Our Mission
The mission of the Louisiana Master Gardener volunteer program is to support the LSU AgCenter’s Cooperative Extension Service by using research-based information to help educate the public on best management practices in consumer horticulture and environmental stewardship. We hope you will find our site provides you with resources, inspiration, and encouragement for your gardening projects. Gardening Questions?? Call the Master Gardener Hotline at 318-698-0010. How do I become a Master Gardener? For more information about Louisiana Master Gardeners and statewide programs you can go to https://www.lsuagcenter.com/topics/lawn_garden/master%20gardener Do You Know Where Master Gardeners Volunteer?
New Superplants Announced by LSU AgCenter
Roses Need Summer Care
Now is the time to think about your roses. According to Dan Gill of the LSU AgCenter, June is a good month to prune roses. In this article, Dr. Gill will tell you about watering, mulching, deadheading and insect, disease and weed control. You can click on this link to read the article.
Wondering What is Wrong With Your Plant?
|
Northwest Louisiana Master Gardeners can record volunteer hours and education hours online at the LSU AgCenter website here. Click here.
NWLAMG NEWS
Upcoming Activities
Check the NWLA Master Gardeners' Calendar for interesting gardening activities taking place around North Louisiana! Green Thumb Seminar at the American Rose Center
Sat, July 20, 2019 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM CDT Get your tickets as only 80 are available. Click here. Here it comes! " A Morning of Tea in America’s Rose Garden. The ArkLaTex Herb Society will be here to celebrate the installation of a new herb garden at the American Rose Center. They will share the history of their herb study group, the two gardens they’ve maintained at the American Rose Center, a brief history of the marvelous and varied experiences known as “tea” followed by a late morning tea party. Feel free to dress up, wear a hat or come as you are. to the gardens of the American Rose Center., 318 938 9402" A learning Opportunity that NO Northwest Louisiana Master Gardener will want to miss!
The Fall Master Gardener Day has been rescheduled for September 20, 2019, at the Red River Research Station from 9:00-1:00 pm. You will receive 2.5 hours of continuing education in ONE event! Speakers include: AgCenter Specialists speaking on topics such as veggies, Weeds, Diseases & Insects. Let’s all of us stretch our legs mid-morning taking talking tours of the regional “Super Plants” garden. Many NWLAMG’s have worked hard on this project. There will also be voting for the Master Gardener Choice Award, including a complimentary lunch, Garden Goodies, Door Prizes and Informational Tents on Plant health, Weeds, Fruits and Veggies, Insects and Super Plants. Registration is required by September 6th, 2019. (For Master Gardeners Only) Having Problems with Leaffooted Bugs?
Check out these Newsletters from the LSU AgCenterNewsletters published by the Regions
Northwest Louisiana Horticulture Newsletter GNO Gardening Regional newsletter published by the Greater New Orleans Area Horticulture agents. June 2019 Get It Growing by Dan Gill of the LSU AgCenter
Dan Gill is the spokesperson for the LSU AgCenter’s Get It Growing project, a statewide educational effort in home horticulture utilizing radio, Internet, TV and newsprint. Gardeners throughout Louisiana read his columns in local newspapers watch his gardening segments on local TV stations, listen to him on local radio and access content on the Internet. Articles by Dr. Joe White. Check it out in the Master Gardener Knowledge Tree, Gardening Wisdom from Dr. Joe White
Articles from the NWLAMG Seedlings. Newest edition can be found at Master Gardeners Knowledge Tree - NWLAMG Publication "Seedlings" LSU AgCenter Newsletter "Horticulture Hints" Newest edition of the quarterly newsletter highlights. APPLICATION TO BECOME A MASTER GARDENER:
Do you know someone who wants to be a Master Gardener? Classes will begin January, 2020. Application forms are may be obtained from the MG Office in the Carriage House or by calling 698.0010. Class size is limited; for consideration for the 2020 Master Gardener Class, or by going to this address: nwlamg.weebly.com. Please submit your application by December 1. Once submitted, participants will be notified of acceptance. http://nwlamg.weebly.com/forms.html Plant of the Month
A catalog of the Louisiana Super Plants since 2010.
Each spring and fall the LSU AgCenter announces a new list of plants deemed worthy to be Louisiana Super Plants. These are reliable and beautiful plants selected for superior performance under Louisiana growing conditions. Click this link to see the list from the LSU AgCenter. Plant of the Month for July Lime Sizzler Firebush By Heather Kirk-Ballard LSU AgCenter Horticulturalist Need something else to heat up your summer garden this year? The LSU AgCenter has selected Lime Sizzler firebush (Hamelia patensGrelmsiz) as one of the 2019 Louisiana Super Plants and Louisiana certified selections. This beautiful tropical, perennial shrub is root hardy in zone 8 and is hardy in USDA zones 8B to 11. It can be used as a summer annual in colder regions. Firebush is a native from south Florida to Central and South America but was actually discovered at a nursery in south Texas where the plant was then patented, propagated and sold. It has been favored by landscapers and home gardeners from Texas to Florida ever since. Lime Sizzler firebush sports flashy foliage of variegated chartreuse yellow and lime green with red veining in a whorled arrangement of four leaves that are 4 inches long and 1 1/2 inches wide with a smooth texture. The blooms are arranged in clusters of beautiful red-orange tubular shaped flowers that are 1 1/2 to 2 inches long. You could spot this spectacular plant from miles away. The blooms are favored by hummingbirds and butterflies alike because they provide a sweet nectar from spring through summer on into late fall. In addition, the plant produces small, round, blue-black fruit that are also edible by birds. The colors of the plant are most brilliant in a full-sun location. However, partial-shade plantings will display a darker green coloring in the leaves, and the shrub will be less dense, causing the plant to have leggy growth. One of the outstanding features of Lime Sizzler firebush is its vigorous, compact growth habit. This makes it a perfect selection to be used in smaller landscape areas as an accent piece or as a striking mass planting for larger areas. It will also perform well in a containers on sunny areas on the patio. Another great use for this plant is as a hedge planting or to create screening. Be sure that the spacing is set 3 to 4 feet apart to be used as a hedge. Otherwise, the suggested spacing is 4 to 5 feet apart. This tough tropical holds up to the hot and humid summers of Louisiana and has a good drought tolerance once it is well established. In addition, it is fairly resistant to deer as well as most other pests with no real problems with insects aside from some aphids, spider mites and scales that are easily controlled with a minimal insecticidal spray. It grows in a wide variety of well-drained soils in a pH range of 5.5 to 7.5 but favors a more neutral pH of 6.6 to 7.3. This shrub can be pruned to shape, but flowering will be greatly reduced if pruned in the summertime. Prune before blooming in late winter or early spring to shape if the plant survived a warm winter and did not die back. It has no special fertilizer needs, and a slow-release balanced fertilizer like 10-10-10 would be sufficient for spring fertilization. This sun-loving, compact tropical shrub is a great addition to sunny landscapes, providing a real pop of vibrant color and wow factor that is sure to catch anyone’s eye. Pair it with lemon sedum, and you’re sure to have a winning combination. It can also be paired with other tropical or native plants to greatly enhance a pollinator garden. The Louisiana Super Plant program is an LSU AgCenter educational and marketing campaign that highlights tough and beautiful plants that perform well throughout Louisiana. Each spring and fall, AgCenter horticulturists announce the Louisiana Super Plants selections for that year. Louisiana Super Plants have a proven track record with many years of reliable performance in Louisiana landscapes or have gone through several years of university evaluations and observations. Look for these plants at local nurseries. Make MONEY for Northwest Louisiana Master Gardeners Association,
when you shop AMAZON.COM! Yes, You CAN…and this is how you do it.
Knowing that our local merchants do not have the purchasing power of a giant engine like Amazon, why don’t we shop more often at this gi-normous marketplace, where almost anything is available? Hold on! We want to shop locally. We want our local merchants to succeed. We have made friends with many shopkeepers and want to be able to find items we need at our favorite stores. For most people, if there is a purchase to be made, the first notion is to run errands and shop close to our homes. After all, the most delightful thing about bargain hunting is that you mingle with people, you are outdoors, you are touching, smelling and viewing the products you need, and want to purchase. But, even a shopkeeper may tell you “ just go to our online catalog… you’ll find it there!” And, sometimes, the items we need are not locally available. What is our next move? Start internet shopping and fire up Amazon.com. But, listen to this: When you shop at Amazon.com, and buy a product from them, your order will make money for the NORTHWEST LOUISIANA MASTER GARDENERS! We can earn 5% cash back for the Northwest Louisiana Master Gardeners every time that you purchase anything from Amazon.com. And, this money will be immediately deposited in our bank account. It’s true! AMAZING. Of course, it doesn’t just happen by magic! You must sign up for us to be eligible for the 5% refund. Here is how you register to send money to NWLAMG’s. Go to amazon.com as usual.. On the black bar below the white search bar are several departments. Choose the “Prime” button. In order to participate, you should be a Prime Member (This membership provides free shipping for all purchases, and many other benefits as well.) There will be a section in the registration asking which non-profit you want to support. Choose NWLAMG’s. That’s it. You’re in. We’re in. Everyone benefits. The next time you enter ‘smile@amazon.com’, you will see that all of your purchases generate money for the Northwest Louisiana Master Gardeners Association. Pat yourself on the back for helping our organization find some free money! |
