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(Audio 05/03/10) Caladiums are one of the most outstanding plants for color in shady areas of the landscape. Caladiums are hardy and are not prone to insect problems. Here are some tips for planting caladiums. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 05/10/10) Many Louisiana gardeners plant new lawns around the summer. Solid sodding is the preferred method for establishing a new lawn. Hear about the solid sodding process and about caring for a new lawn. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 05/17/10) Irish potatoes are a popular vegetable to plant in spring gardens. If you are one of the many Louisiana gardeners with Irish potatoes growing in your garden right now, it is time to think about harvesting. Learn the indicators that mean your potatoes are ready to be harvested. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 05/03/10) Many people move their tropical plants indoors during winter and move them back outdoors for summer. May is a good time to get these plants back outdoors while temperatures are still relatively mild. Hear about appropriate light conditions for these plants. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(For Release On Or After 05/14/10) With flower clusters like fluffy balls of cotton candy, hydrangeas are among the most popular summer-flowering shrubs for shady gardens. From now through July, huge flower heads of pink, blue and blends of those two colors appear above the rich green leaves.
(Audio 05/10/10) Hydrangeas and gardenias are two of the most popular summer plants. They bloom wonderfully in Louisiana around this time of the year. Do not be alarmed if you notice some of the leaves turning yellow on your gardenias. Also, learn how to make your hydrangeas bloom a different color. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 05/24/10) Aquatic gardens have become very popular around Louisiana, but as the temperatures increase and the days get warmer, the water turns green due to algae growth. Avoid using chemicals to control the balance of the garden. Here are some options to help keep your aquatic garden from turning green. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(For Release On Or After 05/07/10) I’ve heard it said (and even said so myself in earlier years) that spring is short in Louisiana, with weather rapidly transitioning from winter to summer. But this really isn’t accurate.
(Audio 05/24/10) Unlike most other trees, palm trees like the heat and should be planted during the summer. If you are considering planting palms in your landscape, now is a wonderful time to do so. Be sure that you choose palms that are hardy. Learn more about planting palms in Louisiana landscapes. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(For Release On Or After 05/28/10) The high temperatures that will be with us from now until October take their toll in the vegetable garden. Tomatoes set fewer fruit, and snap beans produce poor-quality beans.
(Audio 05/17/10) As the temperatures get warmer, gardeners may notice that their cool-season bedding plants are begin to fade. Don’t wait too long to replace these old, tired plants with fresh, new summer bedding plants. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 05/17/10) Spanish moss is a plant that makes its own food through photosynthesis. It gets the water and minerals it needs through rainfall. This plant is not a parasite and does not damage the tree in which it is growing. Listen to learn more about Spanish moss. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Video 05/17/10) Southern magnolia trees are an integral part of many Louisiana landscapes, and they’re beginning to bloom throughout the state at this time. On this edition of Get It Growing, LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill discusses whether or not you should be concerned about dying, yellow leaves on your magnolia trees. (Runtime: 1:25)
(Audio 05/10/10) As the temperatures rise, we cannot use many of the weed control products in our landscape. It is important to practice weed control now while the weather is still cool enough. Hear about some of the best weed control products to use in your landscape. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 05/31/10) A number of summer vegetables can withstand Louisiana's summer heat and keep your vegetable garden productive. Listen for a list of vegetables that will grow successfully in your garden this time of the year. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 05/17/10) Many Louisiana landscapes have young trees and shrubs trying to establish themselves during this time of the year. Louisiana gardeners should be aware that these new plants may require supplemental irrigation during the summer in order to be successful. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 05/31/10) Taking care of your lawn is an important part of maintaining a landscape during the summer. Hear more about the aspects of summer lawn care such as mowing, fertilizing and watering. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Video 5/3/10) You may have found the perfect-looking little plants to put into your flower beds. But if you’re not careful, those plants can lead to headaches. On this edition of Get It Growing, LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill warns about the importance of checking how tall a plant will grow before you buy it. (Runtime: 1:32)
(Audio 05/24/10) Summer bulbs can brighten and enrich our landscapes. Most summer bulbs like good drainage, but some will tolerate damp conditions. In this case, consider planting calla lilies, cannas and Louisiana iris. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 05/24/10) Growing plants in containers is a common practice. The two most popular materials for pots are clay or plastic. Keeping these pots clean enhances the appearance of the plant growing in them. Here are some tips on cleaning your containers. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 05/03/10) Louisiana gardeners have the luxury of keeping their vegetable gardens in full production at all times of the year. During May, gardeners can harvest different vegetables. Be sure to choose heat-tolerant vegetables for summer production. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 05/24/10) Black spot is the most common fungal disease that damages rose bushes. Gardeners should choose rose varieties that are less susceptible to black spot or spray their susceptible varieties regularly. Listen for more about common symptoms of black spot disease. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 05/31/10) Recycling the organic waste that your yard creates is one of the best things you can do when creating compost. Fallen leaves and grass clippings are a large portion of compost especially during the summer when mowing becomes a more frequent activity. Learn more about summer composting. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Video 05/10/10) The Knock Out rose is a fabulous, low-maintenance rose that produces beautiful flowers for a sizeable period of time. But if you want similar features in your roses, you don’t have to limit yourself to Knock Outs. On this edition of Get It Growing, LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill points out other roses that are just as good as the Knock Out rose. (Runtime: 1:35)
(Audio 05/17/10) Many people who have grown up in Louisiana have fond memories of harvesting blackberries or dewberries from the wild. Blackberries can be grown in your own backyard garden and will produce more blackberries with higher quality fruit than the wild types. Hear more about growing blackberries in your garden. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 05/10/10) May is a great time of the year to plant a new lawn or to evaluate the condition of your existing grass. Sod is a good choice for doing repair work or planting a new lawn. Learn more about the advantages of solid sodding. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 05/03/10) Most people are not aware that several of the vegetables we grow are actually producing fruit. For example, eggplants and bell peppers are both the fruit of the plant. When harvesting eggplants, you do not want to allow the fruit to ripen before collecting it. Learn more about harvesting eggplants. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Video 05/24/10) If you want color in your summer garden, you don’t necessarily need bright flowers. Yes, you heard right. On this edition of Get It Growing, LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill explains how some summer plants have foliage that display beautiful colors. (Runtime: 1:42)
(Audio 05/31/10) Louisiana gardeners can obtain wonderful vine-ripened fruit from their tomato plants. When harvesting tomatoes in your yard, leave them on the vine until they are ripe and ready to eat. If you are having trouble with insects or birds, however, you can harvest your tomatoes early. Learn more about harvesting home-grown tomatoes. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 05/03/10) Most of the herbs that Louisiana gardeners grow do not particularly enjoy the heat of summer. As the temperatures begin to peak, it is important to generously harvest your herbs now before their production diminishes. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 05/10/10) If you have planted tomatoes, early May is about the time when you will begin to see your first green tomatoes reach full size. Often we see the lower fruit developing brown or discolored. This is called buckeye rot. Listen for information on how to control buckeye rot. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 05/31/10) Containers allow us to grow plants in areas like decks, which normally could not support plant growth. Container plants exposed to a lot of sunlight need to be watered frequently during the summer to prevent them from drying out. Here are some tips on watering container plants. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Video 05/31/10) If you weren’t fortunate enough to get a hydrangea plant for Mother’s Day, it’s not too late to get to your nursery and pick some up. On this edition of Get It Growing, LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill explains the types of hydrangea and how to care for them. (Runtime: 1:34)
(For Release On Or After 05/21/10) A number of misconceptions surround how we prepare soils for planting. Sometimes the advice may sound reasonable, but it may not provide the benefits you expect.
