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Hurricane recovery: Japanese magnolias blooming early
Japanese Magnolia

(Video 09/24/12) You may have noticed Japanese magnolia trees uncharacteristically blooming now. That’s very likely a result of Hurricane Isaac. On this edition of Get It Growing, LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill tells you what to expect from these trees and what you should or should not do. (Runtime: 1:42)

Plant or divide iris while dormant
(Audio 09/24/12) Louisiana iris are wonderful perennials. They produce beautiful flowers in spring, but can be divided and planted in early fall. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

Shade trees help keep it cool
(Audio 09/24/12) During summer, shade trees are like outdoor air conditioning - providing a little relief from the heat. Well-placed shade trees in your landscape also can keep your home cooler. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

Growing garlic takes patience
(Audio 09/24/12) Garlic is popular in Louisiana cuisine and is easy to grow, but it does take a long time. Garlic that is planted in fall will be ready for harvest in late May or early June. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

Evaluate summer bedding plants
(Audio 09/24/12) Only reliable bedding plants can survive a Louisiana summer. This is good time to evaluate your beds, and if you see plants still doing well consider planting them again next year. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
LSU AgCenter releases 2013 Get It Growing calendar
2013 Get It Growing Calendar cover photo
(Distributed 09/14/12) The LSU AgCenter is releasing its 2013 Get It Growing Lawn and Garden Calendar – the annual publication that offers a mixture of beautiful garden photos and advice targeted specifically to Louisiana gardeners. Among the 32-page, full-colr calendar’s features are monthly gardening tips from LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill, as well as information on Louisiana Super Plants, gardening terms, how to control snails and slugs, and more.
Caladium tubers can be saved from year to year
(Audio 09/17/12) Caladiums begin to slow down in late September or early October. Caladiums make tubers, and they can be dug up and saved for planting next year. Don't wait until the foliage falls off to remove them from your landscape. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
Turn waste into compost
(Audio 09/17/12) It's always a good time to start a compost pile. Our landscapes generate a lot of organic waste. Instead of bagging leaves and grass and putting them out with the trash, turn them into compost. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
Watch for azalea lace bugs
(Audio 09/17/12) A common insect on azaleas is the azalea lace bug. These live on the underside of the leaf and will cause white speck on the top of the leaf. You can control them with horticulture oil spray or certain insecticides. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
Enjoy native wildflowers in your yard
ironweed
(For Release On Or After 09/28/12) Roadsides and meadows come alive with colors of native wildflowers in September, October and November. Gardeners – who sometimes struggle to create beautiful displays of flowers in their landscapes – often marvel at the way nature seems to achieve such beauty without effort.
Create bird habitats in your yard
cedar waxwing on holly
(For Release On Or After 09/21/12) Birds can contribute wonderful things to the enjoyment of a landscape, such as movement, color, sounds and even pest control. Gardeners almost universally welcome the presence of birds. They can even go so far as to design and plant landscapes that are particularly attractive to birds.
Don’t neglect late-summer gardening
aphids on crape myrtle
(For Release On Or After 09/14/12) For gardeners tired of the heat and longing for cooler weather, September can provide welcome relief. Cool fronts often begin to make their way this far south in September. But days in the 90s are not uncommon this month, and after a long, hot summer, these last scorching days are especially hard to bear for gardeners and their landscapes.
Cannas are easy to grow, offer diverse choices
Cannas
(Video 09/03/12) Tropical plants offer the opportunity for growing low-maintenance plants with a nice look. On this segment of Get It Growing, LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill explains why cannas are a great tropical selection that produce beautiful flowers and a nice diversity of interesting leaves – that can last through fall. (Runtime: 1:54)
Hurricane recovery: flower beds
Hurricane damaged flowers
(Video 9/17/12) Hurricane Isaac left tree branches and leaves strewn across yards. It also damaged summer bedding plants. On this edition of Get It Growing, LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill gives you some advice on how to evaluate and straighten up those parts of your landscape. (Runtime: 1:29)