A quarterly newsletter from the Horticulture Division of the LSU AgCenter's School of Plant, Environmental and Soil Sciences.

This edition includes information on Louisiana Master Gardner Program, 2008 All-American Selection Winners, What to do before and after a freeze, pruning everblooming roses, pruning once-blooming roses, Spanish Moss - Friend or Foe?, Have you thanked a tree lately, Turfgrass and Lawns, Vegetables to plant in December, January and February, Crop highlights, Fruitfulness and Pollination.

We are in a transitional period with landscape beds as unwanted plants (i.e. weeds) are popping up at this time of year due to heavy rainfall, thinning or washed away mulch, or other reasons. Now is a great time to re-mulch your landscape beds as you transition for the spring season.

LSU AgCenter agents receive numerous calls regarding diseases in tomatoes and other garden crops. Many times, home gardeners inflict problems by not following label directions on herbicide and other pesticides.

May is a good time to consider planting some annual bedding plants or herbaceous perennials for the summer ahead.

Finding the right landscape professional is a major decision to make when you're looking for someone to work on your home grounds, says LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dr. Allen Owings.

The first week of April is the time to fertilize your warm season lawn such as Bermuda grass, centipede and St. Augustine. If you had or have brown patch disease in your lawn, hold off on fertilizing until you get this fungal disease under control. The following tips will be helpful in determining the appropriate type of fertilizer for your lawn.

There are at least two reasons for using controlled-release fertilizer. First, controlled-release fertilizer is less likely to burn your turf, since less of the fertilizer is immediately available. Second, by using a controlled-release fertilizer you can make one application last longer - typically six to eight weeks between applications.

Many home gardeners grow tomatoes in their vegetable gardens. Some self-inflicted problems have can be avoided by reading and following label directions when pesticides are being used.

Do not fertilize your lawn until the first week of April. Soil pH is the key for fertilization success.