Home > Communications > News > Get It Growing > LSU AgCenter Communications produces a special service called “Get It Growing” aimed at people who want to improve their landscapes, grow flowers and ornamentals or grow vegetables and fruit. This service includes a weekly newspaper column written by horticulturist Dan Gill, a daily (Monday through Friday) 60-second radio spot voiced by Gill, and a weekly 90-second television spot featuring Gill. The newspaper columns are sent via e-mail once a month to a subscriber list. Read More features the newspaper columns.                       See More contains the 90-second TV spots. Hear More includes the 60-second radio spots. In addition, the radio and television spots are available as podcasts. Users can subscribe to the podcast service to receive the daily or weekly programs in their iTunes or comparable program. For more information about the Get It Growing service and the podcasts, please contact Tobie Blanchard at (225) 578-5649. It’s not too hot for color in the garden (For Release On Or After 07/25/09) If you want to boost the color in your landscape, nurseries still have a good selection of colorful bedding plants that will thrive in whatever heat the summer throws at them. You can create cool, elegant color schemes with pastels, or an explosion of bright, vibrant colors full of excitement. Here’s how you can deal with dry weather in your landscape (For Release On Or After 07/18/09) Although Louisiana receives on average about 50 to 60 inches of rain annually, it doesn’t occur evenly through the year. As a result, dry spells are not uncommon, particularly during the heat of mid- to late summer. At those times, we may need to provide supplemental irrigation to flowerbeds, shrubs, lawns and newly planted trees. Here are some tips for vacation plant care (For Release On Or After 07/11/09) Summer is the time when people commonly take their longest vacations. When planning a vacation, people make arrangements to have someone take care of everything from the cat to the newspaper. But many neglect to have someone look after their plants and home grounds during their absence. Think beyond crape myrtles in your landscape (For Release On Or After 07/04/09) For the summer season, no flowering tree or shrub outblooms the crape myrtle. This small tree packs a powerful punch of color over an amazingly long season. But other summer-blooming large shrubs and small trees can do a lot to contribute to the summer display. Here are a few –  more articles... Snails and slugs can damage plants (Audio 06/22/09) Snails and slugs thrive in our hot and humid summer weather. They chew holes in leaves and attack low-growing plants. Gardeners have several options to control them. (Runtime: 60 seconds) Tomato production slows down as heat increases (Audio 06/22/09) By now many gardeners have been harvesting tomatoes. A variety of problems can arise with tomato plants, and by late June production may be shutting down because of the heat. (Runtime: 60 seconds) For summer herbs try Mexican tarragon (Audio 06/22/09) Many herbs don't care for the intense heat of summer. One herb gardeners can grow this time of the year is Mexican tarragon. It is related to marigolds. (Runtime: 60 seconds) Hanging baskets add 'nice touch' to shady areas [Image: Shade-tolerant Plants] (Video 06/22/09) Plants in hanging baskets can add a nice touch to patios or other outdoor living areas. LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill shows you some shade-loving basket plants and how to care for them on this edition of Get It Growing. (Runtime: 1:39) Cypress knees can be a problem in landscapes (Audio 06/22/09) The baldcypress is the state tree of Louisiana. Cypress trees tend to produce knees in swampy conditions. This usually is not an issue in well-drained landscapes, but sometimes knees can form. (Runtime: 60 seconds) Suckers are a problem on crape myrtles (Audio 06/15/09) Crape myrtles are popular landscape trees. One problem with crape myrtles is suckers. Pruning the suckers and using a sprout inhibitor on them can keep them away for up to a year. (Runtime: 60 seconds) Newly planted trees need adequate moisture (Audio 06/15/09) If you planted a tree within the past year, make sure that tree gets plenty of water this summer. LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill explains a good way to ensure new trees get adequate moisture. (Runtime: 60 seconds) Pentas work well in summer landscape (Audio 06/15/09) Gardeners are always looking for plants that are easy to grow and will thrive in Louisiana's summer heat. Pentas are a good plant for this time of the year. They come in a variety of shades and bloom all summer long. (Runtime: 60 seconds) Stay in the shade with indigo [Image: Indigo ] (Video 06/015/09) Do you neglect some of your gardening work during the summer because it’s just too hot? Well, on this edition of Get It Growing, LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill has a plant suggestion that will get you out of the sun and into the shade. (Runtime: 1 minute, 35 seconds) Pot feet protect wooden surfaces (Audio 06/15/09) Container plants are great on porches, decks and patios, but water from these pots can damage wooden surfaces. Boosting container plants will keep the wood dry and safe. (Runtime: 60 seconds) Click for more information...