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(03/27/20) Gardening activities are an excellent source of physical exercise, and vegetable gardens can supply nutritious food.
(03/20/20) Two species of fringe trees are most often seen in the landscape throughout the U.S.: the American fringe tree and Chinese fringe tree.
[Video](3/23/20) LSU AgCenter horticulturist Heather Kirk-Ballard takes a closer look at the beloved live oak tree.
[Video](3/16/20) LSU AgCenter horticulturist Heather Kirk-Ballard explains why it’s important, though, to wait until the right time to prune your azaleas back.
(03/13/20) Red buckeyes produce brilliant red flowers in upright clusters of dark-red tubular flowers.
[Video](3-9-20) LSU AgCenter horticulturist Heather Kirk-Ballard dispels that notion and explains how to care for these beautiful indoor tropicals.
[Video](3-2-30)LSU AgCenter horticulturist Heather Kirk-Ballard explains how you can keep that green thumb active — inside — by growing a succulent sedum garden
(03/06/20) Ball moss is not a parasite. It does not typically harm host plants unless the moss completely covers the majority of surfaces.
(02/21/20) It’s that time of year. The deciduous trees are putting on their leaves. Spring-blooming bulbs, trees and shrubs are starting to come to life.
(02/28//20) Live oaks have a strong history in the Gulf South.
[Video](1/24/20) LSU AgCenter horticulturist Heather Kirk explains how to make sure your plants get the water they need — without overdoing it.
[Video](1/17/20) LSU AgCenter horticulturist KiKi Fontenot shows you how to grow your own potatoes in a container.
(02/14/20) It’s Valentine’s Day, and nothing says I love you more than flowers, right? And I’m here to suggest giving a live plant.
(02/07/20) Could something that appears so dainty and elegant actually do well in a landscape in Louisiana? The answer is, of course, why not?
[Video](2/10/20) LSU AgCenter horticulturist Heather Kirk talks about the value of those oftentimes forgotten, indoor plants.
[Video] (2/3/20) LSU AgCenter horticulturist Heather Kirk-Ballard discusses why the Japanese magnolia is a great plant to bring beauty to your yard.
(01/31/20) Japanese magnolias are in bloom everywhere right now, possibly signifying an early spring. It’s one of the most strikingly beautiful blooming trees.
(01/24/20) Nothing completes a great recipe better than fresh herbs straight from your garden.
[Video](1/27/20) LSU AgCenter horticulturist Heather Kirk-Ballard names some that look and grow the best during winter.
[Video](1/20/20) AgCenter horticulturist Heather Kirk-Ballard explains why this cold-hardy tree with a tropical look might be a good choice for your landscape.
(01/17/20) Growing indoor plants is a great way to bring the wonder of the outdoors inside.
(01/10/20) Most folks don’t realize that tea comes from a camellia. Yes, that’s right. Camellia sinensis is the plant.
(11/29/19)You have several options of what to do with leaf litter. Some are good, and some are not so good.
(01/03/20) There was a time in my life when I thought a colorful winter garden did not exist. I was so wrong.
[Video](1-06-20), LSU AgCenter horticulturist Heather Kirk-Ballard visits with weed scientist Ron Strahan as they explore organic herbicides.
[Video](12-30-19)LSU AgCenter horticulturist Heather Kirk-Ballard explains the benefits of leaves and the best way to dispose of them.
[Video](12-2-19) LSU AgCenter horticulturist Heather Kirk-Ballard visits a local grower to find out how they keep up with the demand for seasonal poinsettias
[Video](12-16-19) LSU AgCenter horticulturist Heather Kirk-Ballard shows you how to create beautiful Christmas decorations from evergreen tree branches.
[Video](11-23-19)LSU AgCenter horticulturist Heather Kirk-Ballard offers tips for winterizing your garden crops — so they can survive and flourish.
(12/20/19) Loquat trees are in full bloom right now, and the penetrating fragrance has called the bees out on warm days.
(12/27/19) Winter is the best time for planting trees, and pecans are no exception.
(12/13/19) The winter months provide us an opportunity to focus on landscape planning, planting and maintenance.
(12/06/19) You can create an evergreen wreath or swag with a few inexpensive floral materials and plant cuttings from the landscape.
(11/22/19) Poinsettias are one of the most popular winter and Christmastime plants. They can be found this time of year in all sorts of retail outlets.
[Video](11/25/19) On this edition of Get It Growing, LSU AgCenter horticulturist Heather Kirk-Ballard explores the pink-flowered golden rain tree
[Video](11/18/19) LSU AgCenter horticulturist Heather Kirk-Ballard explains how this is the season for satsumas and the advantages of growing these citrus.
(11/15/19) To prepare our plants for freezing weather, we first turn our attention to tropical and subtropical plants that have tender herbaceous foliage.
(11/08/19) We often associate spring with flowers, but take a look all around you. Fall feels like a second springtime to me.
(11/01/19) It’s satsuma time in Louisiana. Some early varieties began ripening in late September while other varieties will mature later.
[Video](10/25/19) LSU AgCenter horticulturist Heather Kirk-Ballard Travels to Lacombe to find out how mums fit into All Souls' Day and All Saints' Day.
(10/25/19) Persimmons, in my humble opinion, are highly underrated fruit.
[Video](10/27/19) LSU AgCenter horticulturist Kerry Heafner shows you how to use your compost to replenish potting soil.
(10/18/19) Chrysanthemums, commonly known as mums, go with autumn like pumpkin spice to your latte and candy corn to your trick or treat.
[Video](10/20/19) LSU AgCenter horticulturist Kerry Hefner shows you how to get a compost pile started and how you can maintain it.
(10/11/19) Boxwood has been used extensively in formal gardens for centuries to create lines and shapes and as a frame that leads the garden visitor.
[Video] (10/13/19) Heather Kirk-Ballard explains on this edition of Get It Growing, you can grow olive trees right here in Louisiana too.
[Video] (10/6/19) Heather Kirk-Ballard explains why the latest Super Plant — Jolt dianthus — will help your garden pop with color for a long time.
(10/04/19) The plants don’t lie. We see signs everywhere that our plants are suffering.
(09/27/19) The LSU AgCenter has selected Jolt dianthus (Dianthus barbatus interspecific) as a 2019 fall Louisiana Super Plant.
(09/20/19) Olive trees (Olea europaea) are some of the oldest trees cultivated by humans, having been grown as early as 2500 B.C. in Crete.
(09/13/19) Your plant is not dead, but by the looks of it, it may not be among the living for long. How do you tell what’s going on?
Video (9/16/19) LSU AgCenter horticulturist Heather Kirk-Ballard explains why the candlestick plant, or cassia, is a great choice for your yard.
(Video 9/9/19) LSU AgCenter horticulturist Heather Kirk-Ballard suggests growing a beautiful plant American beautyberry.
(09/0619) This week, we will take a look at how to determine what’s going on when plants look fatally ill or are dead.
(08/30/19) Have you ever seen a plant in the landscape or garden that you thought was supposed to be green but wasn’t?
(08/23/19) A plant with a rich history, American beautyberry can be found growing in low, rich bottomlands, swamp edges, piney woods and coastal woodlands.
(Video 8/19/19) LSU AgCenter horticulturist Heather Kirk-Ballard introduces you to some fall blooming plants that can add color to your cool weather landscape.
(08/16/19) Chinch bug damage can be easily mistaken for lack of water and overall heat-stressed turf.
(08/09/19) Growing flowers in shaded areas can be difficult. But if you’re up for the challenge, you can do it.
(Video 8/8/19) LSU AgCenter horticulturist Heather Kirk-Ballard explains how to use some cheap materials to make a short-term, automatic watering system.
(08/02/19) It’s August. Here are some things you should be doing this month in the garden.
(Video 7/29/19) Weeds can quickly take over a lawn or flower bed if they’re not managed properly, but weeds can also serve a purpose.
(Video 7/29/19) Figs are a popular fruit tree grown by homeowners throughout the southeast. They are also not very difficult to grow and give you tasty fruit.
(07/26/19) One thing I get really excited about is the hope of cooler weather and fall plants.
(07/19/19) Weeds can actually tell you a lot about what is going in the yard and the quality of your soil.
(Video 7/19/19) If you want to maximize the number of tomatoes you can harvest, you should prune off suckers on the plant.
(07/12/19) Do you have trouble with grass underneath large shade trees in your landscape? Or no grass at all?
(Video 7/10/19) LSU AgCenter horticulturist Heather Kirk-Ballard explains the watering regimen for your plants at home while you're on vacation.
(07/05/19) With little effort, some space in the yard and plenty of sunshine, anyone can grow trees that will produce nutritious figs every July.
(06/28/19) A great way to minimize your landscape inputs while maximizing your garden’s outputs is to use plants that are edible.
(Video 6/26/19) Angelonias provide a beautiful, diverse array of color in the landscape and is a great choice for the summer heat.
(Video 2/26/19) LSU AgCenter horticulturist Heather Kirk-Ballard explains what you can do to help your muscadines grow more effectively.
(06/21/19) How do we get our plants through this hot summer, especially in extended periods of drought followed by downpours?
(06/14/19) Are your squash, cucumbers or watermelon plants not producing fruit this summer?
(Video 06/24/19) LSU AgCenter horticulturist Heather Kirk-Ballard introduces you to an excellent alternative shrub with a unique, swirling growth pattern.
(Video 06/17/19) Thinking of adding a beautiful shrub into your landscape? Then the Louisiana Super Plant Shoal Creek vitex is an excellent choice.
(06/07/19) Distylium is a native of China and a member of the witch hazel family.
(Video 06/10/19) Horticulturist Heather Kirk-Ballard meets with vegetable expert KiKi Fontenot to discuss the merits of growing ornamental corn.
