Botanic hosted its second of three growing classes Friday titled “Successful Growing in Central Alabama Symposium” where attendees learned the ins and outs of growing in the Auburn area.
The class opened with a skit by Botanic’s Co-Owners King Braswell and Stacy Brown that informed the attendees about hardiness zones. The zones are defined by the USDA as the standard by which gardeners and growers can determine which perennial plants are most likely to thrive at a location, of which central Alabama is in zone 5.
Perennial plants are ones where the above-ground portion dies in winter while the underground portion remains active, awaiting spring to return.
King Braswell, co-owner of Botanic, then explained that Lee County has two very different soil types due to the “fall line.”
“On one side of the fall line, you can dig a ditch and see that it is predominantly sand, and on the other you can see that it is predominantly clay,” Braswell said.
This line divides what was once the shoreline of an ancient ocean. The modern-day impact is that people who live in Lee County on the sandy side will have more success with flowers and plants than in harder clay areas.
Braswell noted the importance of knowing the type of soil gardeners are working with to help determine if the soil is properly prepped. An easy way to test is to dig a hole and fill it with water, if the water persists for several hours, then the soil has more clay and will have a harder time dealing with drainage.
“Soil preparation is so important to successful gardening in central Alabama, I would say it is the number one thing you need to do right when gardening,” Braswell said.
On the topic of water, Braswell pointed out that there is no perfect amount of water and the best thing to do is to monitor the plants and soil. He added that planting in summer means the roots need water more often than earlier in the year to help the roots establish.
It is to leave leaves in yards and gardens to decompose and return the nutrients to the soil, but Braswell had a counterpoint to that recommendation. He recommends removing leaves from gardens and composting them as leaves take a long time to decompose and are unsightly to most people.
Braswell stated that different mulches are best for different applications and that pine straw is better for slopes as it will not wash away as easily in the rain. He also said that mulch is better for perennials and annuals, and recommended against hardwood and rubber mulch.
Annuals, unlike perennials, die off for winter. They re-grow the next season from seeds dropped by the previous year's plantings.
“Personal preference, I like to stay real natural and use pine straw and mulch,” Braswell said.
Pruning was another topic of interest for attendees. Pruning is the strategic process of cutting back trees, shrubs and other plants to encourage new growth and flowering.
Braswell explained the “May rule,” which states that if your plant blooms before May, it should be pruned right after it blooms. However, if it blooms after, it can be pruned at any time.
“Pruning is a really important part of maintaining your landscape… [It] stimulates new growth in plants,” Braswell said.
After the class ended attendees ate lunch prepared by the chefs at Botanic and explored the various sites and shops on Botanic’s campus.
Carson Evans, head of development and entertainment at Botanic, spoke to Botanic’s roots in the community as a family business.
“It's a family business, my little brother’s a barback, my cousin Kennedy’s the general manager, my parents own the place and I’ve been here ever since we got the property,” Evans said.
Braswell encouraged students to visit Botanic to relax and study at the many tables and spaces available for the public to enjoy. Spaces which include the indoor garden featuring a stream, the outdoor lakeside fireplace and the greenhouse.
“Stacy and I are both Auburn grads and we love Auburn deeply,” Braswell said, “We would love all students to come and enjoy our space, hang out and study. It's a great place to relax and wind down.”
Braswell noted that crafting a landscape and reaping the fruit of the labor put into gardening is good for your mental and physical health.
“At the end of the day, our garden and our landscape is meant to inspire us, it’s a great way to find peace and tranquility,” Braswell said.
Evans’ role places him responsible for organizing events and engaging the community. He wants people to know that Botanic regularly hosts events the whole family can enjoy such as the Battle of the Bands on June 22, with a cash prize of $5,000 for the winning band.
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