(Audio 05/14/12) True blackberries are producing fruit this month. Blackberry shoots live for two years. Young canes should be left alone when pruning to make sure you have another crop of blackberries next year. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 05/14/12) Louisiana gardeners use a wide variety of heat-tolerant bedding plants this time of the year. Pull out cool-season plants when they start to languish and prepare your beds for new plants. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 05/14/12) Many people planted trees during the fall and winter. These newly planted trees will need supplemental irrigation to get through their first summer in the ground. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 05/07/12) Hydrangeas and gardenias are popular summer-flowering shrubs in Louisiana. Gardenias produce beautiful, fragrant flowers this time of the year. Hydrangeas put on a show of big bright flowers. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 05/07/12) Tomatoes are the most popular home vegetable grown in Louisiana, but they do have their share of problems. One common problem is buckeye rot. It will hit the largest tomatoes at the bottom of the vine. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 05/07/12) The permanent lawn grasses we use in Louisiana are all warm-season grasses. They grow and thrive in the heat of summer. Now is a good time to plant a lawn. The best way to do this is with sod.

(Audio 05/07/12) When establishing a lawn with sod, it is important to care for the sod properly. Sod loses its roots when harvested, so watering is critical early on. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(For Release On Or After 05/25/12) Propagating plants means to create new plants from those you already have, and you can do that in many different ways. Planting seeds and rooting cuttings are two of the most common methods of propagation. But another technique, called layering, is useful in propagating a wide variety of ornamental plants.

(For Release On Or After 05/18/12) Summer-flowering bulbs provide an excellent way to introduce colorful flowers, interesting foliage and even fragrance into the summer landscape. Most summer-flowering bulbs are native to tropical or subtropical climates and will reliably bloom here for many years.

(For Release On Or After 05/11/12) You can recycle yard waste back into the landscape through the process of composting, which benefits your garden, your budget and the environment. Compost is used primarily in bed preparation to improve the soil and can even be used in preparing potting mixes.