Table arrangement By: Brenda Bolton, Mobile County Master Gardener, www.mobilecountymastergardeners.org   Editor’s Note:  Creating fresh greenery arrangements during a holiday season can result in  special gifts for friends. In this column from November 2016, Brenda Bolton gives expert tips on using what you grow for décor that lasts as long as possible.  And we want you to know that as a backup to DIY, the Master Gardeners invite you to place your order for Holiday Greenery

Snapdragon. Photo by Judy Weaver. By Judy Weaver   Because Snapdragons thrive in cooler weather, gardeners who call Planting Zone 8b home can plant these happy plants in early spring and fall.  And if our winter happens to be mild enough, snapdragons can be overwintered to get a head start on spring color. What they can’t tolerate is hot weather.   Snapdragons are happiest in full or dappled sun with moist, well-drained soil, whether in a border or a container. Pinch back you

French marigolds planted as a cover crop can help reduce root knot nematold damage. Photo by John Olive. By: John Olive, Retired Director, AU Ornamental Horticultural Research Center, Mobile Gardener, www.mobilecountymastergardeners.org Q: What is a cover crop and should I plant one in my garden? A: A cover crop is a planting that is primarily grown to benefit a future crop and generally not for harvest.  It is mowed down and turned into the soil. Farmers often plant a cover

Baptista by Mary Townsley By: Mary Townsley, Mobile County Master Gardener, www.mobilecountymastergardeners.org     Fall is upon us: days are a bit shorter, and the humidity is thankfully abating. Is fall a good time to plant, you ask? Absolutely yes!    Many of you may have had the pleasure of wandering through the terrific selection of plants and trees at the Mobile Botanical Gardens Fall Plant Sale.  This collection is carefully curated to provide the best for our planting