more... > Agriculture & Natural Resources > News Articles > The documents in this section are provided by County Agent Kenneth W. Sharpe and appear in a weekly news column on topics related to horticulture and agriculture. P.O. Box 158 · Livingston, LA · 70754 20180 Iowa Street · Old Courthouse Bldg., Room 106 · Livingston, LA · 70754 Phone: (225) 686-3020 · Fax: (225) 686-7334 Prevent Sooty Mold Weekly news article from LSU AgCenter county agent Kenny Sharpe. Crape myrtles trees are traditionally one of the last trees to put on leaves in the spring of the year. Sooty mold is that black crusty material that can cover the leaves during the growing season. Pruning Spring Flowering Ornamentals Weekly news article from LSU AgCenter county agent Kenny Sharpe . Spring blooming woody ornamentals should be pruned right after flowering but only if pruning is needed. Pecan Trees Weelky news article form LSU AgCenter county agent Kenny Sharpe. Pecan trees are starting to bud up and this tells me that this is your opportunity to control all those black knots that get on pecan trees each year. Caterpillar Invasion Weekly news articl from LSU AgCenter County Agent Kenny Sharpe. I started seeing the small worms hanging from silk threads in the oaks here at the courthouse several weeks ago. Now I see big groups of the caterpillars on the sides of the trees and lots of missing foliage where they have been feeding.  more articles... Legacy of Reymond D'Armond Weekly news article from LSU AgCenter County Agent Kenny Sharpe. This past week Livingston Parish lost one of its great agricultural and community leaders with the passing of Mr. D'Armond. Plant Sweet Corn Weekly news article from LSU AgCenter county agent Kenny Sharpe. One of the crops that people like to plant early is sweet corn. I had someone tell me recently that they made cornbread with creamed corn and sour cream. I have never had cornbread made that way but how could that be anything but good especially if you used fresh sweet corn. Fertilize Trees Weekly news article from LSU AgCenter county agent Kenny Sharpe with helpful tips on fertilizing your trees. Worm Free Fruit Requires Spraying Weekly news article from LSU AgCenter county agent Kenny Sharpe. If you want to have fruit that is free of worms, then you will need to spray your fruit trees. Go ahead and check our your equipment now. Cut Back Ornamental Grasses Weekly news article from LSU AgCenter county agent Kenny Sharpe. I really enjoy seeing the dried plums from the ornamental grasses swaying in the wind during the winter, but the end of February is time to cut them back. Snap Beans for Early Production Weekly news article from LSU AgCenter county agent Kenny Sharpe. Livingston Parish was once a bustling snap bean growing and shipping area. Beans were put in crates and shipped out by rail to points north. One of the draws to growing snap beans here is that our climate allows for early production. Cut Back Liriope Weekly news article frm LSU AgCenter county agent Kenny Sharpe. The ground cover, liriope, can come out of the dry fall and winter looking pretty ragged this time of year. Now would be a good time to go and evaluate the foliage quality Treat for Crabgrass in February Weekly news article from LSU AgCenter county agent Kenny Sharpe. Mid-February is the time that you can put out a pre-emerge herbicide to prevent crabgrass, which is a summer annual grass that is hard to remove from most warm season grass lawns. Plants for Color and Fragrance Weekly news article from LSu AgCenter county agent Kenny Sharpe. the warmer spring-like weather continues for us and nature is responding accordingly. Each new day I see more plants bringing forward their floral displays. Finish Winter Chores Weekly news article from LSU AgCenter county agent Kenny Sharpe. There are a few winter maintenance issues that we should probably go ahead and take care of now since the dormant season looks to be a little short.