Home > News Archive > 2012 > February > Get It Growing > Use herbicides before weeds emerge (Audio 02/27/12) Herbicides are divided into two groups: pre-emergence and post-emergence. Pre-emergence herbicides are applied before weeds sprout. Early March is the ideal time to apply a pre-emergence herbicide over lawns and in flower beds. (Runtime: 60 seconds) Vegetable gardens get active in March (Audio 02/27/12) March is an active month in the home vegetable garden. You can begin planting warm-season vegetables, especially in southern areas of the state. Tomatoes and peppers can be transplanted later in the month. (Runtime: 60 seconds) Stay on top of weeding (Audio 02/27/12) Cool-season weeds are active in lawns, flower beds and vegetable gardens this time of the year. You don't want to allow these weeds to flower and set seeds. Get rid of them as best you can to keep them under control. (Runtime: 60 seconds) Save spring-flowering bulbs that will bloom again (Audio 02/27/12) Spring-flowering bulbs can add a lot to our landscapes. Many of these do not re-bloom well in our climate. These bulbs should be pulled up and discarded. Bulbs such as narcissus and daffodils will bloom again, however, and can be kept. (Runtime: 60 seconds)  more articles... Fertilize roses for best performance (Audio 02/27/12) This is a good time to fertilize roses. Roses that are fertilized perform better and produce larger, more attractive flowers. You generally can use an all-purpose fertilizer to get the job done. (Runtime: 60 seconds) Ligularia is great shade-loving plant [Image: Ligularia] (Video 2/27/12) If you’re searching for a tough, shade-loving plant with nice shiny leaves, ligularia might be the plant for you. On this edition of Get It Growing, LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill explains why it’s a good selection for Louisiana landscapes. (Runtime: 1:35) Lemon-scented geranium has fragrance, repels mosquitoes [Image: Lemon-Scented Geranium] (Video 2/20/12) There are hundreds of species of scented geraniums. On this edition of Get It Growing, LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill introduces you to one that has a nice lemon fragrance and the ability to keep mosquitoes away. (Runtime: 1:40) Fatshedera is unique shade-loving hybrid [Image: Fatshedera ] (Video 2/13/12) The cool season still offers more time to plant hardy plants into your landscape. On this edition of Get It Growing, LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill recommends an unusual hybrid plant that has a tropical look. (Runtime: 1:49) Fertilizer can last long time (Audio 02/20/12) If you've had a bag of fertilizer for a long time, and you are wondering if it is still good, chances are it is. Fertilizer doesn't lose its potency over time. It can, however, absorb moisture from the air if not sealed properly. (Runtime: 60 seconds) Sunlight requirements for plants (Audio 02/20/12) Some plants prefer shade, others prefer full sun. Gardeners know that the amount of sunlight a plant needs to thrive must match its growing situation. (Runtime: 60 seconds) Use organic matter for bed preparation (Audio 02/20/12) Organic matter recommended for use in gardening is generally derived from plant parts. It's important for bed preparation because it improves soil structure and drainage and releases nutrients into the soil. (Runtime: 60 seconds) Divide perennials during dormancy (Audio 02/20/12) February is a good month to divide perennials. You may need to divide perennials when the clump has gotten too big or has lost vigor. It's best to do this when they are dormant. (Runtime: 60 seconds) It's not too early to plant gladiolus (Audio 02/20/12) Gladiolus corms can be planted early in the year. Buy them in the nursery when they become available, and plant them in a sunny location. Stagger the planting to get the best results. (Runtime: 60 seconds) Watch for fire blight on plants (Audio 02/13/12) Fire blight is a rare bacterial disease that can affect plants in our landscapes. Pears and apples have problems with the disease. Some ornamentals such as Indian hawthorn also are susceptible. Control is difficult, so prune off any signs of this disease. (Runtime: 60 seconds) Click for more information...