Sweet peas are an excellent cool-season annual for Louisiana. The flowers are popular for cutting and bundling because they come in an array of colors and have an intoxicating scent. Seeds should be sown directly in the garden in October or transplanted from containers in November. Sweet peas are vines so the plants need support (fence, netting, etc.) or a trellis to grow on. Sweet peas start blooming in late March and last up to two months, longer if deadheaded regularly.

There are several state-regulated horticulture professions and two occupations that require a license or permit in Louisiana.

Forty-five old and new ornamental pepper varieties were evaluated in 2007 and 2008 at three locations: Hammond (LA), Crystal Spring (MS), and Verona (MS). The top 10 performers in the Hammond trial are presented in this photo gallery.

A properly designed and operated irrigation system will ensure that the critical factor of soil moisture will be there to sustain healthy plant growth.

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.

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.

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.

Photo gallery of the Matrix series pansies from landscape performance trials at the Hammond Research Station, spring 2009. Data also included.

Photo gallery of the Matrix series pansies from landscape performance trials at the Hammond Research Station, spring 2009. Data also included.

Results from landscape performance trials on Lucky and Landmark series lantanas from Ball FloraPlant at the Hammond Research Station in 2008.

A photo gallery of the new 'Sun Spun' petunia varieties (Ball FloraPlant) from landscape trial plantings at the Hammond Research Station.

Photo gallery of varieties in the 'Songbird' series columbines from landscape trials at the Hammond Research Station, spring 2009.

Photo gallery of varieties in the Swan series columbines from landscape trials at the Hammond Research Station, spring 2009.

A photo gallery of the 'XXL' pansy varieties from landscape trial plantings at the Hammond Research Station, spring 2009.

A photo gallery of the 'XXL' pansy varieties from landscape trial plantings at the Hammond Research Station, spring 2009.

Ornamental sweet potatoes have gained considerable interest among land¬scape industry professionals and home gardeners over the past 10 years. Varieties include plants that are chartreuse-lime green (Margarita), blackish purple (Blackie) and tricolored (Pink Frost).

Interest in daylilies is still strong despite rust problems over the past several years. New daylily selections and All-American daylily winners need to be evaluated in the Gulf South for landscape performance.

Ornamental gingers encompass a diverse and versatile group of plants that are gaining increased popularity in the flowering pot plant, landscape and cut flower markets. They have showy and attractive foliage and flowers, which make them interesting ornamentals.

Impatiens are colorful summer-flowering annuals that provide season-long color in landscape and home gardens. The 2006 impatiens trial conducted at the LSU AgCenter Hammond Research Station evaluated some of the latest release of mini impatiens, trailing impatiens, double impatiens and New Guinea impatiens. Landscapers and gardeners can choose impatiens for shade or sun areas according to the trial results.

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.

Forty-six ornamental pepper varieties commercially available to growers and gardeners were evaluated during 2007 and 2008 for their garden performance in the Gulf States at three locations: Hammond (La.), Crystal Spring (Miss.) and Verona (Miss.). Variety performance from the Hammond Research Station trials are presented in the attached PDF file. Top ten cultivars were highlighted. Please see related article for their photos.

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 objective of this project is to evaluate garden performance of a diverse collection of ornamental bananas. This will benefit both the ornamental plant production industry and the home consumer market.

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.

The LSU AgCenter has a landscape trial of Knock Out rose varieties at Burden Center in Baton Rouge and also at the Hammond Research Station in Hammond. Blackspot ratings for 2008 are included here.

With gardeners always wanting something new, 2009 brings the newest member of the ‘Knock Out’ rose family – ‘Sunny Knock Out’. This variety is the seventh variety in the ‘Knock Out’ rose group and has bright golden yellow flower buds that open to yellow.

Colorful Caladiums are popular summer accents in our area; however, certain varieties are more suited to certain landscape conditions than others, and proper variety selection appropriate to the planting site is the key to achieving desired effects. The 2006 caladium trial at the Hammond Research Station documented 30 varieties for their early- and late-season performances as well as sun tolerance.

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.

With the new ornamental horticulture program initiated at the Hammond Research Station, more herbaceous perennial varieties were tested in 2005. This report presents trial resutls that commercial growers and consumers may find useful.

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.

A new 20-acre site at the LSU AgCenter's Burden Center in Baton Rouge is now home to commercial ornamental and turfgrass activities to benefit Louisiana's green industry.

In the summer of 2000, daylily rust was reported for the first time in the United States. It has since spread across most of the country and continues to present problems for home gardeners, commercial landscapers and daylily growers.

(Distributed 09/08/08) Louisiana’s commercial ornamental horticulture industry received significant but not major damage from the effects of Hurricane Gustav, according to experts at the LSU AgCenter.

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.

This bibliography was compiled at a time of increasing concerns about the health status of baldcypress forests in Louisiana and beyond. This bibliography intends to provide researchers, decision makers and forestry professionals with a comprehensive reference in this subject. (PDF Format Only)

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 publication includes information on the planting, fertilization, pruning, failure to flower, insects and diseases, and varieties of crape myrtles.

LSU AgCenter experts say soil contamination in Jefferson and Orleans parishes from flooding after this summer’s hurricanes may not be as serious as originally feared. Initial results of tests conducted in October indicate no need for special preparations to the soils prior to planting and that there should be no danger for individuals digging or planting in the soil.