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(Video 03/20/23) LSU AgCenter horticulturist Heather Kirk-Ballard explains why Japanese yew is an excellent evergreen privacy screen.
(Video 03/13/23) LSU AgCenter horticulturist Heather Kirk-Ballard introduces us to the honeysuckle azalea — a beautiful native, spring-blooming plant.
(Video 06/27/22) Groundcover plants can help fill in large spaces with nice texture and color. A good one to grow is sandy leaf fig ivy.
(Video 06/20/22) So you’ve decided to plant cherry tomatoes in hanging containers. There are lots of varieties to choose from.
(Video 06/13/22) LSU AgCenter horticulturist Heather Kirk-Ballard explains how Sunpatiens handle direct sunlight well and bloom through the summer.
(Video 06/10/22) On this Get It Growing, LSU AgCenter horticulturist Heather Kirk-Ballard explains why perennial salvias are the summer 2022 Super Plant.
(Video 05/30/22) For years, Mexican milkweed has been a popular plant to attract monarch butterflies. But, native Louisiana milkweed is better.
[Video](5/2/22) LSU AgCenter horticulturist Heather Kirk-Ballard explains how the beautiful supertunia could be a super selection for flowers in your garden.
[Video](4/25/22) LSU AgCenter horticulturist Heather Kirk-Ballard recommends some of the top tomato varieties.
[Video](4/11/22) Horticulturist Heather Kirk-Ballard introduces you to a beautiful rose whose name is linked to a Louisiana gardener and to a disaster.
[Video](4/18/22) Heather Kirk-Ballard discusses how you can maximize the blooms on this easy-care vine that attracts pollinators to your yard.
3/28/22) LSU AgCenter horticulturist Heather Kirk-Ballard introduces you to the latest Louisiana Super Plant — the beautiful and native Louisiana iris.
[Video](4/4/22) LSU AgCenter horticulturist Heather Kirk-Ballard discusses some gorgeous plants that provide flowers that are all uniquely blue.
[Video](3/21/22 )Heather Kirk-Ballard and vegetable specialist Kathryn Fontenot discuss the use of cover crops and green manure to enhance the soil.
[Video](3/14/22) Heather Kirk-Ballard and vegetable specialist Kathryn Fontenot discuss the economic benefits of compost and manures for the garden.
[Video](3/7/22) LSU AgCenter horticulturist Heather Kirk-Ballard explores why some live oaks produce aggravating suckers around the base of the tree.
[Video](2/28/22) LSU AgCenter horticulturist Heather Kirk-Ballard gives you some ideas for beautiful and fragrant plants that will grow well in the spring.
[Video](4/19/21) Heather Kirk-Ballard introduces you can easily grow microgreens inside your home.
[Video](4/12/21) Heather Kirk-Ballard explains that while the plant is not dead, now is a good time to remove the dead fronds to prepare the way for new fronds.
[Video](4/5/21) Heather Kirk-Ballard explains why the Beacon impatiens can dependably add many vibrant colors to your landscape.
[Video](3/29/21) Heather Kirk-Ballard describes some different types of azaleas, and explains when to plant them and how to care for them.
[Video](10/5/20) LSU AgCenter horticulturist Heather Kirk-Ballard suggests some great pink plants that can also help you make a statement.
[Video](5/4/20) LSU AgCenter horticulturist Heather Kirk-Ballard explains how kids, crafts and gardens can become a fun learning experience for everyone.
[Video](4/27/20) LSU AgCenter horticulturist Heather Kirk-Ballard explains how the name comes from its distinctively colorful foliage.
[Video] (4/20/20) LSU AgCenter Turfgrass specialist Ron Strahan explains differences in fertilizing St. Augustine and centipede grass.
[Video](4/13/20) LSU AgCenter horticulturist KiKi Fontenot explains which vegetables are the right ones to grow during this spring season.
[Video](3/23/20) LSU AgCenter horticulturist Heather Kirk-Ballard takes a closer look at the beloved live oak tree.
[Video](3/16/20) LSU AgCenter horticulturist Heather Kirk-Ballard explains why it’s important, though, to wait until the right time to prune your azaleas back.
(Video 06/24/19) LSU AgCenter horticulturist Heather Kirk-Ballard introduces you to an excellent alternative shrub with a unique, swirling growth pattern.
(Video 06/17/19) Thinking of adding a beautiful shrub into your landscape? Then the Louisiana Super Plant Shoal Creek vitex is an excellent choice.
(Video 06/10/19) Horticulturist Heather Kirk-Ballard meets with vegetable expert KiKi Fontenot to discuss the merits of growing ornamental corn.
(Video 06/03/19) If you’ve got established blueberry plants in the ground, it’s almost time to harvest their sweet, tangy fruits.
(Video 05/27/19) LSU AgCenter horticulturist Heather Kirk-Ballard introduces you to a manageable dwarf version of the butterfly bush.
(Video 05/20/19) 2019 Louisiana Super Plant Lime Sizzler firebush not only looks beautiful, but it can also take the heat.
(Video 05/12/19) LSU AgCenter horticulturist Heather Kirk-Ballard shares some ways to protect your roses.
(Video 05/05/19) Horticulturist Heather Kirk-Ballard shows you how to install an irrigation kit in your landscape.
Heather Kirk-Ballard demonstrates how to remove vines that are to taking over your yard.(Video 4/29/19)
How to identify some of the most prevalent weeds and what you can do to defend your lawn against their spread. (Video 4/22/19)
(Video 04/15/19) If you want to jazz up the look of your landscape, a raised bed might help you reach that goal.
(Video 04/08/19) LSU AgCenter horticulturist Heather Kirk-Ballard explains how to plant vegetables in your spring garden
(Video 04/16/18) LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill introduces you to these beautiful plants and explains why they’re so easy for gardeners to grow.
(Video 04/09/18) LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill explains how Easter lilies can be planted in the landscape and grow very well with the proper care.
(Video 04/02/18) LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill tells you what you need to know about selecting vegetables from the cucumber family.
(Video 03/26/18) LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill explains the many types of tomatoes you can choose for your early planting.
(Audio 05/28/07) A number of trees and shrubs we use in Louisiana landscapes tend to develop suckers at the base. Suckers are sprouts that come up on trees such as wax myrtles, crape myrtles and river birches. Pruning and treatment is important in controlling these suckers. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 05/27/08) If you will be building or doing any sort of construction on land with existing trees, plan carefully to preserve the trees, if possible. Consulting with an arborist can determine which trees are healthy and how they can be protected. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 05/28/07) Irish potatoes are planted into the home garden around February in Louisiana. By the time we reach late May or early June, the potatoes usually are ready for harvest. And blooms may show up around harvest time. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 05/28/07) Most trees and shrubs in Louisiana should be planted during our cooler season, but palms should be planted during the heat of summer. The roots of palms only grow in warm soil. Just make sure the palms you plant are hardy for your area. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 05/28/07) Vines are wonderful additions to our landscapes. They are beautiful climbing on a trellis or over an arbor. Annual vines are the ones that die at the end of their season, so if you are hesitant to use vines because you think they might get too wild, an annual vine will solve that problem. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Video 05/28/07) It is not as well known as its Chinese and Japanese counterparts, but there is a native wisteria vine found in Louisiana. It's called Wisteria frutescens, and it blooms about now (in late May). While the Chinese wisteria’s blooming is over in about two weeks – one big flash – the native wisteria has been in bloom at least a week or two and is going to continue to bloom for more than a month. (Runtime: 1 minute, 31 seconds)
(Audio 05/21/07) The most popular small flowering tree in Louisiana landscapes is the crape myrtle. Its long blooming season and its ability to grow under most Louisiana soil conditions make it a prized tree. Crape myrtles come in a variety of colors. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 05/21/07) Decorative ponds and aquatic gardens are popular in many home and commercial landscapes. One of the more common problems for these ponds is green water. Algae blooms can cause green water this time of the year. But submerged plants can help clear this up. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 05/21/07) Cooked greens are a traditional part of Louisiana's cuisine, but it is difficult to get these vegetables to grow during the summer. There are some nontraditional greens cooks and gardeners can try this time of year, however. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 05/21/07) Summer-flowering bulbs grow and bloom between April and September. Many are native to tropical and subtropical areas, and they thrive in Louisiana's climate. These summer-flowering bulbs can vary in size, height and color – and in the amount of shade and moisture they can tolerate. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Video 05/21/07) Shrub roses are a category of roses that are really great for use in the landscape. What revolutionized this category was a cultivar called Knock Out. In this Get It Growing segment, LSU AgCenter hoticulturist Dan Gill also shows us other shrub roses that work well in Louisiana landscapes. (Runtime: 1 minute, 37 seconds)
(Audio 05/14/07) Black spot is the most destructive disease on roses in Louisiana. Cultivars of roses that are highly susceptible to black spot are difficult to grow here. You can control black spot by spraying your roses regularly – even before you see signs of the disease occurring. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 05/14/07) Spanish moss does not hurt a tree it is growing in. You can see the moss turn green when it rains, because the rain is what provides nutrients for the moss. Since Spanish moss isn't drawing anything from the tree, if you like the way it looks in a tree, let it grow. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 05/14/07) Many of us have childhood memories of harvesting blackberries on roadsides. You also can grow blackberries in your home garden. Prune them after harvest, which comes this month, but prune only the canes that bore fruit this year. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 05/14/07) Now is a great time to evaluate flower beds. If you planted cool-season bedding plants, you probably are noticing those are starting to fade. Replace them with warm-season bedding plants to have color this summer. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 05/14/07) Many gardeners do a lot of planting in late winter and early spring. As we move into the heat of summer, it is important to water these new plants, because they do not have well-established root systems yet. In this segment, LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill focuses on watering newly planted trees. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Video 05/14/07) May is a transitional month in Louisiana flower gardens. The wonderful cool-season bedding plants that provided so much color and beauty during the milder months of spring really begin to show the heat stress as the weather becomes warmer. (Runtime: 1 minute, 23 seconds)
(Video 05/07/07) Clematis vines produce huge beautiful flowers that could make any gardener want a vine in the yard. The vine can thrive during the spring in Louisiana, but once the intense heat of summer moves in, it will start to wilt and die. (Runtime: 1 minute, 25 seconds)
(Audio 05/07/07) Early May is a good time to do your final assessment for weed control in your lawn. The reason for doing it now is that the herbicides we use to control weeds in our lawns cannot be used once the daytime highs stay above 85 degrees. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 05/07/07) Hydrangeas and gardenias bloom in May and are great shrubs for Louisiana. A unique aspect of both plants is that they set their flower buds in late summer. If you need to prune the shrubs, do so right after they finish flowering. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 05/07/07) Properly caring for a new lawn will give it a good start. New sod will need to be watered frequently since it has not established a good root system yet. Mow the lawn when needed. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 05/07/07) Tomatoes are the most popular vegetable grown in the home vegetable garden, but they do have their share of disease problems. This time of the year buckeye rot could attack the lower cluster of fruit on a tomato plant. Mulch can help prevent that problem. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 05/07/07) Sod is turf grass that is grown in a field and then harvested by cutting thin strips. Using sod is the best way to establish a new lawn. It creates an instant lawn without the worry of birds eating the seeds or rain washing the seeds away. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Video 04/30/07) The word bolting is a horticulture term used to describe when a plant we don’t intend to grow for its blooms goes into flower. This oftentimes occurs in leafy vegetables like turnip greens and radishes that we grow for their roots. (Runtime: 1 minute, 27 seconds)
(Audio 04/30/07) Houseplants brighten our decor and help to freshen the air, but they prefer to be outdoors. If you plan to move houseplants outdoors for the summer, make the transition to higher light conditions gradual. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 04/30/07) Freshly grown herbs are perfect for seasoning home-cooked meals. Herbs are not difficult to grow either. Many of the herbs we love to grow are more productive in the spring and early summer, so harvest your herbs generously this time of the year. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 04/30/07) Gardeners can plant many vegetables into their gardens this time of the year. But they need to start focusing on heat-tolerant vegetables such as eggplant, peppers and okra. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 04/30/07) Caladiums are great plants that provide summer color in shady areas, and you can plant caladium tubers this time of the year. An added bonus to these plants is that they are very heat-tolerant. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 04/30/07) The color of the pepper depends on the stage at which it is harvested. Some traditionally are harvested green, like green bell peppers and jalapeno peppers. But we generally wait to harvest cayenne peppers and red bell peppers when they turn red. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Video 04/23/07) The Japanese maple is an outstanding small-growing tree for Louisiana landscapes. We grow them for their brilliantly colored foliage. They peak at about 15 feet and work well in a small area such as around a patio or close to your home. (Runtime: 1 minute, 28 seconds)
(Audio 04/23/07) It's time to move container plants that were inside during the winter back outside. But you need to make the move to higher light conditions gradual. Move these plants to a shady location outside first before introducing them to more sunlight. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 04/23/07) Spring-flowering bulbs beautify Louisiana landscapes, but you need to take care of these plants after they finish blooming. It is important not to remove the foliage until it begins turning yellow. This will help to ensure your bulbs will bloom again next year. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 04/23/07) Cool-season bedding plants are in full bloom this time of the year. Keep a close eye on these plants because they will start to languish as the weather warms. When they began fading, pull them out and replace them with warm-season plants. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 04/23/07) The warmer weather is encouraging container plants to grow vigorously. These plants need more fertilization than plants grown in the ground, because the frequent watering they need leeches nutrients out of their soil. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 04/23/07) Most of the fungus diseases that attack plants in our landscapes like rainy weather. One common disease that actually prefers drier conditions is powdery mildew. Symptoms appear like a fine white powder over the foliage of the plant. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 04/16/07) Louisiana gardeners use a wide variety of summer bedding plants that tolerate the heat and provide lots of color for us during the warm season. This is a great time to start planting them if you want to add something new to your landscape. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 04/16/07) Caladiums are easy to grow and reliable in shady areas. There are some varieties that can tolerate sun, but most caladiums prefer shady locations. You can plant caladium tubers this time of the year. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 04/16/07) Warmer weather means it's time for lawn chores. We have to mow more often, spend more time watching for weeds and just generally put more work into our yards. This is a good time to make sure your mower is in good condition and the blades are sharp. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Video 04/16/07) April is a transitional month in Louisiana flower gardens. Many of the cool-season bedding plants we planted last fall are blooming beautifully right now, but it's too late to plant those flowers. If you want some color in your landscape that will last through the summer, consider putting in warm-season plants now. (Runtime: 1 minute, 39 seconds)
(Audio 04/16/07) Permanent lawn grasses grow best during the warm season. This is the prime planting time for warm-season grasses. With the exception of common Bermuda, solid sodding is the best way to plant a lawn. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 04/16/07) Louisiana has its share of pest problems as the weather warms up. If you notice you are having a weed, insect or disease problem in your lawn or garden, it is important to correctly identify the culprit and to get the right recommendation to try to eliminate it. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 04/09/07) In Louisiana we generally apply the first fertilizer to our lawns in early April. It is important to allow the lawn to green up and establish a good root system before applying fertilizer. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 04/09/07) A variety of the herbs we grow in our herb gardens grow better during the cool season. It is best to harvest herbs generously in April, May and early June. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 04/09/07) Tomatoes are the most popular vegetable grown in the home garden. When you go to the nursery to buy tomato transplants, choose those that are dark green and stocky. The better quality transplants you start with the better the plants are going to do. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 04/09/07) Tomato plants tend to sprawl on the ground when they are not supported. If the fruit is left touching the ground, it can rot. Stake your tomato plants to keep them growing tall. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Video 04/09/07) The Louisiana cross vine is an outstanding native vine that blooms in the spring. It provides wonderful flowers to our landscapes this time of the year. The cross vine is native to many wooded areas of the state. (Runtime: 1 minute, 15 seconds)
(Audio 04/09/07) Perennials are wonderful herbaceous plants that are grown for their beautiful flowers or attractive foliage. These plants brighten the landscape and live for many years, giving them an advantage over annuals that have to be replaced every year. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 04/02/07) April is a transitional time in the flower garden. Cool-season bedding plants are at their peak right now, but it really is too late to plant them. Instead, it's better to start planting warm-season bedding plants that will bloom for you throughout the summer. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 04/02/07) April is a busy month for the home vegetable gardeners. Some of the most popular vegetables we grow can be planted at this time. Remember, earlier planted vegetables escape problems with insects and diseases (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 04/02/07) Now is a good time to evaluate spring-flowering shrubs and decide if they need to be pruned. It is best to prune them soon after they flower, and always prune with a specific purpose in mind, says LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 04/02/07) Dry, warm weather in the spring encourages the development of spider mites. They can damage a variety of vegetables and ornamentals in our landscapes. If you see damage, you can inspect under the leaves of the plants for signs of infestation. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Video 04/02/07) Louisiana gardeners use a wide variety of spring-flowering trees and shrubs to bring lots of color to our landscapes this time of the year. Azaleas are blooming all over the state right now in lots of wonderful colors. A shrub that’s commonly planted along azaleas is this bridal wreath spirea. (Runtime: 1 minute, 21 seconds)
