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(Audio 01/01/07) The weather in Louisiana stays relatively mild during the winter. That means plants continue to grow here, and weeds are no exception. If you want, you can mow lawn weeds back occassionally, or you can use an appropriate herbicide on them. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 01/01/07) Louisiana gardeners use a variety of cool-season bedding plants to keep their gardens colorful during the winter and spring. LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill encourages gardeners to keep these plants healthy so they stay beautiful into spring. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 01/01/07) Hardy trees and shrubs can be planted during the winter, and that includes roses. Landscape roses are popular and provide plenty of flowers. This also is a good time to order roses. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 01/01/07) We use a variety of plants to embellish our homes during the holidays. Christmas trees, poinsettias and Christmas cactus keep our homes merry and bright. Poinsettias should be discarded after the holidays, but a Christmas cactus can bloom for you year after year. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 01/01/07) January usually is the coldest month in Louisiana. Despite the cold, vegetable gardens remain productive during this month. Some root crops and leafy greens can be planted this time of the year. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 12/25/06) Late December through early January is the best time to plant hyacinth and tulip bulbs that have been chilling in refrigerators. Chilling them first helps them bloom properly. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 12/25/06) After a hard freeze you can tell which plants in your landscape are hardy and which ones are tender tropicals. When cold damage occurs on herbaceous tropicals, it is obvious. You can prune that damage off shortly after the freeze. But wait until spring growth occurs to prune woody tropicals . (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 12/25/06) The depths of winter is a good time to plant roses. Many nurseries have rose bushes available. If the weather stays mild, roses can continue to bloom into January. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 12/25/06) Perennial herbs can grow during the winter in Louisiana. Gardeners can harvest the herbs whenever there is enough growth on the plant. They may grow slowly during the winter, but they will start growing vigorously come spring. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 12/25/06) Deciduous trees have leaves that change colors and then fall, but this time of the year some evergreen plants also may go through a color change. Azaleas and junipers are two evergreen plants on which the foliage often changes colors. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Distributed 12/21/06) Healthful eating is key to looking good, feeling great and being your best all year long, stresses LSU AgCenter nutritionist Dr. Beth Reames. Reames points out that millions of Americans turn to the latest fad diets to lose weight every year, but she stresses living a healthy lifestyle is about much more than dieting – and that food is essential to life.
(Audio 12/18/06) It is not uncommon for gardeners to save seeds. Seeds can be left over from a packet, or a gardener might harvest seeds from plants in the garden. Storing the seeds properly is important to keep the seeds viable. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Distributed 12/18/06) This holiday season let your children share in planning and preparing food for special occasions, says LSU AgCenter nutritionist Dr. Beth Reames, who stresses that kids enjoy being "holiday helpers" as well as helping you all year long.
(Video 12/18/06) One of our most beautiful small native trees that shine in the winter time is our native yaupon holly. It produces bright red berries. An interesting aspect of these berries is that they are translucent. When you get the sun behind them, they are like stained glass. (Runtime: 1 minute, 21 minutes)
(Audio 12/18/06) Throughout the month of December, trees in our landscapes drop their leaves. If handled properly, these fallen leaves can be valuable in our landscapes. You can chop them with a lawnmower and use them as mulch or rake them and put them in a compost pile. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 12/18/06) Camellias produce beautiful blooms during the winter. There are few things you can do to keep your camellias attractive. If the weather is dry, irrigate them. If a hard freeze is predicted, you can pick the open blossoms. Also, check the plants for tea-scale. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 12/18/06) Many of the garden chemicals we use in our landscapes are water-based. If you store them in a shed or garage and the temperature drops below freezing, these products can freeze. During cold spells, store these products in a safe place. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 12/18/06) Many gardeners overseed their lawns with ryegrass to keep them green during the winter. Ryegrass lawns should be growing nicely now, and proper care is important to keep them looking attractive. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Distributed 12/12/06) Gaining weight during the holidays is a fear most people face this time of year, says LSU AgCenter nutritionist Dr. Beth Reames.
(Distributed 12/11/06) The holidays can be a tough time to try to manage or lose weight, but you can keep it on track, according to LSU AgCenter nutritionist Dr. Annrose Guarino.
(Audio 12/11/06) There are wonderful tropical shrubs and herbaceous plants that work great in our summer landscapes in Louisiana. But even here those tropicals often need protection from some of our winter weather. There are several ways to protect them - mulching them, covering them or putting lights on them. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Video 12/11/06) With winter comes the possibility of freezing weather -- even in Louisiana. If you have tropicals in your landscape, you will need to protect them. There are two basic ways to protect plants that are growing in the ground. You can mulch them or cover them. (Runtime: 1 minute, 29 seconds)
(Audio 12/11/06) Weeds continue to be a problem in Louisiana all through the winter. Warmer, wetter weather will allow the weeds to thrive. Your best defense against these weeds is to mulch you landscape beds. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 12/11/06) Apple trees are not common in the Deep South, but we can grow apples down here. Gardeners interested in growing apples must choose a variety adapted to our mild winters. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 12/11/06) Although gardening never really stops in Louisiana even during the winter, things do slow down this time of year. Many of the tools we use during the summer, such as mowers, are used very little during the winter. Store these items properly to ensure they are in good condition when you need them next year. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 12/11/06) During the winter months, you may hear about the wind chill factor. Don't worry about your plants if the wind chill is below freezing but the temperature isn't. Plants don't feel wind chill the way people do. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Distributed 12/08/06) During the holidays we often indulge in rich foods we might not normally eat at other times of the year. LSU AgCenter nutritionist Dr. Heli Roy says there are ways to enjoy these bountiful foods during this season and still maintain a healthy lifestyle.
(Distributed 12/05/06) Cooks across Louisiana are now making their grocery lists and checking them twice in preparation for those holiday meals. An LSU AgCenter nutritionist says food safety should be high on the list while those preparations are being made.
(12/04/06) Beautiful poinsettias play an important part in decorating for the Christmas holidays. These gorgeous plants, with their bright colors, enhance our homes, but many people may not understand what goes into producing a quality poinsettia plant. (Runtime: 1 minute, 50 seconds)
(Audio 12/04/06) Plants are a great way to brighten our homes during the holidays. But make sure you select the right kind of plant. When choosing a poinsettia, look for full, colorful bracts with flowers intact. Natural light helps your holiday plants last longer. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 12/04/06) There is still time to put cool-season bedding plants into your landscapes. It is important not to put these in right before a period of intense cold, but once they're established these plants are hardy and like cooler weather. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 12/04/06) Christmas trees are an indispensable part of the holidays for many people. The fresher the tree, the longer it will stay attractive in your home. The freshest trees are those you cut yourself. Visiting a choose-and-cut Christmas tree farm makes a great family outing. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 12/04/06) Vegetable gardening doesn't stop in the winter around here. The vegetables we plant this time of the year can tolerate Louisiana's mild to cold winters. Many leafy greens, root crops and cole crops are great to plant this time of the year. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Video 11/27/06) Modern poinsettias are so beautiful, and they come in a wide variety of colors. When choosing a poinsettia for your home or office, first look at the foliage. You want it to be dark green and healthy without a lot of dropped leaves and bare stems. Also, avoid poinsettias where a lot of the true flowers have already fallen off. (Runtime: 1 minute, 14 seconds)
(Audio 11/27/06) Louisiana gardens can stay attractive through the winter months. It is a good idea to keep your landscape looking neat and clean during this time. This includes cutting back faded foliage, weeding and mulching. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 11/27/06) Planting a tree is not a difficult task, but it should be done right to give the tree a good start. Make sure you select the right tree for the space you intend to plant it in. LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill explains the proper tree planting process. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 11/27/06) Fertilizers are important tools to encourage growth on plants. The best time to apply fertilizer is at the beginning of a plant's growing season. Most of the plants in our landscape are going dormant this time of the year, but there are few plants that could use a healthy dose of fertilizer. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 11/27/06) Insects can still be a problem in fall and winter because of Louisiana's temperatures. Gardeners may see aphids, caterpillars, snails and slugs this time of the year. LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill has tips for controlling these winter pests. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Video 11/20/06) Ornamental grasses are reliable perennials that are easy to care for. In the fall, there is an ornamental grass that puts on a wonderful show. It is called the muhly grass, and it is grown for its wonderful, light, delicate, burgundy flower heads. (Runtime: 1 minute, 6 seconds)
(Audio 11/20/06) Paperwhites are a wonderful spring-flowering bulb, but it is popular to force their blooms around this time so they'll have blooms at Christmas. Just remember if you grow them with too little light and in warm temperatures, like indoors, they will turn out leggy and the blooms will fall over. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 11/20/06) Many people use tropical container plants to embellish decks, porches or patios. These plants cannot be left outside during winter. Don't wait until the first freeze is predicted to take them inside. Prepare them early for the lower light indoors. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 11/20/06) All the leaves your shade trees are dropping this time of year should not be thrown away. If you compost the leaves, you'll end up with a valuable soil additive that you can use in garden bed preparation. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 11/20/06) From now through February is the best time to plant hardy fruit trees and shrubs in Louisiana landscapes. Fruit trees often require more care than an average tree, but the resulting fruit makes it well worth the effort. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 11/20/06) A wide variety of herbs can take Louisiana's winters. Plant them now for a great harvest in late winter, spring and early summer. Put them in a sunny, well-prepared bed that is convenient to the kitchen. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Distributed 11/15/06) Fried turkey has become a tradition for many people at Thanksgiving. Before envisioning your arteries hardening, consider that fried turkey is not as unhealthy as it might sound – if you don't eat the skin, according to LSU AgCenter nutritionist Dr. Beth Reames.
(Distributed 11/15/06) When Louisiana cooks shop for their Thanksgiving meal, they’ll find the cost of the basic dinner items will average $38.11 for 10 people, according to an LSU AgCenter survey. That’s up by $1.31 from last year’s national average of $36.80 as reported by the American Farm Bureau Foundation.
(Distributed 11/13/06) Oyster dressing and pecan pie – both made with Louisiana-grown products – may be a bit more difficult to get this holiday season and may cause consumers to dig a little deeper in their pockets when they find them.
(Video 11/13/06) This time of the year Louisiana gardeners are pulling out tired summer bedding plants and replacing them with cool-season bedding plants. That will keep our gardens beautiful and colorful through fall, winter and spring. But you could save those tender perennials you're taking out by potting them for the winter. (Runtime: 1 minute, 31 seconds)
(Audio 11/13/06) Amaryllis bulbs become available at nurseries and garden centers each fall. But fall is not the appropriate time to plant these bulbs into your landscape. It is best to pot them and let them bloom indoors. You can plant them into your landscape in the spring. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 11/13/06) Summer-flowering bulbs grow and bloom during the summer, and many of these bulbs go dormant over the winter. When a freeze browns their foliage, you can cut them back. A thick layer of mulch will protect the bulbs during the winter. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 11/13/06) Broccoli is a great cool-season vegetable, but there is a trick to harvesting perfect broccoli. The size of the head does not determine when to harvest broccoli. It is the size of each individual flower bud on the head that determines harvest time. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 11/13/06) Winter vegetables have a nice aesthetic quality. The frilly foliage of mustard and the wonderful color of red cabbage make these plants great ornamentals as well as productive vegetables. You also can try curly-leaf parsley as an edging to cool-season bedding plants. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 11/13/06) The camellia is an outstanding evergreen shrub for Louisiana. It blooms beautifully in the winter. Camellias are free from most insect and disease problems except for tea scale. When that's a problem, oil spray will help control infestations. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Distributed 09/27/06) The recent outbreak of foodborne illnesses traced to spinach should serve as a reminder of the need for taking food safety measures every day, an LSU AgCenter expert says.
(Distributed 08/28/06) In observance of September as National Cholesterol Education Month, LSU AgCenter nutritionist Dr. Beth Reames notes that one out of every two men and one out of every three women will develop heart disease sometime in their lives.
(Distributed July 2006) When kids run in the door after a day at school, a snack usually is the first thing on their minds. Help your child be snack-wise with healthy food choices from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s MyPyramid.
(Distributed July 2006) Louisiana school districts expecting federal lunch reimbursements must have a school wellness policy in place at the start of the 2006 academic year. This is the provision of an act of Congress signed by President George W. Bush in 2004.
(Distributed July 2006) Every competitive and recreational athlete needs adequate amounts of fluids to perform their best. Not replacing lost water leads to weakness, cramps and headaches, according to LSU Agricultural Center nutritionist Dr. Beth Reames.
(Distributed July 2006) Back to school means take-along lunches for some kids and teachers. It’s important to take extra care of foods packed in the morning and not eaten until lunchtime to prevent growth of bacteria that cause foodborne illness, according to LSU AgCenter nutritionist Dr. Beth Reames.
(Distributed 06/28/06) Drinking enough fluids is important during our hot summer weather – especially for senior citizens, according to LSU AgCenter nutritionist Dr. Beth Reames.
(Distributed 05/29/06) The LSU AgCenter is one of a coalition of Baton Rouge-area groups sponsoring a Hunger Awareness Day event in the state’s capitol city June 6.
(Distributed June 2006) Celebrate June Dairy Month by consuming nutrient-rich dairy foods, advises LSU AgCenter nutritionist Dr. Beth Reames. Milk, cheese and yogurt, for example, may help you better manage your weight and reduce your risk for high blood pressure, osteoporosis and certain cancers.
(Distributed May 2006) "Eating healthfully is one of the most important things women can do to achieve and maintain good health," says LSU AgCenter nutritionist Dr. Beth Reames, in observance of National Women’s Health Week May14-20.
(Distributed May 2006) May is National Physical Fitness and Sports Month. Yet, about one quarter of American adults report doing no significant physical activity.
(Distributed May 2006) Nearly all Americans consume much more salt than they need, according to LSU AgCenter nutritionist Dr. Beth Reames. Increased salt (sodium chloride) intake is linked with higher blood pressure. Decreased salt consumption reduces the risk of high blood pressure.
(Distributed April 2006) Eating only 100 more calories a day than you burn can lead to a weight gain of 10 pounds a year. With today’s larger portions, it’s easy to consume 100 extra calories, and more, according to LSU AgCenter nutritionist Dr. Beth Reames.
(Distributed March 2006) Eating well and being physically active are keys to better health. Following the Dietary Guidelines can help Americans "Feel better today. Stay healthy for tomorrow," according to a slogan of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
(Distributed February 2006) February is American Heart Month. Women throughout America will again "Go Red for Women" by wearing red to raise awareness of heart disease, women’s No. 1 killer.
(Distributed February 2006) Millions of Americans are on the latest fad diets to lose weight. The problem is, most of these diets don’t provide lasting results, according to LSU AgCenter nutritionist Dr. Beth Reames.
(Distributed February 2006) March is National Nutrition Month and is sponsored annually by the American Dietetic Association. This year’s theme is "Step Up to Nutrition & Health."
(Distributed January 2006) Physical inactivity is a major risk factor for diseases such as obesity, diabetes and hypertension. LSU AgCenter nutritionist Dr. Heli Roy says declining levels of physical activity may help explain why childhood metabolic diseases are becoming more common.
(Distributed January 2006) It’s not easy becoming an ex-smoker if you’re a woman. Women are less successful in quitting smoking than men, according to LSU AgCenter nutritionist Dr. Heli Roy.
(Distributed January 2006) A New Year’s resolution for many Americans is to lose weight. Unfortunately, many Americans are unable to keep that resolution.
(Distributed January 2006) The 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans emphasize that no matter the source – whether carbohydrate, fat or protein – calories do count when it comes to weight management.
(Distributed January 2006) When you see mold on food, is it safe to cut off the moldy part and use the rest? For most foods the answer is no, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
