(Distributed 10/28/09) The LSU AgCenter has received two specialty crop block grants for two research and promotion projects to enhance the competitiveness of Louisiana-grown sweet potatoes and nursery crops.

(Distributed 10/21/09) Entrepreneurs considering cut flowers as a full-time or part-time business may want to attend the regional “Rolling the Dice with Cut Flowers” workshop Nov. 17-18 at the Hilton Hotel in Memphis, Tenn.

A phenology research garden was planted in fall 2007 at the LSU AgCenter Hammond Research Station in Hammond, La. Data collected in 2008 indicated that a sequence of phonological events in advance of pest activities is available from 15 ornamental plants for predicting landscape pest activity.

Louisiana and the southeastern United States has an abundance of native plants that have potential for ornamental and fruit crop use. One of these that LSU AgCenter personnel have been investigating in recent years is the pawpaw.

Green industry professionals attending the landscape horticulture field day at the LSU AgCenter’s Hammond Research Station in June were given the opportunity to “pick their winning plants” from the sun garden evaluation trial gardens at the station. Over 340 varieties were planted this year. The planting mostly consists of annual bedding plants and herbaceous perennials, but new roses and some “companion” woody ornamental shrubs (such as Southern Living plants) are also included.

Information for greenhouse growers on media pH management in production.

Weeds compete with nursery crops for water, nutrients and light and can potentially harbor insects and diseases. They are common in all container nurseries and can cause significant losses in product quality and quantity.

(Distributed 06/17/08) The LSU AgCenter has conducted a considerable amount of evaluation research on crape myrtles over the last 10-plus years, according to LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dr. Allen Owings. “Probably 40-50 varieties are worthy of being grown and sold in Louisiana,” Owing says.

Traditional pot-in-pot production in a nursery attempts to combine field and container-growing techniques and offers advantages over both production systems.

The newest series of crape myrtles are the 'Razzle Dazzle' series. There are hybrids and are dwarf in form. Landscape performance evaluations are underway at the LSU AgCenter.

Application of herbicides formulated on granular carriers is a common practice in container nurseries. Depending on the container arrangement and plant species, a high percentage of the material applied may not be retained in the containers - particularly when the material is applied with a broadcast rotary spreader, as is a common practice.

Studies of water distribution uniformity and fertigation uniformity with sprinkler irrigation were conducted in a commercial container nursery. The first phase of the study consisted of determining water uniformity for two sprinkler heights. The second phase consisted of determining fertilizer application uniformity.

A two-acre camellia garden at the LSU AgCenter’s Hammond Research Station is now open again, thanks to the efforts of the Tangipahoa Parish Master Gardeners.

One of the great groups of ornamental plants introduced in 2004 was the ‘Crimson’ series of azaleas from Country Pines Nursery in Forest Hill, La.

The LSU AgCenter provides annual outlooks for different agriculture commodities in Louisiana. 2008 was a tough year for nursery growers with the national economic slowdown, along with damage to the industry from Hurricane Gustav, Hurricane Ike and snowfall in December. Here is an overview of the current national and state situation.

Landscape evaluation observations were taken on new plants from Ball Seed, Pan American Seed and Ball Flora Plant in 2007. Here is the completed report from LSU AgCenter work at Burden Center and the Hammond Research Station.

On the last couple years, a number of new Liriope muscari and Liriope gigantea cultivars have been released. These are being evaluated in landscape performance trials at the Hammond Research Station.

Snowfall across the southern and central portions of the state on December 11, 2008, caused considerable damage to Louisiana's nursery industry via damage to greenhouse structures and plant material. Here is a report on the estimate of economic damage.

(Distributed 01/16/09) Three new roses representing three classes of roses are the 2009 All-America Rose Selections winners. The three are Pink Promise, a hybrid tea; Cinco de Mayo, a floribunda; and Carefree Spirit, a landscape shrub.

The Zahara series of zinnias are new from Ball Horticulture Company for 2009. There are four cultivars and a mix available. This is a Zinnia marylandica species.

The 2009 All-America Rose Selection (AARS) winners are Pink Promise, Cinco de Mayo and Carefree Spirit. A landscape study on these three cultivars was initiated in spring 2008 at the LSU AgCenter’s Burden Center in Baton Rouge, LA. The purpose of this study was to determine the overall landscape performance of these new AARS winners as measured by visual quality ratings and blackspot susceptibility.

Landscape evaluation observations were taken on new plants from Ball Seed, Pan American Seed and Ball Flora Plant (now collectively referred to as Ball Horticulture) in 2008. Here is the completed report from LSU AgCenter work at the Hammond Research Station.

(Distributed 12/15/08) Although the exact costs aren’t in yet, the unexpected snowfall on Dec. 11 caused more damage to Louisiana’s commercial ornamental horticulture industry than hurricanes Gustav and Ike. “Wholesale growers in the Forest Hill area and the Florida parishes saw the most damage, and these areas represent the two major nursery production areas in the state,” said Allen Owings, LSU AgCenter horticulture specialist at the Hammond Research Station.

The report includes enterprise production cost budgets for the following container-grown ornamental crops in plant hardiness zones 8 and 9: indica azalea, crape myrtle, liriope, southern live oak, lantana and fig.

Nursery and Landscape Notes is a quarterly newsletter for Louisiana's green industry professionals. It includes production information for nursery growers and cultural practice recommendations for landscape contractors. New plant information is also included.

The green industry is the production, sale and maintenance of ornamental plants and related products. The purpose of this study was to estimate the impact of the green industry on Louisiana’s economy.

This guide for 2009 contains suggestions for management of the most important or more prevalent diseases of Louisiana plants. It includes information on fungicides, bactericides and nematicides, as well as safety precautions for using them.

Market channels used by wholesale nursery growers in Louisiana have changed. Traditionally, growers sold their products to garden centers, hardware stores, feed and seed stores, landscapers and re-wholesalers. Although landscapers and re-wholesalers continue to be important sales outlets, retailers are the market component where dynamic change has occurred. Mass merchandisers (either general merchandise or home center) have replaced garden centers as the dominant type of retailer. Overall, this

(Distributed 11/07/03) Louisiana’s "green industry" continues to be one of the leading economic contributors among the state’s agricultural commodities, according to a study completed recently by the LSU AgCenter.