by Maggie Lawrence

The Alabama Cooperative Extension System continues its partnership with Simply Southern TV. In 2022, viewers can learn ways to transform their landscapes into Alabama Smart Yards.

Becky Barlow, the interim assistant director for Alabama Extension’s agriculture, forestry and natural resources programs, said Extension is expanding the partnership that developed in 2021.

“In our first year with Simply Southern, Extension horticulture professionals covered a variety of topics,” she said. “For this new year, we are excited that we will have more than a dozen garden segments airing over the course of their season.”

Simply Southern host Mary Wilson said that gardening is a big part of many people’s lives.

“For a while, we didn’t have any gardening content within the show,” Wilson said. “It made perfect sense for Simply Southern to partner with Extension to provide quality, reliable tips about gardening. With so many talented experts on staff, Extension is a go-to source for gardening information. The new Alabama Smart Yards segments fit the show perfectly and have been very well received by our viewers, whether they’re Master Gardeners or brown thumbs.”

Alabama Smart Yard segments will begin airing in early January and will include the following topics:

Row Covers, Seed Starting, Pollinators, Garden Sanitation, Master Gardener Helpline, Selecting a Healthy Plant, Quick Irrigation Fixes

Simply Southern TV begins its eighth season in January 2022. The show, which is a production of the Alabama Farmers Federation, airs in all of Alabama’s television markets as well as in the Columbus, Georgia market. Additionally, viewers can find it on RFD-TV.

Alabama Smart Yard segments air in every other episode of Simply Southern. Wilson said its featured location is in the latter part of the show before the third commercial break and the cooking segment.

The segments are also available on the Alabama Cooperative Extension System YouTube channel.

Barlow directs people looking for additional gardening information to these resources.

Alabama Extension website, www.aces.edu

Master Gardener Helpline, (877) 252-GROW

Alabama Extension county offices