Advice for Planting Varieties
The Alabama gardening calendar is a great resource for deciding when to plant various varieties of plants based on the climate in Alabama. It can provide advice on what type of plants are suitable for your location, as well as when it is most beneficial to plant them. It can also provide tips on how to prepare soil for planting, when and what type of fertilizer needs to be used, and identification guides for different kinds of weeds and pests that may affect your garden. Additionally, the Alabama gardening calendar can give you information about types of plants that grow best in specific regions such as mountain or coastal areas, as well as whether certain plant varieties are seasonal or year-round crops. Knowing the climate conditions in each region is crucial in making sure each variety of plant has an optimal chance at survival and maximum yield potential. Furthermore, the Alabama gardening calendar is important to use when planning out a garden because it helps identify the best time to purchase seeds or young seedlings so that they do not become overgrown and too difficult to manage while still allowing them time to develop roots. Finally, if you’re feeling adventurous, use the Alabama gardening calendar as guidance to try out some new varieties that you think may be right for your area!
Planting Toolkit
Alabama’s temperate climate makes it prime for gardening all year round. Whether you’re starting a new garden or looking to maintain an existing one, having the right tools can make all the difference! Here are some of our suggestions for the tools needed to create and tend to a beautiful garden in Alabama:
• Gardening Gloves: A must-have for anyone who gardens in Alabama! The gloves will keep your hands protected from cuts and scrapes as you dig and weed, plus if you decide to do any pile composting, your hands won’t get too dirty.
• Weeder: A long-handled weeder is essential for taming unruly patches of weeds that threaten to take over your garden. Long-handled weeders ensure you can stay standing while pulling those deep-rooted weeds out.
• Shovels and Spades: Different shovels and spade sizes are necessary when turning over soil, fighting weeds around shrubbery, transferring soil or mulch fabrics, creating beds or planting larger plants.
• Hose / Nozzle Attachment: Keeping your plants hydrated is important; a good hose with attachments like spray nozzles will help control exactly where water goes and ensures that each plant is getting just enough water.
• Water Timer: If going out at certain times throughout the day is not an option for watering plants, investing in a timer may be just what you need! This will help prevent overwatering which can ultimately harm plant growth. Sprinklers systems and soaker hoses can also be used instead with timers providing convenience on hot summer days in Alabama! All these items are vital parts of the tool kit needed to create and maintain a beautiful garden in Alabama. With these essential tools, tending to your southern paradise will be much easier!
Shade Planting
Shade planting can be tricky, but it doesn’t have to be! Here are some tips for dealing with shaded areas and best practices for shade planting in Alabama.
1. Start with the soil. In any planting situation, the soil is key – and this is especially true when it comes to shade gardening. Amend the soil with compost or manure to improve the drainage and add organic matter. When you water, aim to give a deep soak rather than frequent shallow sprinkles; this encourages deeper root growth.
2. Choose your plants wisely! Not all plants will thrive in shady conditions, so choose varieties that are adapted to lower levels of light such as liriope, ferns, coral bells, and hostas. Try grouping different color schemes together for bright spots of interest throughout your garden bed.
3. Get creative with containers! Containers bring a lot of versatility to a shaded area – you can adjust the light levels by moving them around and they’re an easy way to add pops of color without having to rely on sun-loving flowers or plants. Plus they’re easy to move indoors or out if need be!
4. Make sure plants are getting enough moisture; shade gardens often get less rainfall so consider installing a drip irrigation system for regular hydration in those hard-to-reach spots within your garden beds or among the hanging pots on your porch or balcony railings.
5. Don’t discount full sun plants – many can still thrive in partially shaded locations given the right conditions and care! Consider carefully which ones suit your specific area before making a purchase: impatiens, coleus caladiums, million bells petunias, salvia farinacea (mealycup sage), portulaca (moss rose), and wax begonias are all great choices for shady spots in Alabama gardens
Home Composting
Alabama’s warm climate throughout the year is an ideal environment for home composting. The best time of year to begin a composting bin or pile is late in the spring – between April and May. You should select a sunny area on your property that is level and away from trees, shrubs or buildings to begin your compost pile. In order to speed up decomposition and create beneficial compost, you should mix in equal amounts of browns(dry material like leaves, straw, hay, etc.) and greens(plant material like grass clippings, garden waste and kitchen scraps). Consider breaking down larger pieces of plant matter with a shovel or pitchfork before adding them to the pile; these smaller particles will break down faster. Once enough materials are added to make the mound 1-3 feet high and 3-5 feet wide, turn it often by flipping it over onto itself with a shovel or pitchfork. Keep the compost moist but not soggy: check if it feels damp like a wrung out sponge. If needed, sprinkle water over the top as you turn it each week. Within 6-8 weeks your compost will be ready for use in that growing season!
Seasonal Celebrations
Spring
A great seasonal event to celebrate during the spring season is a seed exchange. Invite local gardeners to swap seeds they have saved from previous plantings. Provide potting soil and other materials for people to start and take home their new seedlings. Ask local businesses to donate gardening tools, gloves and supplies as additional giveaways. This event is educational and gives people the opportunity to learn about different types of plants in your area and network with local gardeners. You could also host a spring tree planting event in conjunction with Earth Day where participants plant trees at a local park or public area to benefit the environment and community.
Summer
For summertime celebrations, organize an outdoor picnic featuring locally grown vegetables from gardens in the community. Ask each participant to bring something from their own crops such as fresh produce, herbs or baked goods for an enjoyable, locally sourced feast! Experienced gardeners can lead activities like tours or workshops on gardening basics, how-tos for specific gardening techniques, recipes and cooking tips with homegrown ingredients. For younger participants, consider setting up a mini-garden station with composting bins, kid-friendly tools and easy-to-grow plants such as sunflowers or tomatoes that they can take home after the picnic ends. Hosting a guided evening walk through a botanical garden allows participants to appreciate nature’s night beauty as well as learn more about nighttime pollinators such as bats and moths while they explore the garden’s trails at dusk.
Fall
The autumn season is a perfect time for hosting harvest festivals in community gardens or other spaces available in your area. Include activities for all ages such as apple picking, pumpkin carving contests and hayrides along with presentations on sustainable agricultural practices. Have cooking demonstrations using freshly harvested produce from local farms — this may inspire visitors to shop at their nearby farmers market next time they are looking for dinner ingredients! To reflect upon the changing landscape of seasonal colors you can host leaf painting activities that are both creative and edifying for all ages — painting on leaves creates original artwork using nature’s colorful display of foliage!
Winter
In wintertime create opportunities to recognize seasonal change by holding winter solstice celebrations around festive decorations such as luminaries made out of snow shoes or evergreen garlands made with greenery found in nearby parks or forests.. Offer safe campfire meals at night while sharing stories by firelight near beautifully lit displays that reflect off snow covered ground surfaces like ice lanterns filled with floating candles accented by cranberries or holly berries tucked into evergreens – these activites engage all of your senses in celebration! Host wreath making workshops utilizing recycled materials found right outside your door like repurposing trimmings from evergreen tree prunings combined with donated ribbons , fabric scraps , feathers , etc : craft friendly projects provide endless creativity as well educationally helpful remindersto be mindful of our planet .
Native Plants
Alabama’s climate and soils provide ideal conditions for several native plants that are ideally suited for home landscapes. By selecting and planting native plants, you can increase the diversity in your landscape and reduce your need to water and apply fertilizer, as well as reduce the potential for introducing pests or diseases into areas where they are not already present. Some of the best native Alabama plants to consider for gardens include black-eyed susans, foxgloves, and fringe trees.
Black-eyed susans (Rudbeckia hirta) are a lovely addition to any garden or landscape area. They come in a variety of shades of yellows, golds, and oranges and will bloom from spring through fall if given plenty of sunshine. These perennials come back each year without needing to be planted again. Foxgloves (Digitalis purpurea) are another great native plant choice for the deep South region of Alabama. These lovely flowers come in pink, white, purple, yellow, cream, or even bicolored varieties with tubular blooms rising along tall stalks that may reach up to three feet high in height. The blooms attract hummingbirds and butterflies which make them an excellent addition to any garden or landscape area. Fringe trees (Chionanthus virginicus) are an incredibly ornamental deciduous shrub or small tree that prefers wet soils but will tolerate areas with some drought periods during its lifecycle. Its fragrant white blooms make it an excellent choice for yards close kto porches or patios where the wonderful aroma can be appreciated during late spring months when it blooms each year. In addition to its beautiful flowers, fringe trees have beautiful leathery blue-green leaves with wavy edges making them easy to recognize when planted outdoors throughout Alabama’s countryside.
Invasive Species
Maintaining an Alabama garden can be a daunting task due to the number of invasive species in the area. The National Invasive Species Information Center (NISIC) defines “invasive species” as a non-native plant, animal, or pathogen (microbe) that has been introduced accidentally or intentionally and negative impacts native ecosystems. In Alabama some of these include Chinese privet, reed canary grass, wild chervil and kudzu.
It is important to be diligent about watching for and identifying any unwanted plants, animals or microbes that may be invading your garden. If you do spot anything suspicious, contact your local extension office right away. They have experienced staff who can provide advice on identifying and controlling the species best suited to the particular problem in your garden. Eradication methods could include manual removal, mowing, burning or a variety of chemical applications depending upon the naturalization status of the organism. When controlling any invasive species follow all instructions very closely as they are likely listed because they are either harmful or beneficial to non-target organisms.
Keep in mind it is sometimes difficult to control an intrusion at times due to their strong presence and rapid growth rates; however eradication can proven successful with continual hard work and dedication. Finally document findings in your own personal pest record book so if and when invasives return you can more easily assess what method may be best suited for success against that particular culprit this time around.
Wildlife Support
With Alabama’s diverse climate and habitats, creating a garden that supports local wildlife is a rewarding experience. By providing suitable habitat, you can attract birds, butterflies, and other beneficial organisms to your yard. A few simple strategies to provide appropriate wildlife habitat in your garden include:
1. Planting native shrubs and trees: Native shrubbery and trees offer food, shelter, shade, protection from inclement weather and predators, nesting sites for bird species, as well as nectar sources for native pollinators such as bees and butterflies.
2. Installing birdbaths: Birdbaths are an invaluable source of water for birds during the hot summer months when natural water sources may not be available. Be sure to keep them clean by removing debris regularly so that the birds don’t encounter pathogens.
3. Creating barriers for deer: For areas of your garden affected by hungry deer looking for their next meal there are numerous options you can use to protect your vegetation including electric fencing or motion-activated sprinklers.
4. Building bat boxes: Bats are an incredible species of mammal whose numbers have been steadily decreasing due to habitat destruction from human activities. Bat boxes offer bats a safe place to roost while they feed on insect pests in the surrounding area. You will also enjoy watching them swoop gracefully around the garden at night!
5. Leaving some “messy corners”: Leave some parts of your garden untouched or only lightly pruned – allowing them to grow wilder – these messy parts of gardend can serve as an important refuge for small animals (such as lizards) and support insect diversity which provides food sources for many species of birds or mammals.
Historic Gardens
Alabama has a rich history of cultivating beautiful gardens full of vibrant blooms, trees, shrubs and vegetables. From the Huntsville Botanical Garden, founded in 1985 to Selma’s Old Live Oak Cemetery Garden dating back to 1850 – Alabama offers a variety of unique historical gardens for visitors to explore.
Montgomery’s oldest garden is located at the Montgomery Historic District’s First White House site. Established in 1847, this garden includes native and non-native plants from around the world which provide an incredible display of color and texture throughout the year. Another must-see destination is Sturdivant Hall in Selma – which features over 30 varieties of roses, five camellia varieties and 33 magnolias planted on 7 acres of parkland. Mobile’s Langan Park Arboretum is home to several hundred species of plants across its 140 acres. And don’t forget historic Tuscaloosa’s Jemison Van de Graaff Mansion – where 64 stunning species of magnolias line its driveway! All these locations are open to guests who want to explore their beauty as well as learn about Alabama’s flowering history.
For lovers of Japanese horticulture and design, Birmingham’s Japanese Gardens at The Birmingham Botanical Garden can’t be missed. Opened in 1965, this landscape features many traditional elements like azaleas, waterfalls, streams and patches of native holly trees along with 3 nearly 1 million gallon pools that have been stocked with Koi carp. And no trip would ever be complete without a visit to Huntsville Botanical Garden – One visit will show why it was twice voted “Best Outdoor Attraction” by Citysearch ® readers thanks to its botanic collections ranging from Alabama woodland trails over 10 acres long to vibrant Demonstration Gardens filled with annuals featuring a number of original sculptures!
Preservation Practices
Preservation practices for a garden involve reducing the environmental impact of gardening activities. This begins with conserving natural resources such as water and energy. Using drought-tolerant plants and mulching plants to retain moisture will reduce the amount of water needed for the garden. Installing rain barrels or cisterns can be used to capture rainwater, rather than using municipal water if possible. Energy efficient tools, such as electric lawn mowers and tillers, can also help conserve energy while still achieving desired results in the garden.
Additionally, it’s important to limit or avoid pesticides when creating a healthy environment for wildlife and beneficial insects such as pollinators. Composting organic materials like green waste, holiday trees, and grass clippings helps support a healthy soil food web while providing essential nutrients to your plants instead of needing chemical fertilizers. Utilizing deep rooted native plants will also result in less erosion in your landscape, helping protect local waterways and habitats.
Welcome to my gardening blog! I am passionate about plants and enjoy sharing my knowledge and experiences with others. In this blog, I will write about everything related to gardening, from tips on how to get started to updates on my own garden projects.
