News Release Distributed 01/25/11
WEST MONROE, La. – An LSU AgCenter horticulturist advised 200 gardening enthusiasts which woody shrubs and ornamental plants could be productive in northeast Louisiana landscapes. The presentation was part of a gardening forum sponsored by the Northeast Louisiana Master Gardeners on Jan. 15.
Make sure you know which lantana you’re getting, said Allen Owings. “Some grow 6 feet tall. Make sure you have adequate space.”
Owings said that although Knock Out roses are low maintenance and don’t need a lot of irrigation, one variety can grow to 14 feet tall. He said coleus is easy to propagate and perform best when planted in April. The more sun Big Red Judy receives, the redder it gets, and it grows wider than tall.
In general, Owings said of woody ornamentals, “prune in February and around Labor Day. Fertilize after pruning.”
The Amazon series dianthus is one of the Louisiana Super Plants, he said. The variety will be 18-20 inches tall at peak performance. Louisiana Super Plants is an educational and marketing campaign for evaluating and highlighting reliable and beautiful plants that perform well in the state.
The keynote speaker at the forum was Barbara Pleasant, who spoke about beginning a vegetable garden and home composting. Other topics on the program included native plants in the landscape, different soils and caring for plants with fertilizers and soil amendments.
Mary Ann Van Osdell