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| [Image: gardenia]Gardenias are blooming across La. (Distributed 05/18/12) Gardenias are blooming in Louisiana landscapes now. Known as cape jasmine to some Southern gardeners, gardenias are one of the most widely planted landscape shrubs in Louisiana. |
| [Image: Sky Rock pennisetum]Newer flowers adorn home landscapes (Distributed 05/11/12) Many of us may not realize it, but the last 20 years have been some of the most exciting times in the history of home landscaping. It would be impossible to list all the new ornamental plants – from trees to shrubs to perennials to annual flowers – that have been recently released. |
| [Image: Mr. Clifford daylily]Daylilies give early-season color (Distributed 05/04/12) Daylilies are one of the most popular flowering plants for late spring and early summer landscapes in Louisiana. They have reached peak bloom about three weeks early this spring due to our lack of significant cold weather in February and March. |
| [Image: Louisiana Red copper plant]Tropical-like plants can highlight summer landscapes (Distributed 04/20/12) Mid- to late spring is when we start seeing tropical-like plants take off and start growing as we enter our warmest time of year. Instead of summer being a “down time” in the landscape, you can use these plants to enhance your warm-season efforts. |
| Consider environments for summer landscape planning (Distributed 04/26/12) Keep environmental conditions in mind when you select plant materials for a home landscape. The size of the planting area is important along with other site characteristics, such as sun or shade exposure, wet or dry locations, and exposure to windy conditions. |
| [Image: Fireworkd gomphrena]Sun-loving bedding plants perform spring through fall (Distributed 03/16/12) It’s mid-March, and spring bedding-plant time is here for most of us. We have been eager to plant flowers this spring with our warm winter weather and the early arrival of springlike conditions in the landscape. |
| [Image: Serena angelonia flower]2011 La. Super Plants are still super (Distributed 04/12/12) In 2010, the LSU AgCenter introduced a new ornamental plant education, promotion and marketing program called Louisiana Super Plants. It highlights tough and beautiful plants that perform well in Louisiana landscapes. Plant selections are announced each spring and fall. |
| [Image: babywing begonia]These warm-weather plants do well in shade (Distributed 03/30/12) As the peak of the spring bedding plant season arrives, you may want a few warm-season flowers in the shady areas around your landscape. Most of our warm-season flowers prefer full sun or at least more sun than shade. But many great bedding plants will provide desirable flowering and foliage for those shaded areas in your landscape through fall. |
| [Image: caladiums in shade]Caladium foliage brightens shady gardens (Distributed 04/05/12) Many Louisiana gardeners enjoy a summer landscape planting of caladiums. These are one of the most popular plants to fill shady gardens because they thrive in the heat and humidity common in Louisiana summers. Caladiums are a great, low-maintenance bedding plant. |
| [Image: native azalea]Native shrubs, trees are worthwhile additions (Distributed 03/09/12) Many home gardeners have an interest in native plants. We are fortunate in Louisiana to have a vast abundanace of native plants for home landscape use. These include our native wildflower, the native Louisiana iris, our state flower, the Southern magnolia, and our state tree, the magnificent bald cypress. |
| [Image: silverbell]Silverbell is a great, underused native tree (Distributed 03/02/12) Silverbells comprise several species of native trees that are attracting increased interest in the southeastern United States. The two-winged silverbell (Halesia diptera) is one of our many smaller-growing native tree species that should be considered for inclusion in a native landscape plan. |
| [Image: double Knock Out rose]It’s time to start rose care (Distributed 02/24/12) Home gardeners need to increase their knowledge and awareness of cultural practices recommended for roses in our landscapes. February and March is the time of the year to get started with your rose garden maintenance. |
| [Image: flowering cherry]Landscapes are looking like spring (Distributed 02/17/12) Landscapes around the state are in various stages of their spring awakening, but it is still February. With our unusually warm January and February, we’re seeing flower buds opening and foliage growth commencing ahead of schedule. |
| [Image: liriope]Liriope – a popular ground cover (Distributed 02/10/12) Ground covers are very popular landscape plants in Louisiana. The percentage of all ornamental plants sold in the state in the ground cover category is much higher than in other southern states. Our most common ground cover is liriope. |
| [Image: usda map]USDA plant hardiness zone map shows La. changes (Distributed 02/03/12) When the U.S. Department of Agriculture released its updated Plant Hardiness Zone Map in January, it prompted quite a bit of conversation in the horticultural world. The new map had been long-awaited and was the first update since 1990. It indicates the average minimum winter temperatures for all areas of the United States. |
| [Image: pruning boxwood]Prune trees, shrubs carefully (Distributed 01/27/12) Pruning is one of the activities that many home gardeners have questions about. When to prune? How to prune? Why prune? |
| [Image: Carlos Smith verbena]Perennial verbenas remain good landscape choice (Distributed 01/20/12) One of the great flowers that continues to be popular in our Louisiana landscapes is perennial verbena. |
| Prune crape myrtles properly (Distributed 01/13/12) We are midwinter in Louisiana, and this is the time when crape myrtle pruning becomes commonplace. Unfortunately, these are among the most abused trees in Louisiana’s residential and commercial landscapes. Crape myrtles need only occasional pruning, in most cases, to obtain the desired landscape effect. |
| Try a horticulture resolution this year (Distributed 01/06/12) Happy New Year! It's time for new projects, new resolutions and making plans for another gardening season in Louisiana. |
| Holiday cactuses brighten the season (Distributed 12/23/11) Although poinsettias are typically associated with the holidays, another group of plants to consider are the Thanksgiving and Christmas cactuses. These are highly recommended for long-term enjoyment. |
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| Redbud tree gives early flower color (Distributed 12/30/11) Redbuds are one of our more popular early spring-flowering small trees. The most common redbud species is the Eastern redbud – Cercis canadensis –the one we primarily plant in Louisiana. |
| It’s not too late to plant cool-season flowers (Distributed 12/16/11) Most Louisiana gardeners know about the new Louisiana Super Plants program launched by the LSU AgCenter in 2010. This program highlights tough and beautiful plants that perform well in Louisiana landscapes. The AgCenter announces new selections each spring and fall. We still have time to add cool-season flowers to the landscape. |
| Mulching is good landscape practice (Distributed 12/09/11) Mulching flowers, trees and shrubs is a great sustainable landscape practice when done correctly. |
| Wintertime lawn care mostly means relax (Distributed 12/02/11) Frost has settled over the majority of the state. This means many of our warm-season lawn grasses are going dormant for the winter. December begins the bleak time of the year for warm-season turfgrasses in Louisiana. |
| Plant trees now through midwinter (Distributed 11/23/11) November, December and into mid-January are excellent times for planting trees in Louisiana. During this period, the soil is still warm, encouraging vigorous root growth, and trees will have several months to get established before summer’s heat. |
| There’s still time to plant pansies, violas (Distributed 11/18/11) The ideal planting time for cool-season bedding plants in Louisiana runs from late September through early December. Some of our common cool-season flowers prefer the earlier planting dates, and some do better with the later planting dates. |
| Kale and cabbage produce appealing foliage all winter (Distributed 11/11/11) Ornamental kale and cabbage are becoming increasingly popular as fall bedding plants in Louisiana. Alternatives to garden mums and pansies, these plants have feathery leaves with robust colors that make them well suited for landscape and container plantings. |
| Sasanquas provide color during late fall, early winter (Distributed 11/04/11) Sasanquas are one of our most popular flowering shrubs for the late fall through early winter. Also known by the scientific name Camellia sasanqua, sasanquas are typically smaller-growing than the plants we normally call camellias. They also have more finely textured foliage. They bloom from mid-October through December or January. |
| Fall can bring colorful foliage and flowers to your landscape (Distributed 10/28/11) Your landscape can include many trees and shrubs that will provide significant color in fall and winter year after year. |
| Try some new, cool-season flowers in your landscape (Distributed 10/14/11) Are you looking for something new to try in your cool-season landscape this fall and winter? There is much to select from in the way of annual flowers for planting during the cool season of the year. Most of us know about pansies, snapdragons, petunias, garden mums and older varieties of dianthus, but there is much more. |
| Plant foxgloves now for flowers next spring (Distributed 10/20/11) Last fall, the LSU AgCenter announced a new plant marketing and promotion program called Louisiana Super Plants. The program identifies superior plants for Louisiana landscapes and assures wholesale growers are growing and retail nurseries are carrying the selections. Then, we get the word out to the gardening public about these outstanding plants. |
| Robin Hill azaleas are popular for multi-season blooms (Distributed 10/07/11) Encore azaleas have gathered consideration attention over the past 10 years, but we need to remember we had great, fall-flowering – sometimes referred to a multi-seasonal-flowering – azaleas before the Encore varieties. Another azalea group widely planted in Louisiana for fall blooming is the Robin Hill hybrids. |
| Planting time for cool-season flowers starts in October (Distributed 09/30/11) Cool-season bedding plants continue to be popular in Louisiana. Most home gardeners do more warm-weather than cool-weather flower gardening, but we all need to realize that we have many great cool-season flowers that will do well in our climate from mid-fall through late spring. |
| Coming cool season brings landscape chores (Distributed 09/23/11) September begins the transition to cool weather and fall activities in the Louisiana landscape. It is important to get started with cool-season flowers and bed preparation, assess your lawn status, consider mulching for trees and shrubs, and more. |
| Ground covers are great for fall planting (Distributed 09/16/11) As we head toward fall, you may want to consider ground covers for those problem areas in your landscape. You may have shady areas that can no longer support lush turfgrass. Maybe you have a sloping area where mowing is difficult. Planting a ground cover may be an option. |
| Palm planting season ends in September (Distributed 09/09/11) Planting palms in home landscapes has gained considerable interest in the past few years for several reasons. For one, many new, exotic palm species and varieties are more readily available. But because cold temperatures the past couple winters damaged some of the species, people are searching for the most reliable palms |
| Soil pH, beds, fertilizer are keys to landscape success (Distributed 09/02/11) The LSU AgCenter has been promoting research-based best management practices in the home landscape for several years to inform residents on how to properly manage their landscape plants. Many problems associated with landscape plants can be overcome easily if proper practices are maintained. |
| Drift roses offer new landscape options (Distributed 08/26/11) The new Drift series roses were created in response to increased consumer demand for smaller, everblooming plants. Drift roses fit a special niche in the shrub-rose market. These roses are from Conard-Pyle/Star Roses, the same folks that gave us the Knock Out series of low-maintenance landscape roses. |
| Rudbeckia offers annual, perennial color in Louisiana (Distributed 08/19/11) Late summer through fall when temperatures begin to moderate and growing conditions become more favorable is one of the best times of the year to plant flowering perennials. This includes plants such as purple coneflower, Shasta daisies, gaillardia, rudbeckia, daylilies, verbena and more. |
| Low-maintenance plants provide color in late summer and fall (Distributed 08/11/12) Copper plants are great foliage plants for the landscape. These go by the scientific name of Acalypha, and they really put on a fantastic show in late summer and fall. You can choose from a tremendous number of these varieties – some old, some new. Proven Winners has introduced several the past few years, and we also have a number that are industry standards in Louisiana – such as Louisiana Red and Opelousas Red. |
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| Summertime crape myrtle questions answered (Distributed 07/29/11) It’s the time of the year, or at least one of the times of the year, when home gardeners have crape myrtle questions. We will answer a few here. |
| Prune roses now for fall blooms (Distributed 08/05/11) Late August and early September are the time to begin preparing for fall blooms on your roses. Rose flowering and overall performance aren’t great during Louisiana summers, but each year we have the potential to have great fall blooms due to the cooler conditions and typically drier weather. |
| Popular vincas vary greatly in landscape performance (Distributed 07/22/11) Vinca is the most popular, most sold and most planted warm-season bedding plant in Louisiana. We sometimes call this plant periwinkle. Many home gardeners and landscape professionals claim that vinca is the only summer flower they want to plant. |
| Esperanza, Pride of Barbados and cassava give tropical feel to landscapes (Distributed 07/08/11) Many great plants perform well in summer and fall in Louisiana. Some of these are tropical-like in appearance, including esperanzas, Pride of Barbados and cassava. All of these are low-maintenance in the landscape. |
| Tropical-like summer flowers include cassias, tibouchinas, durantas (Distributed 07/01/11) Louisiana has many great plants that thrive in summer and fall. Some are tropical-like in appearance. They include cassias, princess flowers (also called tibouchinas) and durantas. All are low-maintenance. |
| Fig trees can enhance landscapes (Distributed 06/24/11) Home gardeners around Louisiana frequently have fruit trees in their landscapes, and the fig is certainly one of the most popular. Ficus carica is a native of Asia and was imported into the United States in the 16th century. The fruit is tasty and can be eaten fresh, made into preserves and jams, or used in baking. Figs make nice additions to landscape plantings. |
| Azalea problems answered (Distributed 06/16/11) Azaleas either do great in Louisiana, or they do poorly. The LSU AgCenter regularly receives questions on azalea issues this time of year, but more inquiries than usual have come this spring. |
| Profusion and Zahara zinnias are good for summer landscapes (Distributed 06/10/11) Home gardeners have long enjoyed zinnias, one of the most popular warm-season bedding plants. New zinnia varieties have been introduced regularly over the last few years. Extended bloom and fewer disease issues are some of the primary criteria in development of new zinnia varieties. |
| Take care of your crape myrtle trees (Distributed 06/03/11) Home gardeners need to know and be aware of how to care for and manage crape myrtle trees in our landscapes. These are the most popular of our flowering trees, and questions abound regarding proper care and maintenance. Keys to success with crape myrtles include correct sunlight, ideal soil pH and drainage, proper pruning, regular fertilization, proper mulching and insect control. |
| There’s plenty to do in the summer landscape (Distributed 05/27/11) The end of May means summer is here, even though summer does not “officially” begin for a few more weeks. Summer in the Louisiana landscape usually begins in May and can run through October. We have many activities to keep in mind during this four- to five-month busy time in the home landscape. Keep all of the following items in mind to be more successful in your landscaping efforts. |
| 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. |
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