The LSU AgCenter’s Hammond Research Station will hold their second annual Landscape Horticulture Field Day for green industry professionals on Wednesday, June 11th. Providing service to the landscape portion of the green industry is a new feature of research efforts at the Hammond Research Station.

The field day will begin with registration at 4:30 pm. Walking tours of landscape research projects and demonstration plots is scheduled from 5:30-7:00 pm with snacks and sandwiches served afterwards.

Topics to be addressed at the field day include an overview of ornamental plant variety evaluations. Included will be Knock Out rose varieties, new plants from Proven Winners, Ball FloraPlant, Ball Seed, PanAmerican Seed, Sakata Seed and other companies, and a review of some new woody ornamental plants. These are mostly planted in the new “sun garden” evaluation area at the station. The field day will be the public garden debut in Louisiana of the new Sunny Knock Out rose. Other new roses from Conard-Pyle and Weeks wholesale rose growers will also be available for viewing.

Environmental issues will also be addressed in addition to details on urban forestry efforts at the station. During registration, research posters pertaining to floriculture production and landscape weed control will be available for viewing. Also, a plant disease clinic will be on-site for problem diagnosis.

Visitors will also be able to tour the new Margie Jenkins azalea garden at the station – this garden features many azaleas and companion plants, including many being under-utilized native species. An equipment demonstration will highlight features and safety recommendations for zero-turn radius mowers.

There is no registration for the field day but interested persons are encouraged to contact the station so that adequate plans and handouts can be made available. For more information about the landscape horticulture field day, contact the Hammond Research Station at (985) 543-4125. The station is located approximately 6 miles east of Hammond at 21549 Old Covington Highway (La Hwy 1067).

Allen Owings, Professor (Horticulture), aowings@agcenter.lsu.edu