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(Audio 07/20/09) Palm trees should be planted in the heat of summer. Before you plant, think about the size and type of palm you want to plant. Pick a palm that is hardy in your area. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 07/06/09) Fighting weeds is a never-ending battle. A pre-emergence herbicide can prevent weeds from growing in an area. Apply it to freshly-weeded flower beds or to cracks in sidewalks. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 07/13/09) Hydrangeas have finished their blooming season, so July is a good time to prune them. If you wait too late, the plants will have set their flower buds for next year. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Video 07/20/09) Many people think of Florida or California when they hear the words palm tree. But palm trees can grow well here in Louisiana, too. On this edition of Get It Growing, LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill explains how to select and care for palm trees. (Runtime: 1:37)
(For Release On Or After 07/25/09) If you want to boost the color in your landscape, nurseries still have a good selection of colorful bedding plants that will thrive in whatever heat the summer throws at them. You can create cool, elegant color schemes with pastels, or an explosion of bright, vibrant colors full of excitement.
(Audio 07/06/09) The grasses we use for our yards do not like the shade. That means grass growing under a tree may suffer as the tree grows. The options include sodding again, mulching or using a ground cover. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 07/06/09) Leaf miners are so tiny that they can feed on the inside of a leaf. These pests consume the green tissue and make a trail in the leaf. Spinosad can control these insects. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(For Release On Or After 07/04/09) For the summer season, no flowering tree or shrub outblooms the crape myrtle. This small tree packs a powerful punch of color over an amazingly long season. But other summer-blooming large shrubs and small trees can do a lot to contribute to the summer display. Here are a few –
(Audio 07/06/09) Having the right type plants can help attract beautiful butterflies into your landscape. On this edition of Get it Growing, LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill explains some of the different types of plants that go into a butterfly garden. (Runtime: 1:42)
(Audio 07/27/09) Flower beds are especially visible in the landscape -- their colors draw the eye to them. It's important to keep your beds tidy. Weed, mulch and remove faded flowers to keep your beds in shape. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 07/20/09) Mushrooms pop up during rainy summer weather. They typically are harmless, but they can be a nuisance in lawns or flower beds. You don't need to use chemicals on them. Just gather them and dispose of them, if you wish. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 07/27/09) Crape myrtles are Louisiana's favorite summer flowering tree. They can have two and sometimes three flushes of flowers. If you can, take off the faded flowers. That will encourage more blooms. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 07/27/09) Roses do not bloom well during Louisiana's summer months. The intense heat can stress roses. The plants may continue to bloom, but the quality of the flowers diminishes. Just keep the plants in shape so they can bloom well in the fall. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 07/06/09) Gardeners may be tempted to put saucers under outdoor container plants. Saucers can be a breeding source for mosquitoes and keep the soil of the plant too wet. Instead, use pot feet to keep water from damaging the surface where the pot sits. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Video 07/13/09) If you have areas in your yard that retain a good deal of water, that’s not necessarily a bad thing. On this edition of Get It Growing, LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill explains how low-lying, wet areas can be turned into bog gardens. (Runtime: 1:46)
(Audio 07/20/09) If you don't spend a lot of time outdoors during the summer, you generally don't get to enjoy the flowers in your landscape. LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill suggests cutting the flowers and bringing them indoors. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 07/20/09) July and August are a good time to take cuttings from plants in your landscape. Just remember you'll have to be patient, however, since it will take a few years before the plants you root and grow from cuttings will be large enough to plant into your landscape. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 07/13/09) Blackberries finished producing fruit in early June, but the plants may need to be pruned now. The canes grow for two years. Be sure to prune the canes that already produced berries and not the canes that will produce next year. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 07/27/09) Gardeners can plant a variety of heat-tolerant plants in their flower beds in July and August. Flowers like periwinkle and salvia can thrive in sunny spots, and caladiums can tolerate the shade. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 07/13/09) It is not uncommon to see patches of webbing on the trunk of a tree this time of the year. The webbing may look scary, but the insects under the webbing are not harmful. Bark lice spin the web to protect themselves while they clean the bark of the tree. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 07/20/09) Basil is used in a variety of cuisines around the world. It is an easy herb to grow during the summer. You can find basil transplants at local nurseries or garden centers. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 07/27/09) If you planted an herb garden earlier this year, be sure to harvest those herbs. Take about a third of the plant at a time, and be sure to water the herbs during hot and dry spells. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(For Release On Or After 07/11/09) Summer is the time when people commonly take their longest vacations. When planning a vacation, people make arrangements to have someone take care of everything from the cat to the newspaper. But many neglect to have someone look after their plants and home grounds during their absence.
(For Release On Or After 07/18/09) Although Louisiana receives on average about 50 to 60 inches of rain annually, it doesn’t occur evenly through the year. As a result, dry spells are not uncommon, particularly during the heat of mid- to late summer. At those times, we may need to provide supplemental irrigation to flowerbeds, shrubs, lawns and newly planted trees.
(Audio 07/06/09) If you did a good job selecting heat-tolerant bedding plants, your garden should look great this month. If plants are starting to wilt, however, you may need to replace them with plants better suited for the heat. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Video 07/27/09) Tired of constantly watering your plants during the summer? Then you might be interested in planting drought-tolerant plants. On this edition of Get it Growing, LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill introduces you to a number of plants that can hang tough during the heat of summer and therefore reduce your watering chores. (Runtime: 1:47)
(Audio 07/13/09) You can fertlize your lawn in July if it the grass needs it. But be sure you choose a fertilizer that does not have a weed killer in it, and follow label directions when applying. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 07/13/09) Figs are one of the most commonly planted fruit trees in the home landscape. Fig trees are productive and easy to grow. The fruit peaks this month, and gardeners should harvest them every day, if possible. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
