Soon to be ushering in the season are the showy Southern Indica azaleas (Rhododendron indicum) which, with their hybrids, have come to be some of the most widely used landscaping plants in the coastal South, and with good reason. The plants are unsurpassed for their rich evergreen foliage, spectacular spring bloom, showy size and relative ease of care.

These large spreading forms grow 8- to 10-feet tall with an 8- to 10-foot spread. Profuse blooms in shades of white, pink, magenta, red or salmon are so plentiful and large that they sometimes hide the foliage.

Plant

# Container-grown trees, shrubs, vines, roses, groundcovers and ornamental grasses until hot weather arrives.

# Summer-flowering bulbs including canna, gingerlily, gloriosa lily and tuberose; gladiolus corms at weekly intervals through the end of this month; caladium tubers indoors in containers for transplanting later.

# Tender bedding plants or seeds including ageratum, alyssum, begonia, coleus, impatiens, marigold, salvia and zinnia, in late March or early April, when danger of frost has passed.

# Divide and plant fall-blooming perennials, including aster, chrysanthemum, goldenrod, obedient plant, also ajuga, shasta daisy, daylily, rudbeckia, spiderwort, yarrow. Keep crown (the top of the rootball) at or slightly above the soil level, spreading roots when possible and watering several times a week until the root system is established.

Prune

# Flowering trees, shrubs and vines, if needed, immediately after bloom including azalea, camellia, gardenia, hydrangea, mock orange, quince, spirea, viburnum and wisteria.

# Do not prune off foliage of naturalized spring-blooming bulbs until after the foliage has turned brown.

Fertilize

# Azaleas and camellias after bloom, and again 6 weeks later, with an acid “azalea” fertilizer. Apply also on other acid-loving plants such as gardenias, oriental magnolias and hollies. Water fertilizer in.

# Other small trees, shrubs, vines and groundcovers, with all-purpose granular product such as 8-8-8 or 13-13-13, or with a timed-release fertilizer. Water fertilizer in.

# Established roses monthly with commercial rose fertilizer or other recommended products.

Pest control

# This is the month to apply dormant oil to camellias, gardenias and citrus to control scale, whitefly and other sucking insects.

# Start a regular spray program for black spot on roses as soon as leaves begin to open. Non-toxic sulfur products, such as Safer Garden Fungicide, are a traditional remedy for powdery mildew and black spot. A homemade fungicide that has been found to be effective for prevention and control of both powdery mildew and black spot calls for one tablespoon each of baking soda and oil (vegetable or sunflower or light horticultural oil) to one gallon of water. Insecticidal soap may be added as well. Shake well before, and during use because the additives tend to separate. During moist, humid weather, spray every five to seven days.

# A new product, Bayer Advanced All-In-One Rose and Flower Care, combines 3 systemic products, fertilizer, insect control and disease control, into a pour-on liquid that can be mixed in water and applied every 4-6 weeks.

# For severe infestations of powdery mildew and black spot, spray with a fungicide such as Funginex three times at seven-day intervals.

Gardening events

# Betsy Palmer’s Saturday Home Nursery Sales will begin again on March 10th at her home at 109 Orgeron Drive. Call 337-278-6712 for information.

# A master gardener workshop on Gardening in Small Spaces and Container Gardening will be held Thursday, March 10, 10 a.m. in the master gardener cottage near the Ira Nelson Horticulture Center. Call 291-7090 for information.

# The Southwest Louisiana Garden Festival, sponsored by the LSU AgCenter/Calcasieu Parish Cooperative Extension Service, will be held March 24-25, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the Burton Coliseum on the corner of Gauthier Road and the Gulf Highway, Lake Charles. For information call 337-475-8812.

# Festival des Fleurs de Louisiana 2007 will be held Saturday and Sunday, March 31 and April 1 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call 337-482-5339 for information.

Send questions or comments to P.O. Box 3268, Lafayette, LA 70502 or e-mail ajustice @bellsouth.net. Provide your full name and city with all correspondence. source : www.theadvertiser.com