Common plant problems in the Atlanta area
PESTS & PROBLEMS
Atlanta’s growing season provides plants with almost year around growth. Because of this long growing season pest populations can build to thresholds where plant damage can occur. The natural and man-manipulated environment in Atlanta can also cause stress and eventual decline in our landscapes and forests. The following is a list of some of the more common pests, cultural problems and environmental problems we may encounter year to year.

webs on the shrubs

You may see an increasing amount of spider webs on the shrubs, in the trees and on ground covers such as English ivy especially in the spring and fall. This is a sign that the garden spiders are on the hunt not spider mites sucking on the leaves.

If you look carefully you will note that the webs are either continuous or have a hole in the middle. These spiders are garden spiders and do not pose a threat to you or your pets but do a great job of reducing pest activity. You may want to look closely at the web with the hole. These are tunnel spiders. They can be seen waiting just inside the throat of the web tunnel to nab unsuspecting insects checking out the inviting hole in the web.

These webs are not an indicator of problems; in actuality, they indicate a healthy environment. The spiders are beneficial and should not be killed.

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