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- Get It Growing
(Video 03/25/13) At this time you can plant many different types of vegetables. Tomatoes are among the favorites. On this edition of Get It Growing, LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill explains what to look for when selecting tomato transplants from the nursery. (Runtime: 1:40)
(Audio 03/24/13) Gardeners often wait until roses are in bloom to head out to nurseries to purchase plants. Planting is stressful for a plant, so it's best done before it starts blooming. Late March is a good time to plant roses. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 03/24/13) Louisiana gardeners use many types of tropical plants in their landscapes. They may have been damaged by freezes this winter, so you can trim them back. Wait until April or May to plant new ones. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 03/24/13) Thrips are tiny insects that invade the flower buds of roses. As the bud opens, the flower may appear burned on the edges. Some buds may never fully open. Systemic insecticides can help control thrips. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 03/24/13) Gardeners use the term deadhead when talking about removing faded flowers from their plants. This keeps the plants looking attractive, and also prevents the plant from setting seed - which encourages more blooms. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 3/24/13) The buck moth caterpillar, found primarily on live oaks, has black stinging spines. Usually by late March, you can see caterpillar masses up in trees. A tree service can spray the trees before the caterpillars descend. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 03/18/14) Prospective homebuyers often have their home inspected before purchasing it. It's a good idea to have the trees on the property inspected as well. Consider having a licensed arborist check the trees for potential problems. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 03/18/14) Fruit trees must be sprayed preventively for insects and diseases. If you wait until they are already infested, it's too late to spray. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 03/18/13) Gardeners may get overwhelmed by the many options of fertilizers available. Remember you don't need a different fertilizer for each plant. Consider getting a general-purpose fertilizer to feed most plants in your landscape. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 03/18/13) Brown patch is a common fungal disease that attacks lawns. St. Augustine grass is the most susceptible, but the fungus also attacks centipede grass. It gets started when the weather is cool and moist. Hear more to learn about the symptoms. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 03/18/13) Louisiana lawns start to wake up in March. Often home gardeners want to fertilize their lawns early. The grass is best left alone and not stimulated while it is greening up. Wait until April to fertilize with any general-purpose lawn fertilizer. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Video 03/18/13) Animals often eat plants, but rarely does the opposite happen. On this edition of Get It Growing, LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill explores some interesting carnivorous plants that flip the food web around by actually eating insects and bugs. (Runtime: 1:38)
(Video 03/11/13) If you’re looking for transitional plants that can survive remaining freezes but also stand tough during hot weather, calibrachoa would be a good choice. They’re not petunias, but these hardy perennials look a lot like petunias. On this edition of Get It Growing, LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill explains why calibrachoa is a good choice to plant in your garden now. (Runtime: 1:34)
(Audio 03/11/13) Perennials live from year to year in our landscapes. Their clumps will grow larger and larger and may eventually need to be divided. Get this done in early spring while the plant is still dormant. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 03/11/13) March is a great month to fertilize shrubs in your landscape. You don't have to fertilize them if they don't appear to need it. Newly planted shrubs or ones with low vigor can benefit from an application of fertilizer. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 03/11/13) Louisiana home gardeners plant lots of vegetables in March and April. Pollination is an issue for some vegetables. Some are self-pollinating. Others have to be pollinated by bees or insects. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 03/11/13) Vegetable transplants purchased from nurseries have been pampered in greenhouses. Outdoor conditions can be stressful for them. They need to be hardened off before planting them into the garden. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 03/11/13) You may notice flower beds filled with beautiful cool-season bedding plants. These plants peak around late March and April. The best beds were planted in the fall. So if you want these flowers, plant them as soon as possible. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Video 03/04/13) Now is a great time to plant vegetables like broccoli and cabbage in your garden. On this edition of Get It Growing, LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill explains a crucial, but sometimes overlooked part of vegetable production — harvesting at the right time. (Runtime: 1:49)
(Audio 03/05/13) Perennials are colorful plants grown for their colorful flowers or foliage. They can brighten our landscapes and live for many years. Gardeners can find established perennials grown in large containers at nursery centers. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 03/05/13) Cool-season weeds are actively growing in lawns and flower beds this time of the year. As the weather warms, these weeds can explode in growth. Make sure they don't flower and set seeds. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 03/05/13) Spring-flowering bulbs can add a lot to gardens. Many of these bulbs do not bloom again well or at all. These bulbs should be pulled out of the garden and composted. For the ones that do, such as daffodils and narcissus, leave them in place. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 03/05/13) Gardeners can use pre-emergence herbicides to control weeds before they show up. Early March is the ideal time to use these herbicides to prevent weeds from popping up. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 03/05/13) March is an active month in the home vegetable garden. We can begin planting warm-season vegetables in many areas of the state. Gardeners do need to watch out for late freezes. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(For Release On Or After 03/22/13) Louisiana gardeners begin to plant spring and early summer vegetables this month. Watch the last freeze date in your area and be prepared to cover or protect tender plants in case of an unusually late freeze.
(For Release On Or After 03/15/13) Visions of delicious homegrown vegetables can become a reality with some planning and a willingness to put in the time and work that planting and caring for a garden require.
(For Release On Or After 03/29/13) I love to garden in shady areas, although I know gardeners who complain about gardening successfully in the shade. Trouble mostly occurs when sun-loving plants are planted in shady locations.
(For Release On Or After 03/08/13) If you have a thick layer of gunk on the bottom of a small decorative pond or aquatic garden, it’s a good idea to clean it out early this month. Generally, you should clean out smaller aquatic gardens about once a year and larger ones every few years.
(For Release On Or After 03/01/13) When it comes to gardening, knowing the sunlight conditions in different areas of your landscape is critical to success. If you should plant a shrub you just bought in partial shade, do you know where partial shade exists in your landscape?
