Master Gardeners and Ace Hardware Team Up to Help the Hemlocks

The Georgia Mountains Master Gardeners and C&W Ace Hardware are sponsoring a free Hemlock Help Clinic on Saturday, June 5 at 10: a.m. in the Lumpkin County Library Meeting Room.  Donna Shearer, a Master Gardener and Chairman of Save Georgia’s Hemlocks, will give a presentation about the Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (the invasive insect that is killing our Hemlock trees), practical steps property owners can take to save their trees and protect their property values, and the free help that is available in Lumpkin County.

Always in the business of sharing information, local Master Gardeners will be on hand to answer questions about other horticultural issues and practices as well.  Following the Clinic, Ace Hardware will host Hotdogs for Hemlocks at the C&W Ace Hardware, 1976 Highway 19 N, from Noon to 2:00 p.m.  Come for free refreshments, learn about the treatment products that are available, and get advice on how to use them.  Healthy Hemlock saplings will also be available for purchase.

Most areas of Lumpkin County are already infested with Adelgids, as evidenced by the tiny cottony masses of egg sacs that can be seen on the underside of the branches.  The bad news is that left untreated, the infestation is believed to be 100% fatal.  The good news is that property owners can save as many of their Hemlocks as they wish, easily and economically, if they take action soon.  But the clock is ticking.  Don’t let the Hemlocks go the way of the American Chestnut.  For more information, please visit www.savegeorgiashemlocks.org or call the Hemlock Help Line at 706-429-8010.