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News Release Distributed 04/29/11By LSU AgCenter Horticulturists Dan Gill, Kyle Huffstickler and Allen Owings Midspring is here, and it’s time to mow, mow, mow. Mowing has a measurable effect on the way a grass plant grows. The ability of grass to sustain itself through frequent close clipping is one factor that distinguishes a grass species as a turfgrass. Grasses such as wheat, corn and oats, for example, cannot tolerate the harsh treatment of frequent mowing. The rate of growth and the height of cut determine the frequency of mowing. The rate of growth depends on the type of grass, soil fertility (especially nitrogen content) and weather. Lawns in Louisiana are made up of warm-season grasses. These grasses grow fast and need to be mowed frequently in the hot summer when moisture is adequate. A general rule is to mow before the grass becomes one and a half times as tall as the cutting height of your mower. Or another way to say this is: Do not remove more than one-third of the grass at any one clipping. For example, if the height of cut is 1 inch, mow when growth reaches 1 1/2 inches in height. If you continually allow your grass to grow too tall between mowings, you may end up with a thin, weedy turf. You can decrease the frequency of mowing by choosing a slower-growing turfgrass, reducing the rate of nitrogen fertilization and raising the cutting height of your mower. The rate of nitrogen fertilization and the frequency and height of cut are major factors that determine the quality of turf. Mowing height depends on the type of grass you have, your objectives and your willingness to work. Most people mow with rotary mowers that have horizontal blades that flail the grass and fray the leaf blades. A rotary mower becomes noticeably duller after a few cuts and should be sharpened as needed. Some tough grasses like the zoysia will dull a blade quickly. Reel mowers have clean, scissorslike cuts and produce a better-quality turf than rotary mowers do. A reel mower is more difficult to sharpen, but it should require less frequent sharpening. A reel mower may be more expensive, but it is normally more rugged and uses less fuel. Most reel mowers are particularly recommended for Bermuda grass and zoysia. A smooth turf, free of sticks, stone and other debris, is necessary when using a reel mower. Removing grass clippings isn’t necessary if you mow as recommended. Research has shown that moderate amounts of small clippings decompose rapidly in warm weather with good moisture. Nutrients in the clippings are recycled without contributing greatly to the thatch layer. And if you don’t remove the clippings, you can get by with less nitrogen fertilizer. Clippings should be removed, however, if they leave clumps on the grass surface. This normally occurs only if the grass is allowed to grow too high before mowing or if it’s mowed when wet. Zoysia and centipede grass leaves do not decay as readily as leaves of other grasses, so clippings need to be collected and discarded when growth is rapid – especially with zoysia. Visit LaHouse in Baton Rouge to see sustainable landscape practices in action. The home and landscape resource center is near the intersection of Burbank Drive and Nicholson Drive (Louisiana Highway 30) in Baton Rouge, across the street from the LSU baseball stadium. For more information, go to www.lsuagcenter.com/lahouse and www.lsuagcenter.com/lyn.
(Video 4/25/11) Looking for plants that grow best in Louisiana landscapes? Then you probably want to select a Louisiana Super Plant – plants proven to grow best in Louisiana landscapes. On this edition of Get It Growing, LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill introduces you to the beautiful Serena angelonia – a Louisiana Super Plant that can take the heat of summer. (Runtime: 1:41)
News Release Distributed 04/21/11By LSU AgCenter Horticulturists Dan Gill, Kyle Huffstickler and Allen Owings We are approaching the time of spring to get your heat-loving, warm-season bedding plants into the ground. Anytime from mid-March through May in Louisiana is a great time to add new flowers to your landscape beds. Some bedding plants prefer early-spring planting; some prefer April planting, and some even prefer to be planted after nighttime temperatures warm and soils really warm up in May. Among these, angelonias, vinca, caladiums and pentas are a few plants to consider. The Serena series of angelonia, also called summer snapdragon, is a Louisiana Super Plant for this spring and is best planted in April. This outstanding summer bedding plant can be relied upon for dependable garden performance though the hottest summer weather. Four soft colors in the Serena series blend together beautifully – Serena Purple, Serena Lavender, Serena Lavender Pink and Serena White. A new Serena Blue will be available soon. All of these plants are compact, growing 12 to 14 inches tall and about as wide. Masses of flower spikes cover these plants from late spring to frost. Plant them in sunny beds from early to mid-April in south Louisiana or from mid-April through early May in north Louisiana. You also can continue planting them through early summer. Caladiums are actually best planted in mid-April through May, although most home gardeners plant them early. If you want a great foliage-type bedding plant for shady locations, caladiums are the perfect fit. Some caladiums will perform well in full sun, but all aren’t reliable in locations with more sun than shade. You can purchase caladiums as corms (tubers), or you can buy them already growing in 4-inch containers. Either way is fine. Don’t plant them too deep. And avoid over-watering caladiums during summer. Butterfly pentas are distinctive for their compact growth habit, large flowers and excellent garden performance. Superb heat and humidity tolerance make this summer bedding plant a reliable choice for Louisiana gardeners. Clusters of five-petaled flowers are produced continuously all summer from spring to first frost. The series includes a variety of colors – Butterfly Deep Rose, Butterfly White, Butterfly Blush, Butterfly Deep Pink, Butterfly Light Lavender, Butterfly Lavender and Butterfly Red. The flowers are rich with nectar and are highly attractive to butterflies and hummingbirds. Plant them in full sun, partial sun or partial shade. The Butterfly pentas are another Louisiana Super Plant for this spring. Vincas are reliable for summer-through-fall landscape performance. Plant them in May. Vincas, also called periwinkles, need well-drained, acid soil. They do best in a full-sun, dry location, so limit irrigation. There are many vincas to select from. New series include Cora and Nirvana. Another relatively new one is the Titan series, which has larger flowers. You can also plant the Pacifica and the Cooler series. These are just a small sampling of great flowers for Louisiana summers. You also can consider melampodium, blue daze, perennial salvias, coleus, lantana, zinnias and more. You’ll be pleased with any of them. Visit LaHouse in Baton Rouge to see sustainable landscape practices in action. The home and landscape resource center is near the intersection of Burbank Drive and Nicholson Drive (Louisiana Highway 30) in Baton Rouge, across the street from the LSU baseball stadium. For more information, go to www.lsuagcenter.com/lahouse and www.lsuagcenter.com/lyn.
News Release Distributed 04/15/11Although dyed Easter eggs may look like decorations, they are a perishable food. Improper care of perishable foods can trigger foodborne illness, says LSU AgCenter nutritionist Beth Reames. Hard-cooked eggs spoil faster than fresh eggs because the protective coating is washed away, Reames says. This leaves the pores in the shell bare for bacteria to enter and contaminate the egg. “Hard-cooked eggs should be refrigerated within two hours of cooking and used within a week,” she says. Reames offers these additional tips for Easter egg safety: – Only use eggs that have been refrigerated, and discard eggs that are cracked or dirty. – Store eggs in the carton in the refrigerator with the large end up to help maintain quality. According to the U. S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service, fresh, uncooked eggs in the shell can be kept refrigerated in their cartons for three to five weeks beyond the “sell-by” date. – Wash your hands thoroughly before you handle eggs at every step, including cooking, cooling and dyeing. – When cooking eggs, place them in a single layer in a saucepan. Add water to at least 1 inch above the eggs, cover the pan, bring the water to a boil and immediately remove the pan from the heat. Let the eggs stand (18 minutes for extra large eggs, 15 minutes for large, 12 minutes for medium), then immediately run cold water over the eggs. When the eggs are cool enough to handle, place them in an uncovered container in the refrigerator where they can air dry. – When decorating eggs, be sure to use food-grade dyes. It is safe to use commercial egg dyes, liquid food coloring and fruit-drink powders. When handling eggs, be careful not to crack them. Otherwise, bacteria could enter the egg through the cracks in the shell. – Keep hard-cooked Easter eggs chilled on a shelf inside the refrigerator, not in the refrigerator door. – If you hide eggs, hide them in places that are protected from dirt, pets and other potential sources of bacteria. – Remember the two-hour rule, and make sure the “found” eggs are back in the refrigerator or consumed within two hours. – Don’t forget that hard-boiled eggs are only safe to eat for one week after cooking. Eggs supply high-quality protein, are an excellent source of minerals and vitamins and are low in calories, Reames says. One large egg provides only 72 calories. “Eggs are low in saturated fat but are high in cholesterol – 186 milligrams in one large egg,” she says. “The cholesterol is found in the egg yolk, not the egg white. The 2010 Dietary Guidelines recommend keeping dietary cholesterol to less than 300 mg a day.” Enjoy your leftover eggs by making egg salad using mostly the whites of your Easter eggs, Reames says. Use three whites to one yolk, add plenty of diced celery or green pepper and use fat-free or reduced-fat mayonnaise. Some people enjoy pickling their leftover eggs in vinegar and pickling spices, spicy cider or juice from pickles or pickled beets. USDA recommends that home-prepared pickled eggs be kept refrigerated and used within seven days. Home canning of pickled eggs is not recommended.
News Release Distributed 04/15/11By LSU AgCenter Horticulturists Dan Gill, Kyle Huffstickler and Allen Owings Who knows how much rain we’ll get during spring and summer? We need to keep in mind that many areas of Louisiana are experiencing below-average rainfall amounts. And it’s common to get significant rain events followed by three to four weeks of dry weather. How do we irrigate our landscapes under these conditions? This is a question that comes up often and is sometimes hard to answer. “How much water do I need to apply?” and “How often do I need to water this plant?” are common questions from many home gardeners. Water is essential for healthy plant growth, but it can be costly to apply, depending on your water source. Remember, it’s important to get water to plant roots efficiently and effectively and keep the moisture in the root zone. Too many gardeners have a tendency to water by using the calendar. Once a week or twice a week is a common practice. Some people even water plants daily. Gardeners need to learn how to recognize drought stress in plants. You do this by monitoring soil conditions in containers and landscape beds. When one plant in a bed needs water, however, all plants in the bed may not need irrigating. Many factors determine how fast a particular soil or potting medium will dry out. When plants are dry, water them thoroughly. For lawns, water at a rate so that the moisture penetrates the soil to a depth of several inches. This encourages deeper root growth and also aids the plants in being able to handle droughty conditions that may come later in the year. Try to eliminate the desire to “sprinkle” a lawn or landscape bed for a few minutes every day. This is not very helpful and actually discourages the plant from being able to withstand dry conditions later. Gardeners often wonder what kind of sprinklers to use on their lawn or what kind of hose or sprinklers to use in their landscape beds. For lawns, an efficient type of sprinkler is called an impact sprinkler. These are commonly seen on athletic fields and golf courses. In landscape beds, use short-length soaker hoses, or use a micro-irrigation drip system that has individual emitters on shrubs and roses. For bedding-plant areas, you may use spray stakes off a micro-irrigation system, but be sure to direct the water underneath the foliage or downward toward the mulch or soil. Irrigate trees by running a hose very slowly for a couple of hours. The hose should be placed within the tree drip line of mature trees or at the edge of the planting hole for newly planted trees. Do not let excess water run off. The best time to irrigate plants is during the early morning. Avoid wetting the leaves – this encourages disease. Roses and bedding plants are most susceptible to problems with water accumulation on flowers and foliage. Organic matter in landscape beds helps to maintain soil moisture. Apply mulch in all landscape beds twice a year. Pine straw and pine bark are excellent mulches. You can use hardwood mulch around many trees. Mulch flowers to a depth of 1-2 inches, shrubs to a depth of 2-3 inches and trees to a depth of 3-4 inches. Irrigation is an important consideration in home landscapes. By following these hints, you can help your plants through droughty periods so they’ll be more productive for you. Visit LaHouse in Baton Rouge to see sustainable landscape practices in action. The home and landscape resource center is near the intersection of Burbank Drive and Nicholson Drive (Louisiana Highway 30) in Baton Rouge, across the street from the LSU baseball stadium. For more information, go to www.lsuagcenter.com/lahouse and www.lsuagcenter.com/lyn.
News Release Distributed 04/08/11 By LSU AgCenter Horticulturists Dan Gill, Kyle Huffstickler and Allen OwingsMost Louisiana gardeners are familiar with Knock Out roses. They have introduced roses to many home gardeners who otherwise never would have grown them. And they fit perfectly into a sustainable, low-maintenance landscape. Knock Out is classified as a landscape shrub rose. This type of rose doesn’t make great cut flowers, but it will give a landscape an abundance of flowers for 75 percent of the year. They practically bloom nonstop from March to November in south Louisiana and April through October in north Louisiana. In warm winters, they may even flower in December, January and February. Knock Out roses are less prone to blackspot disease than traditional hybrid tea, floribunda and grandiflora roses. Although they may be promoted as blackspot resistant, that’s not necessarily true. You don’t need to spray fungicides on the majority of the Knock Out roses, and the double forms have great disease resistance. Double forms of Knock Out roses are available with pink or red flowers. Most of the Knock Out roses have single flowers with six to eight petals per flower. The double forms feature 18-22 petals per flower. This produces a pronounced visual impact when the double forms are compared with the single forms in the landscape. The petal count and flower color are best during spring and fall blooms. Summer blooms are usually smaller with fewer petals and less intense color. Plant these roses where you would plant other roses. They need full sun, minimum irrigation and well-prepared, well-drained landscape beds. They prefer a soil pH between 6.0-6.5. Although most gardeners plant roses in late winter through spring, Knock Out roses can be planted almost anytime of the year. Double Knock Out and Pink Double Knock Out are advertised to grow to a height of 4-5 feet with a spread of 4-5 feet. Space individual plants 4-5 feet apart. If left unpruned, these plants can easily reach 8 feet tall. Double Knock Out roses, like all roses, do best when pruned in mid-February and in late August to early September. A number of home gardeners, though, who are serious about their roses, lightly prune and/or remove old flowers constantly during the growing season. Try some Double Knock Out roses in your home landscape. You’ll be amazed with the blooms and easy care for these great rose varieties. Visit LaHouse in Baton Rouge to see sustainable landscape practices in action. The home and landscape resource center is near the intersection of Burbank Drive and Nicholson Drive (Louisiana Highway 30) in Baton Rouge, across the street from the LSU baseball stadium. For more information, go to www.lsuagcenter.com/lahouse and www.lsuagcenter.com/lyn.
(Video 4/11/11) The LSU AgCenter introduces various Louisiana Super Plants throughout the year. They’re superior plants for Louisiana landscapes. On this edition of Get It Growing, LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill introduces you to the fragrant Frostproof gardenia. It’s a Louisiana Super Plant with a super smell. (Runtime: 1:36)
Video (04/01/11) Looking for a small tree to ideally adapt to your landscape? In this edition of Get it Growing, LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill introduces you to a native Louisiana tree that’s extremely functional and adaptable. (Runtime: 1:34)
News Release Distributed 04/01/11By LSU AgCenter Horticulturists Dan Gill, Kyle Huffstickler and Allen OwingsLantanas continue to be one of the most popular herbaceous perennials for Louisiana landscapes. Many varieties – some old and some new – offer a multitude of growth forms and flower colors. Lantanas can be added to the landscape from now through summer for great color into late fall. Lantana growth habits include trailing, mounding and upright. Trailing types are scientifically called Lantana montevidensis and typically reach a height of 18 inches. Foliage texture is finer, and flower colors are white, lavender and purple. Common older varieties of this type are Trailing Purple, Imperial Purple, Trailing Lavender and White Lightnin. Trailing-type lantanas are normally evergreen in Louisiana. They also flower in late winter and early spring when you wouldn’t expect lantanas to be in bloom. Trailing lantanas don’t set fruit like the mounding and upright varieties. Mounding-type and upright-type lantanas are primarily classified as Lantana camara. Mounding lantanas reach 30-36 inches tall while upright growers, including the old “ham and egg”-type lantanas, can reach 4-5 feet tall in one growing season. Mounding and upright growers are reliably perennial, as are the trailing types. You need to occasionally prune these varieties to encourage repeat bloom and discourage fruit (berry) formation. Older lantanas include the mounding varieties New Gold and Gold Mound with gold-colored flowers, Silver Mound with white flowers and Lemon Drop with yellow flowers. An older upright variety is Dallas Red with red flowers. Newer groups of lantanas include the Patriot series, which come in about 15 varieties and are broken down into even more diverse growth habits. You also can find Landmark, Lucky and Bandana series lantanas at garden centers in Louisiana. All of these are introductions from the last five years or so. The Lucky series has always performed very well in LSU AgCenter landscape evaluations. The new Bandanas also excel and have flower colors not found in smaller-growing mounding types. The Sonrise, Sonset, and Sonshine lantanas from Mississippi also are great plants. You can also find Chapel Hill Yellow and Chapel Hill Gold at garden centers this year. Lantanas are great landscape plants and also do well in containers. They perform best in full sun. Lantanas are very drought-tolerant. Irrigation is needed only in very droughty situations. Fertilize these plants often to encourage growth – once at planting and again in late summer in a landscape bed. If you have old lantanas that are stagnant in their growth or are not blooming well, prune them back about halfway and fertilize them. New growth will produce new flowers. Also, watch plants for lantana lace bugs. This is the only main pest on lantana in Louisiana, but it has become more of a problem in recent years. Besides providing landscape color most of the year, lantanas attract butterflies like crazy. Visit LaHouse in Baton Rouge to see sustainable landscape practices in action. The home and landscape resource center is near the intersection of Burbank Drive and Nicholson Drive (Louisiana Highway 30) in Baton Rouge, across the street from the LSU baseball stadium. For more information, go to www.lsuagcenter.com/lahouse and www.lsuagcenter.com/lyn.
(Audio 04/04/11) Thrips are tiny insects that invade the flower buds of roses and feed on the petals. Affected petals may open but appear old and damaged. Controlling thrips is difficult, but not impossible.
(Radio News 04/28/11) As wind whipped across Marsh Island, a plane buzzed overhead raining down seeds across a 15-acre swath of land. LSU AgCenter researcher Herry Utomo is testing aerial seeding of the marsh plant smooth cordgrass on this barrier island off the coast in Iberia Parish. (Runtime: 1:50)
(Radio News 04/04/11) An LSU AgCenter program that provides a wetland education curriculum to Louisiana teachers each year is helping students improve science scores. The Youth Wetland Program is in its fifth year. Youth Wetland Program coordinator Ashley Mullens explains. (Runtime: 1:05)
(Video News 04/18/11) Rice planting has started in Louisiana, and much of the crop in the southern part of the state is in the ground. LSU AgCenter correspondent Tobie Blanchard says the state's rice farmers will plant fewer total acres this year despite an earlier start. (Runtime: 1:50)
(Radio News 04/07/11) Tax time is a good time to review your tax withholdings and adjust them, if necessary. When would an adjustment be in order? LSU AgCenter family economist Jeanette Tucker says adjustments should be made when your financial situation changes. If you bought a house, got married or started collecting Social Security, for example, you may want to change the amount that is withheld from your paycheck. (Runtime: 1:10)
(Radio News 04/04/11) Students across the state will take part in Youth Wetlands Week April 18-22. The week focuses on educating students about the importance of conserving and restoring Louisiana’s wetlands. Ashley Mullens, youth wetland program coordinator for the LSU AgCenter, says the program kicks off at the Louisiana Earth Day celebration in Baton Rouge. (Runtime: 1:15)
(Video News 04/04/11) Weed scientists across the South are battling herbicide-resistant weeds. LSU AgCenter correspondent Tobie Blanchard talked with two in Louisiana who are trying to keep the problem from spreading. (Runtime: 1:50)
(Radio News 04/11/11) Clearfield varieties make up about 70 percent of the rice acreage in Louisiana. These varieties allow growers to control the red rice weed with the herbicide Newpath, but LSU AgCenter rice specialist Johnny Saichuk says growers are starting to see problems with some of these varieties. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Radio News 04/14/11) The white-marked tussock moth caterpillar may look menacing, with its red head, white tufts and prominent tail, but this caterpillar won’t sting. It and other common caterpillars can be found around trees this time of the year. (Runtime: 1:25)
(Video News 04/25/11) Caterpillars are descending from trees looking for an ideal spot to undergo their metamorphosis. LSU AgCenter correspondent Tobie Blanchard says most caterpillars are only a minor nuisance. Others can deliver a painful sting. (Runtime: 1:25)
(Radio News 04/04/11) "Step into fun with 4-H" is the theme of this summer’s 4-H camp experience at the Grant Walker 4-H Educational Center in Pollock. Thousands of youth attend camp each year where they make lifelong friends and memories. (Runtime: 1:05)
(Video News 04/11/11) Corn prices are up this year, but this will not lead to a large increase in corn acres in Louisiana. LSU AgCenter correspondent Tobie Blanchard has an outlook on the 2011 corn crop. (Runtime: 1:12)
(Radio News 04/19/11) Each Wednesday Cynthia Richard, a family resource agent with the LSU AgCenter, offers a personal or family finance class at Care Help of Sulphur. On the day we visited, she talked about credit scores and the importance of paying your bills on time. (Runtime: 1:30)
(Radio News 04/07/11) Taxpayers have three extra days to file their federal tax returns this year. The deadline was extended to April 18 because of a holiday in the District of Columbia that falls on April 15 this year. As the deadline approaches, LSU AgCenter family economist Jeanette Tucker encourages taxpayers who are expecting a refund to file electronically. (Runtime: 1:10)
(Radio News 04/08/11) Farmers have planted most of Louisiana’s corn crop. The LSU AgCenter’s corn specialist says he expects acreage to be up only slightly from last year. Corn, soybeans and cotton all are seeing high commodity prices. (Runtime: 1:10)
(Audio 04/11/11) Permanent lawn grasses such as centipede and St. Augustine are best planted from April through August. Solid sodding is expensive, but it creates an instant lawn and reduces weed problems. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 04/11/11) As the weather warms, Louisiana gardeners have to deal with more pests, including weeds, insects and diseases. It's important to get a proper diagnosis of a problem so you can treat it correctly. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 04/04/11) It's time to take the lawnmowers out. Once you start mowing, you are going to want to mow regularly. Have your lawnmower serviced before you start this year's mowing season. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 04/04/11) Hydrangeas are popular shrubs for growing in shady areas. They may not look like much right now, but soon they will send out new leaves and bloom. You can alter the color of your hydrangea by changing the pH of your soil. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 04/04/11) Louisiana gardeners often wait until roses are in bloom to purchase them and plant them. It is better to plant roses earlier in the season, however, so they are less stressed when trying to produce flowers. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 04/25/11) Spring-flowering bulbs can dress up a landscape. Plants such as Louisiana iris or daffodils can bloom year after year. To keep them in good shape, cut off developing seed pods after the plants finish flowering. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(For Release On Or After 04/15/11) An outstanding angelonia has been named a spring 2011 Louisiana Super Plant selection. Serena series angelonia is a long-blooming summer bedding plant with a tough constitution and a long blooming season.
(Audio 04/18/11) The weather is fairly warm in mid- to late April in Louisiana, so gardeners can plant tender summer bedding plants. These plants will not tolerate freezes but will perform well during Louisiana's hot summer. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(For Release On Or After 04/29/11) An important part of gardening successfully is learning to water your plants properly. Learning how to water properly is not complicated, but during hot, dry weather it can make a world of difference to the health of the plants in your landscape. New trees, shrubs and many warm-season bedding plants are planted in March, April and May. With intense heat right around the corner, watering will become increasingly important.
(Audio 04/18/11) Tomato vines tend to sprawl on the ground if they aren't supported. In Louisiana, this would likely lead to fruit rot, so gardeners need to provide some sort of support for their plants. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 04/18/11) Louisiana gardeners should try to get their tomato transplants now. Waiting could reduce the quality of your crop. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 04/04/11) Louisiana gardeners use tropical plants in their landscapes. Freezes may have damaged your tropical plants, but wait to see if they put on new growth later this month before pulling them out. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 04/18/11) A wide variety of herbs that we grow are sensitive to heat. These herbs are growing well now but will fade as summer sets in. Use these herbs generously over the next few weeks or preserve them for use later this year. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 04/25/11) April is the peak month for wonderful cool-season bedding plants. If these plants were planted back in the fall, they should be hitting their stride now. This time of the year is not a good time to plant cool-season plants, but you can make evaluations about what worked in your garden. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 04/11/11) Louisiana gardeners shouldn't fertilize their lawns too early. The grass needs to wake up and establish roots before feeding the new growth. Remember, fertilizing is optional. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(For Release On Or After 04/22/11) Do you know what Spanish moss and pineapples have in common? Believe it or not, they are actually related and belong to the same family of plants – the Bromeliad family. Bromeliads are a beautiful family of tropical plants, many of which posses colorful foliage, beautiful flowers or both.
(Audio 04/18/11) Louisiana gardeners can find many colorful bedding plants at nurseries and garden centers. Even though stores may still be carrying cool-season bedding plants, it's best to plant warm-season bedding plants now. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 04/25/11) Louisiana gardeners use a variety of container plants in outdoor areas. The warm weather will encourage these plants to grow, increasing their need for fertilizer. Fertilize them regularly to keep them healthy and attractive. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Video 4/11/11) The LSU AgCenter introduces various Louisiana Super Plants throughout the year. They’re superior plants for Louisiana landscapes. On this edition of Get It Growing, LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill introduces you to the fragrant Frostproof gardenia. It’s a Louisiana Super Plant with a super smell. (Runtime: 1:36)
(Audio 04/11/11) Perennials are plants that grow in our flower gardens and live from year to year. These colorful plants can add punch to our landscapes and lower maintenance of flower beds. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
Video (04/01/11) Looking for a small tree to ideally adapt to your landscape? In this edition of Get it Growing, LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill introduces you to a native Louisiana tree that’s extremely functional and adaptable. (Runtime: 1:34)
(Audio 04/11/11) Caladiums allow gardeners to create beautiful beds in the shade. The colorful foliage can make a nice show in shady areas. You can buy tubers now. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Video 4/25/11) Looking for plants that grow best in Louisiana landscapes? Then you probably want to select a Louisiana Super Plant – plants proven to grow best in Louisiana landscapes. On this edition of Get It Growing, LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill introduces you to the beautiful Serena angelonia – a Louisiana Super Plant that can take the heat of summer. (Runtime: 1:41)
(Audio 04/25/11) As plants begin to rapidly grow during the summer, a fungal disease called powdery mildew tends to show up. Powdery mildew prefers dry weather, but it can be controlled by a fungicide. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 04/25/11) Indoor plants can help freshen the air and make a room more welcoming. Plants are happier outside, however, so it's a good idea to let them spend some time outdoors during the summer. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(For Release On Or After 04/08/11) Fertilizing lawns in most of Louisiana is best done in early to mid-April. At that time our warm-season lawn grasses, such as centipede, St. Augustine, Bermuda and zoysia, have begun active growth and reestablished a strong root system and are ready for the extra nutrients fertilizer provides.
(Distributed 04/13/11) The LSU AgCenter has scheduled a second biodiesel workshop for May 11 due to overwhelming response to the workshop scheduled a week earlier, according to Bill Carney, LSU AgCenter director of the Callegari Center.
(Distributed 04/13/11) The LSU AgCenter will conduct a two-day workshop at the Vidalia Conference Center June 9-10 for entrepreneurs interested in business opportunities related to paddling and canoeing.
(Distributed 04/21/11) With cattle prices at historical highs and many families struggling economically, cattle theft has the potential to increase, warns LSU AgCenter extension beef specialist Allen Nipper. He offers tips for cattle producers to prevent theft.
(Distributed 04/06/11) The LSU AgCenter will host a one-day comprehensive workshop on how to make biodiesel fuel from used vegetable oil on May 4 at the Callegari Environmental Center in Baton Rouge.
(Distributed 04/26/11) CROWLEY, La. – A stored grain pest management workshop will be held May 10 with experts from five states. The clinic will be at the Acadia Parish Extension Office, 157 Cherokee Drive, in Crowley from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m.
(Distributed 04/19/11) KINGSTON, La. – Typically grown as a cash crop in southeast Louisiana, strawberries are flourishing in DeSoto Parish.
(Distributed 04/26/11) PONCHATOULA, La. – The LSU AgCenter youth wetlands program staff and Ponchatoula High School FFA members taught elementary students the value of wetlands at their Wetlands Celebration Day on April 21 as part of Youth Wetlands Week.
(Distributed 04/12/11) JEANERETTE, La. – An LSU AgCenter study has shown that cattle can produce acceptably tender beef with a Brahman influence exceeding the national recommendation, a researcher said at the April 9 Acadiana Cattle Producers Spring Field Day held at the Iberia Research Station.
(Distributed 04/13/11) LSU AgCenter agents in northeast Louisiana are conducting classes in detention centers in Franklin, Richland, Morehouse and Union parishes to help prisoners prepare for reentering society.
(Distributed 04/19/11) Louisiana’s sweet potato farmers soon will be planting their crop. And for most, the transplants, or “slips,” they put in the ground will be from seed roots that had their start at the LSU AgCenter Sweet Potato Research Station at Chase.
(Distributed 04/01/11) Because of cuts in state funding and to make more efficient use of resources, the LSU AgCenter has begun phasing out research programs at three of its 20 research stations. The three are the Coastal Area Research Station in Plaquemines Parish, the Rosepine Research Station in Vernon Parish and the Calhoun Research Station in Ouachita Parish.
(Distributed 04/25/11) Fourteen 4-H students were winners in the State 4-H Commodity Ambassador Contest on April 19 on the LSU campus in Baton Rouge. In all, 71 4-H’ers from across the state competed in the chicken, egg, seafood, sugar and turkey contests.
(Distributed 04/25/11) MANSFIELD, La. – Chesapeake Energy Corp. awarded two students laptop computers at an awards banquet April 19, honoring the winners of the Discovering Tomorrow’s Leaders contest in DeSoto Parish.
(Distributed 04/19/11) Industry professionals and elected officials learned about the work at the LSU AgCenter Hammond Research Station at an appreciation event on April 14.
(Distributed 04/28/11) The LSU AgCenter’s Hammond Research Station will hold an open house from 9 a.m. to noon May 21.
(Distributed 04/18/11) If mom's a gardener or just likes flowering plants, you can shop for her at the Master Gardeners' Mother’s Day plant sale from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 7 at the LSU AgCenter Burden Center.
(Distributed 04/08/11) A 13-year-old federal program to combat Formosan subterranean termites in New Orleans’ French Quarter is winding down, according to officials. The program called Operation Full Stop featured treating French Quarter properties for termites through professional pest management companies paid with funds provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service.
