(Video 02/18/15) Residents sometimes use rows of shrubs, bushes, or trees to create privacy hedges around their yards. On this edition of Get It Growing, LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill recommends some excellent small shrubs for creating an effective privacy screen. (Runtime: 01:36)

(Distributed 02/27/15) Coral bells (Heuchera) is a plant for shady containers and landscape beds.

(Distributed 02/27/15) COVINGTON, La. – The 2015 Northshore Garden and Plant Sale will take place March 20-21 at the Covington Fairgrounds.

(Distributed 02/27/15) BATON ROUGE, La. – The 26th annual Florida Parishes Forestry Forum is scheduled for March 20 at the University Center at Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond.

(Distributed 02/27/15) BATON ROUGE, La. – Cattle prices should remain strong for 2015, after a brief dip during the past two months, according to an LSU AgCenter beef cattle economist.

(Distributed 02/27/15) HOUMA, La. – Louisiana Fisheries Forward 2015, the third annual summit for Louisiana commercial fishermen and the seafood industry, will be held at the Houma-Terrebonne Civic Center, 346 Civic Center Blvd., Houma, on March 11.

(Distributed 02/17/15) HAMMOND, La. – Have you noticed that Southerners have a love affair with the live oak (Quercus virginiana)? And rightly so! Noted for its strength and longevity, this stately tree was one of the major tree species that survived the wind and flooding of Hurricane Katrina.

(Distributed 02/26/15) BATON ROUGE, La. – The 13th Annual Baton Rouge Spring Garden Show is set for March 14-15 at the John M. Parker Coliseum on Highland Road in Baton Rouge.

(Distributed 02/26/15) CROWLEY, La. – The LSU AgCenter hosted a workshop on rice mill insect pest management Wednesday (Feb. 25).

(Distributed 02/24/15) JEANERETTE, La. – The Acadiana Beef Cattle Producers Field Day will be held March 7 at the LSU AgCenter Iberia Research Station from 8:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. Registration starts at 8 a.m.

(Distributed 02/24/15) GONZALES, La. – Hundreds of young people from across Louisiana were named state champions during the 80th Annual LSU AgCenter Livestock Show held Feb. 14-21 at the Lamar-Dixon Expo Center in Gonzales.

(Distributed 02/25/15) BATON ROUGE, La. – The East Baton Rouge Parish Master Gardeners are preparing for their annual spring plant sale that will be at the LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens at Burden from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on April 11.

(Audio 02/23/15) This time of year is great for dividing perennials that are not in active growth. Dividing perennials can help them grow and bloom better. If you need to reduce the size of a clump, cut it into two to four sections and plant it where you would like the perennial to grow. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Distributed 02/24/15) GONZALES, La. – The LSU AgCenter honored five Louisiana 4-H and FFA members and one adult leader for their work with youth livestock projects on Feb. 21.

(Distributed 02/24/15) GONZALES, La. – Six exceptional Louisiana youths were recognized Saturday (Feb. 21) for their knowledge, skills and communication abilities as they were named winners of the Gerry Lane Premier Exhibitor Award at the 80th annual LSU AgCenter Livestock Show at the Lamar Dixon Expo Center here.

(Distributed 02/24/15) AMITE, La. – The Hammond Spring Garden Day will be held March 14 at the LSU AgCenter Hammond Research Station from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

(Distributed 02/24/15) BATON ROUGE, La. – The 2015 Southwest Louisiana Garden Conference and Expo is scheduled for March 27-28 in Lake Charles.

(Distributed 02/23/15) BATON ROUGE, La. – Louisianians are probably familiar with Spanish moss, but they may not be aware of ball moss. Like Spanish moss, ball moss is an epiphyte and belongs to family Bromeliaceae, said LSU AgCenter plant pathologist Raj Singh.

(Distributed 02/20/15) The Oriental magnolia (Magnolia x soulangeana) is one of the most spectacular of the spring-flowering trees because its flowers are so large.

(Distributed 02/20/15) BATON ROUGE, La. – PotashCorp, of Geismar, Louisiana, donated $50,000 to the LSU AgCenter to support showmanship awards and serve as the corporate title sponsor for the 80th annual LSU AgCenter Livestock Show.

(Distributed 02/20/15) ABBEVILLE, La. – When LSU AgCenter and Sea Grant agent Mark Shirley was busy surveying a crawfish pond south of Abbeville recently, he found both good and bad news for connoisseurs of crawfish – cold water, but a healthy supply of very small crawfish.

(Video 02/18/15) Youth from across Louisiana are in Gonzalez for the 80th annual LSU AgCenter Livestock Show. Of course their chickens, cows, lambs, goats and pigs are there, too. The LSU AgCenter correspondent Tobie Blanchard was also at the show and has this story. (Runtime: 01:38)

(Distributed 02/20/15) HAMMOND, La. – Landscapes around the state are in various stages of their spring awakening, but it’s still February.

(Distributed 02/19/15) BOSSIER CITY, La. – An LSU AgCenter taskforce is identifying ways to help farmers irrigate more efficiently and improve water quality. The group brings together AgCenter extension agents and researchers who are working to fill data gaps and enhance outreach efforts as Louisiana farmers face increasingly complex decisions about water management.

(Distributed 02/19/15) GONZALES, La. – The Vermilion Parish livestock judging team will advance to the national livestock judging competition in Louisville, Kentucky, this fall after winning first place at the 2015 State 4-H and FFA Livestock Judging Contest held during the LSU AgCenter Livestock Show at the Lamar-Dixon Expo Center in Gonzales.

(Distributed 02/18/15) SIMMESPORT, La. – Ruben Dauzat, chosen as the Outstanding Master Farmer of the Year for 2014, wants to make the best crop possible each growing season, but he doesn’t forget the long-term goal of conservation of the land and water.

(Distributed 02/16/15) BATON ROUGE, La – Thirteen students from Slovak University of Agriculture (SUA) visited LSU as part of a partnership between their university and the LSU AgCenter and LSU College of Agriculture.

GONZALES, La. – The Lamar Dixon Expo Center is full of activity as the 80th annual LSU AgCenter Livestock Show kicks into high gear. The show runs from Saturday, Feb. 14 to Saturday, Feb. 21, when it will culminate with an awards ceremony.

(Distributed 02/16/15) HAMMOND, La. – Retail garden center owners, wholesale nursery growers and commercial landscapers are optimistic about having a good year in 2015.

(Distributed 02/16/15) HAMMOND, La. – Fresh produce growers learned about ways to reduce food safety risks on their farms at a series of workshops held around Louisiana by the LSU AgCenter last week (Feb. 10-13).

(Distributed 02/13/15) JENNINGS, La. – Out of the joint meeting of the Louisiana Rice Council and the Louisiana Rice Growers Association on Feb. 10 came good news for Louisiana rice farmers. Farm payments will be sent in November rather than early 2016.

(Distributed 02/13/15) A new gaura that has performed well as a perennial in LSU AgCenter landscape trials is Sparkle White. This gaura was a 2014 All-America Selections bedding plant winner.

(Distributed 02/13/15) MARKSVILLE, La. – More than 30 LSU AgCenter experts joined with industry representatives to provide information and advice to Louisiana agricultural consultants who met at their annual conference on Feb. 11-13.

(Distributed 01/13/15) HAMMOND, La. – Roses continue to be popular in our residential landscapes, so home gardeners would be well served to increase their knowledge and awareness of recommended management practices for roses. Proper care at the proper time goes a long way to enjoying landscape success.

(Distributed 02/15/15) BATON ROUGE, La. – Americans focus on the heart in February with Valentine’s Day. But this month is also recognized as American Hearth Month.Denise Holston-West, LSU AgCenter nutritionist, said a healthy lifestyle can help prevent or delay heart disease, which is the leading cause of death for men and women in U.S.

(Distributed 02/09/15) BATON ROUGE, La. – LSU AgCenter economist Mike Salassi received the American Sugar Cane League President’s Award at its annual meeting in Lafayette on Feb. 3.

(Distributed 02/12/15) MARKSVILLE, La. – The Louisiana Agricultural Consultants Association presented $2,000 scholarships to three LSU College of Agriculture students during the Louisiana Agricultural Technology & Management Conference on Feb. 11.

(Distributed 02/12/15) BATON ROUGE, La. – The Louisiana State University AgCenter has released a new guide to help homeowners who are considering adding a solar power system explore various options and learn more about this technology.

(Distributed 02/11/15) BATON ROUGE, La. – Horse owners should keep in mind that all horses in Louisiana must be tested annually for equine infectious anemia. More than 30 racing quarter horses in California were recently diagnosed with the virus, so it is critical that horse owners follow regulations, said LSU AgCenter equine specialist Neely Walker.

(Distributed 02/10/15) BATON ROUGE, La. – LSU AgCenter plant pathologist Raymond Schneider received the American Phytopathological Society’s Southern Division Outstanding Plant Pathologist Award at its annual meeting in Atlanta, Georgia, on Feb. 2.

(Video 02/05/15) You might have noticed red berries hanging from trees in the landscape at this time of year. The Burford holly is the tree producing these bright bunches of color. On this edition of Get It Growing, LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill talks about care for this beautiful small tree. (Runtime: 01:33)

(Video 02/05/15) You’ve seen pictures of beautiful pink cherry blossoms in the National Mall. Even though Japanese cherries don’t grow well in Louisiana, there is a way to create a similar look in your landscape. On this edition of Get It Growing, LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill introduces you to the not-so-well-known Japanese flowering apricot. (Runtime: 01:54)

(Video 02/05/15) Elevating a home for flood protection is a major task that can be expensive and lead to many anxious moments, but it can also give homeowners a sense of security when the next tropical storm comes ashore. LSU AgCenter correspondent Craig Gautreaux has the story of a historic home that is being raised to protect it from future storms. (Runtime: 01:56)

(Video 02/05/15) Students in LSU College of Agriculture’s Textiles, Apparel Design and Merchandising program are getting hands-on experience with technology new to the fashion industry. LSU AgCenter correspondent Tobie Blanchard visited the program and got a look at their body scanner in action. (Runtime: 01:58)

(Distributed 02/09/15) BATON ROUGE, La. – There can be too much of a good thing when it comes to vitamins. Experts say for those who eat a well-balanced diet and take a multivitamin, drinking vitamin water is not necessary.

(Distributed 02/06/15) HAMMOND, La. – One of the most widely planted landscape shrubs in Louisiana is the azalea. Dwarf, intermediate and the larger-growing Southern Indica varieties are common in our landscapes.

(Distributed 02/06/15) Petunias are a great flowering bedding plant to add to your landscape prior to the end of winter/beginning of spring.

(Distributed 02/06/15) VIOLET, La. – The Arlene and Joseph Meraux Charitable Foundation has given $150,000 to the LSU AgCenter Livestock Show — the largest single donation in the show’s 80-year history.

(Distributed 02/06/15) MAURICE, La. – A nationally known cookbook author told Vermilion Parish teachers and school cooks Feb. 3- 4 about easy ways to cook healthy foods, and she later worked with school cooks on ways to make school lunches tastier and healthier.

(Distributed 02/05/15) BATON ROUGE, La. – The Louisiana Mosquito Control Association (LMCA) has established an endowed scholarship in the LSU AgCenter Department of Entomology. LMCA is endowing a total of four scholarships across Louisiana, including the one at LSU.

(Distributed 02/05/15) DELHI, La. – Louisiana farmers should follow cost-effective production strategies for the 2015 growing season, LSU AgCenter experts said at the annual northeast Louisiana crops forum on Feb. 2.

(Audio 02/03/15) Hydrangeas are beautiful shrubs that grow well in shady areas in Louisiana. The color of these flowers is determined by the pH of the soil. Treat pink hydrangeas with aluminum sulfate to turn them blue and blue hydrangeas with lime to turn them pink. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 02/09/15) Although bareroot plants are not commonly sold these days, bareroot roses are still available. If you buy these roses, plant them into a well-prepared bed as soon as you can. Make sure you plant them properly to ensure healthy growth. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 02/09/15) February is a good time to fertilize your fruit trees to make sure they grow vigorously and bloom well. You can use a general-purpose fertilizer or a fruit-tree fertilizer and follow the directions on the package. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 02/09/15) Now is still a great time to plant cool-season bedding plants in your landscape. However, not all of these plants will do well in the shade. Where there is little direct sunlight, grow plants such as pansies, violas, foxgloves, columbines, and primroses; they will flourish even without much sun. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Distributed 02/05/15) HAMMOND, La. – Belinda’s Dream rose is no stranger to awards. It was the first rose to be named a Texas Superstar selection and was the first rose to receive the prestigious Earth-Kind designation by the Texas AgriLife Extension Service. Earth-Kind roses are selected for their tough constitution, disease resistance, attractive growth habit, low maintenance requirements and attractive flowers.

(Distributed 02/05/15) LAFAYETTE, La. – The LSU and Southern University AgCenters are joining with the Louisiana Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Professional Development Program to host free, one-day beginning farmer and one-day advanced farmer training sessions for ag professionals interested in sustainable vegetable production on March 3 and 4 at the Ira Nelson Horticulture Center.

(Distributed 02/05/15) BATON ROUGE, La. – As Louisiana gardeners anticipate warmer days and their first opportunity to get into the garden, the LSU AgCenter has announced the spring lineup of garden shows. The shows will kick off in March and continue into June in Hammond, Baton Rouge, Lake Charles, Alexandria, New Orleans Covington, New Orleans and Thibodaux.

(Distributed 02/04/15) BATON ROUGE, La. – Carl Motsenbocker and a group from Louisiana State University and Southern University returned from Haiti in January with ideas on how to engage LSU students and the community in developing sustainable agriculture projects in the Caribbean country.

(Audio 02/02/15) Even indoor plants can become infested with pests such as spider mites. Spider mites can cause plants to look unhealthy and eventually turn tannish or brown. Use a magnifying glass to spot these indoor pests and get rid of them using pesticides. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 02/02/15) Winter freezes can cause significant damage to tropical plants in our landscapes. You can either wait until spring to prune or cut the plant down to the ground now. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 02/02/15) To keep everblooming roses vigorously growing, cut them back twice a year. Late winter pruning is done in late January or early February. Wait until March to fertilize, but don't forget to prune now. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 02/02/15) Swiss chard is a vegetable that is very easy to grow. It comes in a variety of colors and can be eaten raw or cooked. Find everything you need at your local nursery or garden center. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 02/02/15) There are many vegetables that will thrive in the cool February weather in Louisiana. Think about planting some vegetables like beets, carrots, cauliflower, or cabbage in your garden this month. Buy seeds and plant them directly in your garden to yield the best crops. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 02/09/15) Cool winter months are a great time to plant and prune hardy fruit trees in your landscape. Apples, peaches, pears, plums and blueberries should be pruned in a particular way at a particular time of the year. Contact your local extension office for information about pruning fruit trees. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(For Release On Or After 02/27/15) Although our lawns are still dormant this month, you can begin to plan your strategy to have an attractive, healthy lawn this summer. Because the grass is still dormant, most lawns look relatively bad now, so don’t judge yours too harshly at this point.

(For Release On Or After 02/20/15) Figs are one of the most widely planted fruit trees in home landscapes in Louisiana. With little care, they will produce crops of juicy, sweet figs every July.

(For Release On Or After 02/13/15) February is an excellent time to fertilize trees. Most trees are just beginning to enter a growth phase – or will within a few weeks. Fertilizing this month provides them with nutrients just when they can use them most effectively.

(For Release On Or After 02/06/15) At some point, many gardeners discover seed catalogs offer a much greater selection of annual flowers and vegetables than can be found at the local nursery. To grow those wonderful plants, however, you must be able to grow your own transplants from seed.