Agriculture

Tips to get your crepe myrtle into shape

From the Eunice Bulb & Blossom Garden Club
Friday, March 21, 2025
From the Bulb and Blossom Garden Club Crepe myrtles bloom on new growth, so pruning should be done before new growth starts in February or March. Due to the recent heavy freeze Eunice experienced; it would be a good idea to see if the plant is still alive.
LSU AgCenter entomologist Aaron Ashbrook observes an ant mound at the AgCenter Botanic Gardens at Burden in Baton Rouge.

LSU AgCenter entomologist Aaron Ashbrook observes an ant mound at the AgCenter Botanic Gardens at Burden in Baton Rouge.

Two-step your way to getting fire ants under control

From The LSU AgCenter
Friday, March 21, 2025
Spring is near in Louisiana. The birds are singing, and flowers are beginning to blossom in our landscapes. It’s a great time to be outdoors. Watch your step, though, or you might become a victim of another sign of the changing seasons: fire ants. As temperatures warm, fire ants become more active.
Acadia Parish rice farmer and leader Jackie Loewer talked about rice at the Eunice Rotary Club meeting. (Photo by Myra Miller)

Acadia Parish rice farmer and leader Jackie Loewer talked about rice at the Eunice Rotary Club meeting. (Photo by Myra Miller)

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Yes, there is an issue with rice tariffs

Harlan Kirgan
Friday, March 21, 2025
The Rotary Club guest speaker Wednesday brings a lifetime of experience and achievement in the field of rice and soybean production. Jackie Loewer farms over 3,000 acres of rice, soybeans and crawfish with his brother Jim, and his nephews, Micah and Clint.

Eliminate the need to repot houseplants in bigger containers

From the Eunice Bulb & Blossom Garden Club
Friday, March 7, 2025
Root pruning, trimming the roots of a plant, is not as common as repotting a plant, but it can be an excellent alternative. When a plant is getting too large for its container, or, if you simply want to keep a plant at a certain size, root pruning will do the trick.
LSU AgCenter fruit and nut specialist Michael Polozola demonstrates pruning a young peach tree to encourage a form that is more conducive to fruit production. (Photo by Olivia McClure/LSU AgCenter)

LSU AgCenter fruit and nut specialist Michael Polozola demonstrates pruning a young peach tree to encourage a form that is more conducive to fruit production. (Photo by Olivia McClure/LSU AgCenter)

Pruning boosts health and productivity of fruit and nut trees

From The LSU AgCenter
Friday, March 7, 2025
Late winter is an ideal time for pruning many trees, and fruit trees are no exception. Regularly trimming away damaged and unsightly branches is key to maintaining a healthy tree with an aesthetically pleasing shape.
Trees and shrubs form the foundation of a landscape. Carefully choosing and placing these plants will help you build a landscape that suits your tastes and needs. (Photo by Randy LaBauve/LSU AgCenter)

Trees and shrubs form the foundation of a landscape. Carefully choosing and placing these plants will help you build a landscape that suits your tastes and needs. (Photo by Randy LaBauve/LSU AgCenter)

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Tips to create a low-maintenance landscape

From The LSU AgCenter
Friday, February 28, 2025
As easy as 1-2-3? There’s no such thing as a low-maintenance landscape in Louisiana, but these steps can lighten the burden. Picture this: a lush landscape brimming with plants that stay attractive year-round without you, the gardener, having to lift a finger.

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Determining when succulents should be repotted

From the Eunice Bulb & Blossom Garden Club
Friday, February 21, 2025
From the Bulb and Blossom Garden Club Succulents should be repotted every 12 to 18 months to keep the soil healthy. Often when a succulent has been in the same soil for a long time, nutrients in the soil have become depleted.
Use sharp loppers to prune branches. Photo by Randy LaBauve/LSU AgCenter

Use sharp loppers to prune branches. Photo by Randy LaBauve/LSU AgCenter

It’s time to prune and fertilize trees and shrubs

From The LSU AgCenter
Friday, February 21, 2025
Before plants leaf out for the spring, it’s a good idea to take some time for maintenance tasks in the garden. Here are two important items to put on your to-do list: pruning and fertilizing your trees and shrubs. Let’s talk about pruning first.
Michael Polozola, LSU AgCenter fruit and nut specialist, stands with his large collection of pecans. He is holding a jar containing nuts from an Elliot pecan tree. Elliot is one of the most popular varieties grown in Louisiana and one Polozola recommends for its disease-resistant qualities.

Michael Polozola, LSU AgCenter fruit and nut specialist, stands with his large collection of pecans. He is holding a jar containing nuts from an Elliot pecan tree. Elliot is one of the most popular varieties grown in Louisiana and one Polozola recommends for its disease-resistant qualities.

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From tree to table: A guide to growing pecans in La.

From The LSU AgCenter
Friday, February 14, 2025
From the LSU AgCenter There’s nothing quite like pecans. With their rich, buttery flavor, these nuts are a staple of Louisiana culture and cuisine. If you’d like to produce your own pecans, November through March is an ideal time to plant these trees.
Seed packets list important information such as planting depth and how many days it will take until germination. (Photo by Olivia McClure/LSU AgCenter)

Seed packets list important information such as planting depth and how many days it will take until germination. (Photo by Olivia McClure/LSU AgCenter)

To enjoy flowers, veggies and herbs this spring, start your seeds now

From The LSU AgCenter
Friday, February 7, 2025
Tired of the cold, gray doldrums of winter? Here’s something to look forward to: Spring isn’t all that far away, and now is the time to get your seeds started for many warm-season annuals, vegetables and herbs.