(Video 05/11/09) Knock Out roses look beautiful in landscapes this time of year. But they can grow very large, and faded flowers can cause them to lose some of their attractiveness. On this edition of Get It Growing, LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill shows you one way to help your Knock Outs remain a knockout. (Runtime: 1 minute, 48 seconds)

(Video 05/04/09) Among spring’s trademarks are the vivid and varied shades of green you’ll see in many landscapes. On this edition of Get it Growing, LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill introduces you to some plants that keep their dynamic, springtime greens well into the summer. (Runtime: 1 minute, 50 seconds)

(Video 05/18/09) The baldcypress tree is readily identified with swamps, but it’s also a species that has become popular as a landscape tree. On this edition of Get It Growing, LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill explains why a cypress is a good tree to plant. (Runtime: 1 minute, 31 seconds)

(Video 05/25/09) If you’re having insect problems on your plants, you may want to consider an alternative to insecticides. On this edition of Get It Growing, LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill explains how predatory insects like ladybugs can kill pests just as effectively. (Runtime: 1 minute, 44 seconds)

(Audio 05/04/09) Most vegetables perform better when planted during the milder parts of the year. But some heat-tolerant vegetables will do fine growing throughout the summer. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 05/04/09) As summer heat begins to arrive in May, some of your herbs may begin to languish. To get the most from your plants, harvest these herbs and dry them for later use. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 05/04/09) Use caladiums if you want reliable plants that have unmatched growth in shaded areas of your landscape. Their colorful foliage can brighten up darker spots in your yard. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 05/04/09) Many people believe that green bell peppers and red bell peppers come from different plants, but they are the same. If you leave your green bell peppers on the plant longer, they will turn red. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 05/04/09) Many houseplants are tropical plants that don't tolerate cold weather very well, but when May comes around, these plants will flourish outdoors. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 05/11/09) The permanent lawn grasses we use in Louisiana are all warm-season grasses. They grow and thrive in the summer heat. If you are planting a lawn, consider solid sodding. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 05/11/09) When establishing a lawn from sod, it is important to properly take care of the sod. Watering is critical to help the grass develop strong roots. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 05/11/09) Tomatoes are a popular home vegetable, but they do have their share of problems. A common disease on tomatoes is buckeye rot. It hits the mature fruit on the bottom of the plant. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 05/11/09) For the most part, Louisiana gardeners should plant trees during our cooler winter season. But there is at least one exception. Palm trees do best when planted during the hot summer months. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 05/11/09) Hydrangeas and gardenias are popular flowering shrubs in Louisiana landscapes. Their flowers bloom this time of the year. You can prune these shrubs after they finish blooming. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 5/18/09) Newly planted trees will need watering to help them survive their first summer in the ground. A great way to water a tree is with a 5-gallon bucket with holes at the bottom. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 05/18/09) Blackberry plants are productive in May. After you harvest berries, you have to be careful when pruning -- and not just because of the thorns on the plant. Don't cut back the canes that didn't produce any fruit. Those will produce fruit next year. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 05/18/09) Louisiana gardeners use a wide variety of warm-season plants to provide color to our summer landscapes. Gardeners should prepare beds properly before putting in new plants. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 05/18/09) Louisiana gardeners can use a number of annual flowering vines. A great one to grow is the hyacinth bean. It produces wonderful lavender flowers in the summer and through the fall. It also has attractive foliage and seed pods. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 05/18/09) Spanish moss does not hurt trees. It's not a parasite and it won't take nutrients from the tree. It lives on the tree but gets water and minerals from rain water. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 05/25/09) If you grow roses in Louisiana, you are familiar with the disease black spot. It attacks the foliage of the plants. Since some of the roses we grow are susceptible to the disease, regular control measures are needed. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 05/25/09) Gardeners use a variety of bulb plants in their landscapes. Many summer-flowering bulbs used in Louisiana are tropical plants that thrive in the heat. You can find a variety of plants available for many different situations. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 05/25/09) Growing plants in containers makes plants portable and gives you the opportunity to enjoy them where they couldn't be grown otherwise. The containers can become dirty over time, and gardeners will need to clean them. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 05/25/09) Cooked greens are a traditional part of Louisiana cuisine. But many of these greens will not grow during our summer months. Swiss chard will grow into June, however, and a few of the best summer greens are Malabar spinach and New Zealand spinach. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 05/25/09) Louisiana gardeners are lucky to be able to grow crape myrtles, but aphids can be a nuisance on these small trees. To control the pests, treat the trees with insecticides in late May or early June. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(For Release On Or After 05/29/09) Winters have been relatively mild in Louisiana over the past few years, and I see lots of palms being planted around the state. They add a wonderful tropical look to the landscape.

(For Release On Or After 05/22/09) Grown and used in cuisines around the world, basil also is indispensable to Louisiana cooks. Besides having extraordinary taste, basil is really attractive and easy to grow.

(For Release On Or After 05/15/09) You may sometimes read or hear information about planting certain plants around other types of plants to prevent insect problems. This is commonly called companion planting. Generally, research does not substantiate the claims of companion planting.

(For Release On Or After 05/08/09) Most years I get a few questions asking why purple martins failed to take up residence in a birdhouse provided for them.

(For Release On Or After 05/01/09) Many gardeners suffer from pollen allergies and are prone to sneezing, runny noses, watering eyes and sinus pressure headaches while working outside when pollen counts are high.