|
|
| 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. |
| Shrubs serve landscape well (Distributed 10/23/09) Shrubs are important background plants for any home landscape. They have definite growth habits in height, spread and form. |
| Plant azaleas in fall for best success (Distributed 10/16/09) Azaleas are the most widely planted shrub in Louisiana, but few gardeners would ever think about planting them in the fall because many of the varieties aren’t blooming in the nurseries for gardeners to compare colors. |
| Petunias remain popular bedding plants (Distributed 10/09/09) Petunias continue to be one of our most popular bedding plants. They long have been relied on for their consistent landscape performance and can be used as either warm-season or cool-season ornamentals. |
| Post-storm dead spots in lawns require replanting (Distributed 10/02/09) Who knows when we will get another bad storm blowing through Louisiana? We may get just a nasty wind from some front or tornado-like activity. In any case, there will be fallen limbs and branches to deal with. |
| Sustainable landscape trends catching on (Distributed 09/18/09) Thanks in part to technology and the age of communication, our gardens these days are more often being looked at as extensions of our homes to live in and use, rather than just being pretty plantings to look at. |
| Time to divide Louisiana irises (Distributed 09/11/09) Some of the most beautiful irises for our gardens are the hybrids of several native species. Called Louisiana irises, these plants are becoming increasingly popular in gardens all over the world. |
| Saving seeds is part of sustainable landscaping (Distributed 09/04/09) Saving seeds from plants growing in your landscape can be a part of sustainable landscaping – it saves you money from unnecessarily buying new seed. |
| [Image: soil]Complete Composting Information For more detailed information on composting, see these W.A. Callegari Environmental Center information articles. |
| Follow 7 principles for a sustainable landscape (Distributed 08/28/09) One of the LSU AgCenter’s many educational efforts is the Louisiana Yards and Neighborhoods program for gardening and landscape enthusiasts. |
| Ornamental grasses fit in sustainable landscapes (Distributed 08/20/09) Ornamental grasses provide nice, low-maintenance options in sustainable landscapes. Many perennial types of ornamental grasses work well in Louisiana. |
| Follow best management practices when mowing lawn (Distributed 08/14/09) Yes, we are getting to late summer and hopefully less lawn mowing over the next couple months. Nevertheless, it’s still important to mow your lawn properly. |
| Low landscape maintenance is possible with planning (Distributed 08/07/09) Low landscape maintenance is the goal of homeowners, but it’s possible only through proper planning. With the fall planting season coming soon, begin your planning now. |
| Practice smart irrigation in the landscape (Distributed 07/31/09) The Irrigation Association recently wrapped up its national campaign to educate industry professional and homeowners on proper irrigation in the landscape. The association’s efforts reminded us to talk about best practices for watering our Louisiana landscapes. |
| Carpetgrass is a sustainable option (Distributed 07/24/09) The trend today is to minimize fertilizer and chemical applications in the home landscape. If you are looking for a grass that is well-adapted to soil with high moisture levels and low fertility, common carpetgrass may be your most sustainable choice. |
| [Image: rose]Roses need attention during summer (Distributed 07/15/09) Summer is not the most enjoyable time to work in the yard in Louisiana, but rose bushes need attention to ensure good performance through the summer and into the early fall months. |
| Dwarf gardenias have ‘issues’ (Distributed 07/10/09) Several varieties of gardenias work well in the landscape, but dwarf gardenias are more prone to problems. |
| Consider treelike hollies for the landscape (Distributed 06/26/09) Hollies are right behind azaleas, gardenias, camellias, sasanquas and Indian hawthorns in popularity among evergreen shrubs, and they may even be more popular than some of those. |
| 1 2 3 4 |
|
| [Image: tall crape myrtle]Tall crape myrtles look good in right location (Distributed 06/19/09) Crape myrtles continue to be one of the most widely used landscape trees in the southeastern United States. |
| Butterfly gardening peaks during summer (Distributed 06/12/09) Summer is here, and that means butterfly gardening season is upon us. Bedding plants and herbaceous perennials are in full bloom attracting butterflies to our home landscapes. |
| ‘Sun’ coleus shine in the landscape (Distributed 06/05/09) Coleus have long been a summer favorite for Louisiana landscapes. Many old varieties are still with us, but many new ones have sparked renewed interest in this old southern favorite. |
| Crape myrtles may have blooming problems (Distributed 05/29/09) The most popular summer-blooming tree in Louisiana is the crape myrtle with its lovely, long-lasting flowers. Crape myrtles start blooming between mid-May and early June and continue flowering for 80 to100 days depending on the variety. |
| Daylilies brighten up late spring and early summer (Distributed 05/21/09) Daylilies are one of the most popular flowering plants for late spring and early summer in Louisiana. Gardening shoppers always want daylily information. |
| Proper landscape irrigation is critical in summer (Distributed 05/15/09) As we approach the hot summer months, proper irrigation becomes especially important in landscapes. Irrigate when necessary and do so efficiently. Surprisingly, many plants are over-watered rather than under-watered. |
| Experts supply keys to success for azaleas (Distributed 05/08/09) Summer is rapidly approaching, the time when our evergreen azaleas often have difficulty dealing with our heat and humidity. |
| Vinca, periwinkle has roller-coaster history (Distributed 04/27/09) One of the most popular warm-season annual bedding plants is vinca or periwinkle. It is well-known for its prolific and long blooming season. |
| Choose crape myrtles that ‘fit’ home landscape (Distributed 04/20/09) Crape myrtles are one of the most widely used summer-flowering trees in Louisiana landscapes. Many of us are not familiar with the tremendous array of varieties and sizes available. One group of crape myrtles being used more because of its smaller size and excellent flowering performance is the semi-dwarf. |
| Select landscape plants to fit environmental conditions (Distributed 04/13/09) Environmental conditions matter when you select plants for your home landscape. Available space, sun or shade exposure, wet or dry locations and exposure to windy conditions are all important considerations. Choosing plants adaptable to the environment is a sustainable landscape practice. |
| Tips offered for best bedding-plant performance (Distributed 04/03/09) Late March through early May is the prime time for planting our spring annuals in Louisiana. Warm-season bedding plants make a great addition to our home and commercial landscapes. |
| Proper soil sampling important for useful test results (Distributed 03/30/09) Many home gardeners are aware that a soil test is a good practice to determine the soil’s nutrient status, pH and other characteristics. Most of us, however, do not know the proper procedures for taking soil samples, which can make the test results inconclusive. |
| Centipede grass ideal for sustainable landscapes (Distributed 03/20/09) The major grass produced on Louisiana sod farms and most widely planted in residential lawns is centipede grass (Eremochloa ophiuroides). It thrives with less care and usually requires less mowing than many other grasses. |
| Spring is favorite but not best azalea-planting time (Distributed 03/16/09) Azaleas are Louisiana’s most popular shrub. Fall is the best time to plant the flowering shrub, followed by winter, spring and summer. The vast majority of azaleas, however, are planted in spring. |
| 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. |
| Plan color-height scheme for warm-season annuals (Distributed 03/06/09) Early March is the time to begin preparations for adding warm-season annuals to your home landscape. Annual plants are usually simply referred to as “bedding plants” or “color.” |
| Reduce urban stormwater (Distributed 02/20/09) Urban and suburban areas can create heavy loads of pollutants in their water runoff from the concentrations of people, vehicles, homes, parking lots, streets, small and large businesses, industry and sewage. This water runoff is referred to as urban stormwater. |
| Get crape myrtles off to a good start (Distributed 02/13/09) Crape myrtles are the most popular of our flowering trees, and questions abound about their proper care and cultural practices. Keys to crape myrtle success include abundant sunlight, ideal soil pH and drainage, proper pruning, regular fertilization, proper mulching and insect control. |
| Think ahead when choosing landscape plants (Distributed 02/06/09) The spring gardening season is upon us, or will be shortly, and it is time to begin purchasing new trees, shrubs and related plant materials for our landscapes. When selecting ornamentals, think how they will look when they mature as well as how they look now. Consider size, form, texture and color. |
| Many low-maintenance roses now on the market (Distributed 01/30/09) Growing roses in Louisiana has been a challenge for home gardeners, mainly because of diseases brought on by our environment. Heat and humidity adversely affect the many rose varieties we grow. |
| 1 2 3 4 |
|
| Select garden style, then make plans (Distributed 01/23/09) When it comes to home landscaping, many gardeners remain confused about how to create what they want. Efforts at landscaping can be disappointing despite spending a substantial amount of money. The important thing to remember is that developing an attractive, properly functioning landscape is best done using a process. |
| Mulch excellent for landscape when used properly (Distributed 09/15/08) If you don’t include mulches in your gardening efforts, you really should give them a try. You will be amazed by how much they spare you from weeding and how nice they can make your yard and garden look. |
| Knock Out series lives up to its name (Distributed 09/26/08) One of the most exciting new plants for home gardeners released in the past few years has been the Knock Out rose. It is receiving a lot of attention, and rightfully so. More than 6 million plants are being sold every year across the country. This rose fits perfectly into a sustainable, low-maintenance landscape. |
| Baldcypress and relatives are naturals for Louisiana landscapes (Distributed 10/01/08) Baldcypress (Taxodium distichum) is Louisiana’s state tree, and it is one of our featured trees at LaHouse on the LSU campus in Baton Rouge. As one of our most distinguished native trees, it is one of the top five tree species planted in Louisiana landscapes. |
| Top 5 home landscape problems in Louisiana (Distributed 10-09-08) A survey of LSU AgCenter county agents reveals five major landscape problems in Louisiana yards and gardens. These problems are improper or inadequate landscape bed preparation, not knowing soil fertility and pH, improper ornamental plant selection, winter damage to plants and shade tree care. |
| Landscape problems may take year-round care (Distributed 10/16/08) The LSU AgCenter has been promoting research-based best management practices in the home landscape for several years to educate residents on how to manage their lawns, gardens and landscapes to minimize nonpoint pollution, insects, weeds and diseases. |
| Avoid common tree-planting mistakes (Distributed 10/24/08) Fall through winter is the recommended tree-planting season in Louisiana. Often, poor tree performance in residential, commercial and municipal landscapes can be traced to improper planting techniques, but common mistakes in planting, establishment and follow-up care of trees can be avoided by following easy guidelines. |
| Enjoy pansies for many months (Distributed 10/31/08) Pansies continue to be the most popular cool-season bedding plant in Louisiana. They have long been relied on for their consistent outstanding landscape performance. |
| Landscape fruit options abound in Louisiana (Distributed 11/06/08) The late fall and winter months in Louisiana are great for planting fruit trees and shrubs. Ones that work well in our landscapes include fig, citrus, blueberry, pawpaw, pomegranate and persimmon. Most can be easily grown, are low maintenance, have appealing forms, good texture, attractive colors and provide wildlife benefits. These characteristics “fit the bill” for a sustainable landscape. |
| Live Oak Care Important, Fall Through Winter (Distributed 11/21/08) Southern live oaks, known by the scientific name Quercus virginiana, are one of the most popular trees found in Louisiana landscapes. They certainly are considered to be a signature tree in many public places across the state and are widely used in home landscapes. |
| Encore azaleas provide multiseason blooming (Distributed 11/13/08) Not so long ago, nursery and landscape professionals, along with the vast majority of home gardeners, were not fully aware of the multiseason blooming potential of many azalea varieties. |
| Plant native shrubs this fall (Distributed 11/26/08) Many of us think about planting shrubs in the spring, but fall is the best time to plant shrubs in Louisiana. There are advantages to planting woody ornamentals, such as trees and shrubs, at this time. |
| Landscaping with pine trees (Distributed 12/05/08) Pines are one of our many great native tree species. They, along with baldcypress, southern magnolias and oaks, are typically associated with Louisiana. |
| Enjoy flowering trees in late winter and early spring (Distributed 12/12/08) Flowering trees add color and beauty to our landscapes in late winter and early spring. These great trees add flower color at a time when many of us think we have to wait for spring. Most of these trees also are low-maintenance and reliable for long-term performance. |
| Herbaceous perennials offer easy care and beauty to landscape (Distributed 12/18/08) Perennials are plants that live for three years or more and often require two years or more from seed to flower. Technically, trees, shrubs and lawn grasses are all perennials, but gardeners use the term perennial as an abbreviation for “hardy, herbaceous perennial” – a group of nonwoody plants that reliably survive winter cold and grown for their attractive flowers or foliage. |
| Yard care may endanger waterways (Distributed 01/09/09) An important part of LSU AgCenter educational programs focuses on environmental issues. This includes teaching Louisiana gardeners that our yards and neighborhoods are channels to our waterways. |
| Soil pH, bed preparation important for landscaping (Distributed 01/16/09) Whether you’re renovating an existing landscape or developing a new one, keep in mind the importance of soil pH and proper bed preparation. These two factors are essential for the success of your ornamental plants. |
| Sustainable, green landscapes possible (Distributed 08/29/08) Sustainability and “green” are commonly used words in mainstream media. We think of gardening and yard care as green activities, but many of our practices are not green at all, such as overusing pesticides and fertilizers. |
| 1 2 3 4 |
|
|
|
|