(Distributed 09/27/13) HAMMOND, La. – One of the great new groups of almost-everblooming plants, the Drift series of low-maintenance roses, fits a special niche in the shrub rose market. These roses are from Conard-Pyle/Star Roses, the same folks who gave us the Knock Out series of low-maintenance landscape roses.

(Audio 09/30/13) Look around and you can see many natural things you can use to decorate your home this fall. You can find seed pods, pine cones, leaves or cattails. These dried materials can stay attractive all season. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 09/30/13) As the weather cools in October, lawn growth begins to slow down. The disease brown patch can be a problem this month. Symptoms include small brownish-yellow areas that rapidly expand. A lawn fungicide can control brown patch. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Distributed 09/30/13) LAKE CHARLES, La. – Thirteen high school students participated in the Calcasieu-Cameron Rice Growers Association rice cooking contest on Sept. 25 as part of National Rice Month, which is sponsored by the USA Rice Federation.

(Video News 09/30/13) Food businesses are starting, growing or trying something new at the LSU AgCenter food incubator. The incubator offers kitchen space, professional guidance and large-scale equipment. AgCenter correspondent Tobie Blanchard visited the kitchen and clients. (Runtime: 1:57)

(Video 09/23/13) Petunias offer profuse color to a landscape, and now’s a great time to plant them. Even though all petunias look similar at the nursery, there are differences. On this edition of Get It Growing, LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill explains the importance of reading specific labels when choosing the right petunias for your flower bed. (Runtime: 1:47)

(Video 09/30/13) Fall is a great time to plant hardy trees and shrubs. The low-maintenance, yet beautiful Drift rose is an excellent choice. It’s a Louisiana Super Plant selection for 2013. On this edition of Get It Growing, horticulturist Dan Gill explains an important difference between the Drift rose and the popular Knock Out rose. (Runtime: 1:48)

(Distributed 09/27/13) BATON ROUGE, La – The threat of mosquitoes can keep people from enjoying the outdoors, but the LSU AgCenter has a public health entomologist whose work will help fight the bite.

A past Louisiana Super Plant, Belinda’s Dream rose is one of the most popular Earth Kind roses grown in Louisiana. This variety was named a Texas Superstar plant in 2002 – the first rose to be so honored.

BATON ROUGE, La. – Jeff Lockwood, a professor at the University of Wyoming and award-winning writer, will present a lecture about his book “Six-Legged Soldiers: A History of Insects in Torture, Terrorism, and Warfare” on Oct. 4 at 2 p.m., Room A101, Life Sciences Annex, on the LSU campus.

(Video News 09/26/13) Gardens, trails, crops and a museum all comprise Burden Museum and Gardens. The new name for the historic site aims to provide visitors with a slice of rural Louisiana served up in a bountiful setting. LSU AgCenter correspondent Tobie Blanchard visited the pastoral oasis. (Runtime: 1:57)

(Audio News 09/27/13) Courtney Harding stirred a bubbling concoction of sugar, butter and milk, waiting for the moment when the ingredients turned the right color, the right consistency to spoon out into creamy caramelized confections. Harding has been selling his Dolce Treats pralines for two years, but he was ready to expand his business, so he turned to the LSU AgCenter food incubator for help. (Runtime: 1:55)

(Distributed 09/24/13) MANGHAM, La. – Cattle producers interested in learning proper cattle handling procedures were not disappointed by attending a beef and forage field day at the Goldmine Plantation on Sept. 19.

(Audio 09/30/13) Perennials can live in our garden for a number of years. Many of the perennials in Louisiana are winding down in fall. This is a good time to divide them or clean up the areas around them. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 09/30/13) Drift rose series is a Louisiana Super Plant for fall 2013. These roses are low-growing and come in a variety of colors. They can be planted in the fall. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 09/30/13) Louisiana home vegetable gardeners can focus on cool-season vegetables in October. Cole and root crops are good ones to grow this time of the year. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Distributed 09/24/13) BATON ROUGE, La. – Children between the ages of three and eight can get in the spirit of fall and increase their reading skills at a series of free events in October and November at the LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens at Burden.

(Audio News: 09/23/13) A 440-acre property in the heart of Baton Rouge is like a lush sanctuary dropped in a city. What was once Windrush Plantation is now Burden Museum and Gardens. The Burden family donated the property to LSU more than a half a century ago to advance horticulture, celebrate the state’s rural culture and keep a green space in the city. (Runtime: 2:05)

(Distributed 09/23/13) BATON ROUGE, La. – Professors, graduate and undergraduate students were recognized at the LSU College of Agriculture honors and awards ceremony at the Lod Cook Alumni Center on Sept. 18.

(Distributed 09/20/13) The Conversation Piece azalea belongs to the Robin Hill group. This group of azaleas is known for multi-season blooming and large flowers on hardy plants.

(Distributed 09/20/13) HOMER, La. – Poultry producers from across the state were taught practices that will make their operations more environmentally friendly and efficient at a field day at the LSU AgCenter Hill Farm Research Station on Sept. 18.

(Distributed 09/20/13) HAMMOND, La. – Fall is the best time of year to garden in Louisiana. Now through November and December is recommended for adding new trees and shrubs to your landscape. Also consider some cool-season flower additions or some herbaceous perennials.

(Video News 09/19/13) Researchers at the LSU AgCenter are looking at ways to improve the quality of water running off cattle farms. LSU AgCenter correspondent Tobie Blanchard reports on one study that evaluates different planting methods of winter forage. (Runtime: 1:34)

(Audio 09/23/13) Azalea lace bugs are small insects that feed on the foliage of azaleas. The insects show up in spring and fall. Symptoms include small white dots on the leaves and a decline in the health of the plant. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio News 09/18/13) Last fall researchers planted winter forage on pastures at the LSU AgCenter Dean Lee Research Station and Extension Center using different planting methods. The purpose of the study was to see if the way the grass is planted can affect water quality coming off the pastures. Donna Morgan with the LSU AgCenter’s Master Farmer Program says they used different types of conventional and conservation planting methods. (Runtime: 1:35)

(Audio 09/23/13) October is the month to plant garlic in your vegetable garden. You can do this by simply buying a head of garlic and breaking it up into individual toes. Garlic doesn't require much work, but it does take patience. The crop won't be ready until May. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Distributed 09/17/13) BATON ROUGE, La. – A late-winter freeze set this year’s Louisiana sugarcane crop back, but the outlook for harvest is optimistic, said LSU AgCenter sugarcane specialist Kenneth Gravois.

(Audio 09/23/13) The Louisiana iris is dormant this time of the year. They begin growing again in October. If you need to divide them, this is a good time to do it. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 09/23/13) Summer bedding plants may still be in good shape this month. Gardeners can pull out the ones that are past peak, but it's still too early to plant cool-season bedding plants. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 09/23/13) It's easy to be tired of the summer heat in September. While waiting for cooler weather, consider where in your yard you could use shade. Fall is the best time to plant shade trees in your landscape. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Distributed 09/16/13) ALEXANDRIA, La. – An LSU AgCenter cattle expert advised owners of small cattle operations that they should consider artificial insemination with technology available to make the option affordable and easier.

(Distributed 09/16/13) LAFAYETTE, La. – Thousands of gardening enthusiasts attended the Master Gardeners’ Plant Fest in Lafayette, held Sept. 14 at the Horse Farm.

(Distributed 09/16/13) BATON ROUGE, La. – Faculty members and volunteers from across the state involved in nutrition education spent Sept. 10-12 at the Lod Cook Conference Center at LSU recognizing the new School of Nutrition and Food Sciences.

(Video News 09/13/13) Researchers at the LSU AgCenter Macon Ridge Research Station are helping farmers handle problems in their fields. Farmers heard about solutions to several issues at the station’s field day. LSU AgCenter correspondent Tobie Blanchard was there. (Runtime: 1:45)

(Distributed 09/13/13) One of the most popular herbaceous perennials in Louisiana is the purple coneflower. The scientific name of this plant is Echinacea purpurea. It is native to a geographic area from the Midwest into the Southeastern United States.

(Distributed 09/13/13) HAMMOND, La. – Each fall, research gardens across the country, such as those located at the LSU AgCenter Hammond Research Station, announce some of the best landscape plants that have performed well in trials during that year.

(Distributed 09/12/13) BATON ROUGE, La. – Now that the Louisiana corn harvest is nearly complete, growers have been given a few ways to decrease the chance of the Goss’s wilt bacteria overwintering in their fields.

(Distributed 09/12/13) HAMMOND, La. – The LSU AgCenter Hammond Research Station will hold its annual landscape horticulture field day for nursery, landscape and garden center professionals on Oct. 10.

(Audio 09/16/13) Louisiana gardeners associate azalea blooming with spring. But we can grow fall-blooming azaleas. It is a joy to see these flowers in fall and into winter. Encore and Robin Hill are good fall azaleas. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 09/16/13) If you love to grow plants in containers, you'll notice eventually the root system can fill the container. When this happens, the plants should be moved into a larger container or the health of the plant will decline. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 09/16/13) Having a compost pile should be a part of every gardener's landscape. A bin is easy to make, and kitchen scrapes and yard waste can be recycled into great organic matter that can be used for bed preparations. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 09/16/13) Caladiums start to go dormant later this month. Gardeners can store their tubers during the winter and save them for next year. Hear more to learn how to dig them up and store them. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Distributed 09/11/13) BATON ROUGE, La. – Possibly the hardest part of changing eating habits to lose weight is deciding where to begin and how to sustain, says LSU AgCenter Smart Bodies program director Denise Holston-West.

(Audio 09/16/13) Peach harvest season has passed, but you do need to keep out for pests on the trees. Peach tree scale is a common insect found on peach trees. Hear more to learn how to control it. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Distributed 09/10/13) CROWLEY, La. – Dustin Harrell, LSU Agcenter agronomist at the Rice Research Station here, is participating in a multistate study on arsenic in rice to determine if levels of the element are higher in different varieties and to see if varied flooding methods affect arsenic content.

(Distributed 09/10/13) MACON RIDGE, La. – LSU AgCenter scientists shared the latest research findings and progress with participants who braved sweltering heat at the Macon Ridge Research Station near Winnsboro on Sept. 5.

(Audio 09/10/13) As farmers wrap up the corn harvest in Louisiana, they will look at ways to handle the residue from the plants that remain in the fields. LSU AgCenter agronomist Josh Lofton is evaluating five different systems that farmers can use. (Runtime: 1:25)

(Video News 09/10/13) Last year Louisiana farmers harvested a record soybean crop. This year they could reach that number again. LSU AgCenter soybean specialist Ronnie Levy says yields on early harvested beans are high. (Runtime: 1:23)

(Audio 09/09/13) Mulches are commonly used around flower beds and shrubs. They help suppress weeds and conserve soil moisture. Organic mulches will decay over time and need to be replaced. Keep the old mulch in place when adding new mulch. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 09/09/13) Some plants in our landscape should not be pruned in September. They include flowering shrubs such as camellias, azaleas, gardenias and hydrangeas. These plants have set their flower buds, and pruning will diminish their floral displays. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 09/09/13) Louisiana gardeners do a lot of gardening in September and October. As we transition to the cool season, it is important to do some good bed preparation before putting a new crop of plants in. Hear more to learn how. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 09/09/13) Farmers harvesting grain sorghum are encountering problems with the white sugarcane aphid. LSU AgCenter entomologist Sebe Brown says the insect is infesting sorghum for the first time in Louisiana. (Runtime: 1:05)

(Distributed 09/06/13) BATON ROUGE, La. – The LSU AgCenter and the LSU College of Agriculture will be consolidating dairy science programs over the next nine months to expand and better integrate the research, extension and teaching efforts.

(Distributed 09/09/13) BATON ROUGE, La. – Financial professionals from throughout the area will conduct a financial education event for consumers at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center on Oct. 5 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

(Audio 09/06/13) Last year Louisiana farmers harvested a record soybean crop. This year they could reach that number again. LSU AgCenter soybean specialist Ronnie Levy says yields on early harvested beans are high. (Runtime: 1:15)

(Video News 09/06/13) Typically in September we are on the downside of summer heat. More people take to the outdoors for tailgating, gardening or just enjoying cooler weather. While outside, people still need to protect themselves from mosquitoes. LSU AgCenter correspondent Tobie Blanchard has this report. (Runtime: 1:37)

(Distributed 09/16/13) One of the popular fall-flowering plants offered at many retail garden centers in Louisiana during late summer and early fall are cassias.

(Distributed 09/06/13) HAMMOND, La. – Ornamental peppers are a unique, specialty plant for home landscapes. Appealing characteristics include colorful berries and foliage. Ornamental peppers have traditionally been thought of to some degree as a holiday potted plant, but they are enjoying increased use among home gardeners as an alternative color addition to annual and herbaceous perennial beds.

(Video 09/09/13) Pruning is an important part of plant care. On this edition of Get It Growing, LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill describes how to prune Knock Out roses for profuse, bright-colored blooms in the fall. (Runtime: 1:54)

(Distributed 09/05/13) DELHI. La. – An outdoor business workshop for landowners will be held here Oct. 2 at the Delhi Civic Center.

(Distributed 09/04/13) BATON ROUGE, La. – The LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens will host a fundraising event for the Burden Horticulture Society, called Cocktails in the Gardens, from 6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. on Nov. 15.

(Audio 09/09/13) Lawn mowers remain active into late summer. You may notice more weeds as you mow. When daytime temperatures begin to stay in the 80s, you can apply lawn weed killers. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 09/04/13) In September, hopes are high that temperatures will moderate. After a long, hot summer, people are ready to enjoy the outdoors. While the heat may begin to diminish this month, the threat of mosquitoes doesn’t. (Runtime: 1:30)

(Audio 09/09/13) Even though it stays hot into September in Louisiana, we have to realize that fall isn't too far away. Plants should start slowing down, and this mean we shouldn't fertilize lawns, shrubs or trees this time of the year. Gardeners can continue to fertilize vegetables and cool-season bedding plants. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Video 09/16/13) When people think of Louisiana, they think of this tree covered in Spanish moss. On this edition of Get It Growing, horticulturist Dan Gill explains why the bald cypress is an excellent tree for well-drained Louisiana landscapes. (Runtime: 1:39)

(For Release On Or After 09/06/13) You may often hear Labor Day designated as the traditional end of summer, and according to the calendar, fall will officially start at the fall equinox on September 22. We know good and well, however, that our Louisiana summer season extends a good bit longer.

(For Release On Or After 09/20/13) As we move toward October, it’s not too early to make plans for houseplants that spent the summer outdoors. You will need to bring them back inside at some point when it starts to get cold. But you have a variety of jobs to do now.

(For Release On Or After 09/13/13) When it comes to home landscaping, many gardeners remain confused about how to create what they want. Efforts at landscaping can be disappointing despite spending a substantial amount of money.

(For Release On Or After 09/27/13) Are you not growing vegetables because you don’t have a yard to plant them in? Perhaps you live in an apartment. Or is the only sunny area of your landscape covered in concrete? The satisfaction of growing fresh vegetables is undeniable, yet many gardeners do not have a suitable in-ground location to grow them.

(Distributed 08/30/13) Oak trees are very popular in Louisiana landscapes. We are all very familiar with the evergreen Southern live oak. Popular deciduous oak trees in Louisiana include water oak, shumard oak, southern red oak and willow oak. But the one with possibly the best potential for landscape use is the nuttall oak.

(Video 09/02/13) Vines can help liven up a landscape. But some are unmanageable. On this edition of Get It Growing, horticulturist Dan Gill introduces you to the very well-behaved firecracker vine – a plant that pops with a profusion of scarlet red flowers attractive hummingbirds. (Runtime: 1:29)