Try New Plants, Methods In Your Old Garden: LSU Garden News

Happy New Year! This may be your old yard, but it's a new year and now is the perfect time to start the landscape planning process.

Many people like to do new things in the new year, and the garden is a great place to start.

Gardening, in its natural order, is dictated by the growing season. Each season can provide opportunities for new annuals, vegetables, and seasonal colors in the landscape. Trying new varieties can be fun. Also, perennials can die at some point and will eventually die and require replacement. Ask now during conservatory break.

If you're looking for new varieties, of course, the local garden center is a great place to find them. You can do your home research first by visiting gardening websites. The LSU AgCenter website has yard and garden information. For a list of recommended species for Louisiana, visit the Louisiana Superplants tab. You can also learn more about which varieties did well in landscape variety trials by visiting the Hammond Research Station website for houseplant recommendations.

Many botanical gardens have good websites with plant recommendations, and the Office of National Gardens has information on new species at ngb.org/new-plants. Apart from adding new plants to your garden, you can also try new gardening techniques.

Why not try the new growth system this year? Plants can be grown in vertical gardens, home hydroponic systems, and indoor growing systems. Raised bed and container gardening can be very productive. Try cooking vegetables in a small bowl. You'd be surprised what you can get out of it.

Also, this year may be the time to learn more about LSU AgCenter's Louisiana Master Gardener program or join your local garden club. Maybe you want to join a community garden or start a new garden for your neighborhood. Whether it's azaleas, bonsai, camellias, medicinal plants, or native plants, there are many companies you can contact for your favorite plants. The list could be continued.

Want to make a difference at work, school or in your community? Why not take the initiative to create a garden for your organization? Roof gardens, school gardens, and church gardens are all good places to grow fruit, flowers, and vegetables for your community.

Want to be more proactive and reduce waste? Learn to make compost. The AgCenter website has lots of information, as well as a new demonstration area where you can learn about the different types of composting systems at LSU's AgCenter Botanical Garden in Bearden.

On the artistic side, gardening is an art unto itself, but you can also participate in artistic opportunities related to gardening and plants. Can't get out into the garden but still love plants? Take art classes and learn to draw, paint or sculpt landscapes, gardens, flowers and other plants. If you love growing plants in pots, why not learn how to make your own pot planter? Do you like flowers? Learn how to make arrangements by taking a flower arrangement class or learning more about cut flower varieties.

If your goal is to exercise more and improve your fitness, a park is a great place to exercise. If you want to reduce stress or improve mental well-being, a garden is the place to be. Many gardeners report reduced stress and other therapeutic benefits from caring for the plants. Gardening can provide time for reflection and emotional processing. Mental benefits include purpose, relief from anxiety when relaxing and gardening, and increasing your ability to respond to and heal from challenges such as stress or illness.

Keep an eye out for available horticultural extension programs by checking the calendar of events on the AgCenter website for information on field days and training opportunities.

Finally, if you have any gardening questions, you probably have the answers. If not, I will find them. Send your questions to one of the email addresses below. If there's a specific gardening topic you'd like to hear about, you can also submit that topic.