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(Audio 02/15/10) Caladium is a brightly colored plant popularly grown in shady areas of a landscape. Most gardeners purchase caladium tubers around April, but preparing tubers in flats even earlier gives caladiums an advantage. Learn how to get a head start on planting caladiums. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 02/22/10) Some gardeners may think it is too early in the year to plant gladiola corms. Due to the short blooming season of gladiolas, however, planting them earlier can prolong the time we have to enjoy them. Learn how to plant gladiolas to yield maximum results. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(For Release On Or After 02/05/10) Early February is an excellent time to cut back roses growing in your landscape. Hybrid tea and grandiflora roses, in particular, should be pruned around this time every year. Otherwise, these roses tend to become leggy, less vigorous and unattractive and do not bloom as well.
(For Release On Or After 02/19/10) The tall flower spikes of gladiolus add elegance to the flower garden. Derived from species native to South Africa, the modern hybrid gladiolus grows from a corm and has been a favorite of Southern gardeners for generations.
(Video 02/01/10) Many yards look brown and dead after cold temperatures damaged tropical plants. On this edition of Get It Growing, LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill explains that although people are upset with dead or dying tropicals, it’s important for them to find the right balance of tropicals and hardy plants when planting in their landscapes. (Runtime: 1:44)
(Audio 02/08/10) Although bare-root plants are not typically found anymore, gardeners can still purchase bare-root roses. These must be planted before the end of February while they are still dormant to ensure the best quality roses. Listen to hear more conditions required for successfully growing bare-root roses. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 02/01/10) Pruning roses this time of the year benefits the plant by controlling its size, making the bush shapelier and encouraging more flower growth. Learn which varieties of roses require heavier pruning. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 02/15/10) Despite our best efforts to accurately plant things in a suitable environment, sometimes that environment hinders the plants success. The solution is transplanting. Learn more about transplanting in order to help your plants thrive. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 02/01/10) Although Swiss chard is an unconventional vegetable, it is very productive and easy to grow. This member of the beet family is more popularly grown for its delicious foliage rather than its root. Hear about some great ways to plant and cook Swiss chard. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 02/15/10) Organic matter is generally derived from plant parts, such as weeds, sawdust, wood shavings or chips. One of the best organic materials is compost, which has been allowed to decay. Discover the benefits your flowerbeds can experience from added organic material. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 02/15/10) Ground covers are low-growing plants used to cover large areas of our landscape. Now is a good time to refurbish ground cover areas before new growth beings in late winter and early spring. Listen to hear which tools and methods work best for tidying up ground covers. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 02/08/10) Many people know that hydrangeas can change color, but most do not understand what causes this color change. Different pH levels and the availability of aluminum ions in the soil cause the plant to produce different color blossoms. Discover which factors determine which hydrangea colors. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 02/01/10) Although it is encouraged to move potted plants indoors during the cold winter months, people should be wary of the pests these plants may bring with them. Learn how to prevent indoor pests, such as spider mites, from spreading and causing damage to your plants. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 02/08/10) Louisiana gardeners grow a variety of fruit trees in their landscapes. February is a good time to prune these, but different fruit trees require different types of pruning. Hear more about how you can obtain information on pruning fruit trees. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(For Release On Or After 02/26/10) Although our lawns are still dormant this month, you can begin now to plan your strategy to have an attractive, healthy lawn this summer. Since the grass is still dormant, most lawns look relatively bad, so don’t judge yours too harshly at this point.
(Audio 02/15/10) Although most spring-flowering bulbs wait to bloom in the spring, some of Louisiana’s bulbs blossom during the wintertime. While watering and fertilizing the beds of these bulbs is often unnecessary, gardeners should keep the flower beds mulched. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 02/01/10) Louisiana experienced below freezing temperatures in early January which damaged tropical plants. Some tropicals should be cut back to the ground, while some should only be pruned mildly or sometimes not at all. Hear more to decide action to take with your tropical plants. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 02/08/10) Some gardeners are not aware that there are a number of beautiful cool-season bedding plants that can thrive in shady locations. Learn which bedding plants are the most shade-tolerant while surviving winter temperatures. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Video 02/08/10) It’s a delicate plant, but beautiful and diverse -- coming in leaf colors of green, purple, silver and burgundy. LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill introduces you to the world of the lovely cane begonia on this edition of Get It Growing. (Runtime: 1:44)
(Audio 02/22/10) Some plants like to grow in full sun while others refuse to grow in any sunlight whatsoever. One important concept for gardeners to understand is matching a plant’s light requirements to the amount of light it receives. Hear more about what is considered full sun. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 02/22/10) Regardless of whether you are trying to increase growth, decrease growth or reinvigorate your perennials, dividing these plants is a wonderful solution. Gardeners who are planning to divide perennials in their landscape should consider doing so during their dormancy throughout the month of February. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 02/01/10) Cold freezes are still a probable threat in Louisiana during February, but there are a number of winter vegetables that will survive the cold weather. Start planting cold-tolerant vegetables in your garden now to produce delicious food for the spring. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 02/22/10) Many people find themselves wondering if their fertilizer from several years ago is still viable for the upcoming season. Generally speaking, fertilizer does not lose its potency as long as it has been protected from moisture in the air. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 02/22/10) Fire blight is a rare bacterial disease that targets plants in the landscape. Plants within the rose family are particularly susceptible to fire blight along with some fruit trees and ornamentals. Learn when and where to look for fire blight symptoms. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Video 02/22/10) It’s a beautiful flowering plant with a name that sounds like a color. We’re talking about the plant fuchsia. On this edition of Get It Growing, LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill describes the diversity of color and style, as well as proper care for this lovely plant. (Runtime: 1:34)
(For Release On Or After 02/12/10) February weather often includes heavy and frequent rain, which reminds us that Louisiana has a relatively wet climate. Periods of drought certainly do occur, especially during the hot months of summer. But it is important for gardeners to realize that plant selection and the gardening techniques we use are largely influenced by the generous amount of annual rainfall we receive.
(Audio 02/08/10) Louisiana celebrates Arbor Day in January, but February also is a great time to plant new trees in your landscape. Planting trees this time of the year allows the plant to settle into its environment before the heat of spring and summer. Here are some tips on how to properly plant a tree. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
