(Audio 01/29/07) Even though Louisiana gardeners can plant year-round, most gardeners get the gardening bug in the spring. Now is a great time to get beds prepared for spring planting. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 01/29/07) Ground covers are wonderful low-growing, spreading plants. They work well in areas where grass won't grow, like under trees. These plants are hardy in the winter, and this is a good time to plant ground covers. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 01/29/07) Most roses need to be pruned every year. Pruning is important on roses such as hybrid teas and grandifloras, and late January is the best time to prune your roses. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 01/29/07) Plants utilize light to create the food they need to live and grow. When we grow plants indoors, light is very limited. But you can improve the light an indoor plant gets by making a few adjustments. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 01/29/07) LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill frequently talks about how to grow flowers, but this time he's talking about how to preserve some of those wonderful flowers you grow. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Video 01/29/07) Plants can add so much to our indoor environment. They create a wonderful atmosphere and even help freshen the air inside our homes. Since the weather is cold outside, you can get some gardening done by adding plants inside your house. (Runtime: 1 minute, 31 seconds)
(Audio 01/22/07) Most of the plants we use in our landscapes are hardy, but tropical plants are popular in Louisiana. Many tropicals will survive freezes, although they will have some damage. When to prune the damage depends on what type of tropical you have. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 01/22/07) LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill says he often gets questions about watering indoor plants. Watering them too much or not enough both can be problematic for the plant. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 01/22/07) Winter vegetable gardens have far fewer insects and disease problems than summer vegetable gardens, but there are still some pests out there. Caterpillars, scale insects and slugs can be common this time of the year. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 01/22/07) Now is a great time to purchase and plant camellias. There are not many plants that are in full bloom during their proper planting time, but camellias are one of those plants. You can choose the camellia variety that has the shape and color flowers that you like. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 01/22/07) Mealy bugs are small white insects that suck on the leaves of plants. If you notice small cottony spots on your indoor plants, you probably have an infestation of mealy bugs. A plant can tolerate a small population, but as the population grows, the plant will become sick and weakened. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Video 01/22/07) An attractive way to display plants is to grow them in hanging baskets. Hanging baskets are wonderful because they are positioned right at eye level where you really can appreciate the detail of the plant. (Runtime: 1 minute, 19 seconds)
(Audio 01/15/07) Winter is a great time to prune a variety of plants in our landscapes. Do not, however, prune spring-flowering trees and shrubs. But you can prune summer-flowering trees and shrubs. Remember, pruning is optional. Only prune if a plant needs it. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 01/15/07) This is a great time to plant Irish potatoes in our vegetable gardens. Buy whole potatoes from local nurseries to cut up and plant. If you plant them soon, they will be ready to harvest in late April or early May. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 01/15/07) There are a number of plants in our landscapes that we can propagate with hardwood cuttings. These cuttings are taken during mid-to-late winter. Some of the plants you can propagate using this technique are roses and figs.
(Audio 01/15/07) Beets are a wonderful root crop that grow well in our vegetable gardens. Beets are grown from seed, and this is the time to plant them. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 01/15/07) Louisiana celebrates Arbor Day on the third Friday in January. This a great time to plant a tree in your landscape. Trees provide many benefits such as providing shade, serving as wildlife habitat and helping to clean the air. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Video 01/15/07) Acuba japonica is a tropical-looking plant that thrives in Louisiana’s climate and is not bothered by winter temperatures. It is commonly called acuba or gold dust plant because of the wonderful gold speckling on it. (Runtime: 1 minute, 25 seconds)
(Audio 01/08/07) In the North, plants such as foxgloves and holly hocks are perennials, but here in Louisiana, they are cool-season annuals. Find these plants at your local nursery as soon as you can, and buy them before they bloom. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 01/08/07) Houseplants add a lot to our indoor environment and decor, but the containers they are grown in can confine a plant's root system. As a plant grows larger, its root system will outgrow the container, and it will be time to repot the plant. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 01/08/07) Many Louisiana gardeners overseed their permanent lawn grasses with ryegrass. You can enjoy a beautiful green lawn all winter, but one of the drawbacks is you still have to care for it. With lots of rain, it will be necessary to mow more often. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Video 01/08/07) One of the most reliable fall-blooming azaleas is the Fashion azalea. It produces wonderful coral-colored flowers. During the winter it stops blooming, but it blooms heavily again in the spring. A benefit of this plant is that its foliage changes dramatically once the cold weather moves in. (Runtime: 1minute, 22 seconds)
(Audio 01/08/07) Parsley is an easy herb to grow. We can grow two different types: flat-leaf and curly-leaf parsley. Flat-leaf is more flavorful, but curly-leaf is more attractive in the home garden. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 01/08/07) Three of the most popular plants we grow in our vegetable gardens are tomatoes, eggplants and peppers. Many gardeners buy transplants of these plants in late March or early April. But you can grow them from seeds now. LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill explains how. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Video 01/01/07) If you’re looking for a native Louisiana shrub that’s great for privacy screening, LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill recommends the wax myrtle. It's a large shrub that is very tolerant of poorly drained areas. (Runtime: 1 minute, 22 seconds)
Rake fallen leaves and use for mulch or compost