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Computer assisted plant selection coupled with video disc technology allows students with limited experience in plant identification and selection to successfully complete landscape design plans.

The plant selector and video disc components have been integrated into a C.A.D. program producing a complete work station. Students preparing computer generated designs can refer to both the selector and video disc without leaving the C.A.D. environment. This integration has proven to be an effective teaching tool in landscape design instruction.

SERA-IEG-27, Southern Extension and Research Activities–Information Exchange Group–27, is sponsored by the Southern Association of Agricultural Experiment Station Directors. Thirteen states cooperate with Official Representatives from Extension and Research programs. The objective of the group is to identify, evaluate, select, and disseminate information on superior environmentally sustainable landscape plants for nursery crop production and landscape systems in the Southeast. Plants are distributed to those responding to a request for plant evaluation cooperation. Those that agree to cooperate are expected to grow a liner to landscape size, plant it in an landscape setting and evaluate the plant (numerically, a scale of 1–10 for insect damage, disease damage, cold damage, heat stress, growth rate, flower, fruit, fall color, production potential, landscape potential, invasive potential, and insect disease transmission potential, as well as plant height and width and time/duration of bloom). Following evaluation the group is to collectively and individually disseminate information gained from the plant evaluation system to a wide variety of audiences.

Several collecting trips in Mexico, in association with a monographic revision of a portion of the genus Mirabilis, have produced several species which show promise as new perennial landscape plants. Mirabilis pringlei Weatherby, with its showy pink flowers, has potential as a striking summer blooming plant, particularly when used as a container accent plant. Equally promising are two as yet unnamed species, their fragrant white flowers opening in the evening, seem ideal as terrace or patio accents.

Multiple experiments conducted over the past 5 years suggest that greenhouse-grown bedding plants, particularly fall-propagated cool-season annuals, may exhibit reductions in vegetative growth and flowering in response to plant growth regulators (PGRs) applied at rates commonly used by growers. Studies using Viola ×wittrockiana Gams as a model system indicated that paclobutrazol applied at production stages and rates reportedly used by growers could result in significant postharvest residual responses that adversely impacted landscape performance. Most of these rates were also included within the recommended ranges on the agricultural chemical labels. Multiple applications to the same plants during production increased the severity of the residual responses and decreased the rates at which residual responses were detectable in landscape plantings. Tests with additional taxa, Brassica oleracea L. var. acephala DC, Calendula officinalis L., Ipomoea carnea Jacq. subsp. fistulosa (Mart. ex Choisy) D. Austin, Lantana urticoides Hayek `L.S. Red', Lupinus texensis Hook., Plumbago auriculata Lam., Salvia greggii Gray, and Verbena canadensis Kunth `Homestead Purple', PGR formulations and at various times of the year indicate that the postharvest landscape responses to PGRs vary among taxa and seasons. These results strongly suggest that in order for researchers to make responsible recommendations on PGR use, studies must include not only greenhouse or nursery production data, but also subsequent testing for residual responses to the PGRs in landscape settings.

Dairy manure compost (DMC) may be an effective soil amendment when establishing new urban landscapes. The objective of this study was to evaluate the bioavailability of DMC nutrients to typical urban landscape plants. In March 2003, DMC rates of 0, 9, 18, and 27 kg/m² (0, 1.25, 2.5, 5 cm) were incorporated into the top 10 to 15 cm of Austin silty clay soil. Half of each 6 x 6-m plot was established with bermudagrass sod and the other half with six types of ornamental plants consisting of annual, perennial, and woody species. During the third 2005 growing season, plant tissue was harvested from selected landscape plants to measure biomass production and nutrient uptake. Plant growth and nutrient contents were compared to plant available soil nutrients that were measured during fall 2004 and 2005. Plant available P in the upper 7.5 cm of soil ranged from 89 to 170 mg/kg in September 2004 and from 31.3 to 105.5 mg/kg in August 2004. Potassium and trace elements (Fe, Cu, and Zn) were also increased in the upper 7.5 cm by DMC applications. Increased concentrations of plant available soil nutrients in DMC-amended plots were correlated to overall increases in plant growth and nutrient uptake. Bermuda grass exhibited increased growth and increased tissue concentrations of N, P, K, and Zn. Penta biomass and nutrient uptake were also increased by DMC applications. Lantana stem weights significantly increased with DMC application rate up to 18 kg/m², but no additional increases were obtained with the 27 kg/m² rate. Results of this study show that, after three growing seasons with no additional fertilization, a 1- to 2-cm application of dairy manure compost is sufficient to provide continued fertility to landscape plants.

As the ornamental nursery industry moves from being production-oriented to being market-driven, growers must rethink the way they do business. No longer can producers target only purchasers of plant materials; now they must also direct marketing activities to those who influence the purchase of plants and choice of producers. Because landscape architects play an influential role in plant specification and selection of production nurseries, growers should consider ways in which effective marketing communications can be developed to influence these influencers. A marketing perspective on the decisionmaking process and the determination of the role of the individual in the decision process is used to develop recommendations on ways for growers to communicate with landscape architects. The implications of these findings for university extension programming also are discussed.

The LSU Agricultural Center and Louisiana Nursery and Landscape Association initiated an ornamental plant promtion, marketing, and recommendation program in 1996. Called `Louisiana Select', this program is intended to actively promote outstanding ornamental plants to Louisiana's gardening consumers. In addition, it provides county agents and industry professionals information on plants that should be recommended. The selection committee consists of an extension horticulturist, two county agents, a landscape contractor, a wholesale greenhouse grower, a wholesale woody ornamental producer, and two representatives from retail garden centers. Plants are usually promoted in the spring and fall of each year. Plants previously named as Louisiana Select recipients include `New Orleans Red' (Red Ruffle) coleus, mayhaw, `Henry's Garnet' virginia sweetspire, `Homestead Purple' perennial verbena, `Telstar' dianthus, bald cypress, `New Gold' lantana, `Confetti' lantana, `Trailing Purple' lantana, `Dallas Red' lantana, `Silver Mound' lantana, `Lady in Red' salvia, `New Wonder' scaevola, `Goldsturm' rudbeckia, and `Foxy' fox-glove. A theme (“Fall is for Planting Native Trees”) has also been promoted. Point of purchase signs promoting the Louisiana Select program and individual plants are made available to garden centers. Significant sales increases ranging from 300% to 2500% have been reported for seelcted plants with annual bedding plants and perennial flowers enjoying the greater sales volume increases.