Home > Lawn & Garden > Home Gardening > Sustainable Landscapes > Flowering trees add spring color to landscapes (Distributed 02/05/10) Flowering trees add considerable color and beauty to our landscapes during the late winter and early spring months. Many of these trees that flower at this time of the year can be considered low maintenance compared to the amount of joy we get from them. Protect your trees (Distributed 01/29/10) Landscape beds, parking lots and construction activities around trees are all possible without harming the trees if you understand where the tree roots are and what they need to survive. Louisiana celebrated Arbor Day earlier in January, and now is a good time of the year to be reminded about tree care in landscape beds, parking lots and construction sites. Watch for iron chlorosis in your landscape plants (Distributed 01/25/10) Iron chlorosis is a common and sometimes serious problem in landscape plants across Louisiana. Reviewing the use of landscape mulch (Distributed 01/15/10) Mulching is a great sustainable landscape practice when done correctly. The new year is a good time to review the use of mulch in the landscape and how to apply it properly to achieve the maximum benefit.  more articles... Match your gardening styles to your site (Distributed 01/11/10) “Selecting the right plant for the right place” is a frequently mentioned phrase in many of our home horticulture educational presentations. How very important it is. When planning new landscape areas or renovating old landscape areas, you need to consider many factors, including gardening style. Camellias brighten winter landscapes (Distributed 12/25/09) Camellias are part of our Southern gardening heritage. A few well-placed specimens will brighten up your landscape during the winter when few other shrubs are blooming. Tree planting needs proper preparation (Distributed 12/18/09) Many landscape trees are planted from fall through the winter in Louisiana. Homeowners need to be aware of some of the common mistakes made in planting, establishment and follow-up care of trees. Sasanquas create winter color in the landscape (Distributed 12/11/09) Sasanquas are one of our most popular flowering shrubs for the late fall through early spring months. They go by the scientific names of Camellia sasanqua. Ground covers serve many purposes (Distributed 03/02/09) Ground covers are low-growing plants other than turfgrasses. Typically, they are perennial, evergreen plants with sprawling or spreading habits. They generally are 1 foot or shorter, but taller plants are used occasionally. Ground covers are considered attractive, low-maintenance landscape options. Avoid landscaping practices that may encourage termites (Distributed 12/4/09) Fall through spring is when most folks add new plants to their landscape. This is the best time of year for planting trees, shrubs and ground covers, but it is also a time to be cautious about creating problems that could bring termites into your home. Landscapes can be created as bird habitats (Distributed 11/27/09) There is a gardening philosophy that is becoming increasingly influential in American gardens. Often called sustainable gardening, the concept involves native plant materials well adapted to the local environments, reduced pesticide use, reduced maintenance and an attempt to create a more natural habitat rather than a decorative garden. Take care of aquatic gardens in fall and winter (Distributed 11/20/09) Including a water feature in the landscape provides an oasis for a wide variety of wildlife. Providing habitat for wildlife is a principle of sustainable landscaping, and as a result aquatic gardens have become quite popular with Louisiana gardeners. Be careful with late fall and winter lawn care (Distributed 11/17/09) November and December begin the bleak time of the year for warm-season turfgrasses in Louisiana. Most turfgrasses should be dormant or at least close to this stage. Be a ‘best manager’ for your lawn and landscape (Distributed 10/30/09) Well-managed lawns and landscaping are good for the environment as well as being attractive. Bad management, however, can negate a lot of the environmental benefits. Click for more information...