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   Get It Growing
 Home>News Archive>2013>October>Get It Growing>
Put away fertilizer for most of fall
(Audio 10/28/13) As we move into fall, gardeners may wonder what to fertilizer. LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill says generally nothing. We want trees and shrubs to go dormant, and they won't benefit from fertilizer. The exceptions include cool-season plants and perennials that grow this time of the year. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

Consider composting leaves
(Audio 10/28/13) It is a little early to see a lot of leaves dropping out of your trees. But next month there will be leaves to deal with. Don't rake, bag them and throw them out. Instead consider composting them or using them as mulch. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

Check trees for broken limbs
(Audio 10/28/13) Storms and high winds are common during Louisiana's summers. As a result you may have broken limbs in your trees. Look at your trees and call an arborist if you have ragged stubs or limbs that may fall. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

Wildflowers bloom in fall
(Audio 10/28/13) Louisiana wildflowers put on an outstanding display in fall. Look around and notice what nature does every year. Some of the plants to look for are goldenrod, asters and narrow-leaf sunflowers. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

Winterizing is optional for Louisiana lawns
(Audio 10/28/13) You may hear about winterizing your lawn in fall. This means applying potassium to our lawns. Plants need potassium during winter, but winterizing is optional. If you do, make sure to buy the correct winterizer for Louisiana lawns. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
Don’t prune gardenias until late May, early June
Gardenias
(Video 10/28/13) Now is a great time to plant hardy shrubs. Maybe one of the best-smelling of all those shrubs is the gardenia. But as LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill points out on this edition of Get It Growing, if you want those great smells from nice, white flowers in the spring, you want to avoid pruning your gardenias at this time. (Runtime: 1:33)
It’s a great time to plant tasty chives
Chives
(Video 10/21/13) Now is a great time to plant cool-season herbs. On this edition of Get It Growing, LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill introduces you to chives – an herb with beautiful flowers and tasty foliage. (Runtime: 1:35)
Delphinium makes rank as La. Super Plant
(Audio 10/25/13) Diamonds Blue delphiniums are a Louisiana Super Plant for fall 2013. They are a low-growing variety of delphiniums that are a true blue color. Plant them now, and they will bloom in fall and winter and put on the best show in spring. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
Cool-season herbs are ready for planting
(Audio 10/24/13) A wide variety of hardy herbs can be planted this time of the year. These herbs won't be hurt by the cold weather. They will need a well-drained, sunny location. Consider planting herbs such as chives, oregano, sage, thyme and lavender. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
Fruit trees like fall planting
(Audio 10/23/13) Now through February is the best time to plant fruit trees. A fall planting allow them to get established and send out strong roots. Don't expect a good harvest the first few years, and be sure to plant varieties suitable for Louisiana. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
Harvest broccoli at right time
(Audio 10/22/13) Broccoli is a great cool-season vegetable to grow. Harvesting broccoli can be tricky. Gardeners may wait for the head to be a certain size before harvesting. This can lead to the broccoli flowering. Don't go by the size of the head, but rather the size of the buds. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
Plant hardy shrubs in autumn
(Audio 10/21/13) Fall is the best time of the year to plant hardy trees and shrubs. These plants are not bothered by winter cold and establish well in the cool days of autumn. Roses, camellias and azaleas are all good to plant now. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
Alter hydrangea color with soil additives
(Audio 10/14/13) Hydrangeas are wonderful flowering shrubs. Gardeners looking to change the color of their hydrangeas can add amendments to the soil this month. If you want blue hydrangeas, apply aluminum sulfate. For pink hydrangeas, put lime around them. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
Caladium tubers can be stored during winter
(Audio 10/13/14) Caladiums are going dormant. October is the time to dig up the tubers for storage during winter. Do this while there is still foliage attached to the tubers. Let the foliage turn brown, and it will detach easily. Store the tubers indoors. (Runtime: 60 seconds)