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   Get It Growing
 Home>News Archive>2013>March>Get It Growing>
Tomato transplants
Choosing the best tomato transplants
(Video 03/25/13) At this time you can plant many different types of vegetables. Tomatoes are among the favorites. On this edition of Get It Growing, LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill explains what to look for when selecting tomato transplants from the nursery. (Runtime: 1:40)
Plant roses before blooming begins
(Audio 03/24/13) Gardeners often wait until roses are in bloom to head out to nurseries to purchase plants. Planting is stressful for a plant, so it's best done before it starts blooming. Late March is a good time to plant roses. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
Thrips can damage spring roses
(Audio 03/24/13) Thrips are tiny insects that invade the flower buds of roses. As the bud opens, the flower may appear burned on the edges. Some buds may never fully open. Systemic insecticides can help control thrips. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
Look for buck moth caterpillar masses in oak trees
(Audio 3/24/13) The buck moth caterpillar, found primarily on live oaks, has black stinging spines. Usually by late March, you can see caterpillar masses up in trees. A tree service can spray the trees before the caterpillars descend. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
Tropicals are popular in Louisiana landscapes
(Audio 03/24/13) Louisiana gardeners use many types of tropical plants in their landscapes. They may have been damaged by freezes this winter, so you can trim them back. Wait until April or May to plant new ones. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
Deadheading keeps plants attractive, in bloom
(Audio 03/24/13) Gardeners use the term deadhead when talking about removing faded flowers from their plants. This keeps the plants looking attractive, and also prevents the plant from setting seed - which encourages more blooms. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
Consider tree inspection before buying home
(Audio 03/18/14) Prospective homebuyers often have their home inspected before purchasing it. It's a good idea to have the trees on the property inspected as well. Consider having a licensed arborist check the trees for potential problems. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
Put fruit trees on preventative spray program
(Audio 03/18/14) Fruit trees must be sprayed preventively for insects and diseases. If you wait until they are already infested, it's too late to spray. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
General-purpose fertilizers will feed most plants
(Audio 03/18/13) Gardeners may get overwhelmed by the many options of fertilizers available. Remember you don't need a different fertilizer for each plant. Consider getting a general-purpose fertilizer to feed most plants in your landscape. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
Brown patch can develop on lawns during cool, moist periods
(Audio 03/18/13) Brown patch is a common fungal disease that attacks lawns. St. Augustine grass is the most susceptible, but the fungus also attacks centipede grass. It gets started when the weather is cool and moist. Hear more to learn about the symptoms. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
Don't rush to fertilize lawns
(Audio 03/18/13) Louisiana lawns start to wake up in March. Often home gardeners want to fertilize their lawns early. The grass is best left alone and not stimulated while it is greening up. Wait until April to fertilize with any general-purpose lawn fertilizer. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
Carnivorous Plants
Amazing carnivorous plants
(Video 03/18/13) Animals often eat plants, but rarely does the opposite happen. On this edition of Get It Growing, LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill explores some interesting carnivorous plants that flip the food web around by actually eating insects and bugs. (Runtime: 1:38)
Calibrachoa
Calibrachoa are hardy petunia look-alikes
(Video 03/11/13) If you’re looking for transitional plants that can survive remaining freezes but also stand tough during hot weather, calibrachoa would be a good choice. They’re not petunias, but these hardy perennials look a lot like petunias. On this edition of Get It Growing, LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill explains why calibrachoa is a good choice to plant in your garden now. (Runtime: 1:34)
Fertilize shrubs in March
(Audio 03/11/13) March is a great month to fertilize shrubs in your landscape. You don't have to fertilize them if they don't appear to need it. Newly planted shrubs or ones with low vigor can benefit from an application of fertilizer. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
Digging up, dividing perennials is early spring task
(Audio 03/11/13) Perennials live from year to year in our landscapes. Their clumps will grow larger and larger and may eventually need to be divided. Get this done in early spring while the plant is still dormant. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
Toughen up transplants prior to planting
(Audio 03/11/13) Vegetable transplants purchased from nurseries have been pampered in greenhouses. Outdoor conditions can be stressful for them. They need to be hardened off before planting them into the garden. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
Pollination is important for some vegetables
(Audio 03/11/13) Louisiana home gardeners plant lots of vegetables in March and April. Pollination is an issue for some vegetables. Some are self-pollinating. Others have to be pollinated by bees or insects. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
Cool-season bedding plants hit their peak in spring
(Audio 03/11/13) You may notice flower beds filled with beautiful cool-season bedding plants. These plants peak around late March and April. The best beds were planted in the fall. So if you want these flowers, plant them as soon as possible. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
Tending to spring-flowering bulbs
(Audio 03/05/13) Spring-flowering bulbs can add a lot to gardens. Many of these bulbs do not bloom again well or at all. These bulbs should be pulled out of the garden and composted. For the ones that do, such as daffodils and narcissus, leave them in place. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
Control weeds with pre-emergence herbicides before they appear
(Audio 03/05/13) Gardeners can use pre-emergence herbicides to control weeds before they show up. Early March is the ideal time to use these herbicides to prevent weeds from popping up. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
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