As times have changed and many of us are spending more time at work, many homeowners are turning to professional landscape and lawn care companies to keep our home’s surroundings looking green and growing.

Despite the economic downturn, the commercial green industry has seen some growth in Northeast Georgia.

While some smaller companies have gone out of business, those that have persevered are beginning to see an uptick in lawn and landscape maintenance.

For lawn and landscape professionals seeking the latest information, the University of Georgia Turfgrass Field Day on Aug. 4 in Griffin will provide just that.

The field day is set for 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the University of Georgia College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences Griffin campus. Registration will start at 8 a.m.

The event is outdoors, rain or shine, so dress appropriately (bring sunscreen and a cap).

Turfgrass Field Day offers the latest information on how to care for your lawn or your golf course from UGA researchers and extension specialists.

Field day includes such topics as controlling turf insects like mole crickets and white grubs, controlling turf weeds and turf disease management.

Field days also include information on UGA turfgrass breeding programs including tall fescue, bermudagrass, zoysiagrass, bentgrass, centipedegrass and seashore paspaulum.

And for the growing number of Hispanic turfgrass workers, both the morning and afternoon sessions will be offered in Spanish.

For people needing pesticide recertification, the field day has been certified for Georgia Pesticide License Credit hours.

The field day has been approved for five hours of pesticide recertification credit in category 21, four hours in category 24 and two hours for private applicators.

For golf course superintendents, the field day has been approved for 0.3 education points. Certified Crop Advisor credit will also be available.

The $50 registration fee (same as 2008) covers the day’s presentations, a detailed program booklet and a barbecue lunch.

Four or more people registering as a group qualify for a 10 percent discount.

There always is an excellent barbecue and chicken lunch, followed by displays and demonstrations of the latest turfgrass industry equipment.

Register by credit card by calling the UGA Griffin Campus Continuing Education Office at 770-229-3477 or faxing your registration and credit card payment to 770-233-6180.

Also, participants can also register through the field day’s website.

The UGA Turf Team looks forward to seeing you Aug. 4 and showing off its research and new facilities.

Billy Skaggs is agriculture agent and county extension coordinator for the UGA Cooperative Extension in Hall County. You can contact him at 770-535-8293, www.hallcounty.org/extension. His column appears biweekly on Thursday’s Business page and at gainesvilletimes.com.