Louisiana Master Gardener Volunteer Course Planned for Washington Parish

A Louisiana Master Gardener training course is scheduled for Washington Parish on Tuesdays, from August 12 through November 18, 2025.

Prepare Landscape Beds Well for Healthy Plants

Good bed preparation is important, especially when planting trees, shrubs, and herbaceous perennials that we want to live for many years.

What to Do After the Cold Weather

For woody plants and palms, waiting is advised.

Managing Winter Weeds in Lawns

If you’re going to use an herbicide, it’s important to do it while weeds are small.

Gifts for Gardeners

Here are some gift ideas for gardeners.

Preventing Cold Injury of Plants

​Each year, we face situations in which some of our plants could be injured by cold weather.

Use Good Techniques When Planting Trees and Shrubs

Fall is one of the best times to plant most types of trees and shrubs in Louisiana.

Tawny Crazy Ants: No Stingers but Pests Nonetheless

Tawny crazy ant colonies grow to contain very large numbers of ants with multiple queens, and people often find piles of dead ants

LSU AgCenter Provides Opportunities to Learn about Composting

Composting is a way to take yard, garden, and kitchen “waste” and turn it into something useful.

Fall and Spring are Good Times to Apply Bait for Fire Ant Management

If you want long-term control of fire ants but also need to get rid of them quickly in one or more spots, you can take a two-step approach.

What Causes Sooty Mold and What to Do About It

Sooty mold grows where insects have secreted a sugary substance called honeydew.

Managing Erosion in the Landscape – Part 1

Besides the amount of rainfall that we get and the intensity of rainstorms, a number of other factors affect how much erosion occurs on a site.

Managing Erosion in the Landscape – Part 2

Leaves and roots of plants play major roles in reducing erosion.

LSU AgCenter’s Website Offers Time-Tested and New Resources To Gardeners

The LSU AgCenter has a lot of resources that address a variety of topics.

What Insects Make Webs in Trees?

Several types of insects make highly noticeable webs in trees.

Many Milkweeds Support Monarchs

While tropical milkweed is most readily available in garden centers, a number of milkweed species are native to Louisiana.

Distinguishing Poison Ivy from its Look-Alikes

It’s helpful to know what poison ivy looks like.

To Manage Virginia Buttonweed, Start Now

It’s important to start spraying for Virginia buttonweed during the spring, since this is when the weed is more tender and susceptible to herbicides.

There are Legions of Lilies

Easter lilies are perennials in the landscape in most parts of Louisiana.

Plentiful Options for Warm Season Color

Annuals can quickly provide a splash of color – due to their flowers, foliage, or both – in the landscape.

April is a Time to Fertilize Lawns

It's recommended that the warm-season turfgrasses commonly grown in Louisiana be fertilized between April and August.

Not Just the Blues: Indigos and Wild or False Indigos

Kirilow’s or Chinese indigo is sometimes cultivated under tree canopies in Louisiana. There are also wild or false indigos that are grown as ornamental plants.

For Beautiful Blooms, Consider More Manageable Alternatives to Commonly Grown Wisterias

Alternatives to the more invasive wisterias include American wisteria and evergreen wisteria.

It’s Time to Prune Some Types of Roses

Late January to mid-February is the primary time of year to prune everblooming roses in Louisiana.

LSU AgCenter Offers Rose Pruning Demonstration

LSU AgCenter will offer a rose pruning demonstration at the Franklinton Branch Library

Dealing with Privet Problems

Chinese privet is, unfortunately, a common plant in the southeastern US.

Tung Oil Trees Are Part of Southeast Louisiana’s History and Present

Despite having ornamental qualities, tung oil trees are not the best choice for all locations.

Pokey, Spikey Plants in Louisiana, Part 1: Yuccas and an Agave

Several yucca species and at least one agave are considered native to Louisiana.

Pokey, Spikey Plants in Louisiana, Part 2: Palmettos and Prickly Pear Cacti

Dwarf palmetto, saw palmetto, and several species of prickly pear cacti round out the discussion of prickly plants native to Louisiana.

Distilling Information About Distyliums

Distyliums are evergreen, tolerate Louisiana's climate, and can be used as hedge or foundation plants.

‘Tis the Season for Mums

While they’re sometimes thrown out after their fall flower display, garden mums are perennials and can be planted in the landscape.

Revisiting Viburnums

Viburnums, as a group, have long been a bit nebulous to me.

Plan Ahead for Holiday Blooms

Some of the plants most closely associated with the holidays are daylength sensitive. Exposure to long periods of darkness is a key to getting them to bloom.

Sometimes, Gardening is for the Birds

Birds need food, water, and shelter. Gardens can provide all of these.

Drift Roses Provide Many Months of Blooms and Require Little Maintenance

Drift roses are groundcover roses. Like Knock Out roses, they bloom over a long period, but they remain smaller than Knock Out roses do.

Hot, Dry Times

As of August 24, the US Drought Monitor showed all areas of Tangipahoa and Washington Parishes in severe drought.

LSU AgCenter Offers Gardening Classes in Washington Parish

The LSU AgCenter is offering five classes covering a variety of garden- and landscape-related topics in Washington Parish.

Bamboo, Part 1: Runners and Clumpers

Bamboos are grasses. There are many species. We generally divide them into running and clumping types.

Bamboo, Part 2: Getting Rid of It

If you have a stand of bamboo that you want to get rid of, you have a couple of options.

PhytoFindings: June Beetles on Persimmons

May or June beetles feed on many species of plants.

It’s Been a Rough Spring for Some Lawns

Of the six springs I’ve been working in Extension in Louisiana, I’ve received more questions about lawn problems this year than any other.

Rooting out Construction-Related Tree Damage

There are a variety of ways that trees can be damaged during construction.

A Few More of My Favorite Native Plants, and Some Resources

This week, I’m writing about a few more plants – including a shrub and several herbaceous perennials – as well as some native plant resources.

A Few of My Favorite Native Plants

Governor Edwards proclaimed April 2023 Native Plant Month, and I thought I’d write about a few of my favorites.

Pruning Plants that Bloom in the Spring

Ornamental plants that bloom in late winter and early spring generally bloom on shoots that grew in a previous season. These should be pruned after flowering.

Swooning for Perennial Salvias

Some salvias tend to be perennial here, while others don’t.

Louisiana Master Gardener Volunteer Course Planned for Washington Parish

Individuals in the Louisiana Master Gardener program help the LSU AgCenter provide education about gardening and lawn care.

Plant Gingers and Other Root-Hardy Tropicals in Spring

Many gingers are among the root-hardy tropicals that enrich our landscapes in southeastern Louisiana.

Trees for Relatively Wet Areas

​This article wraps up a series about plants for moist or wet sites.

Deciduous Shrubs for Moist or Wet Areas

If you’d like a deciduous plant for moist or wet sites, you have options.

LSU AgCenter Offers Lawn Care Class

The LSU AgCenter will offer a Lawn Care in Louisiana class on Tuesday, March 14, 2023, at LSU AgCenter’s Washington Parish office in Franklinton.

Evergreen Shrubs for Relatively Wet Areas

Plants in low areas and on sites with a water table close to the surface need to be able to tolerate a good deal of soil moisture.

Many Plants Need Time to Chill

Exposure to a sufficient extent of cold temperatures, followed by warm temperatures favorable for growth, is involved determining when a plant "wakes up."

Cracking that Nut: Differentiating Among Chestnut Trees and Relatives

There are simple ways to differentiate among American chestnut, Chinese chestnut, and Allegheny chinquapin trees.

PhytoFindings: Parasitized Aphids on Mint

When aphids have been on a plant, we often see skins (the exoskeletons they shed as they molt) and aphid “mummies,” or parasitized aphid bodies.

It’s Time to Plant Cool-Season Flowers

One way to add cheer to winter and early spring landscapes is to plant cool-season flowering plants.

You Can Divide, Plant, and Fertilize Louisiana Irises in the Fall

The leaves of Louisiana irises provide green color in landscape beds through the winter and then flower in the spring.

Raised Beds Can Help Gardeners Overcome Challenges

Raised beds are often the best option for growing vegetables at home.

Match the Plant to the Site

The phrase “right plant, right place” encompasses much of what people need to know about landscaping.

Killing Unwanted Woody Plants

A relatively way to kill many types of unwanted woody vines, shrubs, and trees is to make a “cut stump” treatment with a triclopyr-containing herbicide.

​Purple- and Pink-Flowered Perennials for Your Viewing Pleasure

There's a variety of purple- and pink-flowered perennials that perform well in our climate and attract butterflies and bees.

Let’s Talk About Lichens

​Few questions come up as frequently as those about lichens.

Sunflower and Blackeyed Susan Relatives Provide Yellow Color in the Landscape

Some are among the plants that are reliably perennial in Louisiana.

Establishing a Lawn, Part 2: Soil Preparation, Planting, and Post-Planting Care

Regardless of whether you seed, sod, plug, or sprig, there are certain things to do before and after planting turfgrass.

Establishing a Lawn, Part 1: Take a Soil Test, and Choose a Grass Well-Suited to Your Site

First, consider whether turfgrass is the best choice for your site.

Mulch in Moderation: Avoid Too Much (or Misplaced) Mulch, as Well as Miserly Mulching

Mulch serves important purposes in landscapes and other sites where plants are grown.

LSU AgCenter Offers Crape Myrtle Pruning Demonstration

General principles for pruning landscape plants will also be discussed.

The Persistent Topic of Crape Myrtle Pruning

The dormant period, prior to when new growth begins, is a good time to prune crape myrtles, as well as other plants that flower on new growth.

Seven Graduate from LSU AgCenter’s Louisiana Master Gardener Course in Washington Parish

Seven individuals in Washington Parish recently advanced from being LMG Trainees to LMG Apprentices.

​Camellias Provide Fall and Winter Color

Camellias are popular sources of color in fall and winter gardens in the southeastern US.

Take Appropriate Steps When Moving Plants Within the Landscape

To give the plant the best chance for survival, you must make sure that sufficient roots are retained when the plant is dug.

When Insects Invade

Exclusion should be the primary defense against indoor invaders of any kind.

Fall Webworms Have Been Abundant This Year

Fall webworms feed on the leaves of many plants, with pecans, persimmons, bald cypresses, and sweetgums among the trees on which they’re most commonly observed.

Choosing Storm-Tolerant Trees

Three highly wind-resistant species are among our most iconic Louisiana trees: bald cypress, live oak, and southern magnolia.

​Check Fertilizer and Pesticide Concentrations to Get the Best Deal

Caring for Orchids

Orchids include species from a wide range of climates and with a variety of growth habits. The commonly sold Phalaenopsis orchids are relatively easy to grow.

Summer-Flowering Perennials for Southern Louisiana

Here are some examples of herbaceous, summer-flowering plants that are perennial in our climate.

What We Mean When We Talk about Fertilizers: Introduction

Like we do, plants need certain nutrients to live. It’s important that they have enough of each essential element but not an excessive amount of any one.

What We Mean When We Talk about Fertilizers: Nitrogen

Plants often need supplemental nitrogen, in addition to what they would naturally be able to obtain from the soil, for optimal growth.

What We Mean When We Talk about Fertilizers: Phosphorus and Potassium

Complete fertilizers provide nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, and are often useful. Sometimes, though, separate phosphorus and potassium sources are needed.

What We Mean When We Talk about Fertilizers: Calcium, Magnesium, and Sulfur

This article rounds out our discussion of macronutrients, or elements that plants contain in relatively large concentrations.

What We Mean When We Talk about Fertilizers: Micronutrients

In most cases, micronutrient quantities naturally available in soil are sufficient, but there are situations in which micronutrient fertilization is needed.

Louisiana Master Gardener Volunteer Courses Planned for Tangipahoa and Washington Parishes

What We Mean When We Talk About Soil pH

A soil test is needed to know what your soil’s pH is and how much, if any, lime or sulfur is needed.

Are Sedges Stressing You Out?

Sedges are characterized by stems that are triangular in cross-section.

Spring-Blooming Wildflowers

I’ve recently observed a variety of wildflowers blooming in my yard and neighborhood. You might have seen some of these, too.

Plant Trees and Shrubs Appropriately for Long-term Survival

While fall the preferred time to plant most types of tree and shrubs, planting in early spring is better than late spring or summer.

Fertilizing Landscape Beds

Late winter and early spring, as the aboveground parts of plants start growing again, are good times to fertilize perennial plants in landscape beds.

It’s Time to Think about Pre-emergence Herbicides for Crabgrass

Pre-emergence herbicides prevent weed seed germination.

Read the Label Carefully When Choosing and Using Herbicides

Some products have similar trade names but contain active ingredients that have different effects.

​Making Pruning Cuts to Get the Results That You Want

Understanding how plants respond to pruning cuts can help you get plants to grow in the way that you desire.

Sometimes You Need a Break: Plants for Evergreen Screens

A number of evergreen plants provide options for screening, depending on the desired height and width, how sunny or shady the site is, and how wet the area is.

Perennial Plants for Wet Areas

Plants not suited to wet conditions often develop root rot or just don’t grow well in wet areas. Thankfully, we have options for wet spots.

‘Tis the Season for Armillaria Mushrooms

Mushrooms of Armillaria and Desarmillaria fungi, which cause root rot on a number of woody plants, often appear in the fall.

Plants for the Small Tree Niche

It’s nice to have variety sometimes.

Dos and Don’ts of Staking Trees

Staking is sometimes necessary but needs to be done appropriately to avoid injuring trees or predisposing them to breakage or windthrow later in life.