(Audio 02/23/15) This time of year is great for dividing perennials that are not in active growth. Dividing perennials can help them grow and bloom better. If you need to reduce the size of a clump, cut it into two to four sections and plant it where you would like the perennial to grow. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Video 02/18/15) Residents sometimes use rows of shrubs, bushes, or trees to create privacy hedges around their yards. On this edition of Get It Growing, LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill recommends some excellent small shrubs for creating an effective privacy screen. (Runtime: 01:36)
(Audio 02/03/15) Hydrangeas are beautiful shrubs that grow well in shady areas in Louisiana. The color of these flowers is determined by the pH of the soil. Treat pink hydrangeas with aluminum sulfate to turn them blue and blue hydrangeas with lime to turn them pink. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 02/09/15) Although bareroot plants are not commonly sold these days, bareroot roses are still available. If you buy these roses, plant them into a well-prepared bed as soon as you can. Make sure you plant them properly to ensure healthy growth. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 02/09/15) February is a good time to fertilize your fruit trees to make sure they grow vigorously and bloom well. You can use a general-purpose fertilizer or a fruit-tree fertilizer and follow the directions on the package. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 02/09/15) Now is still a great time to plant cool-season bedding plants in your landscape. However, not all of these plants will do well in the shade. Where there is little direct sunlight, grow plants such as pansies, violas, foxgloves, columbines, and primroses; they will flourish even without much sun. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(For Release On Or After 02/27/15) Although our lawns are still dormant this month, you can begin to plan your strategy to have an attractive, healthy lawn this summer. Because the grass is still dormant, most lawns look relatively bad now, so don’t judge yours too harshly at this point.
(Audio 02/09/15) Cool winter months are a great time to plant and prune hardy fruit trees in your landscape. Apples, peaches, pears, plums and blueberries should be pruned in a particular way at a particular time of the year. Contact your local extension office for information about pruning fruit trees. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(For Release On Or After 02/20/15) Figs are one of the most widely planted fruit trees in home landscapes in Louisiana. With little care, they will produce crops of juicy, sweet figs every July.
(For Release On Or After 02/13/15) February is an excellent time to fertilize trees. Most trees are just beginning to enter a growth phase – or will within a few weeks. Fertilizing this month provides them with nutrients just when they can use them most effectively.
(For Release On Or After 02/06/15) At some point, many gardeners discover seed catalogs offer a much greater selection of annual flowers and vegetables than can be found at the local nursery. To grow those wonderful plants, however, you must be able to grow your own transplants from seed.
(Audio 02/02/15) Even indoor plants can become infested with pests such as spider mites. Spider mites can cause plants to look unhealthy and eventually turn tannish or brown. Use a magnifying glass to spot these indoor pests and get rid of them using pesticides. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 02/02/15) Winter freezes can cause significant damage to tropical plants in our landscapes. You can either wait until spring to prune or cut the plant down to the ground now. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 02/02/15) To keep everblooming roses vigorously growing, cut them back twice a year. Late winter pruning is done in late January or early February. Wait until March to fertilize, but don't forget to prune now. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 02/02/15) Swiss chard is a vegetable that is very easy to grow. It comes in a variety of colors and can be eaten raw or cooked. Find everything you need at your local nursery or garden center. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 02/02/15) There are many vegetables that will thrive in the cool February weather in Louisiana. Think about planting some vegetables like beets, carrots, cauliflower, or cabbage in your garden this month. Buy seeds and plant them directly in your garden to yield the best crops. (Runtime: 60 seconds)