A common environmental battle in the home landscape is grass versus tree. As much as homeowners love and want both – a beautiful green lawn and mature shade trees, they are natural competitors. Due to too much shade created by trees, most lawns rarely do well and thrive long term growing und…
As I complete and celebrate a milestone – my 25th year with Tallapoosa County Extension – I look back and reflect on all the gardening-related questions I have been asked and answered. I was hired in July 2000 to serve as the local horticult…
It’s summertime, and hopefully you’re spending more time outdoors. Whether you’re out there for work, play or relaxation, keep your eyes open. You’re likely to see a creature that you may have never seen before or haven’t put much thought int…
They’re back! Yes, the fire ants are back, and if you haven’t seen them yet, you will. Every year, homeowners, landowners and fire ants go to war against each other for the rights to the area. When warmer weather sets in, fire ants become mor…
Another spring planting season is here. Warm temperatures and sunny days again signal it’s time to plant the annual vegetable garden. Raising luscious, fresh, homegrown vegetables is a favorite pastime and a traditional way of life for many p…
So many share the same dream: to be seated on a porch, boots kicked up on the railing. The sun is shining down, and having worked beneath it all day, the shade of the porch feels godly. All around are crops – peaches, corn, okra, potatoes, ca…
Tucked away on sprawling farmland in Eclectic, Alabama, is a one-of-a-kind venture driven by passion, education and community service. At its heart is Allyson Andrews, the spirited 60-year-old owner of Wildly Blessed, whose unique endeavors in beekeeping, raising livestock and caring for the…
Another spring and growing season is upon us, with many people prepping their vegetable gardens for planting or anxiously adding various new plants to their landscapes. Traditionally, the first chore of growing vegetables, flowers, or shrubs has been to break up that hard Alabama ground to h…
The cold winter months indeed limit much time, desire and effort in the lawn and garden; yet there always seems to be some lingering chore or opportunity to address and improve things around the home landscape. Might as well tackle it now. Some might call it a to-do list. From a horticulture…
As the seasons transform and warmer weather is slowly replaced with cooler days, you might assume that Mother Nature is about to take a long break for the winter. This is somewhat true. But along with the falling leaves of autumn, numerous seeds are being dispersed for the future. Notably, m…
Driving or riding along Alabama’s country roads these days, the scenery is slowly transforming to an autumn setting. Many trees are showing hints of changing their colors from green to red, yellow and brown. Drier conditions paint the landsca…
Having a lush green lawn is a gratifying dream for most homeowners, but a lot of time and care is required to achieve it. Residents must regularly mow, apply fertilizer, scout for insects and provide adequate water for their pampered lawns. B…
Peaches are a Southern summer favorite. So many delicious options to enjoy fresh peaches, peach pies, peach cobblers, peach shakes, homemade peach ice cream… This wonderful fruit can be successfully grown all across the state. However, to pr…
Companion planting involves carefully selecting different varieties of plants to grow in the same space, a garden practice that has been used for hundreds of years to reduce pests, attract pollinating insects and increase the overall growth o…
Every morning, Josh William’s 2-year old daughter, Maren, walks out back to the chicken coop and collects eggs. She calls the hens “her girls,” and she tells her girls “thank you” after she’s collected all the eggs she can carry.
Having wildlife around residential areas can be entertaining to some homeowners but quite irritating to others. Songbirds and hummingbirds are typically welcomed, but other types of wildlife, such as snakes, mice, voles or armadillos, can be …
Retired Circuit Court Judge Dale Segrest spends most days in his garden near the front of his Tallassee property, tending crops and sharing his harvest with the people around him. With an impressive legal career in the rear view, Segrest is c…
Beth Baker was thinking about starting a garden on her Eclectic property while contractors were still building her house. She first saw the 37-acre property while visiting her parents seven years ago, and now, she’s working on expanding her b…
Every fall, people wonder why their beloved pecan trees fail to produce a crop larger than a handful, or any crop at all. Alabama has thousands of mature pecan trees around homes and farms; naturally, one might assume those would produce an a…
In the mid-1960s, there was a popular TV show called The Addams Family. I was born later, in the mid-1970s, but I remember watching re-runs of the show growing up. It had a catchy opening theme song that is still popular today. The song went …
As we celebrate the holiday season of giving, finding that special Christmas gift for someone can be a real challenge. Traditionally, it means hitting the stores and shopping until you drop and finally finding something worthwhile, often lean…
