Steve Pettis is an avid gardener, garden writer as well as a professional horticulturist. He has been writing gardening columns for the last decade in varied publications such as the Gwinnett Daily Post, The Athens Banner Herald, The Oconee Leader and now the Oconee Patch. He was a technical advisor for Joe Lamp'll's book 'Over the Fence with Joe Gardener' and he appeared on Joe's Atlanta radio show several times. Steve had a radio show of his own called 'The Athens Home Gardening Show' on WGAU in Athens, GA.

Steve has worked in the horticultural trade since the age of fifteen. He has worked on and managed ornamental plant nurseries, retail garden centers, agricultural research facilities and once served as a County Extension Agent. 

Steve elected to study horticulture in high school and was a FFA member. He went on to obtain a bachelor's degree in Horticulture ('99) and a master's degree in Plant Protection and Pest Management ('02) both from the University of Georgia. Steve was a member of The United States Marine Corps Reserves while in college. 

Mr. Pettis is an International Society of Arboriculture Certified Arborist and has trained arborists through seminars on tree health related topics. Steve is also a member of the Georgia Green Industry Association. He teaches pesticide training seminars each year at the GGIA annual conference and trade show.

He resides with his family in Oconee County.