If you grow roses, you should give them their last fertiler for the year. You should also trim them gently.

I have a book called 'month by month gardening in Alabama' or something close to that, which is great for telling you what to do each month. Also check out the Southern Living Garden Annuals. Both of these books are probably in your library.

May be you could tell us specifically what you grow, or what you want to grow?

This is a great site.

Here is a link that might be useful: A Southern Garden

Thanks for the link. I'm relatively new to gardening. We moved to Alabama about ayear and a half ago. We bought a house in a new subdivision, and you know how that goes. At the moment, I am putting in a new bed along the length of the privacy fence in the back. I have been putting in beds a little at the time as i am doing it all by myself. I want my yard to attract birds and hummingbirds. We only have two trees in the back (that we planted of course. I have a large bed in the back corner that comes down the side yard that is all filled in and actually looing nice. Now I am expanding across the back. I am thinking lorepetulum and knock out roses with plants that attract hummers filling in. I'm thinking now is a good time to plant those lorepetulum and roses. At any rate, I am digging sod in preparation right now. Hope to be ready to place shrubs next weekend.

Petals from the Past is a GREAT garden shop about 30 minutes south of B'ham. They have all kinds of great seminars and good advice.

You might want to consider a different kind of rose to help you attract birds. Some produce hips (berries) that birds like to eat. PftP can give you some recs that are just as tough as the knock-outs.

Forgot to tell you the site. www.petalsfromthepast.com.

Here's a rose you might like. Easy to care for and produces lots of hips!

Here is a link that might be useful: ballerina