Home > News Archive > 2006 > Get It Growing: Right Plant + Right Place = Gardening Success (For Release On Or After 10/27/06) Gardeners are often advised that the key to gardening success is planting the right plant in the right place. Although this sounds relatively simple, a lot goes into the decision of what plants should be used and where they should be planted in the landscape. Mild Temperatures Can Lead To Winter Weed Problems (Audio 01/01/07) The weather in Louisiana stays relatively mild during the winter. That means plants continue to grow here, and weeds are no exception. If you want, you can mow lawn weeds back occassionally, or you can use an appropriate herbicide on them. (Runtime: 60 seconds) Keep Bedding Plants Healthy For Long-lasting Flowers (Audio 01/01/07) Louisiana gardeners use a variety of cool-season bedding plants to keep their gardens colorful during the winter and spring. LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill encourages gardeners to keep these plants healthy so they stay beautiful into spring. (Runtime: 60 seconds) Add Roses To Your Landscape This Month (Audio 01/01/07) Hardy trees and shrubs can be planted during the winter, and that includes roses. Landscape roses are popular and provide plenty of flowers. This also is a good time to order roses. (Runtime: 60 seconds)  more articles... Some Holiday Plants Can Last After The Holidays (Audio 01/01/07) We use a variety of plants to embellish our homes during the holidays. Christmas trees, poinsettias and Christmas cactus keep our homes merry and bright. Poinsettias should be discarded after the holidays, but a Christmas cactus can bloom for you year after year. (Runtime: 60 seconds) Vegetable Garden Stays Productive In January (Audio 01/01/07) January usually is the coldest month in Louisiana. Despite the cold, vegetable gardens remain productive during this month. Some root crops and leafy greens can be planted this time of the year. (Runtime: 60 seconds) Witchalder Works Well In Shady Landscapes [Image: Witchalder] (Video 12/25/06) An outstanding plant that is native to the southeastern United States is Fothergilla. Its common name is witchalder, and it’s related to the witch hazels. It produces beautiful fall foliage and nice spikes of fuzzy white flowers in the spring. (Runtime: 1 minute, 24 seconds) Plant Tulips And Hyacinth Bulbs For Beautiful Spring Flowers (Audio 12/25/06) Late December through early January is the best time to plant hyacinth and tulip bulbs that have been chilling in refrigerators. Chilling them first helps them bloom properly. (Runtime: 60 seconds) Prune Herbaceous Tropicals Shortly After A Freeze Occurs (Audio 12/25/06) After a hard freeze you can tell which plants in your landscape are hardy and which ones are tender tropicals. When cold damage occurs on herbaceous tropicals, it is obvious. You can prune that damage off shortly after the freeze. But wait until spring growth occurs to prune woody tropicals . (Runtime: 60 seconds) Winter Is A Good Time To Plant Roses (Audio 12/25/06) The depths of winter is a good time to plant roses. Many nurseries have rose bushes available. If the weather stays mild, roses can continue to bloom into January. (Runtime: 60 seconds) Evergreen Plants Could Change Colors (Audio 12/25/06) Deciduous trees have leaves that change colors and then fall, but this time of the year some evergreen plants also may go through a color change. Azaleas and junipers are two evergreen plants on which the foliage often changes colors. (Runtime: 60 seconds) Perennial Herbs Stay Active During The Winter (Audio 12/25/06) Perennial herbs can grow during the winter in Louisiana. Gardeners can harvest the herbs whenever there is enough growth on the plant. They may grow slowly during the winter, but they will start growing vigorously come spring. (Runtime: 60 seconds) 2006 Better Year For Agriculture In Louisiana [Image: Sugarcane harvesting] (Distributed 12/22/06) In Louisiana, 2006 likely will be remembered as the year after the hurricanes. But a relatively ordinary year was a welcome relief to many, including farmers. While the hurricanes in 2005 took a toll on many agricultural producers, production this year was good for most commodities, according to LSU AgCenter economist Dr. Kurt Guidry. Volunteering With Your Family Can Be Year-round Activity (Distributed 12/22/06) If you are looking for ways to spend quality time with your family during the holiday season, volunteering together can be beneficial to your family as well as someone in need, says LSU AgCenter family resource management expert Dr. Karen Overstreet. But the holidays aren’t the only time you can take part in such activities, Overstreet points out, saying community groups also need volunteers and donations all year long to perform worthwhile services in your area. Click for more information...