NC State Extension Publications Numbered Publications, Factsheets, Hard Copy Documents, Authoritative Sources & more …

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A Gardener's Guide to Fertilizing Trees and Shrubs

By: Barbara Fair

This publication provides basic information on the nutrient needs of trees and shrubs, types of fertilizers to apply and recommended methods and times of application.

Pesticide Applicator Certification and Licensing: Updated with 2025 Pesticide Regulations and Competency Standards

By: Wayne Buhler, Esther Morris

To apply restricted-use pesticides to agricultural commodities, you must be certified or be supervised by someone who is certified. Anyone who accepts compensation for applying any pesticide on someone else's property must be licensed. This factsheet covers certification and licensing for private and commercial pesticide applicators in North Carolina.

Disease Management in Landscape Turf

By: Jim Kerns, Lee Butler, Daniel Freund

This publication discusses common diseases observed in North Carolina turfgrass landscapes. It describes conditions that promote disease and provides recommendations for fungicides and nematicides labeled for use on home lawns. The fungicides are ranked by effectiveness to help homeowners decide whether to apply them and which ones to choose.

Spiders of North Carolina

By: Regan Daniels, Christopher Hayes, Matt Bertone, Kelly Oten

This publication provides information about commonly encountered spider families in North Carolina, their role in the ecosystem, where they live, and, if necessary, how to manage them. It also discusses what spiders have meant to people throughout the ages and the spiders to look out for as they expand their range into the southeastern United States.

Mites That "Bug" People

By: Michael Waldvogel, Matt Bertone, Charles Apperson Biting and Stinging Pests

This Entomology Insect Note discusses different mite pests whose biting and bloodsucking behavior may cause discomfort or allergic reactions to their hosts (domestic animals and people).

Why Do Septic Systems Fail?

By: David Lindbo, Jonathan Godfrey, Diana Rashash SoilFacts

This publication describes common causes for septic tank failures and suggests steps you can take to prevent failure of your system.

18. Plants Grown in Containers

By: Diane Mays, Kim Richter, Lucy Bradley, Julie Sherk, Mark Kistler, Joe Neal

This Plants Grown in Containers chapter from the Extension Gardener Handbook teaches gardeners about selecting appropriate plants and containers, and their maintenance. Both indoor houseplants and outdoor container gardening are covered.

1. Soils & Plant Nutrients

By: Luke Gatiboni

This Soils and Plant Nutrients Chapter from the Extension Gardener Handbook examines the physical and chemical properties of soil as well as the important role organic matter plays. The chapter discusses how to submit a soil sample for testing and how to read the report to apply necessary fertilizers.

13. Propagation

By: Frank Blazich, Anthony LeBude

This propagation chapter from the Extension Gardener Handbook explains how and why to grow new plants from seed (sexual reproduction) and from cuttings (asexual propagation).

Child Development: Creativity in Young Children

By: Karen DeBord

This publication seeks to broaden understanding about the creative process for parents and others who work with children and youth.

Biology and Behavior of the German Cockroach

By: Ayako Wada-Katsumata, Christopher Hayes Household Pests

A publication covering the fundamentals of German cockroach biology and behavior, as well as their history alongside humans and health risks posed by infestation.

Tall Fescue Lawn Maintenance Calendar

By: Grady Miller, Fred Yelverton, Charles Peacock, Jim Kerns, Rick Brandenburg, Terri Billeisen Lawn Maintenance Calendars

This factsheet provides instructions on how to properly care for tall fescue grass year round. It includes recommendations for mowing, fertilization, watering, pest control, and renovation.

The Honey Bee Dance Language

By: David Tarpy, Jennifer Keller

An overview of honey bee dancing, a behavior that constitutes a language telling other workers the location of a food source.

Zoysiagrass Lawn Maintenance Calendar

By: Grady Miller, Jim Kerns, Terri Billeisen Lawn Maintenance Calendars

This publication for homeowners and landscapers describes how to mow, fertilize, irrigate, and control weeds in a zoysiagrass lawn.

10. Herbaceous Ornamentals

By: Toby Bost

This herbaceous ornamentals chapter from the Extension Gardener Handbook reviews the selection, bed design, planting, and maintenance of annuals, biennials, perennials, flowering bulbs, and wildflowers. It also discusses common insect and disease problems of herbaceous ornamentals.

Growing Blueberries in the Home Garden

By: Bill Cline Horticulture Information Leaflets

Blueberries can be grown in home gardens anywhere in North Carolina if the right species and proper soil modifications are used. Blueberries are typically used in the landscape as hedges for screening purposes, but they can also be used in cluster plantings, or as single specimen plants. Blueberries are an ideal year round addition to the landscape. They have delicate white or pink flowers in the spring, the summer fruit has an attractive sky blue color, and the fall foliage adds great red and yellow colors to the landscape.

3. Botany

This Botany Chapter from the Extension Gardener Handbook discusses plant taxonomy or how to name plant, plant anatomy of cells, leaves, stems, buds, roots, flowers, seeds and fruit, and the physiology of plants including photosynthesis, respiration, transpiration, and plant growth chemicals.

Blow Fly Biology & Management

By: Ezra Bailey, Christopher Hayes Household Pests

This publication covers the basic biology, behavior, prevention, and management of blow flies in North Carolina.

Damping-off in Flower and Vegetable Seedlings

By: Inga Meadows, Suzette Sharpe, Michelle Henson, Ella Hinchliffe, Sara Villani Ornamental Disease Information

This factsheet offers information on damping off in flower and vegetable seedlings, a result of fungi present in the growing medium.

Decreasing Barber Pole Larvae Population on Grass Pastures: Is Liquid Nitrogen Fertilizer a Viable Alternative?

By: JM Luginbuhl

Barber pole larvae show increased resistance to commercial anthelmintics drenched to small ruminant livestock, and producers are looking for other alternatives. What about bypassing the livestock entirely and applying a larvicidal product directly on the pasture itself?

Early Blight of Tomato

By: Inga Meadows, Ella Hinchliffe, Sara Villani Vegetable Pathology Factsheets

This factsheet describes early blight of tomato, including identification, transmission and disease management, and control.

Phorid Flies

By: Sydney Crawley, Matt Bertone

Phorid flies are small flies that breed in moist, decaying organic matter and can be a problem in and around homes. This factsheet covers their identification, biology, habits, management and control.

Tomato Yellow Leaf Curl Virus

By: Leighann Murray, Ella Reeves, Inga Meadows, Ella Hinchliffe, Sara Villani Plant Disease Factsheets

Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) is a viral disease of tomato that has limited distribution in the United States. TYLCV can cause devastating losses to tomato growers once established in the production site. This viral disease can also be found in temperate, tropical, and sub-tropical regions of the world. TYLCV is transmitted by adult whiteflies and is difficult to control once introduced to an area.

Termites - Biology and Control

By: Patricia Alder, Christopher Hayes Wood-Damaging Pests

This publication discusses the biology, behavior, and control of termites.

Weed Management in Lettuce

By: David Monks, Wayne Mitchem, Roger Batts, Katie Jennings Weed Management in North Carolina

Weed competition in lettuce reduces both yield and head quality. This cool-season crop faces competition from winter annuals as well as early summer weeds. Learn about the cultivation and herbicide options that growers can use to control weeds in lettuce, including advice for lettuce grown with plastic mulch.

Postemergence, Non-Selective Herbicides for Landscapes and Nurseries

By: Joe Neal Horticulture Information Leaflets

Manual removal of weeds is time consuming, expensive, and often results in damage to landscape plants when intertwined roots of both the weed and the ornamental plant are pulled up. Nonselective herbicides (which must be selectively applied to avoid injury to desirable plants) are typically used for postemergence annual and perennial weed control. This publication covers choosing the right herbicide for this situation.

Stanly County Forestry Impacts 2014

By: Laurel Kays, Robert Bardon, Dennis Hazel Forestry Impacts

This factsheet, part of a series on forestry impacts in North Carolina, offers information specific to Stanly County.

Meat Goat Showmanship

By: Matthew Claeys Animal Science Facts

This publication offers information on youth showmanship of meat goats.

Crafts and Specialty Goods

By: Aubrey Greene, Joshua Mesimer, Frederik Laleicke Wood Products Extension Research Project

This publication highlights a variety of wood art,craft, and specialty good products produced in North Carolina. It provides land, farm, and forest owners information about possible products they can produce from wood harvested from their land.

Spiders in and Around Homes

By: Michael Waldvogel, Charles Apperson Biting and Stinging Pests

This Entomology Insect Note discusses identifying spiders and how to control them indoors.

Surry Ag Census Infographic 2022

By: Noah Ranells, Laura Lauffer 2022 Ag Census Infographics

This infographic provides a visual interpretation of the 2022 Census of Agriculture, which is collected and maintained by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, for Surry County in North Carolina. The infographic is intended to provide a simple, clear snapshot of local agriculture and the many ways in which it impacts local economies.

Velvetgrass

By: Fred Yelverton TurfFiles

This factsheet summarizes the characteristics of velvetgrass.

Gleaning

By: Dara Bloom, Emily Gamble Local Foods

This publication, part of the Farm to Food Bank Resource Guide, discusses the process of gleaning in North Carolina.

Helping Children Cope With Stress

By: Kim Allen

This publication describes how children cope with stress and summarizes practices that parents can use to help a child deal with stress.

Jumping Worms

By: Matt Bertone

This factsheet covers the description, biology, and management of the jumping earthworm, a common pest in North Carolina gardening.

Non-Honey Bee Stinging Insects in North Carolina

By: David Tarpy, Joseph Flowers, Michael Waldvogel

This article describes and defines the different types of insects that sting and are also often mistaken for honey bees.

North Carolina Extension Gardener Handbook

This gardening handbook, developed for NC State Extension Master Gardener volunteers and home gardeners, is a primary source for research-based information on gardening and landscaping in North Carolina and the Southeast. It explains the basics of gardening from soils and composting to vegetable gardening and wildlife management. Advice on garden design, preparation, and maintenance covers all types of plantings including lawns, ornamentals, fruits, trees, and containers.

Basic Food Microbiology

By: John Rushing, P.A. Curtis, A.M. Fraser, D.P. Green, D.H. Pilkington, D.R. Ward, L.G. Turner

This factsheet describes the role microorganisms play in food production. Bacteria, viruses, yeasts, molds, and protozoans can serve useful functions in food production, but may also cause foods to spoil and lead to disease in humans and animals.

Snakes: Family Viperidae

By: Daniel Guinto, Christopher DePerno, Jeffrey Hall

This publication provides pictures and descriptions of snakes found in North Carolina. This chapter describes snakes in the family Viperidae.

Henbit

By: Charles Peacock TurfFiles

This factsheet summarizes the characteristics of henbit.

Whitemarked Tussock Moth

By: James Baker PDIC Factsheets

This factsheet describes the biology of the whitemarked tussock moth, Orgyia leucostigma, and provides residential management recommendations.

Asian Longhorned Beetle

By: Kelly Oten Invasive Forest Pests

This factsheet offers information on the biology and management of the Asian longhorned beetle, an invasive forest pest in the United States.

Chestnut Brown Bark Beetle

By: James Baker PDIC Factsheets

This factsheet describes the biology of the chestnut brown bark beetle, Pityogenes hopkinsi, and provides residential management recommendations.

Cercospora Leaf Blight of Soybean

By: Sarah Cochran, Lindsey Thiessen Soybean Disease Information

Cercospora blight is a common foliar disease of soybeans in North Carolina. Early symptoms may mimic several other common soybean problems, and accurate diagnosis is important for selecting management practices.

Appendix B. Pesticides and Pesticide Safety

By: Wayne Buhler, Steven Frank

This appendix from the Extension Gardener Handbook will help readers to understand the impact of pesticides on our environment, know when to use a pesticide, how to read its label, and how to apply it safely and to understand the signal words and their associated levels of toxicity.

16. Vegetable Gardening

By: Chris Gunter

This vegetable gardening chapter from the Extension Gardener Handbook explores the different types and techniques as well as how to select and implement a vegetable garden that fits the needs of the gardener. It explores seed selection, proper sowing, transplanting, and maintenance techniques as well as harvesting guidelines. The chapter concludes with a section on herb gardens.

Integrated Pest Management of Spotted Lanternfly in Nurseries

By: Steven Frank

This factsheet describes the biology and integrated pest management of spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) in North Carolina.

Soil Acidity and Liming: Basic Information for Farmers and Gardeners

By: Luke Gatiboni, David Hardy SoilFacts

An introduction to soil acidity and liming for farmers and gardeners to increase crop income and improve lawn and garden performance. Topics covered include soil pH, soil testing, liming standards and application and incorporation of lime into soil.

Farm to Food Bank Resource Guide for North Carolina Cooperative Extension

By: Dara Bloom, Emily Gamble Local Foods

This publication provides information and success stories related to food banks, food pantries, food donation programs, and other resources for addressing food insecurity.

Green Cloverworm in Soybean

By: Dominic Reisig Soybean Insect Factsheets

This Soybean Insect Factsheet describes the biology, identification, and control of green cloverworm in soybeans in North Carolina.