Design a Beautiful and Easy Functioning Garden Complete With Garden Markers

by | posted in: Uncategorized | 0

Quality Garden Markers Make a Finishing Touch to Your Raised Bed Garden

garden markersDo you love to garden but dread the evenings of an aching back due to hours spent bending over to pull weeds? Your gardening can be an entirely different experience if you decide to build some raised beds for planting. Choose a great design, the proper materials including solid garden markers, and then sit back and enjoy the summer.

Design

Most raised garden beds utilize geometric shapes and span four feet across or under. Keeping your beds to this size means it will be a snap to reach and gather bounty, even from the very center no matter which side you work from. It’s nice to lay out an overall design for raised beds in your yard even if you’re only planning to build a few to start with this summer. Working from a plan guarantees that your beds will look organized and attractive. Variously sized and shaped beds look nice mixed together but be sure to leave enough space for a wheelbarrow to pass between all your beds. Using top-notch garden markers in each bed will also give it a finished and cohesive appearance.

Materials

You’ll want to build your raised bed with materials that will hold up well season after season. Stone or concrete blocks work well for this, but if you like the look of wooden beds just be sure to choose rot-resistant timber or wood-like composite materials. Trellises and tuteurs for vining plants (cucumbers, beans, peas) will add impact in one or two beds while keeping things tidy at the same time. If you choose the right ones, even your garden markers can deliver multiple years of service.

Benefits

With raised bed gardening you can relax and enjoy the summer because so many of the hassles of gardening are practically eliminated. If you lay mulch in the beds, you’ll spend very little time weeding and the soil will retain moisture better, too. If you spread mulch between your raised plant beds not only will you have created inviting footpaths, you’ll also have a lot less mud and muck being tracked back into your house – even after summer showers. And say hello to a summer without back strain since you won’t be reaching down nearly as far to take care of plants.

Raised planting beds look great and are great for gardeners. They help keep down weeds, they boast rich, loamy soil and they make collecting produce a breeze. Build with a solid design plan and with quality materials and you’ll reap the benefits year after year. The same is true for your garden markers. At Kincaid Plant Markers we’ve created garden markers that work great and look great in all kinds of weather and for many growing seasons. We invite you to check us out and order yours today.

 

Gardening Tips for Keeping Your Landscape Colorful All Year Round

by | posted in: Uncategorized | 0

Four-Season Gardening Tips for Home Grown Food in any Season

gardening tipsIn many parts of the country spring has sprung! Grass is green, trees are leafing out. Some spring flowers have already come and gone. These delightful bursts of color brighten up the entire landscape. Summer will provide more colors, textures and interest. But you don’t have to enjoy these beauties for only half the year. Here are some expert gardening tips for creating a garden landscape that offers color and interest all year long – even if you live in a northern state.

Mix it up With Containers

States with warmer year-round temperatures will have an easier time coming up with a four-season strategy, but even if you live where winter is cold and harsh there are ways to keep your outdoor areas alive with color and texture. Best of all, you don’t need a lot of space to create this kind of garden. Container gardens are perfect for this.

In fact, even if you plant an in-the-ground garden, you can add pizazz and seasonal interest by including occasional containers into the landscape. Put evergreens in containers and let them spice up your display of fall mums or winter grasses. One of the key gardening tips to developing year-round beauty is to always utilize a minimum of two plants that will bloom in the same season.

Suggested spring selections include the powerfully-hued tulip, bounteous blooming peonies or delicate snowdrops. Daffodils, crocus and iris also brighten your spring garden. If you need a larger in-the-ground statement it’s hard to beat the glorious yellow stems of the forsythia bush.

Summer offers a wide range of choices, of course: roses, hydrangea, daylilies and zinnias all serve up fabulous color and blossoms that are so gloriously unique that your garden can’t help but capture attention. Coneflowers and black-eyed Susans also add interest.

Come fall you’ll want to change out summer flowers for autumn lovelies like aster, mums or flowering cabbage. Pansies, too, come in vibrant colors and thrive in the cooler temperatures.

Winter gardens in northern climates can still enjoy color by introducing holly or firethorn bushes and other evergreen plants. Deep green leaves and bright red berries provide the same kind of visual impact as ruffly warm-weather blooms.

Keeping it Organized

Common among gardening tips is the use of a garden planner to keep things organized. You can track when you changed your plants and monitor how they do in various locations. Whether you are putting plants in the ground or in pots and regardless of whether they are annuals or perennials, using garden markers is an excellent idea. Garden planners and garden markers help you maintain an order to your carefully constructed year-round garden. And when you purchase garden markers, we invite you to use the best. Kincaid Plant Markers are the highest quality markers and come in a range of prices suitable to the needs of every gardener. Let us help you enjoy gardening every season of the year.

Identifying Flowers and Green Plants to Create Your Very Own Fairy Garden

by | posted in: Uncategorized | 0

Ideas for Planning Your Fairy Garden and Identifying Flowers to Create a Magical Design

identifying flowersPart of the great fun of reading stories like Thumbelina is the scope for imagination when you try to see the world through the eyes of a tiny sprite or fairy. How small would a fairy chair need to be? How towering would a tulip seem? A fun gardening project to share with kids or grandkids this summer is to create your very own Fairy Garden. We have some tips for identifying flowers and plants that work well in these tiny vistas, all you need to add is enthusiasm and imagination.

Scenery Ideas
Before you begin identifying flowers and plants to make your fairy garden you need to decide what kind of scene you wish to create. The happy thing about a fairy garden is that you can make it look how you imagine it. Most scenes tend to look more like a woodsy diorama. These are some scene ideas to get you started:

  • A white or blue pebble river
  • Wire vine wound onto a miniature archway
  • A toadstool house
  • A birdhouse
  • A miniature house: birchbark or log cabin, tiny stone cottage, colorful Victorian
  • A marble atop a golf tee to create a miniature gazing ball
  • Tiny deer, rabbit or turtle

Where to Plant
You can plant your fairy garden directly in the ground, but most gardeners prefer a whimsical container for their imaginary garden-scape. If you want your fairy garden to last more than one season consider choosing a container that is at least eight inches deep. If you’re only looking for some summer fun, then keeping things watered and fed will work in less substantial surroundings. Here are a few ideas to spark your thinking:

  • An ornamental ceramic dish
  • A picnic basket
  • A birdbath
  • A terra cotta saucer
  • A drawer

What to Plant
Scale is the issue when choosing plants. Fortunately, miniature gardeners have gone ahead and paved the way. Here are some of their favorite choices:
For ground cover: baby tears
For shrubbery: dwarf mondo grass, ornamental onion

For trees: English boxwood
For evergreens: Ellwood’s pillar, Wilma Goldcrest Monteray Cypress, Jean’s Dilly
For flowers: pink dianthus, nemesia blue bird and celosia

You can become inspired by looking at the wide variety of pictures of fairy gardens available online. Your local nursery may also have a small section devoted to miniature or fairy garden supplies. However, when it comes to identifying flowers in your fairy garden, there is no better place than Kincaid Plant Markers. Order yours today and start imagining a miniature world of beauty.

City Residents Can Enjoy Fresh Produce With Urban Gardening

by | posted in: Uncategorized | 0

Urban Gardening Tricks to Make the Most of Small Spaces

You don’t have to live on a farm in the country in order to enjoy the pleasure and benefits of home-grown produce this summer. You can “reap” the many benefits of healthy, home-grown produce even if you live in a forest of high rise buildings. The city landscape can accommodate your desire to plant and grow with urban gardening.urban gardening

Using Balcony Space

Many upper story apartments and lofts boast a small balcony. You may not feel like you’re ready to sacrifice the few square feet of outdoor space you have, but that doesn’t mean you can’t grow some delicious goodness. You’d be surprised what can be accomplished in small pots hung from the railing. Garbanzo beans and lentils do quite well in compact containers. Herbs like mint and rosemary also thrive in smaller pots – plus you be enjoying their lovely fragrance.

Another trick for making the most of a small patio or balcony is to choose vining vegetables which you can train along a trellis on your outside wall or even along the fence railing. Peas and beans work particularly well in this way. Urban gardening makes the most of even small spaces.

Using Rooftop Space

If you have access to a rooftop and can use larger containers (or are willing to give up your own balcony floor-space) why not go for popular veggies like tomatoes and squash? Believe it or not you can even grow pumpkins with minimal space so long as you are prudent with the pruning shears. Rooftops offer the benefit of the full sun which most summer vegetables crave.

Using Your Indoor Space

Maybe you don’t have a balcony and don’t have access to your rooftop. You can still grow summer produce. Herbs are attractive as potted plants. Try placing several near a sunny window and have fun snipping dill, parsley and basil for months. You could also hang pots from a ceiling cup hook in front of windows. Trailing vegetables such as peppers will do fine when grown this way.

Use Your Garbage to Make Soil

Urban gardening is all about reclaiming the little space and sunshine you do have. You can find more space and grow more goodness than you might imagine. You can even make your own soil when you know how. Composting can happen on a small scale too. Experts suggest using a dark colored coffee can punched with holes. Place your non-protein refuse in the can and leave it on your balcony in the sun. Then, offer an earthworm or two a new home and let them help you make rich soil for your urban garden.

Use Plant Markers

Just because your garden isn’t planted in tidy rows doesn’t make it less of a garden. You’ll still want to identify each plant in each pot. When you do, be sure to use our  Kincaid Plant Markers. Urban gardening requires some extra creativity and dedication. Urban gardeners deserve quality tools to match their quality effort and with Kincaid that is exactly what you’ll get.

Identifying Wildflowers in Your Garden to Promote Native Species & Attract Visitors

by | posted in: Uncategorized | 0

Steps to Planting and Identifying Wildflowers for a Beautiful Landscape

identifying wildflowersFormal gardens have a sort of staid and grand beauty. They are akin to a masterful sculpture. The hand of the artist is as much on display as the hand of nature. By contrast, wildflower gardens have a relaxed and comfortable feel that shines full attention on the whimsical beauty to be found in nature. Because these gardens celebrate the gems nature tends to strew casually around, identifying wildflowers in your garden will honor native species and promote an appreciation for them. In addition, you’ll soon find that more than your friends and neighbors are interested in visiting your wildflower garden.

Getting Your Space Ready

Depending upon your space and how you prefer to garden, you can plant your wildflower garden either in-the-ground or in a raised flower bed. Keep in mind that some wildflowers prefer shade while others prefer direct sunshine; choose your location accordingly. Meadow flowers will crave a sunny spot while woodland blooms will prefer a partial shade environment. Most wildflower gardens look their best in bright sunshine.

Whether you plant in-the-ground or above it you’ll want to mix the soil well with compost and sand. The sand will help keep your soil well-drained. If you plant in a raised bed, you’ll also need to place about two inches of stone or rock at the base to help with drainage. Some experts suggest stirring in super phosphate to help your flowers take root.

Getting the Seeds Planted

Once you’ve prepared the soil, it’s time to create your seed beds. Do this by creating one inch rows with either a trowel or an iron rake. The rake is far easier and wonderfully effective. Now you can sprinkle your seeds along the rows. After you’ve done that, take your rake and run it gently crosswise over the garden in checkerboard fashion. One more pass with the rake in the original direction should lay soil softly over the majority of your seeds.

Getting the Moisture Right

Now that your seeds are under a light blanket of soil it’s time to give them a soft watering to set them in place. You’ll need to repeat this gentle-rain-like watering each day until your seeds sprout above ground. Avoid soaking the soil. You don’t want a muddy environment or puddling that could dislodge your seeds/sprouts. On the other hand, be aware that windy or hot conditions can quickly dry out the soil. You want to maintain damp, not clumpy, soil conditions.

Getting out the Guestbook

Common choices for a wildflower garden include the purple Coneflower, pink Joe-pye Weed, tall and purplish Blazing Star, Butterfly Weed, Black-eyed Susan, delicate Aster and Shasta Daisy. Not only will your friends enjoy hours beside your natural wonder, but you will have the added pleasure of hosting plenty of other tiny visitors as well. Butterflies, ladybugs, honeybees and even nectar-drinking hummingbirds will be stopping by.

Even though your garden will be a riot of native beauties, identifying wildflowers is still a good idea since many people recognize blooms without knowing the name of the flower. And when it comes to identifying wildflowers no one does it better than Kincaid Plant Markers. We sell only the sturdiest and most attractive markers for labeling in your garden. Check us out and get inspired to start your very own wildflower garden.

Identifying Flowers to Attract Butterflies

by | posted in: Uncategorized | 0

Know the Basics of a Butterfly Haven Including Identifying Flowers They Most Enjoy

identifying flowersTrek through the Amazon jungle and one of the most memorable sights will be the Blue Morpho butterfly flitting in the wild. The silent, iridescent beauties have become the star of a burgeoning eco-tourism industry. But you don’t have to travel to the damp forests of South America to enjoy butterflies. By identifying flowers that attract and support butterflies you can enjoy them in your very own backyard.

The Need to Feed

There are a few basics you’ll need to provide in order to create your butterfly sanctuary starting with the native plants that caterpillars and mature butterflies will need to feed upon. The majority of butterfly caterpillars will not damage the plants they consume (unlike other problem caterpillars such as bagworms). Furthermore, the caterpillars of many butterfly species dine upon a very limited menu so it’s important to begin identifying flowers and plants that butterflies in your region prefer.

Monarch butterflies in their caterpillar stage, for instance, love to munch on milkweed. The Black Swallowtail caterpillar enjoys flowering herbs such as dill, parsley or fennel. The Acmon Blue caterpillar likes to dine on lupines while the Silver-Spotted Skipper prefers wisteria. Look for lists of butterflies who populate your region and their favorite native dining choices. Then, plant them in your garden.

The Need for Sun

Butterflies prefer sunny locations. They use the sun to orient themselves directionally but they also rely on the sun to give warmth to their lovely wings pre-flight. If you place a few smooth stones in the bright sun you’ll find butterflies will alight and rest there to soak up the rays.

In addition, butterflies typically feed in sunny areas. Identifying flowers that will bloom in the sun and planning to grow blooms there all summer is key to making a true butterfly haven. Strong-colored blooms of purple, red, pink, yellow or orange are often the most enticing.

The Need for a Pesticide-free Environment

No one likes pesky insects in the garden but using a chemical pesticide can be lethal to butterfly caterpillars. Even those labeled as “safe” or “natural” can kill your caterpillars before they are able to make their magical transformation. Butterflies need a truly natural environment.

The Need for a Puddle

You can enjoy the pleasure of seeing groups of butterflies if you provide what they need for “puddling”. Puddling doesn’t actually resemble a water puddle, but butterflies will group together on moist sand to drink in moisture and absorb some minerals. If you put a shallow dish of wet sand in the garden (and keep it moist) you may just see the sight.

At Kincaid Plant Markers we make the job of identifying flowers in your garden simple. Our sturdy, attractive, easy-to-read markers will tell every visitor what they are enjoying. After the work of identifying flowers to attract and support butterflies, let us help you in identifying those flowers for your garden visitors. Butterfly visitors will encourage human visitors to linger and enjoy the view. You can have your own eco-tourism close at hand.

Gardening Tips to Keep You Encouraged and Committed Through the Seasons

by | posted in: Uncategorized | 0

Walking Through the Seasons of Gardening With These Top Gardening Tips

gardening tipsWe live in a digital age. The age of instant gratification. You can communicate, investigate, shop or do business anywhere at anytime. Gardening helps you to slow down the pace in this instant world today and remains a way of life that requires patience, anticipation and experimentation. Here are some gardening tips that can help you as you go through the seasons of gardening:

The Season of Preparation

The garden is best thought of in terms of seasons, with Spring being a time of preparation. Now is the time to turn the soil, get planting beds ready for this year’s residents, sow seeds or get starter plants acclimated to their new surroundings. There are a few early bursts of display in ornamental trees and spring flowers but largely this is a season of preparation to be followed a season of work and enjoyment.

The Season of Reaping

Not everything has to be put in the ground fresh each year. Perennials offer pleasure year after year and often look more fabulous with the passing seasons. Think of summer as the season of reaping. You’ll have plenty to occupy your time keeping things watered, trimmed and fed but you’ll also be drinking in the delights of your labors.

The Season of Restoring

The end of summer or early autumn will be the time to divide bulbs (e.g. iris), sow fall plants and to feed and seed your lawn. This is also the ideal time to add trees or shrubs to your gardenscape. Here again, you’ll want to take the patient view. Plant a smaller tree. It will take longer to develop girth and provide shade, but will take root sooner and be less problematic over the long haul. Small shrubs and perennials will likewise need several years to grow into their imagined beauty.

Late fall is a good time to think about feeding your soil. The health of your soil will have much to do with the health and beauty of your garden. Make sure to give your garden soil plenty of organic matter at this time of year. One to two inches of mulch prevents weeds and holds moisture, but you can save money by shredding your fall leaves and laying them down instead. Shredded leaves offer the added benefit of acting as a dining invitation to garden-friendly earthworms.

Seasons of Persistence

One of our top gardening tips is the reminder to not give up too quickly. All gardeners learn through trial and error. Be ready to give plants a couple of seasons to meet your desired goals, but if you aren’t seeing your dream realized, go ahead and try something else. After patience, persistence is the best keyword for gardeners.

At Kincaid Garden Markers we revel in the seasonal timetable of gardening. Gardens move at a slower pace than the rest of life. It’s a welcome change. However, don’t wait too long to order your garden markers. Now, during the season of preparation is the best time to get them ordered and have them on hand when plants go into the ground. We’re ready to send yours today.

Use Plant Labels to Keep Intercropping Gardens Organized

by | posted in: Uncategorized | 1

Companion Planting Increases Your Need for Clear Plant Labels

plant labelsWeeds and pests can be challenging obstacles for most gardeners. To some extent, these nuisances can be controlled with chemicals, but many gardeners prefer to find more natural solutions. One such solution is intercropping – sometimes referred to as companion planting. This strategy calls for carefully strategizing which plants to place in proximity in order to reduce weeds and minimize pests. Without long, unbroken rows of a single item, your need for plant labels becomes more pronounced.

Intercropping for Mutual Benefit

Native American tribes utilized the companion planting tactic to maximize yields on their three staple crops – pole beans, corn and squash – referred to as the Three Sisters. These three plants grow well together because they do not compete against one another for light above ground or root space below. The squash plants effectively stifle weeds while the corn stalks work great as natural “poles” for climbing bean plants. This sort of planting design perfectly illustrates the beauty of intercropping in the garden.

Controlling Pests With Companion Plants

After the burden of pulling weeds, the battle against plant destroying pests is perhaps the next biggest gardening challenge. Companion planting can help you keep pests under control. Marigolds planted along the garden edges will discourage rabbits from entering and feeding on your garden treasures. Planting fragrant herbs (chives, cilantro, dill, basil, oregano) will draw the attention of insect pests like aphids. Another natural pest-control method is to grow plants that will attract birds who enjoy dining on insects and pests. Sunflowers produce more than attractive flowers. They can also serve as ideal bird perches.

Intercropping Recommendations

To begin intercropping in your garden, you need plant companions that have been tested in the proving ground of an actual garden in your region. The Three Sister companions are an example of successful North American intercropping. Check out suggestions from other gardeners in your area that have been shown to succeed.

Some gardeners who’ve employed intercropping methods plant alternating rows to achieve results. An example of alternating companion planting would be rows of corn interspersed with rows of peppers. The corn provides the right amount of dappled light and the flowers on pepper plants will draw in aggravating insects. An example of intercropping would be tomatoes up close with cilantro or broccoli with lettuce.

Obviously, with a checkerboard garden design your need for legible plant markers is strong. At Kincaid Plant Markers we offer the solid, easy-to-read markers at an easy price. Plus, our quality plant markers will stand up to season after season of rain, sun and storm and still look great. Visit us online and enjoy your most successful growing season ever with intercropping and our readable plant markers.

Use Garden Markers to Distinguish Your Specialty Tomatoes

by | posted in: Uncategorized | 1

Choose the Right Tomatoes for Your Summer Garden and Identify Them With Garden Markers

garden markersSpring is here and the signs are in evidence. That means it is time to start making plans for planting your summer vegetable garden. One of the staples of the summer garden is tomato plants. They deliver luscious fruit all summer long. People grow tomatoes for several different uses and you should consider what you want to do with your tomatoes before you select the seeds or plants. Then, clearly identify each kind of plant with garden markers so that you can decide which will be keepers for next year’s garden.

Some people grow tomatoes for the sheer pleasure of enjoying juicy, red-ripe slices on their plate or sandwiches. Others prefer the grape-like cherry tomatoes for salads while still others want some plump beauties for sauces that will be stored away until winter. No matter whether you are choosing for flavor, size or disease-resistance – we have a plant suggestion for you. Keep in mind that hybrid plants will offer the best protection against chronic tomato plant diseases while open-pollinated varieties will allow you to harvest your own seeds for another year’s garden.

Jewel-sized Salad Gems

The most popular tomatoes for salads are Sungold yellow cherry tomatoes and the Supersweet 100. A top recommended hybrid is the Mountain Magic and for open-pollinated the Peaceview and Black Cherry tomatoes.

Slicing-sized Beauties

The most popular tomatoes for slicing are definitely the beefsteak varieties. These come in deep red and are loved for their roundness and firmness. These include tomato varieties like Beefmaster, Better Boy and Big Beef. The most recommended hybrids are the Iron Lady, Jetstar and the Defiant and for open-pollination highly recommended are the Rutgers, Super Choice and Ruth’s Perfect

Canning Treasures

For those who grow to preserve in a can, the most popular are Roma VF. Our hybrid recommendation is Plum Regal and our open-pollinated suggestion is Opalka.

Somewhere in the garden we suggest trying a few plants grown sheerly for fun. Use garden markers to draw attention to special interest varieties like the Manyel which is a citrusy yellow tomato with excellent color and taste. The Green Zebra is a one-of-a-kind tomato that sports green striping and the Striped German or Mr. Stripey is an attention-grabbing pink and yellow variegated colored tomato.

Now’s the time to plot out your vegetable garden. Mark off the soil, plan your rows and order your garden markers. Give some thought as to what you want to do with the tomatoes you plant so that you choose a variety best-suited to your desires. Then, pick up the equally-considered markers we offer at Kincaid Plant Markers. You take your garden seriously – and so do we.

Help for the Beginning Gardener: Identify Plants That Are Easy to Grow

by | posted in: Uncategorized | 1

Identify Plants for Future Reference

identify plantsIf this is your first year dipping your trowel into the soil – the whole process can seem a bit intimidating at first. Those who’ve gardened for years can forget how that first season of planting can make a person feel like they need to hunt down a copy of Gardening for Dummies. But, take heart first-time gardener. Your first season can be more successful than you think. The trick is to identify plants which don’t require a lot of special conditions or attention. We’ve taken the initiative to suggest a list of likely winners so that you can enjoy growing even if you’ve never planted anything before.

Big Red

Perhaps the most ubiquitous garden vegetable is the plump, juicy tomato. One reason tomatoes are so popular (apart from their delectability) is that they are easy to grow – especially if you pick up a plant started at a nursery. Tomatoes do need a sunny spot but after that, all they ask is some regular watering. Expect to enjoy ripe fruit from July-September.

Go Green

Another perennial favorite in the garden is easy-to-grow green beans. Broad beans are the easiest beans for new gardeners since they don’t need a pole or trellis. They do grab a lot of space but don’t ask for much else. Beans will produce through the summer and produce can be frozen to be enjoyed next winter.

Bell Ringing

Bell peppers are another vegetable which you can find as starter plants nearly everywhere from Big Box stores to grocery stores and local nurseries. Bell peppers grow on a bush and don’t take too much space. They are excellent on summer shish kabobs, on fresh vegetable platters with dip or as additions to favorite summer salads.

Get a Leaf

Lettuce is a light summer vegetable that be more expensive at the grocery store than other vegetables. Thankfully, it’s also an easy plant to grow from seed in your own garden. Many kinds of lettuces are able to be grown, harvested, re-seeded and enjoyed over and over throughout the growing season. They are so simple they are a beginner’s delight.

Crunch Time

If you like crunch, then cucumbers are the easy answer for you. Nothing says summer freshness quite like fresh-grown cucumbers. They are excellent in all kinds of salads, on their own or made into pickles. Cucumber plants do tend to spread and overtake an area.

One other suggestion for you if you are a new gardner is to identify plants with clearly marked stakes so that you can keep your garden tidy and in order. At first, you may not know the difference between weeds and seedlings so it’s important to identify plants well. Later, you’ll want to identify plants according to the variety you’ve planted so that you can decide over time which plants are easiest or taste best to you. At Kincaid Plant Markers we have stakes that are suitable for every level of gardener. We have prices to suit every budget too. Check out our full line on our website and make your first year of gardening a big success.