(Video 03/19/12) Are you ready for some brilliant colors? Well, you’ve got them with petunias. In this edition of Get It Growing, LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill explains that it’s important to plant those pretty petunias right now.(Runtime: 1:30)

(Video 03/26/12) Spring is a time that conjures images of the pinks and purples of azaleas. Well, in this edition of Get It Growing, LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill explains how one misunderstood plant -- that happens to be gray -- can provide a striking enhancement to azaleas and trees in your landscape. (Runtime: 1:29)

(Video 3/5/12) Now is a transitional time for plants. So when you visit your nursery, it’s important to ask some questions. Is this plant a cool-season annual, a warm-season annual, or is it a perennial? LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill explains on this edition of Get It Growing. (Runtime: 1:36)

(Video 03/12/12) During the spring, it’s a great idea to stop and smell the flowers. And in this edition of Get it Growing, LSU AgCenter Horticulturist Dan Gill explains why the banana shrub might be one of the perfect plants to perk up those olfactory senses. (Runtime: 1:31)

(Audio 03/26/12) Lawns are waking up across the state, and it's time to take our mowers out. This is a good time to have your lawn mower serviced - have it checked out, have blades sharpened to make sure everything is in good working order. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 03/26/12) Gardeners often wait until roses are in bloom to go to the nursery and buy them. Planting them while they are blooming is stressful to the plant. Plant them earlier to get the best results. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 03/26/12) Hydrangeas are popular shrubs for shady areas. These plants are deciduous and soon will be sending out new leaves. You can manipulate the color of your hydrangeas by adding lime or aluminum sulfate, depending on what color you want, to the soil now and again in October. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 03/26/12) Thrips are tiny insects that invade the flower buds of roses and feed on the petals, causing damage. Controlling them is difficult because they are inside the flower, but there are two insecticides that can control them. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 03/26/12) Louisiana gardeners across the state use tropical plants in their landscapes. They may not look their best right now. You can trim them back, but if you are considering new tropical plants, wait until April or May to plant them. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 03/19/12) Your local nursery or garden center probably stocks many different types of fertilizers. You don't need a different fertilizer for each plant. A general-purpose fertilizer will work for most plants. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 03/19/12) Deadhead is an odd term gardeners use to talk about removing faded flowers from plants. This helps the plant look neat and can encourage additional flowering. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 03/19/12) The buck moth caterpillar, typically found on live oaks, has black stinging spines on its body. Usually by late March you can see caterpillar masses in trees. If you've had problems with them in the past, consider having your trees sprayed. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 03/19/12) Buyers typically have a home inspected before the purchase. It is a good idea to have an arborist inspect the trees on the property as well. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 03/19/12) When it comes to spraying fruit trees, it's important to remember this has to be done preventively. Start a spray program well before problems show up. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 03/12/12) March and April are active months in the Louisiana landscape. Before you begin planting, make sure beds are prepared adequately. This includes removing weeds, turning the soil and spreading amendments such as organic matter and fertilizer. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 03/12/12) Brown patch is a common fungal disease that attacks lawns. St. Augustine grass is particularly vulnerable to the disease. Symptoms include a yellowish brown spot in the lawn that can enlarge rapidly. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 03/12/12) Lawns are waking up early around the state, but that doesn't mean you should fertilize yet. Fertilizing too early will compromise the lawn's new root system. Wait until April to fertilize. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 03/12/12) Perennials can live from year to year in our landscapes. They can outgrow their area and may need to be divided. This should be done before they put on too much new growth. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 03/12/12) Mulches are materials that are applied over the soil surface around flower beds, shrubs or vegetables. Organic mulches will decay over time, so this might be a good time to add new mulch to your gardens. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 03/05/12) March is a good month to fertilize shrubs in your landscape. You don't have to fertilize shrubs that are in good condition, but consider fertilizing newly planted shrubs or ones that have low vigor. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 03/05/12) Vegetable transplants purchased at nurseries this time of the year have been grown in greenhouses. They have led a sheltered life and must be toughened up before you can plant them out in your garden. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 03/05/12) You may see plants like petunias and pansies blooming in flower beds and consider planting some this time of year. The best of those were planted in fall or winter, however. Beds planted with these flowers this month will never achieve the look of earlier planted beds. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 03/05/12) Perennials are grown for their beautiful foliage or flowers and can live for many years in our landscapes. This gives them an advantage over annuals. Look for perennials growing in gallon containers at nurseries. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 03/05/12) Louisiana home gardeners plant many different vegetables during March and April. Some gardeners may wonder about pollination of their vegetables. Learn more in this Get It Growing. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(For Release On Or After 03/30/12) The cucumber family, properly known as the Cucurbitaceae (cu-cur-bit-A-cee-ee), provides a wide variety of vegetables popular for the spring, summer and fall home vegetable garden.

(For Release On Or After 03/23/12) Scale insects are one of the more common groups of insects that attack plants. You may find them feeding on trees, shrubs and even indoor plants.

(For Release On Or After 03/16/12) I am often asked about low-maintenance landscaping. After a brief conversation, I get the feeling that what the person is actually looking for is a no-maintenance landscape. Unfortunately, if you are going to have a landscape with trees, a lawn, shrubs and flowers, maintenance is going to be involved.

(For Release On Or After 03/09/12) Yard and garden pest problems will become more common as we move into the warmer summer months. Some gardeners still feel that they should immediately get an insecticide and begin spraying when they see insects or some apparent insect damage in their gardens.

(For Release On Or After 03/02/12) Lawns have their purpose in the landscape. They create a restful contrast to flowerbeds and other elements in the landscape. Lawns are also often needed for outdoor activities and are indispensable if you have kids.