Varying your mowing pattern can cause you to spend a little more time mowing, but the result will be a greatly improved appearance in your turfgrass.

(For Release On Or After 10/05/07) Fall is a prime planting season in Louisiana. Cool-season flowering bedding plants and cool-season vegetables are planted from now through February, and November through February is the best time to plant hardy shrubs, ground covers and perennials in the landscape. How well you prepare the soil before planting has an enormous effect on the health and growth of your plants.

Information on how to reduce nonpoint source pollution using research-based horticultural best management practices. (PDF Only)

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

Information on benefits of micro-irrigation systems for a home landscape and basics/guidelines on installation and ideas to consider.

Nothing says summer in the South like the fresh, airy blooms of crape myrtles. Follow these recommendations to ensure proper growth and blooming.

The article describes growing bananas in the landscape and steps for possible fruit production.

Well-managed lawns and landscaping are good for the environment as well as being attractive. Bad management, however, can negate a lot of the environmental benefits.

(Audio 06/09/08) Even in the hot summer, we need to care for our landscape, but working in the sun can be dangerous. LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill has some tips for summer gardening. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

More varieties and sizes of crape myrtles are available than many people realize. One group of crape myrtles being used more because of its smaller size and excellent flowering performance is the semi-dwarf, says LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dr. Allen Owings.

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.

Southern gardeners rely heavily on non-native plants to populate their gardens. A very small number of these introduced ornamental plants have become invasive in our natural areas. Do you know where your landscape plants come from? This article will tell you where many of our traditional favorites originate and list a few you may want to avoid in the future.

A storm can leave trees looking like there’s no tomorrow. Major limbs may be broken or damaged, foliage can be shredded or stripped, or the bark may be torn or gouged. But what at first glance may look like mortal wounds are not necessarily fatal to a tree. Trees have an amazing ability to recover from storm damage.

Living in south Louisiana, we know that getting ready for the storm means stocking batteries, candles, water, canned goods and first aid supplies. We also need to think about the landscapes that surround our homes or businesses and how they can provide a buffer zone that can reduce storm damage.

If our dry spring months extend into the summer, we will need to remember some important considerations when watering home landscapes, according to LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dr. Allen Owings.

The intense heat makes moisture critical. This is especially true for newly installed landscapes, vegetable and flower beds and any new plantings in existing landscapes.

Controlling and trapping moles require a little time and patience. Your success with controlling moles depends on locating active runways and the proper placement of a trap.

An abundance of weeds, diseases and insects plague Louisiana’s home landscapes. The adoption of BMPs and integrated pest management (IPM) will reduce these problems.

Daylilies are one of the most popular flowering plants for late spring and early summer landscapes in Louisiana. Many new flower forms and flower colors are now available.

Louisiana gets a lot of rain, but it isn’t spaced out uniformly. Sometimes there’s too much rain, and other times there are periods of drought. Plants do better, however, with a more uniform water supply.

Citrus trees, such as satsumas, oranges and grapefruit, are popular for home fruit production. Citrus trees offer gardeners beauty and fragrant flowers as well as a tasty fruit. Their dark, glossy evergreen foliage is attractive year round.

When the proper plants are selected for shady areas, the results can be beautiful and enduring.

Best Management Practices for the use of compost in the home landscape.

Gardeners and landscapers often come into contact with poison ivy and may contract a bothersome rash. It pays to be able to identify this plant and avoid it.

The article provides a brief description of feijoa. Information on selecting varieties and cultural practices are included.

The goal is to encourage homeowners to create and maintain landscapes in ways that minimize environmental damage/impact through educational programs and outreach activities.

The goal is to encourage homeowners to create and maintain landscapes in ways that minimize environmental damage/impact through educational programs and outreach activities.

Developing an attractive, properly functioning landscape is best done using a process.

Adequate soil moisture is essential for a thriving landscape. Providing uniform moisture is critical for most plants to prevent drought stress during dry periods.

A mulch layer around trees, shrubs, planted beds and bare ground provides many benefits.

Fertilizers provide mineral elements needed for plant health. Fertilizing can be done by applying composted organic material, packaged fertilizer or a specific mineral, such as iron.

A responsible and environmentally friendly approach to pest management is Integrated Pest Management.

Rain that falls in your yard should soak into your yard. It's good for the landscape and protects waterways.

Diseases occur on landscape plants when environmental conditions are suitable for pathogens to develop on them. Prevention is the key to management.

Weeds are the No. 1 pest in Louisiana lawns. They are in direct competition with lawns for essential nutrients, water and light.

As our communities expand, we lament the loss of birds and other wildlife, but often our own yards are partly to blame. You can provide habitat for wildlife in your landscape.

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.

Loquat, sometimes called Japanese plum or Japanese Medlar, is an attractive small tree or shrub that is frequently planted in landscapes as an ornamental in Louisiana. The tree has large thick evergreen leaves, which thrives in most well-drained soils, can be used as an edible landscape plant.

Use LSU AgCenter resources to help you with the perfect plan for a beautiful lawn and garden. A beautifully landscaped yard doesn’t just happen. It’s carefully planned.

Contributors and Reviewers:

The carbon-to-nitrogen ratio tells us how well the compost will work.

Best Management Practices pertaining to irrigation in the home landscape.

The bougainvillea is a tropical vine whose bright, vibrant flowers positively glow in the landscape. Bougainvilleas should produce two or three beautiful displays of flowers in spring, summer and fall. The colorful parts are actually modified leaves called bracts. The true flowers are small and white.

Best Management Practices regarding proper fertilization in the home landscape.

This handbook forms a solid resource for do-it-yourselfers, but what if you lack the time, desireor ability to tackle your own landscape work? Landscaping companies offer varying types ofmaintenance services.

With suburban sprawl continuing to invade wildlife habitat, many gardeners have come face to face with a new reality, the white-tailed deer.

The focus of this program is to encourage homeowners to create and maintain landscapes in ways that minimize environmental damage. This will include looking at water quality and conservation, reducing stormwater runoff and decreasing nonpoint source pollution of surface water, enhancing desirable wildlife habitats and creating functional, attractive landscapes.

This handbook is organized into two sections. The first section contains background information that will help you as you make plans to create a Louisiana-friendly yard. The second offers detailed description of landscape ideas and practices that explain and illustrate the seven basic LYN principles.

It is important to remember that our yards and neighborhoods are channels to our waterways.

A Louisiana-Friendly Yard doesn’t merely offer a good-looking landscape, it also becomes an asset to the local environment, protecting natural resources and preserving our state’s unique beauty.

A wide variety of soil types are in Louisiana. Talk to your parish county agent about what the soil is like where you live. A soil test, available through your parish LSU AgCenter Extension office, will tell you a lot about the type of soil(s) your site has.

If you decide that you want to change your landscape, it is important not to simply remove everything that is there.

Landscape design combines art and science to create functional, aesthetically pleasing andecologically sound surroundings that complement a home or other structure.

Once you determine which plants you want to add to your Louisiana-Friendly Yard, it is time to breakground and start planting.

One of the most challenging problems in home landscapes is controlling weeds in ornamental beds. Start controlling them in early spring.

Some common landscaping practices provide an opportunity for subterranean termites to attack a house, even one that has been properly treated for termites.

Like the decorations on a birthday cake, annuals provide the color and interest that take a landscape from everyday humdrum and make it more vibrant and alive. Suggested annuals for Louisiana are included.

This publication outlines some options for design, operation and maintenance of ornamental ponds and discusses basic environmental requirements of fish and plants commonly grown in these ponds. 20 pages. Full color.

At this time of year, new rose bushes can be planted, and established bushes can be given the maintenance they need to get off to a good start this spring.

If you look around at some of our landscapes, you would think we live in the tropics. Indeed, some winters the temperature never does dip below freezing. Be prepared when it does.

Many of Louisiana’s water resources are especially susceptible to pollution because of our unique geology and climate.

Ideas for Attracting Wildlife, Controlling Undesirable Wildlife, Further Reading on Attracting Wildlife

Right Plant, Right Place for Landscaping, Water Efficiency, Maximize Mulch & Recycle Yard Waste, Fertilize Effectively, Manage Yard Pests, Protect Surface Waters and Wetlands, Provide for Beneficial Wildlife Habitat

The focus of this program is to encourage homeowners to create and maintain landscapes in ways that minimize environmental damage. This will include looking at water quality and conservation, reducing stormwater runoff and decreasing nonpoint source pollution of surface water, enhancing desirable wildlife habitats and creating functional, attractive landscapes.

Summer pruning of blackberries is an important management tool. It is helpful in fruit harvesting, controlling insects and controlling diseases, according to LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dr. John Pyzner.

Gardening is the most popular hobby or leisure activity in America, but many people still don’t want to spend all their energy on it. For those, there are lots of ways to reduce the time and effort required for landscape maintenance.

Best Management Practices regarding climatical considerations in the home landscape.

Louisianians take pride in the appearance of their lawns and landscapes. Weeds, however, can detract from that appearance and frustrate homeowners. Information on adaptation, light, soils and mulch can be found in this publication.

Caladiums are excellent summer accents in Louisiana gardens. New varieties with improved sun tolerance, unique color combinations, and better growth habits have been introduced by breeding programs in recent years. Caladium landscape trials were conducted at the LSU AgCenter Hammond Research Station in 2006 and 2007 to identify varieties that adapt to landscape conditions in southeastern LA and provide selection guidance to landscape processionals.

When it comes to home landscaping, many gardeners remain confused about how to create what they want. Efforts at landscaping can be disappointing despite spending a substantial amount of money. Developing an attractive, properly functioning landscape is best done using a process.

The term ground cover is applied to low-growing plants, other than turf grass, used to cover areas of the landscape. Perennial, evergreen plants with a sprawling, or spreading, habit are most often used. The plants used for ground covers generally are 1 foot or less in height, but taller plants are used in certain landscape situations.

Flowering perennials are plants that live for several years and often require two or more years from seed to flower. There is a renewed interest in herbaceous perennials because they need less maintenance, less water and fewer pesticides than annuals.

Best Management Practices for annual bedding plants in home landscape.

Best Management Practices relating to pruning ornamental plants and mowing lawns in the home landscape.

The well-designed landscape most often contains both deciduous and evergreen plants. Seasonal change is accented by using both types. Using best management practices to properly place deciduous and evergreen plants in a landscape improves energy conservation in the summer and winter months.

Trees are one of the most valuable assets to have in a home landscape. Energy conservation and many other environmental benefits are achieved when trees are properly used in a landscape.

Best Management Practices in regard to proper planting techniques and mulch use in the home landscape.

A lawn can be as functional as it is beautiful if planned properly.

Caladiums are excellent summer accents in Louisiana gardens. New varieties with improved sun tolerance, unique color combinations, and better growth habits have been introduced by breeding programs in recent years. Caladium landscape trials were conducted at the LSU AgCenter Hammond Research Station in 2006 and 2007 to identify varieties that adapt to landscape conditions in southeastern LA and provide selection guidance to landscape processionals.

The condition and type of soil in which you garden has a profound effect on the health and growth of your plants.

(Distributed 08/29/07) To winterize Southern, warm-season lawns, apply a fertilizer with more potash than nitrogren. Potash is represented by the third number on a fertilizer bag, while nitrogen is shown as the first.

There are not a whole lot of heat-loving vegetable crops, laments LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dr. Tom Koske. In late spring, you can plant collards, vine crops such as squash, cucumber and pumpkins, or crops like okra, malabar vine spinach and southern peas.

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.

Many Louisiana gardeners are expressing their desire to attract butterflies to their yards. Learn how to create a butterfly-friendly environment with a few simple requirements: food, water, shelter and a place to reproduce.

Selection, cultural practices, fertilization, pruning and recommended varieties of vines and ground covers are included.

Poinsettias (Euphorbia pulcherrima), the leading floricultural crop in the United States since the mid 1980s, are one of the primary trademarks of the Christmas season. This publication includes information on plant selection, varieties, placement and care in the home, and care after Christmas for poinsettias.

Landscapes damaged by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita can be revitalized. LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill talks about what can be done to repair the damage.

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.

Will the grass come back and how long will it be before vegetable gardens can be planted were questions on the minds of LSU AgCenter faculty members who recently toured the New Orleans area.