more... > Parishes > Orleans > Horticulture > Unchecked chinch bugs can kill grass (Audio 08/03/09) Chinch bugs are among the leading lawn insect pests. They attack primarily St. Augustine grass and they proliferate in hot, dry weather. Since these pests can kill the grass if they get out of hand, controlling them is important. (Runtime: 60 seconds) Hardy tropicals can withstand Louisiana winters [Image: Tropicals ] (Video 08/03/09) Tropical plants add a refreshing touch to any patio or landscape. But can all tropicals survive in Louisiana? On this edition of Get it Growing, LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill explains which tropicals are hardy in Louisiana and which ones aren’t. (Runtime: 1:33) What do plants eat? (For Release On Or After 08/29/09) One of the most famous phrases ever written is, “Let there be light.” It is amazing that such a simple statement has such profound implications about creation and life. You can grow spectacular bougainvilleas (For Release On Or After 08/22/09) It would be hard to find a more dazzling, flowering tropical plant than the bougainvillea. The bougainvillea (Bougainvillea spectabilis) is a tropical, shrubby vine whose bright magenta, pink, white, gold or purple flowers positively glow.  more articles... Garden design takes planning, but you can do it (For Release On Or After 08/15/09) Designing a garden is one of the more intimidating things gardeners expect of themselves. It’s challenging enough to learn all you need to know to select, plant and care for landscape plants successfully. But design is not just learning how to plant and water. It requires an expression of something from inside. You can control nine-banded armadillos (For Release On Or After 08/08/09) I live in an area that is rural transitioning into suburban. In many areas of the state, developers are building more and more new subdivisions in areas that were once wooded or open fields. People moving to these new subdivisions from more urban areas are often startled to encounter wildlife they never saw in the cities, such as deer, raccoons, armadillos, opossums and moles. More Ways To Get A Handle On Garden Tools Most garden tools have fixed handles that may be made of wood, fiberglass or metal. But an LSU AgCenter engineer says some tools now are available with separate handle and toolhead components that can be interchanged as desired. Leaf Blowers: Selection, Use and Safety [Image: hand-held blower] Electrical units are fine for small lawns, gasoline hand-held units are the best choice for larger home sites and backpack blowers are a good choice for professional users. Leaf Blowers: Good or Bad? [Image: hand-held blower] Leaf blowers are efficient, useful tools that annoy some people. Be aware of the problem, and use your leaf blower responsibly to avoid losing the privilege. Tips offered for best bedding-plant performance [Image: periwinkle vinca] (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. Gardeners can plant hardy vegetables in December (Audio 12/01/08) Gardening doesn't stop in the winter. The vegetable garden can be productive all year long in Louisiana. Gardeners have a number of vegetables they can plant in December. (Runtime: 60 seconds) Japanese maples are great small trees for your landscape [Image: Japanese Maple] (Video 11/24/08) If you’re looking for a small tree that has beautiful color, you might be pleased with the Japanese maple. In this edition of Get It Growing, LSU AgCenter horiculturist Dan Gill explains why Japanese maples grow well in Louisiana and how fall is the right time to plant them. (Runtime: 1 minute, 30 seconds) 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. Loropetalum can be trained into shrub or tree [Image: Loropetalum] (Video 10/27/08) Fall is a great time to plant shrubs and trees into your landscape. In this edition of Get it Growing, LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill introduces you to a purplish-looking plant that can be grown as a shrub or as a tree. (Runtime: 1 minute, 30 seconds)