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(Audio 07/26/10) Flower gardens add a great amount of beauty to our landscapes. Late July or August is a great time to evaluate your flower beds to see what needs to be replaced. Hear about some great replacements that can withstand the summer heat. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 07/26/10) Crape myrtles are popular summer-flowering trees, and they have a very long blooming season. If your tree is relatively young, and you notice some leftover seed pods, trim these off to encourage new growth. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 07/26/10) The roses in your landscape do not enjoy the heat of summer. You may notice smaller flowers, faded color and declining quality. There is not much you can do for your roses when this occurs, but be sure to water deeply when the weather is hot and dry. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 07/26/10) Some people feel guilty for harvesting flowers from their flower gardens. Imagine how much more you would enjoy your flowers if they were cut from your garden and arranged in an attractive vase indoors. Here are a few tips on how to make cut flowers last as long as possible. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 07/26/10) Caladiums are one of the most common bedding plants to use in shady areas of the landscape. They are popular, reliable and do not have many insect problems. Caladiums do require extra care during the summer. Be sure to keep beds well-mulched, water deeply, and apply a light application of fertilizer. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Video 07/19/10) Common wax begonias are beautiful in the landscape, but they’re kind of small. If you’re looking for a begonia with bigger flowers and leaves, LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill recommends trying dragon wing begonias on this segment of Get It Growing.(Runtime: 1:41)
(Video 07/26/10) Blue flowers can add a cool touch to hot summer gardens, but are all flowers that may be called blue truly blue? In reality, relatively few flowers in nature actually are blue. In this edition of Get It Growing, LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill is in search of some of those true-blue flowers. (Runtime: 1:45)
(Audio 07/19/10) Unlike most summer-flowering shrubs, gardenias and hydrangeas should be pruned around the same time that spring-flowering shrubs are pruned. Here are some tips for pruning your gardenias and hydrangeas. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 07/19/10) Basil is an indispensable herb used in Louisiana cooking. Basil is a warm-season herb, and you can add more basil to your garden despite the heat. Visit your local nursery to find basil transplants to add to your garden. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 07/19/10) During the heat of summer, shade trees in the landscape are incredibly welcomed. As the years go by and these shade trees get increasingly larger, the grass beneath the canopies may not get enough sunlight and may begin to fade away and die. Here are some options for dealing with bare areas underneath shade trees. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 07/19/10) If you ever notice a fine, silvery webbing located on the bark of trees, do not be alarmed. This is the web of bark lice, which are scavengers that feed on organic debris lodged in the crevices of the bark. Bark lice are harmless, so it is not necessary to remove them. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 07/19/10) Blackberries are one of the easiest and most productive fruits that can be grown in the home garden. They have a unique life cycle. Blackberry chutes do not produce during the first year, but during their second year they produce vigorously and then die. Be sure to prune all of the old canes down to the ground and prune the tips off of the new canes. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(For Release On Or After 07/16/10) Deadheading is an important but often-neglected gardening technique. It refers to pruning old, faded flowers from a plant as it blooms. It is most often done to annuals and perennials, but it is also useful with some summer-flowering trees and shrubs.
(For Release On Or After 07/23/10) We all are familiar with low-growing, running grasses like St. Augustine and centipede used to cover lawn areas, and in most gardeners’ minds, all other grasses are simply weeds. Ornamental grasses, however, are an often-overlooked group of herbaceous perennials that thrive in Louisiana and will grow beautifully with minimal effort.
(For Release On Or After 07/30/10) The LSU AgCenter conducts greenhouse and landscape research on many new bedding plants each year. This helps to determine production practices to assist growers and evaluate performance in the landscape to provide garden centers, landscape professionals and home gardeners information on how these plants will perform under Louisiana’s growing conditions.
(For Release On Or After 07/09/10) Not satisfied with the occasional, chance appearance of butterflies, many gardeners are creating butterfly gardens with plants specially chosen to invite them into the landscape. A large number of beautiful native butterflies will visit gardens that provide for their needs.
(Audio 07/12/10) Nobody enjoys weeding a garden, especially during the heat of summer. The best defense against weeds that grow from seeds is to keep beds mulched or use a pre-emergence herbicide. Learn more about preventing weed growth in your beds. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 07/12/10) Figs are ready for harvest. One of the main issues growers have with fig trees is birds. Birds will wait until the figs are perfectly ripe, and they peck holes in them before you have a chance to harvest. Learn how to stop birds from damaging your figs. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 07/12/10) The intense heat of summer takes a toll on our flower gardens. Many summer bedding plants are able to endure this heat and produce lots of flowers for us. Here are a few tips on watering and keeping your garden looking lively. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 07/12/10) When growing plants in containers, it is critical that the containers have drainage holes. Drainage holes allow us to water these plants generously and let the excess water seep out of the holes. When placed on wooden decks, use bricks or pot feet to boost these container plants because the excess water could stain or rot the wood. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 07/12/10) Leaf miners are tiny insect larvae that get inside leaves and feed between their upper and lower surfaces, which results in white lines on leaves. Prevent leaf miner damage by applying an insecticide. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 07/05/10) Because Louisiana summers are extremely hot, many gardeners choose to take a break from gardening until the weather becomes cooler again. Before you put your vegetable bed to rest, be sure that you take steps to ensure your garden doesn’t become full of weeds. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 07/05/10) Webworms are small furry caterpillars that tend to form colonies and spin webs enclosing the tips of branches, especially on pecan trees. Within these webs, these caterpillars feed on the foliage causing a brown discoloration. Hear more about how to handle webworms. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 07/05/10) If it weren’t for shade trees, Louisianans would hardly be able to spend any time outside during summer. Interestingly, the shade that these trees cast also saves you money on your utility bill. Hear more about the benefits of having shade trees in your landscape. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 07/05/10) The most important parts of lawn care this time of the year are mowing and watering. Here are some tips on watering and mowing your lawn during the summer. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 07/05/10) Louisiana is at the end of its prime tomato. Many varieties can't handle the intense heat during July and August. When you feel that your tomato plant is done producing, feel free to pull it up and deposit it into your compost pile. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Video 07/05/10) During the heat of summer, flowers obviously need to be well-watered to keep them alive and attractive. On this edition of Get It Growing, LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill describes a hardy plant that is drought tolerant, while also maintaining its color throughout the entire summer. (Runtime: 1:37)
(Video 07/12/10) No trees show off more bright, flowery colors during the summer than crape myrtles. On this edition of Get It Growing, LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill offers some advice for selecting and growing these beautiful and popular landscape trees. (Runtime: 1:36)
(For Release On Or After 07/02/10) When you think of shade trees in your landscape, you most likely focus on the shade they create outside. It would be hard to do anything on a patio or deck this time of the year unless it was shaded. But trees that shade our homes also help hold down inside temperatures far better than curtains or blinds. And this lowers the cost of summer air conditioning.
