flowers and Foliage Plants
Cultural Information
- NC Cooperative Extension Service Consumer Horticulture Resources
- Consumer Horticulture Factsheets
- Horticulture Information Leaflets – Flowers
- Spring-Flowering Bulbs: Trials in North Carolina (PDF)
Pest Management of Flowers and Foliage Plants
- Insect and Related Pests of Flowers and Foliage Plants
- Pest Alerts
- Pest News (April through September)
- Rose Pest Management Calendar
-
Insect Management of Flowers and Foliage Plants
- Insect Notes
- Aphids
- Beetles
- Brown Soft Scale
- Cyclamen and Broad Mite
- Darkwinged Fungus Gnats
- False Spider Mites
- Flower Thrips
- Greenhouse Whitefly
- Hemispherical Scale
- Japanese Beetle
- Lady Beetles
- Leafminer Flies
- March Flies
- Mealybugs
- Pillbugs and Sowbugs
- Silverleaf Whitefly
- Slugs
- Twospotted Spider Mite
- Western Flower Thrips
- Insect Notes
-
Disease Management of Flowers and Foliage Plants
- Azalea Diseases and Their Control
- Damping-off in Seed Beds – Flower and Vegetable Seedlings
- Dogwood Diseases
- Entomosporium Leaf Spot on Red Tip
- Phytophthora Root Rot and Its Control on Established Woody Ornamentals
- Rhododendron Diseases
- Rose Diseases and Their Control in the Home Garden
- Southern Bacterial Wilt on Marigolds
- Juniper Diseases and Their Control in the Landscape
- Common Diseases and Disorders with the Gold-Dust Plant, Aucuba japonica
- Nematode Management in Bedding Plants in the Landscape
- Powdery Mildew of Ornamentals and Shade Trees
-
Weed Management of Flowers and Foliage Plants
Fruits and Nuts
General Information
- Managing Lawns and Gardens to Protect Water Quality (PDF version)
- Producing Tree Fruit for Home Use
- Training and Pruning Fruit Trees in North Carolina
- Starting Plants from Seeds (PDF version)
- Overcoming Seed Dormancy: Trees and Shrubs (PDF version)
- Miner Bees
- Orchard Mason Bees
- Growing Apple Trees in the Home Garden (PDF version)
- Blackberries for the Home Garden (PDF)
- Pruning and Training Thornless Blackberries (PDF version)
- Growing Blueberries in the Home Garden (PDF version)
- Crop Profile for Grapes in North Carolina
- Grapes, Bunch (PDF version)
- Grapes, Muscadine (PDF version)
- Kiwifruit
- Nursery List Of Small Fruit Cultivars for Home Use in North Carolina (PDF version)
- Growing Peaches in North Carolina
- Peach Cultivars Introduced in North Carolina (PDF)
- Growing Pears in North Carolina (PDF)
- Growing Pecans in North Carolina
- Crop Profile for Pecans in North Carolina
- Growing Raspberries in North Carolina
- Raspberries in the Home Garden (PDF version)
- Strawberries in the Home Garden (PDF version)
Preserving Fruits and Nuts
- Brief instructions on Freezing Fruit (PDF)
- Home Canning Fruits and Vegetables in North Carolina
- Making Jams and Jellies, FCSW-503 (PDF)
Pest Management of Fruits and Nuts
- Biological Control for the Home Gardener
- Disease and Insect Management in the Home Orchard
- Pest Alerts
- Pest News
- Horticultural Oils
-
Insect Management of Fruits and Nuts
-
Disease Management of Fruits and Nuts
- Apple and Pear
- Blueberry
- Fig
- Grape
- Plum and Cherry
- Peach and Nectarine
- Pecan
- Strawberry
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Weed Management of Fruits and Nuts
House Plants
Culture
Pest Management of House Plants
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Insect Management of House Plants
Lawns
Cultural Information
- TurfFiles website
- Bed Preparation and Fertilization Recommendations for Bedding Plants in the Landscape (PDF version )
- Bermudagrass Lawn Maintenance Calendar (PDF version)
- Bermudagrass Management in North Carolina (PDF)
- Caring for your Lawn and the Environment (PDF)
- Carolina Lawns (PDF version )
- Carpetgrass Lawn Maintenance Calendar
- Centipede Lawn Maintenance Calendar (PDF version)
- Grasscycling
- Improving Lawn Care and Gardening
- Managing Lawns and Gardens to Protect Water Quality (PDF version)
- Residential Landscaping
- Selecting and Managing Lawn Grasses for Shade
- Soil Acidity and Liming: Basic Information for Farmers and Gardeners (PDF)
- Soils and Water Quality
- St. Augustinegrass Lawn Maintenance Calendar
- Tall Fescue Lawn Maintenance Calendar (PDF version)
- TurfFiles website
- Water Quality and Home Lawn Care
- Zoysiagrass Lawn Maintenance Calendar (PDF version)
Turf Pest Management
- Pest Alerts
- Pest Control for Turfgrass Managers (PDF)
- Pest Management Strategic Plan for Turfgrass in the Southern United States (PDF)
- Pesticide Selection For Water Quality Protection
- Pest News (April through September)
- Soil Temperature Reports Aid Turf Managers
- Water Quality and Commercial Lawn Care (PDF)
- Pesticide Selection for Water Quality Protection
-
Turf Insect Management
- Insect and Other Pests Associated with Turf
- Insect Biology
- Insect Management in Turf
- Insect Notes
- Bees in Turf
- Chinch Bugs
- Cicada Killer Wasps
- Clover Mites in Home Lawns
- A Complete Guide to Mole Crickets
- Controlling Bald Faced Hornets and Yellow Jackets In and Around Structures
- Crane Fly Larvae in Lawns
- Crayfish in Home Lawns
- Cutworms in Turf
- Earthworms as Pests in Home Lawns
- Fall Armyworm in Lawns
- Ground Pearls
- Japanese Beetle
- Millipedes In and Around Homes
- Mole Crickets
- Organic and Sustainable Pest Management for Home Lawns
- Red Imported Fire Ant
- Rhodesgrass Mealybugs in Home Lawns
- Managing the Two-lined Spittlebug in the Home Landscape
- Scoliid Wasps
- Sod Webworms
- Springtails
- White Grubs in Turf
- Master Gardener Insect Guide for Ornamentals and Turf (PDF)
- Nematode Damage and Management in Lawns
- Ornamentals and Turf Insect Pest Management
-
Turf Disease Management
-
Turf Weed Management
Ponds and Water Gardens
- Aquatic Weed Management website
- Hydrilla: A Rapidly Spreading Aquatic Weed in North Carolina (PDF)
- Pond Management Guide
- Using Grass Carp for Aquatic Weed Management in North Carolina
- Water Garden Plants
- Water Gardens and Weeds (PDF version)
- Water Gardens, Aquascaping, Lake Restoration and Aquatic Weeds
- Weed Management in Small Ponds (PDF)
Recycling and Composting
General Resources
- A Low-Cost Plastic Bottle and Jug Baler
- Before You Recycle, Choose to Reuse (PDF)
- Community Backyard Composting Programs Can Reduce Waste and Save Money(PDF)
- Composting: A Guide to Managing Organic Yard Wastes (PDF)
- Composting for Home Gardens
- Deconstruction: Giving Old Buildings New Lives(PDF)
- Food Recovery and Waste Reduction: A Guide for Businesses and Institutions(PDF)
- How Your Business Can Cut Costs by Reducing Waste
- Large Scale Organic Materials Composting (PDF)
- Managing Construction and Demolition Debris: A Guide for Builders, Developers and Contractors
- Organic Composting for Horticultural Use
- Organizing a Community Recycling Program
- Source Reduction: Reducing Household Waste in Local Landfills
- Using Compost in Landscape Beds and Nursery Substrates
- Using Municipal Solid Waste Compost (PDF version)
- Waste Reduction and Recycling for the Lodging Industry
Composting with Earthworms
- Controlling Mite Pests in Earthworm Beds
- Raising Earthworms Successfully(PDF)
- Worm Away Your Cafeteria Food Scraps!
- Worms Can Recycle Your Garbage
Trees, Shrubs and Woody Ornamentals
Cultural Information
- Information on Trees for Consumers
- Planting Trees and Shrubs(PDF version)
- Planting Techniques for Trees and Shrubs
- Pruning Trees (PDF version)
- Pruning Trees and Shrubs(PDF)
- Recommended plants:
- Large Trees for North Carolina(PDF version)
- Small Trees
- Small Trees for North Carolina(PDF version)
- Shrubs 1-4′(PDF version)
- Shrubs 4-8′(PDF version)
- Shrubs 8′+(PDF version)
- Vines (PDF version)
- Plants for Wet Sites(PDF version)
- Trees for Difficult Sites (PDF version )
- Qualifiers for Quagmires: Landscape Plants for Wet Sites
- Urban Trees for Use Under Utility Lines(PDF version)
- Fertilizing Deciduous Shade Trees in the Landscape (PDF version)
- Conserving Energy with Plants
- Espalier (PDF version)
- Mulches (PDF version)
- Natural Areas in the Landscape (PDF version)
- Protecting Plants from Cold Damage
- NC Urban Tree Evaluation Program
- Residential Landscaping
- Plant Propagation
- Overcoming Seed Dormancy: Trees and Shrubs (PDF file)
- Plant Propagation by Layering: Instructions for the Home Gardener (PDF version)
- Plant Propagation by Leaf, Cane, and Root Cuttings: Instructions for the Home Gardener (PDF version)
- Grafting and Budding Nursery Crop Plants
- Plant Propagation by Stem Cuttings: Instructions for the Home Gardener (PDF version)
- Selection and Care of Living Christmas Trees
- Tree Identification and Culture
- Information about Specific Trees
- Trees of the Maritime Forest
- Native Trees, Shrubs, and Woody Vines
- Azalea Culture for North Carolina Gardeners(PDF version)
- Azaleas for North Carolina(PDF version)
- Growing Boxwoods in the Landscape(PDF version)
- Superior Crabapple Trees for the Landscape(PDF version)
- Crapemyrtles for North Carolina
- The Flowering Dogwood (PDF version)
- Hollies in the Landscape
- Junipers in the Landscape
- Using Pines in the Landscape (PDF version)
- Roses for North Carolina
- Smooth and Oakleaf Hydrangeas (PDF version)
- Cultural Information on Woody Ornamentals
- Using Compost in Landscape Beds and Nursery Subrates
- Best Management Practices For Field Production of Nursery Stock
- Commercial Boxwood Production
- Grafting and Budding Nursery Crop Plants
- Low Investment Propagation/Winter Protection Structure(PDF version)
- Managing Drought on Nursery Crops (PDF)
- Preparing Nursery Plants For Winter
- Pruning Field Grown Shade and Flowering Trees
- Using The PourThru Procedure For Checking EC and pH For Nursery Crops (PDF version)
- A Simple Intermittent Mist System for Propagation (PDF version)
Pest Management for Trees, Shrubs and Woody Ornamentals
- Integrated Pest Management for Municipalities
- Biological Control for the Home Gardener
- Pest Alerts
- Pest News (April through September)
-
Insect Management for Trees, Shrubs and Woody Ornamentals
- Insect Pest Calendars
- Insects and Related Pests of Shrubs
- Insect Pest Management Calendars
- Insect Notes
- Aphids
- Asian Ambrosia Beetle
- Asian Ambrosia Beetle Trapping
- Ash Whitefly
- Azalea Leaf Miner
- Azalea Stem Borer
- Bagworms
- Barklice
- Beetles
- Black Turpentine Beetle
- Black Twig Borer
- Black Vine Weevil
- Boxelder Bugs
- Boxwood Leaf Miner
- Carpenterworm
- Caterpillars
- Cicadas
- Cottony Cushion Scale
- Cottony Maple Leaf Scale
- Crapemyrtle Aphid
- Cypress Weevil
- Eastern Tent Caterpillar
- Elm Leaf Beetle
- Euonymus Scale
- False Spider Mites
- Fungus-Infected Flies
- Galls on Oaks
- Hemlock Woolly Adelgid
- Hickory Horned Devil
- Gloomy Scale
- Hemispherical Scale
- Indian Wax Scale
- Japanese Beetle
- Juniper Webworm
- Lace Bugs
- Leafminer Flies
- Lecanium Scales
- Locust Borer
- Maple Gall Mites
- Mealybugs
- Pine Bark Adelgid
- Planthoppers
- Phylloxera
- Silverleaf Whitefly
- Slugs
- Sooty Molds
- Southern Pine Beetle
- Southern Red Mite and Spruce Spider Mite
- Tea Scale
- Tent Caterpillar
- Twig Girdler
- Twobanded Japanese Weevil
- Twolined Spittlebug
- Twospotted Spider Mite
- Wheel Bug
- White Pine Weevil
- Wood-Boring Beetles
- Woolly Alder Aphid
- Yellow Jackets
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Disease Management for Trees, Shrubs and Woody Ornamentals
- Phytophtora Root Rot and Its Control on Established Woody Ornamentals
- Powdery Mildew of Ornamentals and Shade Trees
- Scorch Diseases on Shade Trees
- Slime Flux / Wet Wood
- Some Common Pine Diseases in North Carolina Landscapes and Their Control
- Azalea Diseases and Their Control
- Dogwood Diseases
- Dutch Elm Disease
- Common Diseases and Disorders With the Gold-Dust Plant, Aucuba japonica
- Holly Diseases and Their Control in the Landscape
- Juniper Diseases and Their Control in the Landscape
- Diseases of Leyland Cypress
- Entomosporium Leaf Spot on Red Tip
- Nematode Management in Bedding Plants in the Landscape
- Nematodes and Their Control in Woody Ornamentals in the Landscape
- Nematodes and Their Control on Woody Ornamentals in the Nursery
- Root and Butt Rots of Oaks
- Rhododendron Diseases
- Some Common Pecan Diseases and Their Control in North Carolina
-
Weed Management for Trees, Shrubs and Woody Ornamentals
Vegetables and Herbs
General Information
- Container Garden Planting Calendar for Edibles in the N.C. Piedmont
- Home Vegetable Gardening (PDF version)
- How to Create a Container Garden for Edibles in the North Carolina Piedmont (PDF)
- How to Grow Early Vegetables (PDF)
- How to Organize an Allotment Community Garden (PDF)
- Sustainable Practices for Vegetable Production
- Managing Lawns and Gardens to Protect Water Quality (PDF version)
- Seed and Seed Quality (PDF)
- Vegetable Transplants (PDF version)
- Fall Garden (PDF version)
- Mini-Gardening (PDF version)
- Container Vegetable (PDF version)
- Plastic Mulches and Drip Irrigation (PDF version)
- Asparagus (PDF version)
- Beans and Peas
- Beets (PDF version)
- Celery (PDF)
- Cole Crops (Broccoli, Greens, Lettuce, Cabbage)
- Cucumbers (PDF version)
- Eggplant (PDF version)
- Herbs and Specialty Crops
- Growing Herbs (PDF version)
- Seed and Plant Sources for Medicinal Herbs and Botanicals (PDF version)
- Suppliers of Culinary and Ornamental Herb Seed and/or Plants (PDF version)
- Basil (PDF version)
- Chives (PDF version)
- Care and Planting of Ginseng Seed and Roots (PDF version)
- Ginseng: A Production Guide for North Carolina (PDF)
- Lemon Balm (PDF version)
- Luffa Sponge Gourds (PDF version)
- Mushrooms – Sources of Shiitake Spawn (PDF version)
- Producing Shiitake Mushrooms (PDF)
- Upland Cress (PDF version)
- Herb Factsheets
- Okra (PDF version)
- Onions, Green Bunch (PDF version)
- Onions, Home Garden Onion Bulb Production in Eastern North Carolina
- Peppers and Tomatoes
Pest Management of Vegetables and Herbs
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Insect Management of Vegetables and Herbs
- Biological Control
- Insect and Related Pests of Vegetables
- Insect Pests of Vegetables
- Knowing and Managing Crucifer Pests
- Know and Control Cucumber Pests
- Know and Manage Pepper Pests
- Know and Control Sweet Potato Pests
- Control of Root-Knot Nematodes in the Home Vegetable Garden (PDF)
- Cucumber Pollination
-
Disease Management of Vegetables and Herbs
- Disease Management for Vegetables and Herbs in Greenhouses Using Low Input Sustainable Methods
- Crop Protectants for Controlling Diseases of Vegetable Crops in Greenhouses
- Managing Diseases in Home Vegetable Gardens (PDF)
- Damping-off in Seed Beds – Flower and Vegetable Seedling
- Southern Blight of Vegetable Crops
- High Soil Salts Injury to Vegetable Crops
- Virus Diseases of Greenhouse Tomatoes and Their Management
- Vegetable Greenhouse and Plant Beds – Botrytis Blight
- Beans and Peas
- Cole Crops (Broccoli, Greens, Lettuce, Cabbage)
- Cucurbits (Cucumbers, Squash, Melons)
- Herbs and Specialty Crops
- Peppers and Tomatoes
- Potatoes
-
Weed Management of Vegetables and Herbs
Preserving
- Vegetables, Harvesting (PDF version)
- Harvesting and Preserving Herbs (PDF version)
- Winterizing Your Herb Garden (PDF version)
- Composting (PDF version)
- Home Canning Fruits and Vegetables in North Carolina
- Wild Mushrooms – A Potential Hazard*
Wildlife
Management, Damage Prevention and Control
-
Birds
- Bird Dispersal Techniques (PDF)
- Blackbirds (PDF)
- American Crows (PDF)
- Mourning Dove (PDF)
- Gulls (PDF)
- Hawks and Owls (PDF)
- Pigeons (PDF)
- Bobwhite Quail (PDF)
- House Sparrows (PDF)
- Owls (PDF)
- Ruffed Grouse (PDF)
- Songbirds (PDF)
- Starlings (PDF)
- Swallows (PDF)
- Waterfowl (PDF)
- Wild Turkey (PDF)
- Wild Turkeys Management
- Wood Duck (PDF)
- Woodland Wildlife Nest Boxes (PDF)
- Woodpeckers (PDF)
-
Carnivores
- Black Bears (PDF)
- Black Bear (PDF)
- Bobcats (PDF)
- Feral House Cats (PDF)
- Coyotes (PDF)
- Feral Dogs (PDF)
- Foxes (PDF)
- Raccoons (PDF)
- Working with Wildlife: Raccoon (PDF)
- Skunks (PDF)
- Weasels (PDF)
- Wolves (PDF)
-
Damage Identification
-
General Management
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Other Mammals
- Bats (PDF)
- Working with Wildlife: Bats (PDF)
- Deer (PDF)
- Deer Management
- White-Tailed Deer (PDF)
- Moles (PDF)
- Opossums (PDF)
- Wild Pigs (PDF)
- Cottontail Rabbits (PDF)
- Working with Wildlife: Cottontail Rabbit (PDF)
- Shrews (PDF)
-
Reptiles and Amphibians
- Alligator (PDF)
- Frogs and Toads (PDF)
- NC Snakes
- Pools for Amphibians (PDF)
- Wildlife Damage Management: Snakes
- Nonpoisonous Snakes (PDF)
- Rattlesnakes (PDF)
- Turtles (PDF)
-
Rodents
- Beavers (PDF)
- Beavers — Wildlife Damage Management
- Chipmunks (PDF)
- Grey Squirrel (PDF)
- House Mice (PDF)
- Muskrats (PDF)
- Nutria (PDF)
- Cotton Rats (PDF)
- Norway Rats (PDF)
- Rodent-proof Construction and Exclusion Methods (PDF)
- Tree Squirrels (PDF)
- Voles in Horticultural Plantings
- Voles (PDF)
- Woodchucks (PDF)
Pesticides and Wildlife
- Pesticides and Wildlife – Christmas Trees
- Pesticides and Wildlife – Corn
- Pesticides and Wildlife – Cotton
- Pesticides and Wildlife – Fruit Trees
- Pesticides and Wildlife – Peanuts
- Pesticides and Wildlife – Small Grains
- Pesticides and Wildlife – Soybeans
- Pesticides and Wildlife – Tobacco
