Get it growing

Rain, sleet and snow didn’t stop the azalea show

The azaleas are showing off right now, putting on their annual spring spectacular despite the recent sleet, snow and extended freezing temperatures across the state. I got a few frantic phone calls about whether delicate azalea buds would be damaged. Luckily, these flowers are cold hardy.

Japanese maples can create an area of tranquility

Japanese maple (Acer palmatum) is one of my favorite small trees for the landscape. These trees can provide a unique look to your garden and be a focal point of your landscape. The thought of Japanese maples brings an air of tranquility and visual thoughts of an Oriental garden.

Get your landscape ready for winter before you hibernate

As we wrap up the year, we have many things to do to prepare for winter and spring. Winter is dormancy time for perennials, deciduous plants and warm-season turfgrasses. In some ways, it is also dormancy time for us. So it’s time to get things done in the garden before our winter hibernation begins.

Christmastime is upon us

Christmastime conjures thoughts of red, white and green. And many types of beautiful plant materials are available to work with this time of year to spruce up and decorate your home for the season.

Get it growing: Palms provide tropical look

Dwarf saw palmetto is a wonderful native palm that can be used in sustainable landscapes. (Photo by Heather Kirk-Ballard/LSU AgCenter) Two photos of the same windmill palm on the LSU campus in Baton Rouge. The photo on the left shows the results of lethal bronzing disease.

Use ornamental grass plumes for home décor

Ornamental grasses are commonly used plants in many home and commercial landscapes. These grasses are easy to establish and maintain, have few pest and disease problems, and make an excellent choice for sustainable landscapes in Louisiana.

Get it growing: Time to harvest caladium bulbs

Its fall, and we’ve already had our harvest moon. Fall provides cooler weather, so we can get back out into the gardens, lawns and landscapes comfortably. Fall marks harvesttime for many crops, such as pumpkins and other squash, persimmons, tangerines, Asian pears, apples and, of course, satsumas.