Calhoun County Gardening – From Collapse to Flourish: A Journey with Transplanted Yuccas in Alabama

Calhoun County, AL – In 2018 I transplanted seven, five foot tall Yuccas from Georgia to Alabama. The full sun area I selected had a serious problem! The soil was milkshake hard churt, which cannot be dug out by hand. It took a back hoe equipment to scoop out the circle in the area for my Rock garden. After planting the Yuccas, and deep watering them daily, they each collapsed sideways in the ground! That was shocking!  I never stopped watering them for 30 days. They survived. The original seven produced 15 plus offsprings I planted in different areas of my landscape. And in 2024 they are 9 foot tall, 3 feet wide. No matter the blackberry freezes they stay evergreen all year.  I am sharing a photo of their collapse. I enjoy Yuccas in semi shade also. They will only bloom in full sun. Do not plant Yuccas near ponds, or low hill areas, where water runs off. They do not like wet roots. If you like rock gardens then Yuccas are perfect low maintenance. I enjoy their vertical size with robust greenery, and unique sword shapes. I highly suggest to add Yuccas to your landscapes!  RESEARCH: The yucca plant’s sword-like leaves add a distinctive look to any area, including the landscape. It is a perennial, evergreen shrub that comes in several species. As it is a native of the southwestern United States, yucca thrives in soil that drains well and can be in full sun. It is also able to withstand temperatures as cold as 10 degrees F. (-12 C.).

Betty Clark is a contributing writer. She is an organic gardener since 1998. Signature flower she grows are Dahlias. She has a straw bale garden, raised bed garden, and in ground garden. Both her surnames are agricultural farming families (8 generations). Her hobbies include ancestry research, antiques, continued education classes, and workshops. She also has a background in marketing & promotions including expos. To contact Betty Clark with gardening questions: bettyclark2151959@gmail.com

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