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(Video 05/02/12) Louisiana has one of the highest obesity rates in the United States. A statewide program for families is looking to minimize the problem before it gets started. LSU AgCenter correspondent Craig Gautreaux reports how the Family Nutriition Night program is tackling obesity. (Runtime 1:39)
(Video 05/22/12) Soybeans will be Louisiana's largest crop in terms of acreage with more than a million acres expected to be planted this year. LSU AgCenter correspondent Craig Gautreaux gives an update on the current condition of Louisiana's soybean crop. (Runtime 1:36)
(Video 05/02/12) Louisiana’s cotton acres are going to be down this year because other crops such as soybeans look more attractive to farmers. LSU AgCenter correspondent Craig Gautreaux gives an update on how this year’s cotton planting is progressing. (Runtime 1:49)
(Video 05/22/12) Researchers at the LSU AgCenter Aquaculture Research Station have succeeded in spawning alligator gar, a fish that is dwindling in numbers across the country. (Runtime 1:32)
(Video 05/29/12) Summer is here, and keeping your body hydrated and protected from the sun are especially important this time of year. LSU AgCenter correspondent Craig Gautreaux reports on keeping your summer safe. (Runtime 1:37)
(Video 05/29/12) Louisiana farmers just finished a somewhat disappointing wheat harvest. LSU AgCenter correspondent Craig Gautreaux reports that weather was to blame for the lower yields.(Runtime 1:25)
News Release Distributed 05/25/12By LSU AgCenter Horticulturists Dan Gill, Kyle Huffstickler and Allen Owings Ornamental sweet potatoes are a popular warm-season annual for adding foliage colors to the summer landscape. The original varieties include plants with leaves that are chartreuse-lime green (Marguerite), blackish purple (Blackie, Black Beauty, Ace of Spades) and tricolored (Pink Frost). New ornamental sweet potato varieties recently introduced have various leaf shapes and growth habits in addition to new foliage colors. These sweet potatoes have been selected for shorter stem lengths between the leaves and reduced root size. They are more compact than most other ornamental sweet potato varieties. Some of the new sweet potatoes are more conducive to trellising and for being “spiller” or “filler” plants in containers when compared with older varieties. Some of these new varieties may produce significant flowering in the landscape during summer through fall, while others seldom flower. The Sweet Caroline series of ornamental sweet potatoes are a newer group. This series has varieties with green-yellow, red, light green, bronze and purple foliage. The Sweet Caroline Sweetheart series (with heart-shaped leaves) is available in light green, red and purple, while the stand-alone Bewitched variety has maple-leaf-shaped, purplish-black foliage. The best foliage colors come when plants are in full sun. They will have less colorful foliage in a shaded or partially shaded location. An ornamental sweet potato series introduced in 2009 is Sidekick from Syngenta Flowers. This series is available in black, black-heart and lime colors. The lime-colored variety is lighter in color than the chartreuse-lime green foliage of Marguerite, and the growth habit is low-growing and less spreading. The new Illusion series from Proven Winners is probably the best of the new introductions. They have thread-leaf foliage and are smaller-growing and much less vigorous than any others on the market. Illusion colors are available as Emerald Lace, Midnight Lace and Garnet Lace. Ornamental sweet potatoes in the landscape are easy to plant and care for. They do best when planted later in the spring and seldom need irrigation or fertilization. Lightly prune during the season to control growth on the most vigorous 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 or www.lsuagcenter.com/lyn.
(Video 05/21/12) In Louisiana, hydrangeas typically bloom once – in May. But the Super Plant Penny Mac hydrangea keeps reblooming many times until the end of summer. On this edition of Get It Growing, LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill visits the Hammond Research Station and looks at the Penny Mac hydrangea – a reliable and beautiful plant for Louisiana landscapes. (Runtime: 1:40)
(Video 05/28/12) Buddleia is also called butterfly bush because it attracts butterlflies. It’s a tough, flowering bush that comes in many sizes and colors. On this edition of Get It Growing, LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill explains how the dwarf buddleia Blue Chip is a good choice for vibrant color and nice fragrance.(Runtime: 1:37)
(Video 05/28/12) Buddleia is also called butterfly bush because it attracts butterlflies. It’s a tough, flowering bush that comes in many sizes and colors. On this edition of Get It Growing, LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill explains how the dwarf buddleia Blue Chip is a good choice for vibrant color and nice fragrance.(Runtime: 1:37)
(Video 05/21/12) In Louisiana, hydrangeas typically bloom once – in May. But the Super Plant Penny Mac hydrangea keeps reblooming many times until the end of summer. On this edition of Get It Growing, LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill visits the Hammond Research Station and looks at the Penny Mac hydrangea – a reliable and beautiful plant for Louisiana landscapes. (Runtime: 1:40)
News Release Distributed 05/1812By LSU AgCenter Horticulturists Dan Gill, Kyle Huffstickler and Allen Owings Gardenias are blooming in Louisiana landscapes now. Known as cape jasmine to some Southern gardeners, gardenias are one of the most widely planted landscape shrubs in Louisiana. The LSU AgCenter has recommended several species and varieties for landscape use, and they continue to be very popular among home gardeners. When you select gardenia varieties, look for the better performers. The best currently available now is the variety Frostproof. It was a designated a Louisiana Super Plant in 2011. Other good choices include the new Jubilation variety in the Southern Living plant program along with Mystery and August Beauty, which are older varieties. And one more to consider is the daisy gardenia. Although popular, gardenias regularly are plagued with problems. This is especially true with dwarf gardenias, but other varieties have their difficulties, too. A planting group may do very well, with no plants lost the first year. Or a planting may do poorly, and all plants are lost in the first year. Sometimes a few plants in a grouping may die each year, so after two to four years, no living plants remain. We have a few guidelines to consider that can improve gardenia landscape performance. Soil pH is important for gardenias and other plants. Gardenias belong to the “acid-loving” group of ornamental plants. This means they prefer low soil pH. The recommended soil pH for gardenias is 5.0-5.5. This is similar to what azaleas, camellias and blueberries also require. Plants may do fine at a soil pH in the upper 5s to low 6s, but adverse nutrient availability and root growth problems occur when soil pH climbs above 6.5. We all need to know the soil pH in our landscape beds. Adjust soil pH by lowering with sulfur or raising with dolomitic lime. Always follow recommendations of a soil test, which you can get for a fee from the LSU AgCenter. Contact your AgCenter parish office or go to the soil lab page. As with many other shrubs, roses and flowers, improving internal drainage and building raised beds are usually necessary when planting gardenias in Louisiana. Our heavy rainfall in short periods of time saturates landscape bed soil and will lead to root rot issues. You can lessen this problem by making a raised bed 6-8 inches tall prior to planting. This helps prevent root rots that may occur if irrigation is not properly managed and/or if beds aren’t properly prepared and provided with adequate drainage. When you plant, don’t plant gardenias too deep. Watch your planting depth and be careful about piling mulch around the base of the stems, which simulates planting too deep. Plant gardenias slightly higher than how the plants were growing in the original containers. Allow for soil settling. Be sure to “water in” the plants during the backfill process. Avoid over-mulching. Mulch with pine straw to a depth of 2-3 inches. A slightly stressed gardenia will decline rapidly when over-watered. At the same time, we need to make sure plants are not under-watered. Uniformity in soil moisture is the key to success with gardenias, so monitor soil moisture closely between rains. Once-a-week irrigation should be sufficient. Make sure water distribution is uniform. Water quality also can play a role in gardenia performance in the landscape. Irrigate slowly, deeply and infrequently rather than quickly, shallowly and often. Once root rot occurs, plants can usually not overcome the problem, and homeowners have limited fungicide options for control. Gardenias need a moderate amount of nitrogen fertilizer but also are harmed when nitrogen is applied excessively. Apply a recommended slow-release fertilizer shortly after spring bloom. This should handle nitrogen needs for that growing season. Gardenias also are frequently fertilized with foliar or soil applications of iron, such as Ironite. This basically is offsetting a slightly higher-than-recommended pH that is inhibiting iron uptake from the soil. Gardenias are not difficult plants to grow. We just need to follow these recommendations to improve their landscape performance.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 or www.lsuagcenter.com/lyn.
(Audio 05/21/12) If you grow roses in Louisiana, you've probably had black spot. Roses are highly susceptible to this disease. It can be controlled with weekly spraying. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 05/21/12) Growing plants in containers allows gardeners to have plants on decks or indoors. The containers may need to be cleaned from time to time. Plastic pots and terra cotta pots are cleaned differently. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 05/21/12) Cooked greens are a traditional part of Louisiana cooking. Many greens such as turnip or collards won't grow during the summer. Swiss chard and few others are good substitutes. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 05/21/12) Gardeners use a variety of summer bulbs in their landscapes. Most of the bulbs that are native to tropical areas do well in Louisiana's summer heat. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
News Release Distributed 05/11/12By LSU AgCenter Horticulturists Dan Gill, Kyle Huffstickler and Allen Owings Many of us may not realize it, but the last 20 years have been some of the most exciting times in the history of home landscaping. It would be impossible to list all the new ornamental plants – from trees to shrubs to perennials to annual flowers – that have been recently released. We now have new flower colors in plants where specific flower colors had not been found, blooms at times during the year when blooms normally did not occur, improved disease resistance, improved plant adaptability to different growing regions and so much more. Some of the new herbaceous flowering plants from the past three to five years making an impression in Louisiana include such plants as the Serena angelonias, new Lo and Behold butterfly bushes (Buddleia), the Celebration series purple fountain grasses and Lanai series verbenas. Some “new” butterfly bushes have been available from Proven Winners for a couple years now and are beginning to see considerable industry acceptance. Blue Chip is a variety that is well known. It is in the Lo and Behold group that also includes Purple Haze and others. Blue Chip has bluish-purple flowers on a mounding plant that grows to a height of 24-30 inches. Dark green foliage is characteristic of the plant. It, as all butterfly bushes, is best planted in full sun with well-drained soil. Ice Chip and Lilac Chip are new colors in this group. All of these new dwarfer butterfly bushes are excellent bloomers and are reliably perennial (with foliage retention through winter) in south Louisiana. You can also try Miss Molly and Miss Ruby. Angelonias are new to many gardeners. They were virtually unknown even as recently as 10 years ago. Now, many angelonias are on the scene. In Louisiana we plant the Serena series – it is a Louisiana Super Plants. This outstanding summer bedding plant can be relied upon for dependable garden performance though the hottest summer weather. Five colors in the Serena series blend together beautifully – Serena Purple, Serena Lavender, Serena Lavender Pink, Serena White and the new Serena Blue. Plants are compact, growing 12 to 14 inches tall and about as wide. Masses of flower spikes cover the plants from late spring to frost. Plant them through May for best results in sunny beds. Minimum irrigation and fertilization are needed. The Celebration series Pennisetums are great improvements over what we used to call purple fountain grass. Purple fountain grass was used abundantly in landscapes in the 1980s and fell out of popularity. Now, the plant is back with new and improved varieties. Fireworks, with red foliage, was introduced two years ago and is being widely used and accepted in the industry. Sky Rocket was introduced in 2011 – it has green and white variegated foliage. The new addition for 2012 that is still very limited in availability is Cherry Sparkler, with purple and white variegated foliage. These ornamental grasses are best treated as annuals, although they will overwinter in warmer areas of south Louisiana. The plants prefer full sun and can be planted in groups of three to five to add height (42-48 inches by fall) to flower beds. The Lanai series verbenas from Syngenta Flowers include flower colors not found in many other verbena groups. New colors are introduced each year. These plants do best when purchased at the garden centers from February through April and then in fall. They have good cold hardiness down into the mid- to lower 20s and can be perennial when properly cared for. They also make great container plants. New colors in Lanai verbenas that will be coming soon include Candy Cane, Vintage Rose and Lime Green. Lime Green is recommended for mixed containers. Lanai verbena continues to gain market share in the southeastern United States. Many other plants that are not new have been introduced in the past 10-15 years and have been responsible for changing what we grow. One example is Profusion zinnias. Others are the Lucky and Bandana lantanas. Although we are not at petunia planting time now, the Supertunias and Wave petunias have changed the marketplace for these plants. Other relatively new plants include Snow Princess lobularia, SunPatiens, PowWow purple coneflower and many more. Even more great plants are coming, and we will continue to see great new flowering plants each spring and fall. 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 or www.lsuagcenter.com/lyn.
(Video 05/14/12) Looks can be deceiving. Plants that appear small in the nursery can take on much larger dimensions once they’re grown. On this edition of Get It Growing, LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill advises consumers to check a plant’s full-grown size before assuming it’s the right fit for their landscape. (Runtime: 1:32)
(Audio 05/14/12) People may wonder if Spanish moss can harm a tree, but the answer is no. Spanish moss is not a parasite. It lives on a tree but doesn't take anything away from a tree. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 05/14/12) People may wonder if Spanish moss can harm a tree, but the answer is no. Spanish moss is not a parasite. It lives on a tree but doesn't take anything away from a tree. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Video 05/07/12) The fan flower is a heat-tolerant summer plant with beautiful flowers that come in various shades. This plant also has a tragic love story to tell as part of its folklore. LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill explains on this edition of Get It Growing. (Runtime: 1:33)
(Video 05/14/12) Looks can be deceiving. Plants that appear small in the nursery can take on much larger dimensions once they’re grown. On this edition of Get It Growing, LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill advises consumers to check a plant’s full-grown size before assuming it’s the right fit for their landscape. (Runtime: 1:32)
(Video 05/07/12) The fan flower is a heat-tolerant summer plant with beautiful flowers that come in various shades. This plant also has a tragic love story to tell as part of its folklore. LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill explains on this edition of Get It Growing. (Runtime: 1:33)
(Audio 05/14/12) Louisiana gardeners can use a number of annual flowering vines. One great vine is the hyacinth bean. It produces spikes of purple flowers in summer and fall. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 05/14/12) Louisiana gardeners use a wide variety of heat-tolerant bedding plants this time of the year. Pull out cool-season plants when they start to languish and prepare your beds for new plants. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 05/14/12) True blackberries are producing fruit this month. Blackberry shoots live for two years. Young canes should be left alone when pruning to make sure you have another crop of blackberries next year. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 05/14/12) Many people planted trees during the fall and winter. These newly planted trees will need supplemental irrigation to get through their first summer in the ground. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 05/14/12) Many people planted trees during the fall and winter. These newly planted trees will need supplemental irrigation to get through their first summer in the ground. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Distributed 05/08/12) JEANERETTE, La. – Cattle producers attending a field day at the LSU AgCenter Iberia Research Station on May 5 heard about the advantages and challenges of raising forage-fed cattle.
News Release Distributed 05/04/12By LSU AgCenter Horticulturists Dan Gill, Kyle Huffstickler and Allen Owings Daylilies are one of the most popular flowering plants for late spring and early summer landscapes in Louisiana. They have reached peak bloom about three weeks early this spring due to our lack of significant cold weather in February and March. Gardeners always seem to want daylily information, and many new flower forms and colors are now available. Serious gardeners know daylily by its scientific name of Hemerocallis –Greek for “beauty” and “day.” As the name implies, daylily flowers open for just one day. The best daylilies for today’s landscapes, however, make many buds and can bloom for upwards of three months. Daylilies are low-maintenance plants in the landscape. Planted in full to partial sun, daylilies prefer a well-drained bed but can tolerate poorer soil conditions. At planting, make a slightly raised bed for daylilies by incorporating organic matter. Adjust the soil pH so that it is slightly acid – 6.0-6.5 – and fertilize in early spring and again in early summer, if needed, to promote plant vigor. You can find many flower colors– white and blue are about the only exceptions. Flower shapes also vary, and multiple colors are common on a single bloom. Daylilies reach a mature height of 1-5 feet depending on the variety. Flower size can range from small flowers no more than 2 inches across to large flowers 8 inches across. Daylily varieties are classified based on flower color, plant size and other factors. One important classification now commonly used is hardiness type – dormant, semi-evergreen or evergreen. Dormant daylilies offer little if any resistance to cold temperatures, and foliage will disappear in winter until new growth emerges from the soil the following spring. Semi-evergreen varieties will have foliage that dies down briefly in early winter, and new growth begin slowly until more rapid re-growth starts in early spring. Evergreen daylilies are common now in commercial landscaping. These varieties maintain foliage through winter in the warmer climate of the Gulf South. One valuable benefit of daylilies is their ability to multiply. Avid daylily grower Dale Westmoreland, owner of WestFarms Nursery in Folsom, says most daylily plantings peak in flowering performance about four years after the initial planting. Daylily plants multiply from year to year and can be divided at almost any time of year to produce new plants. A clump of two to three plants may not flower the first year after division (although they generally will), but a clump of five to 10 plants will flower well. It’s hard to provide a recommended list of daylily varieties. Many are available, and most varieties recommended for Louisiana can be found at local retail garden centers. When you look for daylilies, select for resistance to daylily rust. 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 or www.lsuagcenter.com/lyn.
(Audio 05/07/12) Tomatoes are the most popular home vegetable grown in Louisiana, but they do have their share of problems. One common problem is buckeye rot. It will hit the largest tomatoes at the bottom of the vine. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 05/07/12) Hydrangeas and gardenias are popular summer-flowering shrubs in Louisiana. Gardenias produce beautiful, fragrant flowers this time of the year. Hydrangeas put on a show of big bright flowers. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 05/07/12) The permanent lawn grasses we use in Louisiana are all warm-season grasses. They grow and thrive in the heat of summer. Now is a good time to plant a lawn. The best way to do this is with sod.
(Audio 05/28/12) 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 05/28/12) 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)
(Audio 05/28/12) 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)
(Audio 05/28/12) 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 summer when mowing becomes a more frequent activity. Learn more about summer composting. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 05/28/12) 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)
(Video 05/29/12) Louisiana farmers just finished a somewhat disappointing wheat harvest. LSU AgCenter correspondent Craig Gautreaux reports that weather was to blame for the lower yields.(Runtime 1:25)
(Video 05/29/12) Louisiana farmers just finished a somewhat disappointing wheat harvest. LSU AgCenter correspondent Craig Gautreaux reports that weather was to blame for the lower yields.(Runtime 1:25)
(Video 05/29/12) Summer is here, and keeping your body hydrated and protected from the sun are especially important this time of year. LSU AgCenter correspondent Craig Gautreaux reports on keeping your summer safe. (Runtime 1:37)
(Audio 05/22/12) Soybean planting is nearly complete with producers expected to plant more than 1.1 million acres across the state. (Runtime: 1:05)
(Video 05/29/12) Summer is here, and keeping your body hydrated and protected from the sun are especially important this time of year. LSU AgCenter correspondent Craig Gautreaux reports on keeping your summer safe. (Runtime 1:37)
(Audio 05/22/12) Soybean planting is nearly complete with producers expected to plant more than 1.1 million acres across the state. (Runtime: 1:05)
(Video 05/02/12) Louisiana has one of the highest obesity rates in the United States. A statewide program for families is looking to minimize the problem before it gets started. LSU AgCenter correspondent Craig Gautreaux reports how the Family Nutriition Night program is tackling obesity. (Runtime 1:39)
(Video 05/02/12) Louisiana’s cotton acres are going to be down this year because other crops such as soybeans look more attractive to farmers. LSU AgCenter correspondent Craig Gautreaux gives an update on how this year’s cotton planting is progressing. (Runtime 1:49)
(Audio 05/22/12) Researchers at the LSU AgCenter Aquaculture Research Station have successfully spawned alligator gar. These gar will be used for future research projects to help researchers understand more about these ancient fish that are declining across the country. (Runtime 1:10)
(Video 05/22/12) Soybeans will be Louisiana's largest crop in terms of acreage with more than a million acres expected to be planted this year. LSU AgCenter correspondent Craig Gautreaux gives an update on the current condition of Louisiana's soybean crop. (Runtime 1:36)
(Video 05/22/12) Soybeans will be Louisiana's largest crop in terms of acreage with more than a million acres expected to be planted this year. LSU AgCenter correspondent Craig Gautreaux gives an update on the current condition of Louisiana's soybean crop. (Runtime 1:36)
(Video 05/22/12) Researchers at the LSU AgCenter Aquaculture Research Station have succeeded in spawning alligator gar, a fish that is dwindling in numbers across the country. (Runtime 1:32)
(Audio 05/14/12) Termite swarming activity in Louisiana increases from early May through June. (Runtime: 1:15)
(Video 05/22/12) Researchers at the LSU AgCenter Aquaculture Research Station have succeeded in spawning alligator gar, a fish that is dwindling in numbers across the country. (Runtime 1:32)
(Audio 5/29/12) Children and adults should drink plenty of fluids to avoid becoming dehydrated during summer. LSU AgCenter nutritionist Heli Roy offers some tips to stay safe during hot summer months. (Runtime 1:00)
(Audio 05/02/12) LSU AgCenter cotton specialist John Kruse expects cotton acres to decrease this year because of the attractiveness of other crops such as soybeans. AgCenter correspondent Craig Gautreaux reports on the outlook for the 2012 cotton crop. (Runtime: 0:59)
(Audio 05/29/12) Louisiana farmers completed their wheat harvest much earlier than normal. Yields were lower than last year because of the unusual weather throughout the entire season. (Runtime 1:03)
(Video 05/21/12) In Louisiana, hydrangeas typically bloom once – in May. But the Super Plant Penny Mac hydrangea keeps reblooming many times until the end of summer. On this edition of Get It Growing, LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill visits the Hammond Research Station and looks at the Penny Mac hydrangea – a reliable and beautiful plant for Louisiana landscapes. (Runtime: 1:40)
(Audio 05/07/12) Caladiums are great bedding plants for shady areas of the garden. Caladiums are grown for the their attractive foliage and come in a variety of colors. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 05/07/12) Caladiums are great bedding plants for shady areas of the garden. Caladiums are grown for the their attractive foliage and come in a variety of colors. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 05/21/12) Louisiana gardeners are lucky to be able to grow crape myrtles. These flowering trees do not have a lot of problems. The one nuisance is the crape myrtle aphid. Control is possible with a tree-and-shrub insect spray. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 05/07/12) When establishing a lawn with sod, it is important to care for the sod properly. Sod loses its roots when harvested, so watering is critical early on. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 05/21/12) Louisiana gardeners are lucky to be able to grow crape myrtles. These flowering trees do not have a lot of problems. The one nuisance is the crape myrtle aphid. Control is possible with a tree-and-shrub insect spray. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 05/07/12) When establishing a lawn with sod, it is important to care for the sod properly. Sod loses its roots when harvested, so watering is critical early on. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(For Release On Or After 05/11/12) You can recycle yard waste back into the landscape through the process of composting, which benefits your garden, your budget and the environment. Compost is used primarily in bed preparation to improve the soil and can even be used in preparing potting mixes.
(For Release On Or After 05/18/12) Summer-flowering bulbs provide an excellent way to introduce colorful flowers, interesting foliage and even fragrance into the summer landscape. Most summer-flowering bulbs are native to tropical or subtropical climates and will reliably bloom here for many years.
(For Release On Or After 05/25/12) Propagating plants means to create new plants from those you already have, and you can do that in many different ways. Planting seeds and rooting cuttings are two of the most common methods of propagation. But another technique, called layering, is useful in propagating a wide variety of ornamental plants.
(For Release On Or After 05/04/12) Hydrangeas have a long tradition of use in shady Southern gardens. From late April through July, huge flower heads of light pink, pink, rosy red, lavender, light blue, bluish purple and blends of those colors as well as white appear above the rich green leaves.
CROWLEY, La. – Rice growers heard details Thursday (May 24) of using a new fungicide that could help them with an untreatable form of the disease sheath blight.
CROWLEY, La. – Rice growers heard details Thursday (May 24) of using a new fungicide that could help them with an untreatable form of the disease sheath blight.
(Distributed 05/30/12) CROWLEY, La. – The LSU AgCenter Rice Research Station will hold its annual field day June 28 with a variety of speakers and presentations.
(Distributed 05/30/12) CROWLEY, La. – The LSU AgCenter Rice Research Station will hold its annual field day June 28 with a variety of speakers and presentations.
(Distributed 05/25/12) MAMOU, La. – Experts from the LSU AgCenter Rice Research Station will tell farmers about their latest work Thursday (May 31) at the Evangeline Parish Rice Field Day.
(Distributed 05/25/12) Alligator gar are declining in numbers across much of the country. Researchers at the LSU AgCenter Aquaculture Research Station have successfully spawned gar in tanks to be used in studies to better understand this ancient fish.
(Distributed 05/25/12) MAMOU, La. – Experts from the LSU AgCenter Rice Research Station will tell farmers about their latest work Thursday (May 31) at the Evangeline Parish Rice Field Day.
(Distributed 05/25/12) Alligator gar are declining in numbers across much of the country. Researchers at the LSU AgCenter Aquaculture Research Station have successfully spawned gar in tanks to be used in studies to better understand this ancient fish.
(Distributed 05/17/12) East Feliciana 4-H clubs hope their school-community garden project will help decrease the incidence of diabetes and high blood pressure in elementary and junior high students in the parish.
(Distributed 05/02/12) Fourth-grade students from Amite Elementary School were among dozens of school children who toured the LSU AgCenter Aquaculture Research Station as part of Aquaculture Education Day for Louisiana science teachers and students May 2.
(Distributed 05/01/12) This year’s Louisiana soybean crop could exceed 1 million acres, boosted by low prices for other crops and high fertilizer prices, said Ron Levy, LSU AgCenter soybean specialist.
(Distributed 05/03/12) In addition to celebrating the 125th anniversary of the Louisiana Agricultural Experiment Station, LSU AgCenter scientists and specialists will present ways to improve pasture at a forage field day at the Southeast Research Station in Franklinton on May 31.
(Distributed 05/02/12) Fourth-grade students from Amite Elementary School were among dozens of school children who toured the LSU AgCenter Aquaculture Research Station as part of Aquaculture Education Day for Louisiana science teachers and students May 2.
(Distributed 05/01/12) This year’s Louisiana soybean crop could exceed 1 million acres, boosted by low prices for other crops and high fertilizer prices, said Ron Levy, LSU AgCenter soybean specialist.
(Distributed 05/25/12) Sheep and goat producers heard the latest in research-based information for raising their livestock at a field day held at the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine on May 19.
(Distributed 05/17/12) East Feliciana 4-H clubs hope their school-community garden project will help decrease the incidence of diabetes and high blood pressure in elementary and junior high students in the parish.
(Distributed 05/04/12) Plant producers, representatives from government agencies and private companies attended a unique field day to discuss the certification of wetland grasses during a field day at the LSU AgCenter Burden Center in Baton Rouge on April 24.
(Distributed 05/04/12) Plant producers, representatives from government agencies and private companies attended a unique field day to discuss the certification of wetland grasses during a field day at the LSU AgCenter Burden Center in Baton Rouge on April 24.
(Distributed 05/11/12) Although Formosan subterranean termites can cause problems anytime during the year, Mother's Day is a major time when alates, or winged termites, are most active.
(Distributed 05/17/12) White-tailed deer researchers at the LSU AgCenter Bob R. Jones Idlewild Research Station in Clinton are using sperm from dead bucks to keep their favorable genes alive.
(Distributed 05/03/12) The LSU AgCenter Northeast Research Station has scheduled a pest management and crop production field day for June 14 at the research station in St. Joseph.
(Distributed 05/15/12) CROWLEY, La. – Louisiana farmers let out a collective sigh of relief as word spread recently that federal officials had approved release of a new fungicide for rice.
(Distributed 05/03/12) A privately funded ecotourism project administered by the LSU AgCenter has led to development of three canoeing trails in northeast Louisiana to lure adventurers to experience its bayous lined with majestic cypress trees.
(Distributed 05/03/12) The LSU AgCenter Red River Research Station has scheduled a crop production field day for June 6 at the station in Bossier City.
(Distributed 05/09/12) Alligator farmers could grow bigger alligators faster and with less cost based on feeding studies conducted at the LSU AgCenter Aquaculture Research Station.
(Distributed 05/01/12) Fourteen 4-H members were winners in Louisiana State 4-H Commodity Ambassador contests April 24 on the LSU campus in Baton Rouge. In all, 75 4-H’ers from across the state competed in the chicken, egg, seafood, sugar and turkey contests.
(Distributed 05/30/12) Many Louisiana residents who have been outside during the day recently have probably noticed a fast-flying gnat buzzing their heads. People who have been bitten may have noticed a red swelling reaction.
(Distributed 05/08/12) The LSU AgCenter School of Animal Sciences will present a beef field day at the Crossbred Beef Unit on Ben Hur Drive in Baton Rouge on June 9.
(Distributed 05/16/12) CROWLEY, La. – Louisiana rice farmers who plan to harvest crawfish from their fields next year should consider restocking crawfish once their rice crops have been flooded.
(Distributed 05/01/12) Cotton acreage is expected to decrease in Louisiana this year, mirroring a downward trend nationwide. John Kruse, LSU AgCenter cotton specialist, said the decline can be partly explained by the sudden jump up in fertilizer prices, lower cotton prices and high soybean prices.
