Home > Lawn & Garden > Home Gardening > Flowers > Get Ready for Gardening [Image: Autumn Lilac azalea] Get ready for spring gardening by attending one of the LSU AgCenter-sponsored shows. Experts will be at all the shows giving advice, making presentations and answering your questions. Horticulturist Says Rose Care Needed in Late Summer [Image: Pruning] Louisiana in August may not be the most enjoyable time to work in the yard, but rose bushes need attention to ensure good performance this fall, according to LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dr. Allen Owings. Marigolds Effective Against the Southern Rootknot Nematode [Image: yellow marigolds] Marigolds produce substances that are toxic to at least one or more kinds of nematodes. Petunias are Popular Bedding Plant [Image: petunias] Information on the use of petunias in our Louisiana home landscapes.  more articles... Hot-weather Gardening: Freshen with new flowers, pruning, pest control [Image: zinnias] Yards and gardens generally look a little frayed by this time of the year. The final really hot days that usually come at the end of a long, hot summer are especially hard on plants, says LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill. Growing Gladilous in Louisiana [Image: Gladiola] Gladiolus, or sword lily, has been a favorite of Southern gardeners for generations. LSU AgCenter Scientists Testing Weed Control For Louisiana Iris Growers [Image: Louisiana Iris] LSU AgCenter scientists are nearing the end of a two-year weed control study designed to help Louisiana iris growers save money. It is the only weed control study in the state concentrating on field production of Louisiana iris, and its purpose is to increase yields and reduce weed competition. All-American Daylilies Chosen For 2006 [Image: Buttered Popcorn Daylily] A relatively new category has been added to All-America Selections, home of the popular All-America Rose Selections, according to LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dr. Allen Owings. That group is daylilies. Plan Color Scheme for Your Cool-season Landscape October is a transitional month in Louisiana flower gardens. Many warm season annuals have finished or are finishing, and gardeners' thoughts are just beginning to turn to cool-season bedding plants for fall, winter and spring color. Photo Gallery: Sweet Peas [Image: Sweet Peas] Sweet peas are an excellent cool-season annual for Louisiana. The flowers are popular for cutting and bundling because they come in an array of colors and have an intoxicating scent. Seeds should be sown directly in the garden in October or transplanted from containers in November. Sweet peas are vines so the plants need support (fence, netting, etc.) or a trellis to grow on. Sweet peas start blooming in late March and last up to two months, longer if deadheaded regularly. 2003-04 Landscape Performance Bedding Plants and Herbaceous Perennials [Image: Vinca] Efforts in 2003 and 2004 included evaluation of cannas, coleus, angelonias, purslane, lantanas, perennial verbena, annual and perennial salvia, vinca, zinnias, melampodium, petunias, rudbeckia, phlox, daylilies, dianthus, ornamental kale, ornamental cabbage, calendula, violas, pansies, ornamental sweet potatoes, garden mums, African and French marigolds and others. All-American Daylilies: Performance and the Rust Threat [Image: daylily rust] Interest in daylilies is still strong despite rust problems over the past several years. New daylily selections and All-American daylily winners need to be evaluated in the Gulf South for landscape performance. Photo Galleries: Violas [Image: Alpine series viola] Violas, a close relative to the pansy but with smaller flowers, can provide a mass of color on the darkest winter day. Several viola series perform well in Louisiana, but sometimes it's difficult to choose the viola you want with so many series and colors available. The pictures included on this page are all from the annual bedding plant trials performed at the Burden Center in Baton Rouge. Growing Bougainvillea in Louisiana The bougainvillea is a tropical vine whose bright, vibrant flowers positively glow in the landscape. Bougainvilleas should produce two or three beautiful displays of flowers in spring, summer and fall. The colorful parts are actually modified leaves called bracts. The true flowers are small and white. Click for more information...