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.

Use this guide to plant a successful vegetable garden. The information has been developed after considerable research and practical experience.

This handbook provides helpful ideas, information and techniques to create and maintain a more environmentally friendly landscape. You will learn the basics of designing a landscape using carefully selected plants suited to Louisiana growing conditions. $12.00 + tax. You can order this book from our online store, by using the Order Publication link below.

Louisiana summers are a tough time for tomatoes to set and hold fruit. The heat causes irregular flower growth in most cultivars, and the result is poor fruit set, according to LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dr. Tom Koske.

This publication outlines some of the 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. (PDF Format Only)

(Distributed 11/20/09) Including a water feature in the landscape provides an oasis for a wide variety of wildlife. Providing habitat for wildlife is a principle of sustainable landscaping, and as a result aquatic gardens have become quite popular with Louisiana gardeners.

There are some simple steps you can take before storage to make your equipment easier to start when you need it again.

This poster discusses the specific characteristics used to identify Argentine Ants.

Hedge trimmers are perhaps not as popular now as a few years ago. Many people now realize that it is healthier for plants to be selectively pruned rather than sheared. Nevertheless, there are some situations where shearing plants to shape is appropriate. A hedge trimmer is usually the best tool for the job.

As with any power tool, string trimmers are capable of causing injury if not used in a safe manner. String trimmers will last much longer and give more trouble-free service if used and maintained properly.

A string trimmer is a useful addition to almost any gardener’s toolshed.

There are two ways to trim and edge turfgrass around sidewalks, flower beds, trees, buildings, etc. You can trim the turfgrass mechanically with a string trimmer and/or an edger, or you can use a non-selective herbicide such as glyphosate (Roundup® and similar chemicals).

Turfgrasses grow fast and aggressively in the South. If not edged back regularly, Southern turf will grow right over sidewalks, driveways, flower beds, etc.

ZTR mowers have taken over the commercial riding mower market. In the past, there were few low-cost models available to homeowners, but this has changed. Low-cost homeowner models are now available from several companies.

To get the best performance and longevity from your tiller you need to properly maintain it. You also need to be aware of some of the dangers involved in using a tiller, and take steps to protect yourself and others.

Factors such as price, performance and durability are important considerations in choosing garden tools and power equipment, but if a tool or machine is uncomfortable or awkward to use, you will regret buying it. The interaction between you and the tool or machine is called ergonomics.

It’s the time of year when many people go shopping for trees to decorate their homes during the holiday season. LSU AgCenter expert Dr. Don Reed offers a few tips on selecting and caring for a tree that may help you get the most enjoyment from it.

Blossom-end rot can occur when sunny days follow a cloudy, wet period. It is a symptom of calcium deficiency in the plant.

(Distributed 11/17/09) November and December begin the bleak time of the year for warm-season turfgrasses in Louisiana. Most turfgrasses should be dormant or at least close to this stage.

Christmas trees are showing up at retail locations throughout the area. The appropriate steps in selecting a fresh tree are important in its longevity in your home. In addition, by selecting a tree that is fresh, you can avoid some potential hazards.

Whether you buy, rent or borrow a tiller, you will find that it has a wide range of uses. It can be a general purpose garden tool.

Loading equipment onto a truck or trailer usually requires the use of loading ramps. There are some safety issues involved in using ramps.

The right rotary tiller can make the job of gardening much easier, but if you choose the wrong tiller for the job, it can make your job more difficult.

Although the earth’s crust is about 5% iron (Fe), we still see iron deficiency in plants. This may be because of a problem with the plant roots, soil and/or environment. This publication includes tips on how to care for your turfgrass.

A common problem with hydraulic cylinders is rust and pitting of the cylinder rods. If equipment that incorporates hydraulic cylinders is stored outside with the cylinder rods extended, the rods are exposed to weathering. Eventually, the rods will begin to show specks of rust that develop into pits. Once rusting and pitting occur, the rod will destroy the cylinder seal the next time it is activated.

Unwise suburban lawncare can provide a direct surface route for fertilizer nutrients and other surface pollutants to enter bayous and bays.

Louisianians who winterize their lawns in October need to be especially careful at reading the nutrient label on the fertilizer bag, according to LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dr. Tom Koske.

Sweet potatoes are not very sweet or moist when first dug. It takes six to eight weeks of proper curing and storage before they have the sweet, moist taste and texture desired when baked, says LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dr. Tom Koske.

A short description of commonly grown herbs for home gardens.

Frequently Asked Questions related to home vegetable gardening.

This poster discusses natural feeding preferences, adapted feeding preferences and feeding strategies of the Argentine Ant.

Two questions of interest to prospective purchasers are: How much do riding mowers and small tractors in the various classes cost and how long can I expect one to last?

(Distributed 10/30/09) 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.

Gladiolus, or sword lily, has been a favorite of Southern gardeners for generations.

Fall is not a time to do much to your Louisiana lawn – mow, remove fallen leaves and irrigate as needed. Warm-season grasses are slowing down and trying to go dormant. "We must let them do so," says LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dr. Tom Koske.

Late fall through winter in Louisiana is a great season for planting fruit trees, according to LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dr. Allen Owings. The horticulturist says several kinds of fruit trees and similar plants work well in backyard landscapes.

Collecting antique garden tractors is a rapidly growing hobby, requiring less room and less expense than collecting antique farm tractors.

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.

(Distributed 10/23/09) Shrubs are important background plants for any home landscape. They have definite growth habits in height, spread and form.

October is a transitional month in Louisiana flower gardens. Many warm season annuals have finished or are finishing, and gardeners' thoughts are just beginning to turn to cool-season bedding plants for fall, winter and spring color.

The last five to 10 years have seen a tremendous increase in the number of annual bedding plant species and varieties available for residential and commercial landscape use. The LSU AgCenter has conducted landscape trials on annual bedding plants for a number of years, according to LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dr. Allen Owings.

Visit LaHouse Home and Landscape Resource Center to see our vegetable gardens.

(Distributed 10/16/09) Azaleas are the most widely planted shrub in Louisiana, but few gardeners would ever think about planting them in the fall because many of the varieties aren’t blooming in the nurseries for gardeners to compare colors.

A seeder can be a tremendous aid in planting a vegetable garden. With it, you can stand and walk along the row pushing a seeder instead of having to make a furrow with a hoe, going back along the row bent over dropping seeds, and then covering and packing the row.

Louisiana Yards & Neighborhood PowerPoint presentation to assist in training volunteers for the implementation of this program.

The advantages of an ASAE standard quick hitch include faster, easier and safer hitching. To use a ASAE standard quick hitch, the implement hitch geometry must conform to the ASAE standard.

Some grounds maintenance equipment is designed with metric components. This has some ramifications for service and parts.

The twospotted spider mite is one of the most persistent and damaging pest problems affecting strawberry production in Louisiana. Damage, description, life cycle, monitoring, control information and color photos included. Spanish version also included.

Best Management Practices regarding climatical considerations in the home landscape.

(Distributed 10/09/09) Petunias continue to be one of our most popular bedding plants. They long have been relied on for their consistent landscape performance and can be used as either warm-season or cool-season ornamentals.

Chainsaws tend to require more maintenance than most other lawn and garden equipment. Proper maintenance will not only prolong the life of the saw and make it easier to start but will also make your work easier.

Although chainsaws are handy, they are potentially dangerous and must be used carefully to avoid serious injury.

Chainsaws are popular homeowner tools. When selecting a chainsaw, consider the power requirements and safety features.

Walk-behind rotary lawnmowers can handle clippings in one of three ways: they can mulch them, bag them or discharge them to the side. Some mowers can do any of the three with minimal adjustment. Any of the three modes can be useful in some situations.

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.

Louisiana in August may not be the most enjoyable time to work in the yard, but rose bushes need attention to ensure good performance this fall, according to LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dr. Allen Owings.

Walk-behind home lawnmowers are covered by safety standards and regulations, but the real responsibility for safety rests with you, the operator.

If you have a small lawn and are willing to get a little exercise while mowing, a good manual push mower can be a good alternative to a powered mower.

The tractor by itself is of limited use. The tractor furnishes the power, but the implements allow the tractor to do useful work. Varied implements are available for compact tractors from both the tractor manufacturers and short-line manufacturers.

In addition to flowers, bedding plants may be grown for their colorful foliage or interesting forms or textures. With proper selection, they can be used to provide color throughout the year. Use this publication to help you with bedding plant selection and proper care.

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.

(Distributed 10/02/09) Who knows when we will get another bad storm blowing through Louisiana? We may get just a nasty wind from some front or tornado-like activity. In any case, there will be fallen limbs and branches to deal with.

Snap beans are adapted to a wide range of soils in Louisiana and make an excellent crop for the home garden. Their freshness is a real treat at the dinner table and some new varieties are available for 2010.

This poster addresses habitat preferences and where Argentine ants can be found.

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.

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

Mole crickets cause millions of dollars in turf and grass damage each year. Their burrowing in the soil breaks up the soil and causes roots to dry out. Identification, life cycle and control included.

Many people use a rotary cutter (often referred to by the copyrighted name “Bush Hog”) to cut grass and weeds, but, in too many cases, the implement is not correctly adjusted. This can cause premature wear, poor quality of cut, and an excessive power requirement.

Mid-mount mowers for lawn, garden, and compact tractors typically have (two or) three blades and are designed for quality mowing of turfgrass. They are not designed to cut tall, weedy grass. They have multiple gage wheels and rollers that allow a relatively low cutting height with minimal scalping.

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.

Finish (or grooming) mowers typically have (two or) three blades and are designed for quality mowing of turfgrass. They are not designed to cut tall, weedy grass. They have multiple gage wheels and rollers that allow a relatively low cutting height with minimal scalping.

In many neighborhoods, the roar of lawnmowers has been joined by the howl of leaf blowers. "The primary complaint with leaf blowers is noise," says Dr. Dick Parish, an engineer at the LSU AgCenter’s Hammond Research Station.

A short slide show from a garden lecture on cucumbers. Also see our VEGETABLE GARDENING TIPS series for Cucumbers under related articles in the right-hand column.

A PowerPoint slide set of the basics for successful vegetable garden development in Louisiana. You must have a good start, then pest control is the next giant step to a successful harvest.

(Distributed 09/18/09) Thanks in part to technology and the age of communication, our gardens these days are more often being looked at as extensions of our homes to live in and use, rather than just being pretty plantings to look at.

Bagworms create problems for many homeowners. Timing is critical in controlling bagworms.

Fertilizers come in different strengths and blends, with the three numbers on the bags showing the percentage by weight of the three major nutrients. Understanding the numbers on a bag of fertilizer helps you apply the right amount and ratio your yard or garden needs.

Dry conditions often persist in most parts of Louisiana this time of year and into the summer, but LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dr. Tom Koske says there are actions you can take to avoid the lawn problems associated with drought.

Farm and grounds maintenance equipment is often exposed to rain, high humidity, fertilizer, pesticides and corrosive plant materials (such as grass clippings). The manufacturers of that equipment have taken steps to try to protect the equipment and reduce the potential for corrosion.

While equipment companies are doing their part to reduce corrosion of tractors and farm equipment, how well you maintain your machinery will determine its useful life. Here are some rust prevention tips.

Although most people opt for small engine-driven generators, there are some real advantages to a generator that connects to a tractor power-take-off (PTO).

Some spreader experts and some spreader and granular material operating instructions advise you to go over your lawn twice when spreading fertilizer or granular products, with the two trips over the lawn made at right angles to each other. Don’t do it!

Most turf fertilizers contain controlled-release nitrogen fertilizer. There are two types of controlled-release fertilizer and one type can be damaged by your spreader.

To obtain the best results from your granular fertilizers and pesticides, you have to apply them at the correct rate. One easy step you can take to help assure that your spreader delivers the correct rate of material is to calibrate your spreader.

In some situations, a hand-cranked spreader is more practical than a wheeled model. When spreading granules in nurseries, beds of flowers and ornamentals, and other restricted areas, a wheeled spreader can be difficult or impossible to use. Hand- or strap-carried, hand-cranked spreaders are a viable option in such cases.

The more you learn about lawn spreaders, the more you realize how complicated they really are. The LSU AgCenter has published a bulletin that summarizes 24 years of research on spreaders.

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

Most garden tools have fixed handles. Some tools, however, are available as separate handle and toolhead components that can be interchanged.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

Maturation processes occur in vegetables that permanently change their taste, appearance and quality if they are not harvested at the proper stage of maturity.

A beautiful lawn doesn't happen by chance. It requires planning and some elbow grease.

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.

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

(Distributed 09/11/09) Some of the most beautiful irises for our gardens are the hybrids of several native species. Called Louisiana irises, these plants are becoming increasingly popular in gardens all over the world.

Large patch (formerly called brown patch) is the most common disease of warm-season turfgrasses in Louisiana. This article decribes the disease and how to manage it.

When performing such light-duty operations as mowing grass or making hay, it is sometimes possible to reduce fuel consumption by shifting to a higher gear and reducing engine rpm.

Digging post holes is a common do-it-yourself project. You have many choices as to how to dig your holes. Unfortunately, the inexpensive methods involve hard work.

All warm-season grasses can thrive in Louisiana. This collection of photos and descriptions can help the home gardener select the right species.

(Distributed 09/04/09) Saving seeds from plants growing in your landscape can be a part of sustainable landscaping – it saves you money from unnecessarily buying new seed.

You should always lower your front loader bucket and/or rear implement when you dismount from a tractor or shut down a tractor. There are two reasons for this.

When you buy a walk-behind lawnmower, you benefit from safety standards and regulations from two sources: The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

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

Organic mulches can help keep your vegetables producing during Louisiana’s hot summer months. Although mulch is usually applied to control weeds and conserve moisture, it has several other useful functions.

Swiss chard, often just called chard, can be grown easily in most gardens. This cool-season green vegetable also has good heat resistance, so it’s really a year-round producer.

Fall is a transitional time of year for Louisiana gardeners. And the LSU AgCenter has a wealth of information to help you keep your landscaping green and blooming year-round.

This collection of okra cultivar photographs is provided as a resource for illustrating and identifying different varieties of okra. Each photograph is individually labeled for identification purposes.

A sharp mower blade produces a prettier cut with less stress on the turf plant. Sharpening a reel mower blade assembly is difficult and best left to a professional, but sharpening a common rotary mower blade is not a big problem.

For more detailed information on composting, see these W.A. Callegari Environmental Center information articles.

A summary of Landscape Topics Relating toHurricane Damage and Recovery, including: Wind Damage to Trees, Determining if Large Wind Damaged Trees Can be Salvaged, Wind Damage to Shrubs, Wind Damage to Herbaceous Plants, Flood Damage to Landscape Plantings, Food Crops, Flood Damage to Lawns, Loss of Shade Trees, LA One Call, and Soil Testing.

There are three primary transmission systems used in riding mowers and the various classes of mowing tractors.

Many lawnmowers, string trimmers, leaf blowers, and other lawn and garden equipment with small engines were inundated during the flooding from hurricanes Katrina and Rita. In many cases, that equipment can be salvaged.

It takes some knowledge and research to select turfgrass species and varieties that are adapted to your site and that will perform well under their intended use and time of planting.

Bacterial leaf scorch is a common disease that affects a variety of trees used in the landscape. This fact sheet describes the disease and how to identify it. (PDF Format Only)

Fire blight is a common and serious disease of certain members of the pome fruit subgroup of the rose family. This article discusses how the disease develops and steps to manage it. (PDF Format only)

(Distributed 08/28/09) One of the LSU AgCenter’s many educational efforts is the Louisiana Yards and Neighborhoods program for gardening and landscape enthusiasts.

Controlling weeds in small areas may be pretty simplistic.

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.

Canavalias are large, climbing, trifoliate vines producing thick and long (1 foot or longer) pods. I first heard them described as "Texas butterbeans," but don't try to eat them.

The article provides a brief description of factors to consider when harvesting and storing pecans.

Pine straw makes an excellent mulch and is much in demand for landscaping. If you own some land with pine trees, you can easily rake your own pine straw.

Expected yields from a good southern vegetable garden will vary, but estimates can help plan the planting scheme for the garden.

(Distributed 08/14/09) Yes, we are getting to late summer and hopefully less lawn mowing over the next couple months. Nevertheless, it’s still important to mow your lawn properly.

(Distributed 08/20/09) Ornamental grasses provide nice, low-maintenance options in sustainable landscapes. Many perennial types of ornamental grasses work well in Louisiana.

Centipedegrass is a popular lawn grass in Louisiana. Although centipede is a low-maintenance grass, proper management is still important. This publcation covers factors that contribute to centipede decline: improper plant nutrition, cultural practices, and soil and water conditions.

(Distributed 02/20/09) Urban and suburban areas can create heavy loads of pollutants in their water runoff from the concentrations of people, vehicles, homes, parking lots, streets, small and large businesses, industry and sewage. This water runoff is referred to as urban stormwater.

Lawn care definitely changes as the weather begins to cool, and by October the growth of warm-season grasses like St. Augustine, centipede, bermuda and zoysia begins to slow down.

A lawn can be as functional as it is beautiful if planned properly. Recommended varieties, degree of shade, planting and establishment and other site considerations are included.

Mid-spring through summer is the best time for sodding, but dormant-season sodding can be successful, according to LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dr. Tom Koske. Planting dormant grass is simply riskier.

Having a good lawn in a tree-shaded landscape is a challenge since all of the warm-season turfgrasses were developed to grow best in full sun, according to LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dr. Tom Koske.

Electric tools eliminate the fire hazards associated with gasoline, but introduce the hazard of electric shock or electrocution. There are some steps you can take to improve the safety of electric tools.

Garden tools will last longer if we take good care of them, but it can be a real bother to do so. A simple trick will make it much easier for you to keep your shovels, hoes, trowels, etc. clean and protected.

If you grow a vegetable garden, you probably get tired of bending over placing seeds in a furrow. Perhaps you are also tired of making the planting furrow and then covering it over and tamping. If so, you might be interested in one of the garden seeders on the market.

A total of 38 caladium varieties were evaluated at the LSU AgCenter Hammond Research Station during the summer of 2009 for their landscape performance, including foliage color, fullness and plant uniformity. The top 10 performers are presented here. (Caladium tubers were donated by Classic Caladiums and Happiness Farms.)

When tightening bolts on your equipment, it is sometimes helpful to know the recommended torque. If so, this table should help you.

(Distributed 08/07/09) Low landscape maintenance is the goal of homeowners, but it’s possible only through proper planning. With the fall planting season coming soon, begin your planning now.

Yards and gardens generally look a little frayed by this time of the year. The final really hot days that usually come at the end of a long, hot summer are especially hard on plants, says LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill.

(Distributed 07/31/09) The Irrigation Association recently wrapped up its national campaign to educate industry professional and homeowners on proper irrigation in the landscape. The association’s efforts reminded us to talk about best practices for watering our Louisiana landscapes.

A dirt scoop is a handy attachment for small tractors. It will allow you to dig, move, and dump small quantities of soil, gravel, sand, or other materials much easier than you can do with a shovel and wheelbarrow and much less expensively than with a front-end loader on your tractor.

Calculation conversions for producers to use when converting fertilizer recommendation for a small area

Fruit thinning is a time-consuming task that is often required to produce good quality fruit. It can be very beneficial for peach, plum and apple trees.

(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.

(Distributed 07/24/09) The trend today is to minimize fertilizer and chemical applications in the home landscape. If you are looking for a grass that is well-adapted to soil with high moisture levels and low fertility, common carpetgrass may be your most sustainable choice.

(Distributed 04/29/04) LSU AgCenter entomologists confirmed that termites found the week of April 18 at a home in Pineville were Formosan subterranean termites. This is the first sighting of the pests in the Alexandria area. These termites pose a greater threat than the native species because they form larger colonies, are more aggressive and form carton nests above ground.

Thirteen tomato varieties were evaluated at four different sites for home garden use.

Carpetgrass (Axonopus) isn't the prettiest grass, but it will sustain growth in poor soil and shady, damp areas. Its medium-coarse texture and light green color are very similar to centipede grass. I like to say that it looks like starving St. Augustinegrass.

Houma's LA Terre Louisiana Master Gardeners post some results of a spring vegetable demonstration.

Soil salts affect turf mostly by withholding moisture from plant tissues. They may also compete for uptake of nutrient ions. Try these suggestions to manage a soil salinity situation.

(Distributed 07/15/09) Summer is not the most enjoyable time to work in the yard in Louisiana, but rose bushes need attention to ensure good performance through the summer and into the early fall months.

Carefull examination of the spark plug(s) can yield insights into other maintenance needs on your engine.

One of the most important things you can do to maintain your small engines is to service the air filters as needed.

Putting the correct grease in your grease gun and using it religiously can prolong the life of your equipment.

Maintaining quality turfgrass sometimes requires that lawn waste be picked up. This trash can include leaves, pine needles and grass clippings as well as twigs, seed pods from trees and pine cones.

In the summers of 2002 and 2003, LSU AgCenter's Dr. James Boudreaux tested 14 sugar enhanced (se) and 11 supersweet (sh2) corn cultivars. They were evaluated for their large ears (about 8") and husk cover. The 2009 top cultivars are also mentioned.

The chemical analysis of a soil sample has been worked out and calibrated so that the numbers reported mean something useful to the client. However, the results are only as good as the sample is representative of the area and crop’s root zone.

(Distributed 07/10/09) Several varieties of gardenias work well in the landscape, but dwarf gardenias are more prone to problems.

Pruning shears come in two basic styles and in a wide range of sizes and price ranges.

One of the most hazardous substances most of us have to deal with is gasoline. We tend to take it for granted since it is so common and familiar, but we should pay it more respect.

Planting gets to be more critical with the fall garden because we start out hot and run into more of an end point with the frost.

Several heavy-duty hand tools canl help you with intermediate pruning jobs and allow you to avoid the cost and hassle of a chainsaw.

Knowing what is in your soil and what it needs is a basic and first step to a good crop and plant health. This off-season time is a good time to get this information and find the products you will require.

"A patch of dead grass, even a small one, in an otherwise acceptable lawn can be an eyesore and a weed magnet," says LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dr. Tom Koske. Use turfgrass to patch the lawn. It’s easy, immediate and permanent and checks soil erosion.

Turf problems can be categorized as cultural (man-made), environmental or pest-related. Often two or more of these factors contribute to the problem.

Spring is the time to begin working on a new lawn, and LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dr. Tom Koske has advice for those undertaking such a project.

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

These NEW cultivars were some of those added to last year’s 2008 LSU AgCenter Louisiana Vegetable Planting Guide.

After a saturating summer rain, expect many plants to wilt and then scald out. Saturated conditions can interfere with a root system's ability to absorb soil moisture. When a high evaporation demand (transpiration) is placed on the plants from bright sunshine after rain, they can show drought stress.

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.

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. (PDF Format Only)

These photos and drawings show how to use an ASAE standard 3" x 8" hydraulic cylinder to provide a power-adjustable upper link for a tractor 3-point hitch.

Several models of small walk-behind stump grinders are aimed at homeowners, rental use and smaller professional operations. Most are reasonably safe if used carefully, but a few are not safe no matter how they are used.

Sweet potatoes are regarded as one of the most nutritious vegetable crops. They are known to be an excellent source of vitamin A (orange-flesh types) and dietary fiber and contain significant amounts of vitamin C, vitamin E, vitaminB9 (folate) and various minerals.

More than 14,000 acres of sweet potatoes were planted in Louisiana in 2007 with a farmgate value of $65 million. The sweetpotato weevil continues to be the biggest threat to productivity in the 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.

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

(Distributed 06/26/09) Hollies are right behind azaleas, gardenias, camellias, sasanquas and Indian hawthorns in popularity among evergreen shrubs, and they may even be more popular than some of those.

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).

This poster addresses where Argentine Ants are found in Louisiana, as well as cost-effective ways to control them.

(Distributed 06/19/09) Crape myrtles continue to be one of the most widely used landscape trees in the southeastern United States.

Low landscape maintenance is possible only through proper planning, according to LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dr. Allen Owings. With the fall planting season coming soon, planning should begin now.

Why do people eat sweet potatoes? Because they are sweet! A new variety, Evangeline, just released by the LSU AgCenter, will satisfy those who want a really sweet sweet potato.

Change is going on in the sweet potato industry. The variety Beauregard, released by the AgCenter in 1987 and hailed as one of the best and most popularsweet potatoes, is being replaced in part by two new varieties – Evangeline, released by the LSU AgCenter in 2007, and Covington, a 2005 release from North Carolina.

Finding new uses for sweet potato components, such as starch, would increasethe demand for sweet potatoes and save processors money by finding a use for the waste produced during cutting and canning.

Sweet potatoes, like many commodities, are marketedin a variety of ways, and not all sweet potatoes are identical.

Sweet potatoes are susceptible to Rhizopus soft rot, a disease caused by a common fungus that can destroy sweet potatoes after they are removed from storage and washed but before they arrive at the market.

In the 1970s, actor Bill Saluga used the line: “You can call me Ray, or you can call me Jay. . .” When talking about Louisiana sweet potatoes or yams, there seems to be a similar confusion.

Weeds compete with sweet potato plants for nutrients, water and sunlight and impair crop yield and quality, making effective weed management a critical aspect to successful production.

One of the factors that most affects both the capability of a lawn/garden tractor, and the price, is the engine.

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

Citrus trees that survived hurricane damage may have lost significant amounts of foliage. These trees could experience a strong flush as they start their own healing process. This is very important because new foliage will provide nutrients needed for winter survival and faster tree recovery. Producers must implement practices to protect from additional leaf loss which can be caused by the citrus leafminer.

The tune “Bad Boys, Bad Boys, watcha gonna do?” could easily be replaced with “Bad Bugs, Bad Bugs watcha gonna do?” in our area. We seem to have insects of Biblical proportion at certain times and especially late spring and summer.

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.

This poster discusses background of Argentine Ants, baits that are cheap and effective for indoor use, and outdoor ant control.

One of the handiest implements you can put on your tractor is a lift boom for the 3-point hitch. In some areas these are called boom poles or gin poles.

Compact utility tractors are small diesel tractors with less than 40 horsepower. All current models come equipped with two important safety features: a rollover protective structure (ROPS) and a seatbelt. These two safety components can go a long way toward protecting you in case of an overturn - if you use them.

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.

(Distributed 06/12/09) Summer is here, and that means butterfly gardening season is upon us. Bedding plants and herbaceous perennials are in full bloom attracting butterflies to our home landscapes.

Nitrogen is the chief nutrient and controller of plant growth in average soils. It is provided in several commercial fertilizer forms.

Citrus leaves, blooms, aroma and color add to the aesthetic value of the landscape. This 16-page, full-color guide includes recommended varieties and descriptions; tips on site selection, planting, spacing and pruning; and images of citrus insect pests and common citrus diseases. Cost: $5 plus tax (free shipping). You can order this book through our online store, by using the Order Publication link below.

This guide includes helpful information on herbicides and weed control with detailed suggestions for aquatics, commercial nursery stock, field crops, forestry, fruit crops, home gardens, lawns and many other Louisiana crops. It includes information on different types of herbicide registrations, as well as information on herbicide labels and restricted uses. Also included are sprayer calibration techniques, suggestions for reducing herbicide drift and a guide to proper spray tip selection.

The key components of the effective use of fungicides for pecan disease control are timing, coverage and concentration. The updated 2009 fungicide list is included.

Price, performance and durability are important considerations in choosing garden tools and power equipment, but if a tool or machine is uncomfortable or awkward to use, you’ll regret buying it.

A simple hand spreader is often the best tool for applying granular fertilizer or pesticides.

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.

Saving one's own seed for next season is usually not a good idea, but it can be done with many heirlooms and some cultivars.

Weed science principles and homeowner weed control products found at garden retail outlets.

Weeding and feeding are two different operations. Sometimes they can be done in combination, but not always and not for best results.

The spreader settings typically found on bags of fertilizer and granular pesticides are usually based on tests performed on one sample of each spreader model listed. This procedure assumes that all spreaders of that model are identical and will thus require the same spreader settings. Unfortunately, that is not often the case – at least with homeowner spreaders.

(Distributed 06/05/09) Coleus have long been a summer favorite for Louisiana landscapes. Many old varieties are still with us, but many new ones have sparked renewed interest in this old southern favorite.

Organic gardening is popular in the United States, and interest is increasing in Louisiana. In organic gardening, particular garden practices are encouraged that use natural biological cycles, enhance diversity and are ecologically sound.

Consumer Reports magazine released its second annual lawn care poll in the May issue. See the results.

(Distributed 05/29/09) The most popular summer-blooming tree in Louisiana is the crape myrtle with its lovely, long-lasting flowers. Crape myrtles start blooming between mid-May and early June and continue flowering for 80 to100 days depending on the variety.

Fall is the time to treat for brown patch, the most common disease on warm-season turfgrasses.

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

Linepithema humile (Mayr), the Argentine ant, is an important invasive species that has great impact on agriculture, urban and natural environments worldwide. This poster discusses the basic nest biology and structure of the Argentine Ants.

Turfgrasses provide functional, economic, recreational, health and safety, environmental and aesthetic benefits to Louisiana.

Zoysias can be the most beautiful and slow growing lawns, but they can also be big problems. These lawns are very dense and uniform in appearance.

Plants need 16 elements for normal growth.

Winning varieties have been evaluated in more than 130 trial gardens across the United States and have proven to be good landscape performers.

(Distributed 05/21/09) Daylilies are one of the most popular flowering plants for late spring and early summer in Louisiana. Gardening shoppers always want daylily information.

A guide to identifying this one-of-a-kind ant. Learn its mannerisms how to distinguish it from other household pests, as well as how to handle an infestation.

Elongate twig ant populations have increased in Louisiana over the past few years. Many people are curious about these strange ants and become fearful of them when they experience their voracious sting. The status and habits of the elongate twig ant (Pseudomyrmex gracilis) are reviewed for Louisiana. Identification tips are given to distinguish it from other ants in Louisiana.

With hurricane season around the corner, it’s a good time to begin preparing the landscape for storms, according to LSU AgCenter agriculture and natural resources expert Barton Joffrion. Trees generally are adapted only to average wind conditions rather than major storms. Homeowners need to analyze their property to identify potential damage that could be done to vegetation, structures and drainage systems.

A tractor 3-point hitch is handy and versatile. The upper link of a 3-point hitch is a turnbuckle that allows adjustment of the angle of the implement on the hitch. It is possible to replace this link with a hydraulic cylinder.

Compact utility tractors are popular with farmers, landscape contractors and rural landowners. In fact, compact tractors are by far the best-selling tractor category. These small tractors are virtually useless by themselves, but they are versatile when equipped with the proper implements and attachments. This publication discusses the selection of suitable implements for use with compact tractors.

FWA provides four-wheel-drive when engaged. FWA substantially increases the cost of a tractor, but it provides some important benefits.

You will save money in the short run at discount stores and mass merchandisers. You will pay more but get better quality equipment and service with dedicated lawn and garden dealers or farm equipment dealers.

You have many choices when it comes to shovels. The type you need depends on the job you have to do.

Most professional applicators use rotary spreaders. Rotary spreaders are not only faster than drop spreaders, but are more forgiving of small errors in swath width.

A good lawn spreader is a precision tool and should be treated accordingly. Your lawn spreader doesn’t need a great deal of time-consuming maintenance, but a few simple steps can preserve the life and precision of your spreader.

Some high-quality plastic spreaders have precision equivalent to the better homeowner metal spreaders. There is a tremendous difference in performance among brands and models.

People tend to walk at different speeds. When you are pushing a spreader, this difference in walking speed can cause problems.

Rotary broadcast spreaders offer many advantages for turf professionals. There are also some disadvantages including pattern skewing and the need to develop pattern settings for each product to center the pattern. Pendulum-action spreaders overcome those problems.

Sound stewardship of urban and community trees includes employing the services of arborists to help maintain their health and vitality. This article provides the homeowner tips on finding and hiring a tree care professional for your residential tree care needs.

(Distributed 05/15/09) As we approach the hot summer months, proper irrigation becomes especially important in landscapes. Irrigate when necessary and do so efficiently. Surprisingly, many plants are over-watered rather than under-watered.

Landscape plant evaluations at the LSU AgCenter regularly identify new plants worthy of increased use in Louisiana, according to LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dr. Allen Owings.

Efforts in 2003 and 2004 included evaluation of cannas, coleus, angelonias, purslane, lantanas, perennial verbena, annual and perennial salvia, vinca, zinnias, melampodium, petunias, rudbeckia, phlox, daylilies, dianthus, ornamental kale, ornamental cabbage, calendula, violas, pansies, ornamental sweet potatoes, garden mums, African and French marigolds and others.

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.

(Distributed 05/08/09) Summer is rapidly approaching, the time when our evergreen azaleas often have difficulty dealing with our heat and humidity.

The reality of the myth that gypsum added to a lawn or garden will definitely improve soil tilth and strength, falls into the realm of agricultural practices being misapplied to ornamental landscapes.

Okra is a warm-season crop that grows well in Louisiana gardens. A good start is important for successful okra production.

This publication has information on the varieties, pollination, soil preparation, planting and cultivation of vegetable pears.

Mid-mount rotary mower decks are common on lawn tractors, garden tractors, subcompact tractors and smaller compact utility tractors. There are two ways that these decks can be mounted, and the mounting method affects adjustment and operation.

Cucurbita and Lagenaria gourds, when mature, are ready to harvest and process into decorations or utensils.

Most garden tools have fixed handles that may be made of wood, fiberglass or metal. But an LSU AgCenter engineer says some tools now are available with separate handle and toolhead components that can be interchanged as desired.

(Distributed 04/27/09) One of the most popular warm-season annual bedding plants is vinca or periwinkle. It is well-known for its prolific and long blooming season.

Leaf blowers are efficient, useful tools that annoy some people. Be aware of the problem, and use your leaf blower responsibly to avoid losing the privilege.

Electrical units are fine for small lawns, gasoline hand-held units are the best choice for larger home sites and backpack blowers are a good choice for professional users.

We often see lawns with mushrooms or doughnut rings of dying or dark green grass. These are referred to as "fairy rings." This publication includes information on how to control fairy rings in your lawn.

Winterizing is an attempt to toughen plant tissues for the winter freezes much as you would add antifreeze to your car’s radiator for freeze protection.

The pecan tree is prevalent in Louisiana as a shade tree in the landscape and also as a source of nuts for home use. The recommended varieties for home planting are listed and described in this publication.

Many implements are available for rear mounting on compact utility tractors, including mowers of various types, tillers, angle blades, box blades, cultivators, bedders and rakes. These machines add versatility to your tractor, but mounting them to the tractor’s 3-point hitch can be a hassle. A quick hitch can make your job much easier.

The most important cultural practice the homeowner with pecan trees needs to consider is proper fertilization. This publication includes information and guidelines for fertilizing pecan trees.

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.

The southern pea is also known as cowpea and field pea and various names like blackeyes, crowders, peas, etc.

If we manage our lawns correctly and use proper cutting practices, we can have nice lawns and rarely be bothered with clippings. Learn how to leave clippings in place without creating problems for your lawn.

St. Augustine disease is a virus disease that affects St. Augustine grass across the Gulf States. This fact sheet describes the disease and how to mange it. Color photos are included. (PDF Format Only)

Mini gardening is an intensive type of agriculture using a small space or containers to produce vegetables and plants. The main benefits derived from mini gardens are that they take much less space and require much less work. This publication includes information on constructing and maintaining a mini garden.

Louisiana is blessed with long growing seasons which make year-round gardening possible. To be successful, however, you must have an insect management program. Learn how to tell if the insect is beneficial to your garden, or if it is a pest and determine what to use if controls are necessary.

Many Louisiana homeowners have small greenhouses for growing potted plants and for starting annual flower and vegetable plants. You can also grow high-quality fresh vegetables in a home greenhouse during the cold months to add variety and interest to the family diet. Recommended varieties, temperature requirements, pest control and hobby greenhouse diagrams are included. (PDF Format Only)

(Distributed 04/20/09) Crape myrtles are one of the most widely used summer-flowering trees in Louisiana landscapes. Many of us are not familiar with the tremendous array of varieties and sizes available. One group of crape myrtles being used more because of its smaller size and excellent flowering performance is the semi-dwarf.

If you plan to do much work on lawn/garden or grounds maintenance equipment, you need a torque wrench. Even a job as simple as changing a spark plug on a small engine should be done with a torque wrench.

It is very important to properly tighten spark plugs after replacement or cleaning – especially on small engines with aluminum heads. This table gives approximate torque values for different sizes of spark plugs in both cast iron and aluminum heads.

Mushrooms in lawns and moldy foods can be health hazards for your dogs, according to LSU AgCenter veterinarian Dr. Steve Nicholson.

The article describes the symptoms and life history of pecan phylloxera on pecan trees. Pictures of symptoms and nymphs are provided.

Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) is causing losses to many tomato growers. Symptoms of the disease typically include cupping and rolling of the upper leaves, which usually turn purple/brown along the veins.

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

Without good irrigation and resources to do so, allowing your turf to go dormant during extended summer drought may be the best management practice.

Starting a lawn from seed is a tough proposition even when all things are done right. Poor fertility, too much or too little moisture, rain washouts, ants, weeds and disease all can cause havoc during establishment.

(Distributed 04/13/09) Environmental conditions matter when you select plants for your home landscape. Available space, sun or shade exposure, wet or dry locations and exposure to windy conditions are all important considerations. Choosing plants adaptable to the environment is a sustainable landscape practice.

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.

Riding mowers, lawn tractors, lawn and garden tractors, and garden tractors are covered by several safety standards that are designed to protect you, the operator.

Finishing (or grooming) mowers typically have (two or) three blades and are designed for quality mowing of turfgrass. They have multiple gage wheels and rollers that allow a relatively low cutting height with minimal scalping.

All vegetable seeders require openers, coverers and presswheels to provide a furrow for the seeds and to then cover the seeds and assure proper soil contact. These devices must be matched to the soil type and condition for optimum germination and seedling vigor.

The EPA found that small spark-ignition engines of 25 hp or less contribute about 20 percent of hydrocarbon emissions and 23 percent of carbon monoxide emissions from all mobile sources. As a result of this perceived problem, the EPA has issued new regulations on small engines.

Fireplace wood ashes are a lime and potassium source, but watch out for the rise in soil pH.

Do you get what you pay for when buying a mowing tractor? There is certainly a wide range of prices; in fact, you can easily pay twice as much for a lawn tractor at a major farm equipment dealer as you would pay for a lawn tractor with the same horsepower and mowing width at a discount store. What do you get for the additional money?

Acidic soils (low pH) cause more gardening problems in Louisiana than any other soil factor. They affect so many other soil factors in both pest management and soil fertility.

Violas, a close relative to the pansy but with smaller flowers, can provide a mass of color on the darkest winter day. Several viola series perform well in Louisiana, but sometimes it's difficult to choose the viola you want with so many series and colors available. The pictures included on this page are all from the annual bedding plant trials performed at the Burden Center in Baton Rouge.

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.

Of all the reasons for solid sodding a new lawn, some of the best ones are those everyone can appreciate.

It's easy to win if you follow the rules and pay attention to details.

This document describes the diseases that occur most frequently on pecan trees in Louisiana.

PDF of home vegetable garden herbicides for 2009 and their usage.

One of the major distinctions between low-quality and high-quality tools is the way the toolhead is manufactured.

Homeowners and gardeners often use wheelbarrows and garden carts to move materials. This article describes advantages and limitations of each.

This is a PDF chart of 2009 (home and commercial) recommended lawn and turfgrass herbicides and their general usage.

The analysis or "formula" listed on the fertilizer bags tells you what is inside. This information lets you apply the proper amount of fertilizer.

With fall comes yard and garden cleanup – especially leaves. For many homeowners, a leaf blower can be an efficient and effective grounds maintenance tool, according to Dr. Dick Parish, an engineer at the LSU AgCenter’s Hammond Research Station.

Many people use a rotary cutter – often referred to by the trade name Bush Hog – to cut grass and weeds. But in too many cases, the implement is not correctly adjusted. This can cause premature wear, poor quality of cut and an excessive power requirement, warns Dr. Dick Parish, an engineer at the LSU AgCenter’s Hammond Research Station.

If you apply liquid fertilizers and pesticides to large areas of your lawn, you need to be accurate. That means calibrating your sprayer to be sure you apply the correct amount of material for the area you’re treating, says Dr. Dick Parish, an engineer with the LSU AgCenter’s Hammond Research Station.

This article reviews recent research on urban and community trees and their ability to stand up to hurricane strength winds.

(Distributed 04/03/09) Late March through early May is the prime time for planting our spring annuals in Louisiana. Warm-season bedding plants make a great addition to our home and commercial landscapes.

Some lawns were lost to the flood waters and some were only hurt in spots. Dead areas will have to be replanted, or a weed patch will result. Some forethought before planting may save time, effort and money.

LSU AgCenter scientists are nearing the end of a two-year weed control study designed to help Louisiana iris growers save money. It is the only weed control study in the state concentrating on field production of Louisiana iris, and its purpose is to increase yields and reduce weed competition.

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

A simple but accurate way of checking the output of your sprayer is the H 128 method of sprayer calibration.

Invisible pests are living in the soil of our vegetable gardens, and these microscopic round worms known as nematodes are problems for home gardeners and commercial farmers.

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.

When attempting to determine the cause of dying patches of grass during the summer, always check the soil first.

(Distributed 03/30/09) Many home gardeners are aware that a soil test is a good practice to determine the soil’s nutrient status, pH and other characteristics. Most of us, however, do not know the proper procedures for taking soil samples, which can make the test results inconclusive.

A power lawnmower requires regular maintenance if it is to provide reliable service. Most of the maintenance steps are easy and can be done by a reasonably handy homeowner.

Power lawnmowers are available with a wide array of features. Some of the features are helpful; some less so. It can be a challenge to optimize both features and price.

Gardening is one of Louisiana’s most popular activities, and this publication is designed to provide Louisiana vegetable gardeners with a comprehensive guidebook to help them get the most from their gardens. The 120-page, spiral-bound, full-color guide provides a variety of photos and illustrations. Cost: $20 plus tax (free shipping). You can order this book through our online store, by using the Order Publication link below.

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.

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.

Eighteen varieties of watermelon were planted at three locations in Louisiana in the summer of 2008. The varieties were evaluated for yield , shape, weight of melons, foliage degree of sunburning, rind color, rind thickness, flesh clor, seed color, seed size, size of seed cavity and soluble solids.

The surge of salt water brought inland by a hurricane can cause a lot of damage to turfgrasses. Follow these suggestions to help overcome saltwater damage to your turf.

In mid-April it’s time to do two things – pay taxes and fertilize your lawn. If you’ve already taken care of the taxes, now you should decide whether or not to fertilize your lawn.

Grass clippings are a constant in yard maintenance, but fall introduces leaves into the mix. This year the nuisance is worse because hurricanes and storms have defoliated more trees.

A drip system is probably the easiest and is certainly the most effective way to irrigate your garden.

(Distributed 03/20/09) The major grass produced on Louisiana sod farms and most widely planted in residential lawns is centipede grass (Eremochloa ophiuroides). It thrives with less care and usually requires less mowing than many other grasses.

(Distributed 03/16/09) Azaleas are Louisiana’s most popular shrub. Fall is the best time to plant the flowering shrub, followed by winter, spring and summer. The vast majority of azaleas, however, are planted in spring.

Strawberries are a good additon to any home garden. To be succeesful, gardenrs must obtain disease free plants of the right varieties and plant them correctly in a well prepared site. Harvest normally begins in mid March and last six to eight weeks.

Proper fall lawn preparation can mean reduced turf loss to winter kill.

"Fall is a good time to plant greens in your home garden," says LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dr. Tom Koske. Crops include mustard, turnips, spinach, collards, kale and Swiss chard. All are cool-season crops with similar cultural requirements.

Marigolds produce substances that are toxic to at least one or more kinds of nematodes.

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

Many wonder if newly laid sod should be quickly fertilized to help speed establishment.

A small, hand-held sprayer is available that will spray herbicides uniformly and with a relatively uniform droplet size.

LSU AgCenter nutritionist Dr. Beth Reames says to choose Louisiana strawberries for a nutritious, healthy treat.

Loading equipment onto trailers and trucks presents a safety challenge. Loading the right way can reduce the risk of overturn and operator injury.

This series provides a variety of information for home vegetable gardeners. Topics include beans, cabbage, corn, cucumbers, eggplants, potatoes, squash, tomatoes, peppers, onions, shallots, garlic and many more of the favorites of home gardeners.

Mowing grass is the most popular way that homeowners use compact utility tractors. Different types of mowers serve different purposes, and you should choose the correct mower for your needs.

Unfortunately, some plants used for landscapes in Louisiana are considered poisonous in some situations. Click on the link for a list of some that are commonly grown.

(Distributed 03/13/09) The 2009 New Orleans Spring Garden Show and an accompanying Green Fair will be held at the City Park Botanical Garden on April 4-5 from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. each day.

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.

(Distributed 03/02/09) Ground covers are low-growing plants other than turfgrasses. Typically, they are perennial, evergreen plants with sprawling or spreading habits. They generally are 1 foot or shorter, but taller plants are used occasionally. Ground covers are considered attractive, low-maintenance landscape options.

(Distributed 03/11/09) LAKE CHARLES, La. – The 10th Annual Southwest Louisiana Garden Festival will be held in Lake Charles March 28-29 at Burton Coliseum, 7001 Gulf Highway. The event will include guest speakers on a variety of garden topics and a plant health clinic where LSU AgCenter experts and Master Gardeners will answer gardening questions.

To our Louisiana Vegetable Planting Guide, please add these new possibilities for 2009.

You might think that riding mowers and lawn/garden tractors are small and low to the ground so overturns are not a problem. Unfortunately, this is not the case. Riding mowers and small tractors can overturn to the side or rear fairly easily.

Calibration of vehicle-mounted boom-type sprayers is simple and can be very accurate. Calibration of hand-carried sprayers is much more subjective, but it is simple to do.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

Best Management Practices pertaining to irrigation in the home landscape.

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

Best Management Practices regarding proper fertilization in the home landscape.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Implements, including mower decks, can be attached to tractors in several ways and in several locations. The larger the implement and tractor, the more likely an upscale, easy-to-use hitch will be provided. Naturally, the upscale hitch systems cost more.

(Distributed 03/06/09) Early March is the time to begin preparations for adding warm-season annuals to your home landscape. Annual plants are usually simply referred to as “bedding plants” or “color.”

Spring is just around the corner. And now is the time to plan for a beautiful yard and productive garden. Whether you’re a veteran gardener or one who’s never dug in the dirt before, the LSU AgCenter has information to help you grow flowers, vegetables, fruits and improve the looks of your lawn and home landscaping.

Non-powered wheeled sprayers offer homeowners an easy and relatively inexpensive way to apply the correct rate of fertilizer and pesticides uniformly to home lawns.

Whether you have a few rose bushes beside your house or a half-acre garden, you will need a sprayer to take care of your plants.

Drop spreaders are best suited to small lawns where you want uniform patterns or have many obstacles to trim around. Rotary spreaders are generally best for large, open areas.

Walk-behind lawn spreaders are designed to be pushed, not pulled. The delivery rate from drop spreaders and the pattern from rotary spreaders are distorted if a spreader is pulled backward.

It seems obvious that a wider or faster mower will cover a lawn faster than a narrower or slower mower, but this is not always true - and seldom will the increase in cutting rate be proportional to the increase in width or speed.

Information on the use of petunias in our Louisiana home landscapes.

A relatively new category has been added to All-America Selections, home of the popular All-America Rose Selections, according to LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dr. Allen Owings. That group is daylilies.

Spending time in the landscape with children, especially young ones, requires adults to pay careful attention. Just as you would childproof an indoor room, it’s important to take safety precautions in the yard to keep young ones safe.

Information on azaleas includes recommended cultural practices and other keys to be successful with this popular plant in your landscape efforts.

Easily grown, parsley should be planted in everyone’s cool-season herb garden.

Bermudagrass sod is a tough, fine-textured, aggressive, warm-season turf that's just perfect for a pretty lawn or well-performing athletic turf. It does not tolerate shade, so overhangs and trees are a big problem.

With the arrival of March and April, we are squarely in the middle of the spring bedding plant season. Warm-season bedding plants make a great addition to Louisiana landscapes, says LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dr. Allen Owings.

One of the newest groups of zinnias catching on the last five years have been the Profusion series. These zinnias are rapidly gaining popularity among home gardeners and landscape professionals.

If you have a small garden, many manual cultivation tools are available for your use.

The most basic tools needed for working on lawn and garden equipment are wrenches. You can sometimes get by on other little fix-it jobs around the house with pliers, screwdrivers, etc., but almost anything you try to do on grounds maintenance equipment will require the use of wrenches.

If you own lawn and garden equipment, you will probably need a few tools for maintenance unless you plan to return the equipment to the dealer every time something is needed. A few basic tools will allow you to do many jobs.

The World Wide Web is a great source of information on many subjects, including tractors.

Drip irrigation and permanently installed sprinkler systems are wonderful, but in many cases, a hose-end sprinkler must be used. There are many choices available.

Plants will produce best in a location when they have the proper fertility.The three basic areas of soil fertility are soil nutrients, pH and organic matter.

Hover mowers are rotary lawnmowers that have no wheels but rather ride on an air cushion.

This publication includes information on the life cycle, damage and control of slime mold on turfgrass.

(Distributed 02/13/09) Crape myrtles are the most popular of our flowering trees, and questions abound about their proper care and cultural practices. Keys to crape myrtle success include abundant sunlight, ideal soil pH and drainage, proper pruning, regular fertilization, proper mulching and insect control.

Growing your own fruit can be profitable and satisfying, and many fruit trees can add beauty to your landscape. But you can't expect to grow quality fruit without caring for the plants. This publication explains how your success will depend largely on variety selection, soil management, pruning, fertilization, pest control and other cultural practices. (PDF Format Only)

Although there are some imported compact tractors available under $10,000, most compact tractors from major manufacturers are in the $10,000 – $20,000 range. Older farm tractors can be a less expensive alternative to compact tractors.

All rotary cutters are inherently dangerous. The thrown object hazard is not fully recognized by everyone, yet it can cause injury, blindness or even death.

(Distributed 02/22/08) Fire blight disease can be extremely damaging to some varieties of apples, pears and mayhaws. Other plants susceptible to fire blight include crabapple, hawthorn, cotoneaster, quince, pyracantha, loquat and blackberry.

(Distributed 02/22/08) Pecan trees are sometimes infested by dot-size insects called pecan phylloxera in April. The feeding of these minuscule insects can produce round galls one-fourth to 1 inch in diameter on twigs and leaves in late April, May and early June.

Here is a chart of hebicides for home lawn use.

Riding mowers, lawn tractors, lawn and garden tractors, and garden tractors are large and powerful. They can be dangerous if not used safely.

A mower deck can’t cut grass unless it is connected to the tractor engine. This is usually done in one of two ways, with some possible permutations.

(Distributed 02/06/09) The spring gardening season is upon us, or will be shortly, and it is time to begin purchasing new trees, shrubs and related plant materials for our landscapes. When selecting ornamentals, think how they will look when they mature as well as how they look now. Consider size, form, texture and color.

(Distributed 01/30/09) Growing roses in Louisiana has been a challenge for home gardeners, mainly because of diseases brought on by our environment. Heat and humidity adversely affect the many rose varieties we grow.

(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.

Simple and common materials to control weeds in lawns.

Not many plants can take Louisiana’s summer sun and heat like coleus. Information on soil conditions and preparations, watering, fertilizing, planting and blooming and recommended varieties is included. (PDF Format Only)

Landscaping your property is one way to help reduce the erosive force of rain.

Many hand garden tools have wooden handles. Although some newer tools have fiberglass or metal handles, wood is still a very common handle material. With just a little care, your wooden handles can last a lifetime.

Shopping for a riding mower or mowing tractor requires several choices – including the transmission, according to an engineer with the LSU AgCenter’s Hammond Research Station.

Louisiana's warm, humid weather encourages the development of several serious diseases that can damage rose bushes. This publication describes the major rose diseases found in Louisiana and offers disease management tips.

February is the best time to prune most fruit trees in Louisiana. The coldest part of winter is usually over, and trees will soon be growing and can heal pruning injuries.

It is not necessary to buy all the equipment you need for your lawn and garden. In many cases, renting can be a practical option.

The Louisiana iris continues to be a popular plant for landscapes in the Southeast. This publication provides information on culture, watering, fertilization and several other topics. (PDF Format Only)

Many homeowners have several small engines in the garage or tool shed on equipment like a lawnmower or string trimmer. Some may also have a garden tiller, a hedge trimmer, a lawn edger or a chainsaw. Most of these small engines have an air filter.

February is a good time to prune those crape myrtles, and if you have not been getting any blooms, fertilizing just may be the answer.

February is an ideal time to prune fruit trees. Fruit trees require a certain amount of annual pruning for the production of high-quality fruit.

LA BASE PROGRAM SITUATION: HOME VEGETABLE GARDENS; 2008.A statewide survey of over 500 Louisiana home vegetable gardeners was conducted in 2008. Results are presnted.

The good mowing practices are okay with most lawns and tall-cut turf. Tall cut grass often has more abuse tolerance by nature of more leaf area and more root mass. Low-cut turf does not have these extended benefits to draw from and requires the best mowing practices to sustain decent quality.

(Distributed 01/23/09) 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. The important thing to remember is that developing an attractive, properly functioning landscape is best done using a process.

Oil is the lifeblood of any engine. Neglecting your oil can be a costly mistake.

Some companies now offer landscape bedshapers designed specifically to lay out and maintain landscape beds. These machines are generally heavier, more powerful and more versatile than turf edgers.

There are dozens of different types that feed on the roots of vegetables, but the root-knot nematode is one of the most destructive types found throughout our state. Managing nematodes may involve using one or more techniques that have proven to reduce nematode populations.

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

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 and ecologically sound surroundings that complement a home or other structure.

(Distributed 09/15/08) If you don’t include mulches in your gardening efforts, you really should give them a try. You will be amazed by how much they spare you from weeding and how nice they can make your yard and garden look.

(Distributed 09/26/08) One of the most exciting new plants for home gardeners released in the past few years has been the Knock Out rose. It is receiving a lot of attention, and rightfully so. More than 6 million plants are being sold every year across the country. This rose fits perfectly into a sustainable, low-maintenance landscape.

(Distributed 10/01/08) Baldcypress (Taxodium distichum) is Louisiana’s state tree, and it is one of our featured trees at LaHouse on the LSU campus in Baton Rouge. As one of our most distinguished native trees, it is one of the top five tree species planted in Louisiana landscapes.

(Distributed 10-09-08) A survey of LSU AgCenter county agents reveals five major landscape problems in Louisiana yards and gardens. These problems are improper or inadequate landscape bed preparation, not knowing soil fertility and pH, improper ornamental plant selection, winter damage to plants and shade tree care.

(Distributed 10/16/08) The LSU AgCenter has been promoting research-based best management practices in the home landscape for several years to educate residents on how to manage their lawns, gardens and landscapes to minimize nonpoint pollution, insects, weeds and diseases.

(Distributed 10/24/08) Fall through winter is the recommended tree-planting season in Louisiana. Often, poor tree performance in residential, commercial and municipal landscapes can be traced to improper planting techniques, but common mistakes in planting, establishment and follow-up care of trees can be avoided by following easy guidelines.

(Distributed 10/31/08) Pansies continue to be the most popular cool-season bedding plant in Louisiana. They have long been relied on for their consistent outstanding landscape performance.

(Distributed 11/06/08) The late fall and winter months in Louisiana are great for planting fruit trees and shrubs. Ones that work well in our landscapes include fig, citrus, blueberry, pawpaw, pomegranate and persimmon. Most can be easily grown, are low maintenance, have appealing forms, good texture, attractive colors and provide wildlife benefits. These characteristics “fit the bill” for a sustainable landscape.

(Distributed 11/21/08) Southern live oaks, known by the scientific name Quercus virginiana, are one of the most popular trees found in Louisiana landscapes. They certainly are considered to be a signature tree in many public places across the state and are widely used in home landscapes.

(Distributed 11/13/08) Not so long ago, nursery and landscape professionals, along with the vast majority of home gardeners, were not fully aware of the multiseason blooming potential of many azalea varieties.

(Distributed 11/26/08) Many of us think about planting shrubs in the spring, but fall is the best time to plant shrubs in Louisiana. There are advantages to planting woody ornamentals, such as trees and shrubs, at this time.

(Distributed 12/05/08) Pines are one of our many great native tree species. They, along with baldcypress, southern magnolias and oaks, are typically associated with Louisiana.

(Distributed 12/12/08) Flowering trees add color and beauty to our landscapes in late winter and early spring. These great trees add flower color at a time when many of us think we have to wait for spring. Most of these trees also are low-maintenance and reliable for long-term performance.

(Distributed 12/18/08) Perennials are plants that live for three years or more and often require two years or more from seed to flower. Technically, trees, shrubs and lawn grasses are all perennials, but gardeners use the term perennial as an abbreviation for “hardy, herbaceous perennial” – a group of nonwoody plants that reliably survive winter cold and grown for their attractive flowers or foliage.

(Distributed 01/09/09) An important part of LSU AgCenter educational programs focuses on environmental issues. This includes teaching Louisiana gardeners that our yards and neighborhoods are channels to our waterways.

(Distributed 01/16/09) Whether you’re renovating an existing landscape or developing a new one, keep in mind the importance of soil pH and proper bed preparation. These two factors are essential for the success of your ornamental plants.

(Distributed 08/29/08) Sustainability and “green” are commonly used words in mainstream media. We think of gardening and yard care as green activities, but many of our practices are not green at all, such as overusing pesticides and fertilizers.

St. Augustinegrass (Stenotaphrum secundatum) is one of our two most popular lawn grasses in Louisiana. It is widely adapted to the humid Deep South.

You may be able to improve the performance of your compact utility tractor by ballasting the tractor properly.

Most small, hand-carried lawn and garden tools use 2-stroke engines and most larger machines such as lawn and garden tractors use 4-stroke engines. The reason for this has to do with the weight ratio of the engines.

Rotary spreaders offer the advantages of wide, fast coverage and forgiving patterns, but they are not well suited to working along turf edges. Some spreaders offer a pattern cut-off mechanism to address this problem.

Some rotary spreaders can deliver a reasonably uniform distribution pattern with some products, but not with others, and some homeowner rotary spreaders don’t deliver a good pattern with any product.

When you buy a bag of fertilizer or granular pesticide to spread on your lawn, it will usually have a label on the back of the bag with settings for several common fertilizer spreaders. Do you know where those settings come from, how they were developed or how reliable they are?

Layering of very different soil types creates root problems. If you can, always avoid sodding a sand-based root-zone area with native-soil-based sod.

Pruning shears are an important tool for most homeowners and grounds maintenance professionals. They are useful for trimming trees and shrubs and for harvesting fruits, vegetables and flowers.

Although manufacturers are doing their part to reduce corrosion of lawn and garden equipment, how well you maintain your tools will determine their useful life.

Although many consider palms sustainable only in tropical or arid regions of the world, many varieties are native to, or adapt well, to the subtropical climate of South Louisiana.

One of the most important things you can do to maintain your small engines and tractors is to service the oil and fuel filters as needed.

Some of the hose quick connectors now available can make the job of using garden hoses much easier.

Drip irrigation is an excellent way to water trees and shrubs. It allows you to precisely meter water directly into the root zone without wetting foliage or watering the weeds between plants.

Drip (or trickle) irrigation systems meter a slow drip or spray of water at discrete intervals. The principle of drip irrigation is to slowly put down enough water in the plant root zone to supply the plants adequately without runoff and without wetting the soil between crop rows.

Using a simple, inexpensive vacuum breaker on your hose bibbs can help prevent contaminating your water supply.

Utility vehicles are popular and handy. They are making inroads on the use of ATVs for hunting and can also be used for many chores around a small acreage (or a large farm). Utility vehicles are somewhat similar to the small vehicles used on golf courses for decades, but use ATV components to provide more power and versatility.They aren’t cheap, but they are useful and fun to use.

Owners of compact utility tractors can choose among three types of rear tires and at least five types for the front. The different types of tires serve different purposes, says Dr. Dick Parish, an engineer at the LSU AgCenter’s Hammond Research Station.

Mayhaws are one of the most widely known of the native fruit tree species found in Louisiana. Interest in mayhaws has been building over the last 20 years, and these plants are now managed in fruit orchards around the state.

Butterfly enthusiasts have long known the power of the penta. Pentas bloom profusely from March until the first fall frost, are pest free and attract masses of butterflies. A must have for people who desire season-long color, minus all of the work.

Keys to Successful Organic Vegetable Gardening

BOSSIER CITY – Growing tomatoes in a greenhouse may be less costly in the future.Dr. H.Y. Hanna, an LSU AgCenter scientist working at the Red River Research Station in Bossier City, is studying how spacing between bags that hold the plants affects the amount of heat required to produce tomatoes in greenhouses.

Centipedegrass is a popular lawn grass in Louisiana. Although centipede is a low-maintenance grass, proper management is still important. This publcation covers factors that contribute to centipede decline: improper plant nutrition, cultural practices, and soil and water conditions.

Herbicides listed in our weed control guide for home lawn use with general application.

ZTR (zero turning radius) riding mowers can do a wonderful job of maintaining turf, but the rapid response and maneuverability that make them so handy can cause problems if you aren’t careful.

Zero-turning-radius (ZTR) mowers are popular among professionals and homeowners with larger lawns. ZTR manufacturers offer many new and/or optional features on their mowers that further increase their versatility and ease of use.

Zero-turning-radius (ZTR) mowers are available in two configurations: mid-mount decks and front-mount decks. Each configuration has advantages and disadvantages, and each has proponents.

Zero-turning-radius (ZTR) mowers are somewhat different from conventional tractors. Their short wheelbases and narrow wheel spacings can contribute to overturns.

ZTR (zero turning radius) mowers, like all lawnmowers, operate in a dirty environment. Proper and regular maintenance is needed to keep your mower operating at top efficiency and minimize costly repairs and downtime.

Some ZTR mowers are designed with a serious fire safety hazard. These models should be avoided.

ZTR stands for "Zero Turning Radius." ZTR mowers have separate hydraulic pumps driving the left and right tires, and each side is controlled separately. One tire can be turning forward while the other is turning in reverse, thus the mower can pivot around its own center. This feature allows amazing versatility in trimming while mowing.

Dormant-season sodding can be successful. Planting dormant grass is simply more risky; winter environmental conditions may end up taking some of the sod. In some cases, risks have to be taken.

The term ‘topdressing’ is used for both the material used and the process of adding a thin layer of material to the surface of a sod or seed bed.

Commercial-size riding mowers, including the popular ZTR (zero turning radius) mowers, are covered by a safety standard promulgated by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). Even though many of these mowers are used by homeowners, those that are designed primarily for commercial use are considered commercial machines and they fall under a commercial mower standard.

It would be hard to find a flower more universally loved than the rose. Over humanity’s long history with this plant, the rose has found its way into our gardens, cuisine, medicine, art and cultures. It is easier than ever to find undemanding, reliable roses that will enhance your landscape. This publication will help you decide what types of roses to grow, as well as explaining how to plant and take care of them. (revised 4/07)

Our warm-season grasses don’t like low temperatures. Some may show off colors because of chilling injury. Don't confuse this with disease and don't make it worse.

Gardeners are often unaware of a serious pest waiting for the spring vegetables to begin growing. These pests are small, microscopic animals called nematodes, and they attack the roots of many plants commonly grown in the garden. There are two major types of nematodes that cause the most problems for vegetables.

Having a lawn under shade trees is not always a compatible mix. Even so, you may be able to choose shade-tolerant grasses and manage them to get the best turf cover for that level of shade. Use this publication to choose the best variety and cultural practices for your lawn.

This publication provides an easy and simple-to-understand method to determine when and how much irrigation water is needed. (PDF Format Only)

Efficient watering practices are important to all homeowners who want to conserve water, maintain a healthy turf and reduce maintenance costs. (PDF Format Only)

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.

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.

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

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.

You can trim and edge mechanically with a string trimmer or edger... or chemically with a non-selective herbicide. Dr Dick Parish, an engineer at the LSU AgCenter’s Hammond Research Station, says each method has advantages and disadvantages.

A sustainable approach to managing pests by combining biological, cultural, physical and chemical tools in a way that minimizes economic, health and environmental risks.

Fertilizing can be done by applying composted organic material, packaged fertilizer or a specific mineral, such as iron.

When it comes to home landscaping, many gardeners remain confused about how to create whatthey want. Efforts at landscaping can be disappointing despite spending a substantial amount of money. The important thing to remember is that developing an attractive, properly functioning landscape is best done using a process.

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.

Contributors and Reviewers:

Kohlrabi is a delicious, old-European member of the cabbage family that grows well in Louisiana's cool seasons.

It is called the “lazy man’s grass” because it thrives with less care and requires less mowing than many other grasses.

Gardeners often wonder whether plowing or tilling should be done in the spring or late fall, but LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dr. Thomas Koske says working the soil in late fall has several advantages over the traditional spring plowing.

The cultural activites for lawn care may be the same on warm-season and cool-season grasses, but they are often 180 degrees opposite in timing. This chart covers the entire state of Louisiana with its two cold hardiness zones. Recommended cultural activities in north vs. south Louisiana will vary by 2 to 4 weeks in when they start and end because of the start of spring and fall seasons.

The cultural activites for lawn care may be the same on warm-season and cool-season grasses, but they are often 180 degrees opposite in timing. This chart covers Louisiana with its two cold hardiness zones. Recommended cultural activities in north vs. south Louisiana will vary by two to four weeks in when they start and end because of the start of spring and fall seasons.

Many summer-blooming annuals, perennials and vegetables are setting seeds now, and you can harvest the seeds, store them and then grow a new crop of plants for your garden next year. This can be fun, save a little money and allow you to share seeds with gardening friends.

That ‘southern living lawn’ does take a proper game plan and work, but it can be an outstanding landscape feature.

(Distributed 09/10/08) One sure vestige of a hurricane or bad blow is a large, dead area of the lawn. It usually is located near curbside where yard debris is piled up for many days.

Bermudagrass may be the plague of flower beds and gardens, but is an important turfgrass species, according to LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dr. Tom Koske.

Southern peas are an option for Louisiana summer gardens, because they can take the heat and prefer less fertile soils, according to LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dr. Tom Koske.

Thumbing through colorful catalogs and dreaming of the next season's harvest is one way to make winter seem a little warmer and move a little faster.

Early August marks the beginning of Louisiana’s fall gardening season. The adage that timing is everything applies to fall gardening in Louisiana, says LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dr. Tom Koske.

Nitrogen (N) is a very important plant nutrient for all fall vegetable crops. A sufficient and continuous amount must be supplied to all plants to achieve good yields. It also is the nutrient most often lacking in soils.

Garlic is thought to have many uses from warding off cancer to protecting from evil. In Louisiana, we use it to flavor food and boil shellfish. Here are some tips on how to grow garlic in the home garden.

This publication is intended to introduce home vegetable gardeners to the various methods used to manage the many diseases that affect these crops. (PDF Format Only)

This publication is intended to help you select the correct zero turning radius mower for your purpose, then use it and maintain it correctly and safely. (PDF Format Only)

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.

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.

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.