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A lawn that’s properly cared for and healthy will resist weeds and other pest problems. Following the best management practices (BMPs) in this publication should help keep your lawn in good condition.
This publication outlines some of the options for design, operation and maintenance of ornamental ponds and discusses basic environmental requirements of fish and plants commonly grown in these ponds. 20 pages. Full color. (PDF Format Only)
For an average person soil might just be nothing but dirt which you walk on and never pay attention. But for engineers it is a complex material that must be studied.
When you’ve committed to adding landscaping to your home, walk or ride around to get some landscaping ideas from other homes. See what is being used in your community and what other people who have elevated their homes to a similar height have done with landscaping. general ideas about how to integrate an elevated first floor into a landscaped yard.
A collage of storm spot images from hurricane debris.
Once you've gotten past idea stage, you'll need to develop a budget, prep the yard, choose plants, put shovel in the ground, and be prepared to maintain your landscape.
Once you’ve decided to elevate your home, or moved into a home that is already elevated, there’s no reason to keep it stark and camp-like. Using creative landscaping, an elevated first floor can be hidden or enhanced, and the elevated home can even offer a new perspective. Window boxes and hanging plants on porches can help add another vertical layer of landscaping. This is a visual guide to landscaping your elevated home, and includes references to local resources.
When you’ve committed to adding landscaping to your home, walk or ride around to get some landscaping ideas from other homes. See what is being used in your community and what other people who have elevated their homes to a similar height have done with landscaping. general ideas about how to integrate an elevated first floor into a landscaped yard. Photos from around New Orleans.
There are four distinct components of establishing turfgrass: clearing and grading to provide the desired contours and good surface drainage, soil preparation, planting, and watering and maintenance.
One sure vestige of a hurricane or bad blow is a large, dead area of the lawn. It usually is located near curbside, or anwhere yard debris is piled up for many days. Some spots can be avoided by careful debris management; others are inevitable and will require restoration.
Each year about 300 deaths and 175,000 serious injuries occur in the United States because people don't properly use ladders. This article lists some "Do's and Don'ts" for using a portable ladder.
Not all jobs can be done safely with a ladder or by one person with a ladder. Serious falls are common; every year about 300 deaths and 175,000 serious injuries occur in the United States. Read this article for safety tips when using a ladder.
Articles in this channel contain information you can use to construct a new lawn that will compliment construction work on your home.
Ornamental grasses are an often overlooked group of herbaceous perennials that thrive in the Louisiana climate and will grow beautifully with minimal effort. It’s time to get beyond lawn grasses and take a look at this other category of grassy plants. You’ll really appreciate what they can add to your landscape.
Hurricanes and heavy rains can create excessively wet soil that, when combined with high temperatures, can create stressful, and potentially destructive, conditions for bedding plants, perennials, vegetables, shrubs and even trees. If floodwaters have covered any part of your landscape, here are a few tips...
Cleaning up wood debris after a hurricane or other severe wind storm can inadvertently spread one of Louisiana’s most destructive pests – the Formosan subterranean termite. The highest concentrations of this termite in the continental United States are in Lake Charles and New Orleans, cities flooded following Hurricanes Rita and Katrina.
Cleanup after a disaster can be a major problem. Debris from trees, shrubs and buildings may be everywhere. Even though extra resources may be provided, it may be some time before collection is possible. Debris removal will reduce the potential for nesting by rodents, snakes and insects, or it will, at least, keep those infestations in a concentrated area away from the home.
This part of the web site will present information related to clearing a demolition site or a new building site in preparation for building a home.
A flood-damaged building requires special attention to avoid or correct a mold population explosion.
Soil salts affect turf mostly by withholding moisture from plant tissues. They may also compete for uptake of nutrient ions. Try these suggestions to manage a soil salinity situation.
Best Management Practices in regard to proper planting techniques and mulch use in the home landscape.
