(Audio 10/15/07) Gardeners can manipulate the color of their hydrangeas by making an addition to the soil this month. Acid soils produce blue plants and alkaline soils produce pink flowers. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 10/15/07) Wisteria is an outstanding flowering vine for Louisiana landscapes. It spreads easily, so be sure to keep it under control. A common problem with wisteria is that it can take several years to bloom. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 10/08/07) Persimmon trees are easy to grow in Louisiana landscapes. This fruit tree produces seedless fruit and doesn't need pollination. The fruit of most varieties must be soft before it can be eaten. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 10/08/07) Many gardeners move their houseplants outside during the summer. As the weather cools, tropical plants will have to come back indoors. Before making the move, they need to acclimate to low-light conditions. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 10/08/07) Save the seeds from plants such as annuals and perennials, and don't harvest the seeds too early. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 10/08/07) Harvest season for strawberries is in the spring, but now is the time to plant them in your garden. Make sure the beds are well-prepared and raised. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 10/07/08) Sweet peas are outstanding flowering vines. Their color and fragrance make a great addition to our landscape. Sweet peas will bloom in the spring, but now is the time to plant the vines. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 10/01/07) Roses in Louisiana bloom beautifully in October and November. If your roses were pruned back in August or September, there is not much pruning needed now. You will need to deadhead your roses after they fade. This keeps the rose bush looking fresh and attractive. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 10/01/07) We start thinking of the holidays this time of the year. There are a lot items in nature that can decorate up your home for fall. Look for things such as seed pods, dried flower heads and pine cones. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 10/01/07) Many great vegetables can be planted this time of the year. Transplants of broccoli, Brussels sprouts and cauliflower are available at local nurseries. Root crops can be direct-seeded into the garden. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 10/01/07) Gardeners can plant a wide variety of herbs in their gardens this time of the year. A few plants provide a big harvest, so there is no need to plant more than you can use. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 10/01/07) Brown patch is a fungal infection that affects lawn grasses, especially St. Augustine. It likes cool, mild and damp weather conditions. Watch for discolored areas in the lawn. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 09/24/07) Garlic is critical to Louisiana cuisine. It is easy to grow, and now is the time to plant it. Choose a well-prepared bed in a sunny area with good drainage. Garlic can be planted through the month of October and into early November. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 09/24/07) Louisiana irises are dormant during the months of August, September and early October. If you have irises that need to be divided, get that done soon. LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill explains how. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 09/24/07) Azalea lace bugs are small flying insects that live on the underside of the leaves. Small white spots on the leaf indicate an infestation. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 09/24/07) It is still too hot to plant trees, but planting season is right around the corner. Now is a good time to look around for needed shade in your lawn and make plans for fall plantings. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 09/10/07) In September, it is still pretty hot. Combining that with dry weather can cause an increase in chinch bug activity. These insects attack lawn grasses and prefer St. Augustine grass. They create circular brown areas and will kill the grass where they feed. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 09/03/07) Pecan trees tend to "alternate bear," which means they will produce a large crop one year followed by a small crop or no crop the next year. A large crop can lead to breaking branches because of pecan's brittle wood. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 09/10/07) Mulches are a valuable gardening tool for reducing weeds in beds. It is important to remember that mulch must be thick to work properly. If your mulch is looking thin, add another layer on top of the existing mulch. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 09/17/07) Many types of azaleas will bloom in late summer and fall. Encore azaleas were bred in Louisiana, are well-adapted to our growing conditions and bloom without fail in the fall. This is a good time to plant them into your landscape, and you can pick out your plants while they are in bloom. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 09/17/07) September and October are transitional times in Louisiana landscapes. Days become milder, and summer rain showers began to slow down. This means watering will likely be necessary. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 09/17/07) Caladiums are a wonderful shade-tolerant summer bedding plant. They are reaching the end of their growing season, and gardeners should dig up the tubers before all the foliage falls off. The tubers need to be dried and stored in paper bags or cardboard boxes inside during the winter. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 09/17/07) Louisiana gardeners can compost every bit of organic debris their landscapes create. This includes leaves in the fall and grass clippings in the summer. Gardeners can create their own compost pile using simple materials. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 09/17/07) Many gardeners move container plants outside for the summer. After a summer of abundant growth outdoors, plants may have outgrown their containers. Look for roots growing out of drainage holes or showing up on the soil. These plants will benefit from being repotted into a larger container. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 09/10/07) As we move into September, we must be careful about what we prune in our landscapes. Winter and spring-flowering shrubs have set their flower buds, so pruning will remove these flowers. Also, pruning too late can keep shrubs or tree branches from hardening off before winter. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 09/10/07) Vegetable and flower beds are active parts of our landscape. Right now, gardeners may need to do some bed preparation before planting fall crops. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 09/10/07) The weather can remain quite warm throughout September, but we are reaching the end of the growing period. This means you have to be careful with late-season fertilizer applications. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 09/03/07) Green onions are an important part of Louisiana cuisine. This is a great time of the year to plant them. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 09/03/07) A variety of fungal organisms live and grow in our lawns. Some are relatively harmless. Others can be very damaging and cause problems in hot, dry weather. Fungicides can prevent some of this damage from occurring. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 09/03/07) Mature trees are a valuable part of the home landscape. When building on a lot with existing trees, make plans to keep them from being damaged by construction. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 09/03/07) A variety of both warm-season and cool-season vegetables can be planted in September. Transplants of tomatoes and bell peppers can be planted early in the month. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 11/27/06) Louisiana gardens can stay attractive through the winter months. It is a good idea to keep your landscape looking neat and clean during this time. This includes cutting back faded foliage, weeding and mulching. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 11/27/06) Planting a tree is not a difficult task, but it should be done right to give the tree a good start. Make sure you select the right tree for the space you intend to plant it in. LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill explains the proper tree planting process. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 11/27/06) Fertilizers are important tools to encourage growth on plants. The best time to apply fertilizer is at the beginning of a plant's growing season. Most of the plants in our landscape are going dormant this time of the year, but there are few plants that could use a healthy dose of fertilizer. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 11/27/06) Insects can still be a problem in fall and winter because of Louisiana's temperatures. Gardeners may see aphids, caterpillars, snails and slugs this time of the year. LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill has tips for controlling these winter pests. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 11/20/06) Paperwhites are a wonderful spring-flowering bulb, but it is popular to force their blooms around this time so they'll have blooms at Christmas. Just remember if you grow them with too little light and in warm temperatures, like indoors, they will turn out leggy and the blooms will fall over. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 11/20/06) Many people use tropical container plants to embellish decks, porches or patios. These plants cannot be left outside during winter. Don't wait until the first freeze is predicted to take them inside. Prepare them early for the lower light indoors. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 11/20/06) All the leaves your shade trees are dropping this time of year should not be thrown away. If you compost the leaves, you'll end up with a valuable soil additive that you can use in garden bed preparation. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 11/20/06) A wide variety of herbs can take Louisiana's winters. Plant them now for a great harvest in late winter, spring and early summer. Put them in a sunny, well-prepared bed that is convenient to the kitchen. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 11/20/06) From now through February is the best time to plant hardy fruit trees and shrubs in Louisiana landscapes. Fruit trees often require more care than an average tree, but the resulting fruit makes it well worth the effort. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 11/13/06) Amaryllis bulbs become available at nurseries and garden centers each fall. But fall is not the appropriate time to plant these bulbs into your landscape. It is best to pot them and let them bloom indoors. You can plant them into your landscape in the spring. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 11/13/06) Broccoli is a great cool-season vegetable, but there is a trick to harvesting perfect broccoli. The size of the head does not determine when to harvest broccoli. It is the size of each individual flower bud on the head that determines harvest time. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 11/13/06) Summer-flowering bulbs grow and bloom during the summer, and many of these bulbs go dormant over the winter. When a freeze browns their foliage, you can cut them back. A thick layer of mulch will protect the bulbs during the winter. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 11/13/06) Winter vegetables have a nice aesthetic quality. The frilly foliage of mustard and the wonderful color of red cabbage make these plants great ornamentals as well as productive vegetables. You also can try curly-leaf parsley as an edging to cool-season bedding plants. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 11/13/06) The camellia is an outstanding evergreen shrub for Louisiana. It blooms beautifully in the winter. Camellias are free from most insect and disease problems except for tea scale. When that's a problem, oil spray will help control infestations. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 11/06/06) November is the perfect month to plant spring-flowering bulbs. Once you've got the bulbs planted, you can overplant them with cool-season bedding plants. This will give you flowers throughout the winter. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 11/06/06) You can keep your garden looking beautiful through the fall and winter by planting cool-season bedding plants. A wide variety of plants in different colors and sizes are available at your local nursery. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 11/06/06) The common lawn grasses we use in Louisiana go dormant and turn brown during the winter. You can keep a green lawn by overseeding with ryegrass, but keep in mind that will mean you have to mow the grass during the winter. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 11/06/06) Lettuce is an easy vegetable to grow at home. You can buy transplants or start the plants from seed. If using seeds, remember lettuce seeds need light to germinate, so just press them lightly into the soil. While lettuce does well during cool weather, it can be damaged on a particularly cold night. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 11/06/06) We are well into the fall season, but chrysanthemums still are available in nurseries and garden centers. Chrysanthemums do a great job of punching up the color in your landscape. Potted chrysanthemums also brighten doorways. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 10/30/06) Most of the shade trees we use in our landscapes are deciduous. This means they drop their leaves over the winter. It is important to get these leaves off the lawn. You can use them as a mulch or put them in a compost pile. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 10/30/06) Perennials are flowers that come back year after year. Most of them are in active growth during the summer. So fall is a great time to go through your flower gardens and cut back unattractive growth and faded flowers. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 10/30/06) Fall tomatoes should be ready for harvest about now. They ripen slowly during cooler weather, but you can harvest them as soon as they have a pinkish tint to them. Bring the tomatoes indoors and allow them to ripen on a counter. And be sure to harvest all tomatoes if a freeze is predicted. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 10/30/06) Louisiana gardeners use many types of evergreen shrubs in their landscapes. Even though these plants are called "evergreen," some of their leaves will get old, and the plants will shed those old leaves. The leaves will change colors before they fall. But experts say there is no need to be concerned about this process. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 10/30/06) There are vegetables that like Louisiana's cold season. Root crops can be direct-seeded in the garden this time of the year. You also can plant greens and sets of the onion family. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 10/23/06) Azalea lace bugs are small insects that feed on the foliage of azaleas. They are active from September into November, and they leave behind white spots on the upper surface of the leaves – although the insects can be found on the underside of the leaves. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 10/23/06) Many hardy perennial herbs can be planted into your garden now. The best herbs for you to plant are those that you like to cook with. Plant them close to your kitchen to make it convenient for harvesting while cooking. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 10/23/06) Spring-flowering bulbs such as daffodils, hyacinths and tulips add beautiful color to the spring landscape. They can be expensive, so LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill recommends using them for embellishing your landscape. October to December is the best time to plant some of these spring-flowering bulbs. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 10/23/06) In the fall, you often see recommendations for winterizing your lawn. LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill says our winters are relatively mild, so winterizing is not necessary. If you do winterize, choose a product with a high third number and a low first number in the fertilizer ratio. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 10/23/06) Nurseries are full of blooming chrysanthemums during the fall season. Many people grow chrysanthemums for temporary color, but they are perennials. You can cut them back after they have finished blooming, and they will come back year after year. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 10/16/06) Gardeners grow herbaceous perennials for their beautiful flowers. They make larger and larger clumps as years go by, and this diminishes the amount of flowers they produce. The period from October through March is a great time to divide perennials. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 10/16/06) Many plants are prone to scale infestations. Fall is a good time to control scale insects. Use an oil spray to control them if you see the signs of a scale infestation, which include tan or white bumps on the leaves or stems of the plant. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 10/16/06) As we move into the fall season, you need to be cautious about what you prune. If you cut back shrubs, you may stimulate growth, and there is no time for that new growth to harden-off before frosts arrive. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 10/16/06) Fall in Louisiana is a very active gardening time. Cool-season bedding plants can keep our gardens attractive. Most can take temperatures down in the 20s and teens. Decide on a color scheme, heights of plants and the numbers you need before going to the nursery. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 10/16/06) Even if the weather remains sunny and warm this time of year, you still need to remember that cool season for plants is right around the corner. Now is not the time to fertilize any plants that will go dormant over the winter. This includes hardy trees, shrubs, ground covers and lawns. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 10/09/06) Louisiana home gardeners can grow their own strawberries. The production occurs in the spring, with ripening starting around March. But gardeners should plant strawberries in October or November before winter sets in. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 10/09/06) Sweet peas are a wonderful cool-season flowering vine. They produce fragrant blossoms in the spring, but now is the time to plant sweet pea seeds. Pick a sunny location next to something the vine can climb on. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 10/09/06) Many perennials that bloom in the summer can be cut back now. Removing faded flowers can make them look more attractive, and pruning also will help keep the plants healthy. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 10/09/06) Mulches are Louisiana gardeners' best defense against weeds. They also help preserve the soil. Mulches will break down over time, so they need to be reapplied periodically. The start of fall is a good time to evaluate your mulch needs. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 10/09/06) Many people enjoy tropical container plants outside during the summer. If you are one of them, you will need to decide what to do with these plants over the winter. Options include taking them in all winter long, moving them during cold spells or, if they are inexpensive plants, leaving them out and letting them take their chances. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 10/02/06) Gardeners use transplants to establish flowers and vegetables. Transplants can save four to eight weeks of growing time, but they will need transition time when going from nursery to garden. A dose or two of soluble fertilizer will help get them growing. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 10/02/06) Caladiums begin looking tired around September. In October, gardeners need to decide whether to leave them in the ground or dig them up for the winter. Digging them up allows you to plant something else in the bed and keeps the caladium tubers from freezing and rotting during the winter. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 10/02/06) Many gardeners grow summer-flowering bulbs. Some of these are still blooming now but are reaching the end of their blooming season. LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill reminds gardeners not to fertilize these plants at this time. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 10/02/06) Many of the plants we grow in our landscape will produce seeds. Gardeners can harvest these seeds from vegetables and flowers. LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill explains the different ways to harvest seeds. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 10/02/06) The change in seasons becomes more apparent in October. Gardeners begin to focus on cool-season vegetables in their gardens. There are many transplants and seeds that can be planted into the garden now. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 09/25/06) From late summer into October it is not unusual to see large webbing on the trunks of trees. People may associate this webbing with caterpillars, but it is actually caused by tiny insects called psocids or bark lice. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 09/25/06) The end of the summer growing season is here. If you are putting in a new lawn or repairing a part of your existing lawn, the work needs to be done soon, since it's already too late to plant seeds and sodding should be done before mid-October. As the weather cools, lawns will go dormant. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 09/25/06) It is hard to predict what the weather will be like in early fall. It can turn cool and rainy or stay warm and dry. Gardeners should continue to water their landscapes if the weather remains dry. If you are planting seedlings, they will need to be watered daily. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 09/25/06) September and October are active times in our vegetable gardens. During these transitional times, gardeners will remove old plants to make way for new ones. LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill says to thoroughly prepare the beds to get them ready for the new plants. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 09/25/06) Plants are very effective in filtering harmful components out of the air. Homes are built airtight to save on utility bills, but pollutants can stay in our homes. Using various houseplants can help keep the air in your home fresh and clean. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 09/18/06) September is a good time to divide popular perennials in Louisiana gardens. These include Louisiana irises, day lilies, Easter lilies and cannas. These plants are dormant now but will become active in October. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 09/18/06) The summer heat can linger into September. It is not time to plant trees yet, but now is a good time to evaluate the need for shady areas in your landscape. Look around and see where planting a tree might shade a patio or a portion of your home. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 09/18/06) The azalea lace bug is the most common pest on azaleas in Louisiana. We see a large generation of these pests in the spring and early summer, and they become active again in September and October. They feed on the underside of the azalea foliage. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 09/18/06) Composting is a great way to recycle the organic waste generated by your landscape. As we move into fall, many trees will start dropping leaves. The fallen leaves make a nice addition to a compost pile. LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill explains how to create a compost pile. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 09/18/06) Garlic is used in many Louisiana dishes and is easy to grow in the home vegetable garden. Purchase garlic bulbs at a nursery or even a grocery store. Break the bulbs up, and plant the toes into your garden. Just remember to be patient, because you won't harvest garlic until next year. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 9/11/06) Caladiums provide summer color in shady beds, but they soon will start looking tired, and their leaves will fall over. So it's time to decide whether to leave them in the ground or store them for the winter. While leaving them is an option, storing them is more reliable. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 09/11/06) Peaches are wonderful trees for home fruit production, but peach trees have more than their share of problems. A common problem on peach trees this time of the year is peach tree scale. Growers also may see the peach tree borer. Once you see it, though, it is too late to treat for this pest. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 9/11/06) Although it may seem that summer is heading for its end, there are lawn problems that can occur in September and October. Chinch bugs can be bad if it is dry and hot. Fungus problems such as brown patch can be common during rainy weather. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 9/11/06) There are many varieties of fall-blooming azaleas available to Louisiana gardeners. If you are looking for a particular variety or color, visit your local garden store while they are blooming. That will help you pick out the right type, so you'll know what you're getting when they bloom again next spring. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 09/11/06) Despite the hot weather we have in September, most hardy plants in our landscapes need to start slowing down. If you apply fertilizer now, it tells the plants to continue to grow and stay active. Such plants will be unprepared for cold weather in November or December. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 09/04/06) During rainy weather it is common to see mushrooms sprouting in our lawns. Although they are harmless to the grass, they can be a nuissance. In addition, while most are harmless, if you have children or pets it is best to pull up mushrooms before a small child or pet can get to them. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 09/04/06) Pecan harvest season is right around the corner, but that means you may see problems with your pecan trees. These trees have brittle wood, and a heavy set of pecans can cause branches to break. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 09/04/06) Shallots and green onions are popular and easy to grow in the home vegetable garden. While there may be some confusion about the differences between bunching onions and shallots, both can be planted now. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 09/04/06) By September, gardeners are ready for cooler weather. The month often offers varied temperatures, and gardeners can plant a mix of warm-season and cool-season vegetables. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 09/04/06) Many people select home sites because of the trees on the lots, but home construction on the property can damage the roots of trees. An arborist can assess the situation and give you advice before construction starts. (Runtime: 60 seconds)