(Video: 08/25/14) Porterweed is a summer plant that is not too well known. But as horticulturist Dan Gill explains on this edition of Get It Growing, porterweed can enhance your landscape in multiple ways. (Runtime: 1:45 seconds)

(Audio 08/25/14) Mosquitoes are abundant the summer and can be a nuisance when you garden in early morning or late afternoon and evening. Make sure to take proper precautions such as wearing long clothing and using repellant. Listen to learn more about how to prevent getting bitten by mosquitoes. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 08/25/14) Gingers and cannas both can be pruned around this time of the year. Each stalk or shoot only produces one group of flowers, so once the stalk has bloomed, you can prune it down to the ground. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 08/25/14) Depending on how your lawn is growing determines if it needs to be fertilized. If you fertilized your lawn earlier in the summer and the grass looks to be growing properly, then you don’t need to fertilize again before winter. Listen to learn more about fertilizing your lawn. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 08/25/14) Roses need to be pruned twice a year so they can produce flowers properly. The timing of pruning is crucial because it comes right before the plants produce flower buds. Pruning allows roses to grow properly and provide you with beautiful flowers. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 08/25/14) Summer showers and heat cause grass to grow rapidly, which in turn calls for your lawn to be cut more often. Grass clippings from mowing your lawn should be properly used. Listen to learn more about how to use those clippings. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio: 08/18/14) Palms are tropical, so they should be planted during summer. Palms can’t handle freezing temperatures and sometimes die from cold. If you have palms in your landscape that look dead, last winter’s frost probably killed them, and now is the time to replant. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio: 08/18/14) In the heat of the summer, it’s nice to work in the shade. Ferns are best grown in shade, so tending to them is easy to do in the heat of the summer. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio: 08/18/14) Pears are ready to be picked around this time of the year, but they aren’t quite ready to be eaten yet. The best method to ripening the pears is to wrap them in newspaper and let them sit for at least a week. Listen to learn more about what signs to look for when the pears are ready to be picked. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio: 08/18/14) Because most irises grow mainly in the winter, now is the time to transplant them to different parts of your landscape. Clumps of irises can become very large and need to be spread apart. Make sure to transplant them carefully and you’ll have beautiful arrangements of irises in your landscape. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio: 08/18/14) Butterfly weeds are grown in many Louisiana gardens. All butterflies come to feed on the nectar of the weeds, but the monarch butterflies lay their eggs on these plants. Monarch populations have fallen over the past couple of years, and by planting these plants, the butterflies will have a safe place to lay their eggs. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio: 08/11/14) The heat of the summer causes landscapes to dry out. Even though there is an abundance of rainstorms, certain areas get little water. Rain gauges are the easiest tool gardeners use to know how much their plants need to be watered. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio: 08/11/14) There are many ways to introduce color into the landscape, but the coleus is a plant that carries its color in the foliage. Coleus comes in many color variations that will bring a beautiful look to the landscape. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio: 08/11/14) Mulching around the younger trees in the landscape is important for their growth. Listen to learn more about how to properly mulch a young tree. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio: 08/11/14) The end of summer means it’s time to repot those potted plants you planted earlier in the year. It’s likely they have become root-bound and need more room to grow. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio: 08/11/14) Eggplants and bell pepper plants, if in good condition, can produce again in the fall. Pay close attention to how the plants looks to determine whether it can last until at least late September early October. If so, then they will produce another healthy batch of vegetables for you to enjoy in the fall. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 08/04/14) Chinch bug populations build up over the summer. The damage will start in one particular area of your lawn, often along concrete and can spread rapidly. If your grass seems straw-like and brown, use an insecticide that controls lawn insects. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 08/04/14) Because Louisiana has a long growing season, bedding plants can become tall and leggy by August. Now is the perfect time to trim back bedding plants that are overgrown and unattractive. Listen to learn which plants should be trimmed. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 08/04/14) Pests in our landscape include insects, diseases and weeds. In late summer, we see a rise in these problems; this is usually because of an increase in rain. Your local LSU AgCenter office and county agent can help you identify and treat the problem. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 08/04/14) Louisiana’s long growing season allows us to plant a second crop of tomatoes this time of year. Plant tomatoes a little deeper in the soil to keep them cool. Listen to learn when to plant your transplants. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Video: 08/11/14) Crape myrtles are grown throughout Louisiana because they are reliable and beautiful, but you may have noticed the appearance of black spots and some yellow, orange and red leaves on your trees. As horticulturist Dan Gill explains on this edition of Get It Growing, it’s not a sign of an early fall, but a disease. (Runtime: 1:45 seconds)

(Video: 08/18/14) If you’ve noticed a crusty grey or green growth on the branches of your plants, there’s no need to be alarmed. On this edition of Get It Growing, LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill explains that these are lichens (lie-kins) and they are harmless. (Runtime: 1:45 seconds)

(Audio 08/04/14) Although it is brutally hot in August, you can plant all kinds of vegetables during this month. This includes a mix of both cool-season and warm-season vegetables. Listen to learn which vegetables to grow this month. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 01/27/14) Even with all the cold weather we've had, gardeners can still find mild days to do bed preparation. This is very helpful for vegetable gardens. Listen to learn how to do proper bed preparation. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(For Release On Or After 08/29/14) Late summer is time to think about pruning roses. Roses respond best to regular pruning each year.

(For Release On Or After 08/22/14) Bromeliads are a wonderful group of tropical or semi-tropical plants that are widely popular container plants. Because they are easy to grow, colorful and stay in bloom for a long time, they are commonly used by florists as gift plants.

(For Release On Or After 08/15/14) I once saw a refrigerator magnet that said, “When Momma ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy.” Substitute “root” for “Momma,” and you will have an essential message when it comes to plants.

(For Release On Or After 08/08/14) Right about now is a good time to look over your landscape and evaluate how things are growing. Our long growing season, combined with adequate soil fertility and water, can produce abundant and even rampant growth in landscape plantings.

(For Release On Or After 08/01/14) If you want to boost the color in your landscape now, don’t let the heat stop you. Nurseries have excellent selections of colorful bedding plants that will thrive in whatever heat summer throws at them.