(Audio 06/28/10) Louisiana figs will soon begin to ripen. It is important to make sure fig trees are receiving a sufficient amount of water. To prevent birds from feeding on your figs, purchase bird netting from your local nursery. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 06/28/10) Frequent summer rainfall makes the weather humid and damp. Snails and slugs love this type of weather, and they are likely to come out and feed on your plants. Deal with snails and slugs by setting out beer traps or using iron phosphate baits. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 06/28/10) Louisiana gardeners welcome flowering plants that are able to withstand the intense heat of summer. Profusion zinnias are a hybrid group of zinnias that are insect-free. They grow very well during the summer. Hear more about growing zinnias in your landscape. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 06/28/10) Gardeners should practice weed control in Louisiana beds during the summer. Regardless of how you weed, chances are the weeds will grow back. Try using mulch as a defense against weeds, and you also may want to apply a pre-emergence herbicide to prevent weeds from developing. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 06/28/10) If you have tomatoes planted in your vegetable garden, by this time of the year you should be harvesting many fresh red tomatoes. You may notice some of the flowers that the plant produces will begin to fall off due to high temperatures and lack of pollination. If you want to harvest tomatoes well into the summer, be sure to plant heat-tolerant varieties. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 06/21/10) Many people plant trees during the winter season and into the spring. When the temperatures rise, these trees are going to need supplemental watering. Here are some tips for watering newly-planted trees. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 06/21/10) While French tarragon will not grow properly throughout Louisiana’s hot summers, Mexican tarragon could serve as a substitute. This relative of marigolds has a rich flavor and grows beautifully in full sun situations. Learn more about planting Mexican tarragon in your herb garden. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 06/21/10) Most baldcypress trees that are planted in the landscape don’t usually produce knees. If your cypress does produce knees, this can be a nuisance when they come up in the lawn. While cypress knees in a flower bed appear picturesque, it is beneficial to eliminate the ones that appear in your lawn. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 06/14/10) Louisiana gardeners that spend long periods of time outside in their gardens should take precautions to protect themselves from summer’s heat. Hear more about drinking plenty of fluids, gardening in the shade and other helpful tips. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 06/07/10) A sucker is an undesirable, vigorous chute originating at the base of a plant. When dealing with suckers, it is important to prune them off properly to prevent a stub from sprouting again and producing more suckers than before. (Runtime: 60 seconds)