Gardening at Home With Succulents

by | posted in: Uncategorized | 0

Finding Ways to Include Succulents in Your Gardening at Home Plans

gardening at homeSucculents are interesting looking plants that have particularly thick leaves and look as though they’ve been plucked straight from the desert or the arid slopes of the steppes. In fact, succulents do thrive in these kinds of environments. They prefer dry climates and inside those thick tough leaves they keep a camel-like store of water. Their unusual appearance and low-maintenance ability to thrive make them a treasure for those who enjoy gardening at home. They cannot tolerate every climate, but no matter where you live there is a way to enjoy the beauty and ease of growing succulents.

Where can Succulents Grow?

Succulents do grow naturally in dry climates, but they can be nurtured in most outdoor gardens everywhere except those places with extreme cold. In those areas, gardeners can still enjoy growing them inside. They look terrific grouped in attractive ceramic pots. You probably can’t grow a cactus if you live in Michigan, but you could grow colorful echeveria in indoor pots.

Although succulents don’t have the same water requirements as most plants, they do need to be watered during the growing season. Even cacti depend upon seasonal rains. Find out when your chosen succulents like to get water and make sure they get it at the appropriate time. Then have fun watching the leaves or stem of the plant thicken up with a storehouse of the life-giving fluid.

If you do choose succulents for indoor gardening at home, be sure that your pot has adequate drainage. These plants like dry soil conditions. Allow the soil to dry completely in between watering. If the soil becomes too moist, the roots will rot and you will lose your plant.

Succulents for Gardening at Home

Succulents come in a variety of shapes and sizes – all of them interesting. The String of Beads looks exactly as the name suggests – like a string of pearls. It will trail nicely over your pot or from a hanging container. Sedum looks particularly attractive in outdoor spaces where it can grow several inches tall and sprouts a lovely flower at its peak. Jade is a popular succulent and one that represents good luck. It would make an excellent housewarming gift.

Hens and Chicks is another popular variety and it grows easily indoors or out. It gets its name from its propensity to reproduce. One large rosette-shaped hen plant will soon be surrounded by numerous tiny chicks. Kalanchoe will likely do best as an indoor plant in most areas but is desirable for its lovely rounded leaves tipped by a rosy hue.

Whatever you are growing you’ll want to share your treasures with others. That is why using Kincaid Plant Markers is such a great idea. Our sturdy and attractive markers will identify all of your plants – the usual as well as the unusual varieties. So while we encourage you to consider adding succulents to your gardening at home experience we also encourage you to order our markers to easily identify them.

Are You Ready to Prepare Your Garden for Another Year of Bounty?

by | posted in: Uncategorized | 0

5 Tips to Prepare Your Garden for Planting

prepare your gardenIf you are a gardener, nothing makes you feel like another year has begun quite like getting out into the dirt and getting things ready for another year of growing and harvesting. However, you don’t need to wait until the ground is ready to receive your seedlings to begin preparations. There are many things you can do right now to prepare your garden for the upcoming planting season. Here are a few tips to start now in your garden preparation:

1. Clean out your garden
Take a look around. No doubt fallen leaves have accumulated into piles under shrubs, up against fencing and in the corners of raised planting beds. Now is a good time to get outside and get rid of the yard debris that has been piling up since you hung up your trowel last season. If you compost, these gatherings are a perfect addition.

2. Do some pruning
While you’re busy removing things, go ahead and tend to whatever pruning needs there may be among your trees and shrubs. Now, before the spring buds hide what’s underneath is a good time to identify and trim back dead or damaged branches. Fruit trees may be pruned. So, too, may bushy shrubs like forsythia and azalea. Roses may also be cut back now. And, should you be considering moving a shrub from one part of the yard to another – now is the time to make the move. Be sure to dig up the entire root ball and provide rich, loose soil and lots of fertilizer to help ease the trauma.

3. Make repairs
Another step to prepare your garden is to give it a critical eye for any needed repairs. If you use raised planting beds, are any of the sides bowed or rotting? Replace them now. This is also the right time to look over your trellises to see if they need a little tender loving care.

4.  Spread a little love
It might be too soon to start turning your soil, but that doesn’t mean it’s too soon to start spreading some love over the ground. You may use manure or a rich layer of mulch. Just think of it as frosting on a cake. You don’t have to turn this layer into the dirt, just let the elements leach the goodness into the soil for a few weeks before you start digging in.

5. Prepare your garden tools
Before you press them into service, take inventory of your tools and accessories. Do you have everything you’ll need? Are they all in good condition? Don’t forget to have a supply of plant markers on hand and at the ready.

Kincaid Plant Markers are the best you can buy. They will help you keep your spring plantings labeled and will make your garden look organized and beautiful. Order yours today and be prepared for another year.

Identifying Shrubs and Trees Ready for Pruning

by | posted in: Uncategorized | 0

Keep Your Yard Looking Great With Wise Pruning and Markers Identifying Shrubs

identifying shrubsIf you are a casual gardener, you may shy away from pruning. The fear that an inexpert cut could undo months of careful nurture can be paralyzing. And yet, wise pruning is a simple way to turn a lackluster landscape into a fabulous one. The trick is first identifying shrubs and trees that are ready for pruning and secondly, understanding when is the best time to make those trims.

Identifying Shrubs and Trees That Are Ready

There are a few things to look for when deciding whether or not your plants are ready for a pruning touch. These are the most common signs to look for:

For Trees

  • Growth, called suckers, which spring up from the base
  • Dead, broken or diseased branches
  • Branches that grow parallel and practically on top of another branch or which cross over another branch
  • Branches which shoot up and seem to compete with the central leading branch of a tree
  • Branches which grow too close to the ground

For Shrubs

  • Weak or wayward branches
  • On multi-stemmed bushes that grow from the ground (forsythia, lilac, dogwood), trim away older stems
  • Suckers
  • Long stems without branches

Identifying the Right Season for Pruning

If a shrub flowers in spring, you want to prune it just after the flowers fade. Prune shrubs that flower in summer in the spring or late winter. You can find lists of trees and the proper season for pruning them in nearly any nursery. For many trees, this will be during late winter to mid-summer.

Pruning will keep your shrubs and trees looking lush and healthy. It will promote verdant fullness and abundant flowers. In fact, wise pruning will actually keep your plants healthier overall. The trick is to not do too much, too soon. But with guidance, a trimming is a small time investment that yields large rewards.

Identifying Shrubs and Trees With Markers

With your full, healthy trees and shrubs will come a landscape that is worth the view. Make your yard a showcase by trimming away those things that detract from your plants’ optimal health but also by adding the professional plant labels that invite onlookers to step in closer. At Kincaid Plant Markers, we make quality labels worthy of your yard and we’ve been providing them to home and professional gardeners for years. We’d love to add you to our list of satisfied customers.

Identifying Plants Native to Your Area

by | posted in: Uncategorized | 0

Reducing Labor and Increasing Wildlife Means Identifying Plants That Are Indigenous

identifying plantsToday, more plants are being bred to avoid many of the problems common to “introduced” species. You can find many plant varieties that have been engineered to be pest or disease resistant. However, it is still a good idea to use plants that are native to your own region. Identifying plants that are indigenous is a great way to reduce your workload and attract wildlife that brings benefits to your garden.

Non-native Plants Require More Hands On

Plants that are from outside your growing region will more than likely require more water, more fertilizer and more attention during harsh winter or humid summer months. Even when planting those varieties which have been successfully introduced into your area, be sure to ask the nursery if the plants were actually grown in your region. Otherwise they may still have extra needs in terms of protection, enriching and general care.

Non-native Plants do Not Have Natural Checks/Balances

Another problem that can arise with “introduced” plants is that of overtaking an area. Your non-native plant won’t have natural predators to keep it in check. This means that if the plant doesn’t take added resources to maintain it very well could flourish to the point of becoming intrusive and overrunning your other plantings.

Native Plants Attract Desirable Wildlife

Native plants will attract birds, butterflies, bees and other desirable wildlife. By choosing to utilize plants known and recognized by the local wildlife you cooperate with the established order and will be supporting the ecosystem. When you plant with native species everything works together in harmony. And you enjoy the pleasure of natural pollinators.

Another part of identifying plants that are native for your garden is making sure that each variety is labeled. At Kincaid Plant Markers we produce sturdy, attractive labels that will draw attention to your plants and make your garden a pattern for others to follow. Order a set today and see how easy it can be to “go native”!

Is a New Year Bringing Changes to Gardening Trends?

by | posted in: Uncategorized | 0

Gardening Trends to Watch for in 2017

gardening trendsYou’ve seen the headline on your computer screen or along the top or bottom of your phone app: Trending Now. Everyone wants to know what everyone else is finding interesting. There are news trends, business trends, fashion trends…even gardening trends. Industry experts predict several changes in the gardening “landscape” over the coming year.

Indoor gardening
The biggest trend seems to be the move toward greening up the great indoors. This coves several areas as more and more people want to add living plants to their inside living (and working) space. Here’s what you can expect indoor gardening to look like:

  1. More indoor plants. People are energized when surrounded by living things. This will mean an uptick in the number of houseplants used in home decorating. It will also mean you can expect to see more plants placed around the office and communal workspaces. The term “forest bathing” refers to the rejuvenating effects of time spent in the woods surrounded by trees, plants and woodland creatures. Since forest bathing is not readily available to all – you can expect to see a number of ways that people attempt to bring nature indoors.

    2. More kitchen gardening. One of the most popular gardening trends will be a continuing rise in the popularity of kitchen gardening. The new generation cares about where their food comes from and what additives or chemicals may have been used in growing. Growing “clean” food at home will be increasingly popular. Everything from herbs to teas to medicinal plants will find a place in the kitchen or around the house. Grow lights will be used to extend vegetable gardening seasons indoors. Look for a rise in the number of home delivery programs which provide seeds, bulbs, quick-grow microgreens and other “at home gardening” supports.

    3. Micro gardening. As compact living rises in cities, the demand will increase for more compact gardening. Another of the major gardening trends will therefore be a move to tidier container gardens or small-space gardens. Trees, shrubs and ornamentals bred to occupy a compact space will enjoy greater attention. Micro gardening will accommodate smaller living conditions while boasting of reduced demands on soil and water consumption. Very green.

    Whether you’re ready to move all your gardening indoors or may just decide to increase your inside “green”, don’t forget to order a set of attractive plant markers. With renewed interest in adding plants, extending growing seasons and choosing space-conscious shrubs will come an interest in sharing information. Be sure to identify all of your finds with our Kincaid Plant Markers. They are high quality, easy-to-read, and last for years. Get yours today and be part of what’s trending now!

Gardening Tips for Every Gardener

by | posted in: Uncategorized | 0

Experienced Gardeners Share Gardening Tips to Benefit You, Your Garden and the Earth

gardening tipsIf you are a relatively new hand at gardening, you may or may not have already encountered most of the major struggles faced by other gardeners. Staying in control of weeds and pests, maintaining soil moisture, avoiding overwhelming bumper crops and guarding against overuse of chemicals are challenges every gardener eventually encounters. That’s why we’ve compiled this list of top gardening tips for managing these common issues.

Partner Planting

Learn about companion planting. You can make your gardening life easier simply by learning about this ancient practice. Plan your garden so that there is less competition for sun and more well-placed shade to prevent weeds. Best of all, companion planting guides show you a natural way to control plant-eating pests. Some companion plants will actually improve the flavor of your homegrown vegetables.

Staggered Planting

Another planting tip that will make your gardening life more enjoyable is to stagger your seeding. You don’t have to plant all of your seeds in the same week. Instead, plant some seed one week, more the next, and more yet during the week following. In this way you won’t be overwhelmed by every plant producing a mature harvest all at once. Overabundance means you may wind up having produce rot on the vine going to waste. When you stagger your planting then you can lengthen your harvest time and enjoy more produce over a longer time period.

Enriched Planting

One of the best garden tips is to get into composting! You can eliminate many chemical soil additives simply by stirring in rich material that you have been fomenting in your own backyard. It doesn’t take much effort to sort out your protein-based garbage and then pile the rest in a small corner of your yard. A few stirs from time to time along with raked leaves or grass clippings and you have been friendly to the environment and even friendlier to your garden.

Mulched Planting

Keep your soil moist without the need for constant watering by laying down a covering of mulch. Keeping your soil protected under a layer of mulch also encourages the soil-loosening earthworms to remain in the neighborhood. Why work to keep your soil loose and rich when you can make a nice environment for nature’s laborers? Finally, a tidy covering of mulch will keep your topsoil from washing away during spring and summer rain-showers.

Labeled Planting

The last of our expert gardening tips is to keep your garden orderly through use of plant markers. Utilizing our top-notch Kincaid Plant Markers means that you will never mistake a plant for a weed. It means that your garden can be intentionally designed and companion planned. It means that your garden will be a ready showcase. Order yours today and start making your life easier, your garden smarter and the earth happier!

Plant Markers as an Expression of Love on Valentine’s Day

by | posted in: Uncategorized | 0

Why we Think Plant Markers Are a Great Way to Show Your Heart

plant markersIt might still be January but it’s not too soon to start thinking about Valentine’s Day and how to show that special someone that you care. The card aisles are already awash in pink and glitter and store shelves are loaded with chocolate. But if you’re looking for a unique way to say “I Love You” may we suggest gardening gifts and plant markers for your favorite gardener?

Here’s our quick list of love gifts for the gardener. We feel you’ll be sure to find the one that will touch their heart (and love of gardening).

1. A Mini Indoor Herb Garden
Gardeners love to grow things but that can be hard in the winter in most of the country so why not give him or her a fun gardening project for indoors? Arrange your own miniature herb garden that can be grown in any cheerful window. Tiny pots of growing mint, basil, lavender, rosemary and/or lemon verbena are sure to charm.

Snip mint leaves and add them to a bowl of blackberries drizzled with honey for an extra special breakfast or after-dinner treat. Grab a few of the Italian herbs for some homemade pasta sauce or pesto. Many herbs make wonderful hot tea infusions.

2. Amaryllis
Talk about stunning displays! There’s nothing quite so grand as a tall, velvety red amaryllis. Of course, they do come in other charming colors as well. Give this flower already planted and waiting to bloom or as a bulb.
3. Red Rose Bush
The traditional Valentine gift is surely a dozen long stem roses. And they certainly will communicate your feelings. On the other hand, no matter how much care is given, this gift will eventually droop. By contrast, a lush rose bush will express your heart all summer and fall. Over and over again, year after year.

4. A Gardener’s Basket
A tisket, a tasket – give your loved one a gardening basket! Choose a lovely basket and fill it with all kinds of goodies. Rubber clogs, new gardening gloves, a trowel and some great-looking plant markers. This is a gift that says you know what fills their heart with joy (besides you, of course).

At Kincaid Plant Markers we love gardening every month of the year. We make the very best plant markers so that all the love and effort that goes into growing things gets the notice it deserves. Now’s the time to order a set to give your very special gardening someone!

Gardening Trends for 2017

by | posted in: Uncategorized | 0

A Look at New Gardening Trends for Millenials

gardening trendsEvery year there’s something new and trendy, like a new term, that captures the atmosphere in a snapshot or a new social media platform that takes the world by storm. For gardeners there are also new trends every year. Experts suggest several gardening trends for 2017 that will appeal to gardeners everywhere, especially to Millenials. We thought you’d enjoy a peek at them.

Gardening apps: Millenials typically utilize mobile apps on a consistent basis. They don’t wait for a taxi. They use an Uber app to order one ahead. They don’t watch network news, they watch podcasts and online news. And, experts say, they will soon be regularly using as many as eight separate subscription services. Gardening apps that are sleek and focused will attract Millenial users.

Less yard work, more enjoyment: A second gardening trend is the move away from large swaths of grass that require mowing. Instead, younger homeowners will utilize hardscapes to trim upkeep time. Look for more deck and patio space, more berms with trees and shrubbery and permanent ornamentation such as fountains, ponds, rock or sculpture. Millenials are often interested in less yard work and more outdoor enjoyment.

Specialized growing: Just because Millenials don’t want to spend hours mowing doesn’t mean they aren’t interested in gardening. In fact, gardening trends are toward more specialized cultivation. This means that medicinal herb gardens, kitchen tea gardens, bird or pollinator attracting gardens and even microbrewery gardens are expected to be quite popular.

Office gardens: The calming effects of growing things is once again coming into vogue. That means that desks will once more make room for a potted plant. Offices will create green spaces to generate an aura of wellness in the workplace. Plants that grow well with minimal attention will become well-known and sought after.

Organic gardening: The younger generation is committed to eating clean and fresh. They like local. They prefer pesticide-free. No preservatives, no hormones, no genetic modifications. Farm-to-table gardens whether at home or on the restaurant property are hugely popular. Look for this trend to continue.

With their interest in specialization, many Millenials will use app subscriptions to inform their gardening and to order seeds. They will often plant gardens that reflect their interest whether it’s promoting bee populations or a love for micro-brews. They will make sure to have something green around them at work. And they will want whatever they eat to be a “clean” as possible.
But, to share their interest with friends, we expect another of the gardening trends to be a desire to identify the plants they grow. Plant markers which label trees, shrubs, perennials, annuals and herbs will make a great gift for the budding gardener. If you’re looking for a gift for a Millenial in your life, we suggest a set of Kincaid Plant Markers. Our quality markers make the perfect gift for the gardener in your life.

Identifying Trees That Will Make Your Landscape Beautiful for Years

by | posted in: Uncategorized | 0

Keep Your Garden Green Year Round by Identifying Trees That Keep Their Color

identifying treesNothing will give your landscape bulk, depth and interest quite like an evergreen. And it will do so year after year. The single hindrance to choosing is finding ones that won’t outgrow your space at some point in the future. Evergreens are typically slow-growers, but at some date in the future could outsize the rest of the landscape design. That’s why we want to offer some help in identifying trees that will be green year round without the worry about eventual size issues.

Dwarves are Often “Just Right”

A pine, spruce or fir tree might look great in your garden or landscape for several years, but eventually can overwhelm its intended space. Is there anything as sad as cutting down a tree that you have nurtured and watched over for years merely because it has become oversized? It’s important to plant trees that will fit the space when they are mature, not just during their ‘growing up’ years.

Planting dwarves can help you solve this problem. Dwarf evergreens are often the “just right” answer in terms of color, growth rate and eventual size. They are not too big, not too small and offer lots of interesting colors, textures and shapes.

Identifying Trees and Shrubs That Fit Your Landscape

Low and Slow

If you’re looking for a shrub that will add bulk without overtaking the neighbors, try a dwarf Mugo Pine. This nicely shaped bush will typically grow three to five feet in height and width over the span of a decade.

Another great bush for the yard is the dwarf Norway Spruce. It offers an appealing rounded shape that will grow to a mature three to four feet in height and spread. You can find these spruce in a variety of shades but they always make an eye-catching focal point.

Tall and Terrific

For height and interest it’s hard to beat the Korean Silver Fir. The needles grow upward to reveal a lovely silver color on the underside. The tree will eventually reach somewhere between eight to 12 feet in height so it makes for an excellent backdrop player. Chocolate brown cones add to its appeal.

A feathery Canadian Hemlock is another attractive choice. The tree will grow one to two feet per year reaching an eventual majestic height of 40 feet. The tree is pleasantly shaped and can withstand shade making it another superb background or focal point option. Be careful to give it sufficient water.

Identifying Trees and Shrubs With Markers

After you’ve chosen your year-round players, you’ll want to mix in many other seasonal plants to create an ever-changing visual attraction. Be sure to use well-constructed plant makers for identifying trees, shrubs and other plants in your yard. Professional and home gardeners alike have found that our Kincaid Plant Markers look great and perform great season after season. Order yours today and keep your garden an interesting place to be.

Gardening Tips for a Green Garden

by | posted in: Uncategorized | 0

Organic Gardening Tips to Keep Your Soil Healthy

gardening tipsEating fresh, local and colorful food is good for your overall health. You can also maximize the health of your soil with some intentional changes in how you garden. Check out these gardening tips and make some green changes during your next growing season:

Put Away Pesticides

A major step toward growing an organic garden is learning how to use nature’s ecosystem rather than chemicals to control pests. You can plant with pest control in mind and thereby avoid the need to soak plants, soil and the environment with harsh chemicals. Try planting some flowers that are pollinator friendly. When you attract butterflies, ladybugs and birds you will be inviting those who prefer to dine on pests.

Use Organic Matter to Enrich the Soil

Experts suggest that using compost ranks among gardening tips as number one in promoting healthy soil. For starters, the organic material you put in the compost pile doesn’t get hauled off by the garbage collector to be dumped in a giant landfill. But you come out a huge winner by composting since the rich matter you develop is great for the earth, great for your plant growth and easier to till.

You’ll Have Mulch to be Thankful For

Another green change that is simple to make in the garden is to control weeds by laying down some mulch. Mulch is attractive, less muddy and messy than bare dirt and so much easier for weed control. You’ll also find that it conserves water. Mulch is a win-win for gardeners. Use it and you’ll have mulch to be thankful for.

Water Conservation

Our last organic garden suggestion is making the switch to a drip watering system. Drip irrigation represents the least wasteful way to water your plants. Your plants’ root systems will get all the water they need with little or no waste. Drip watering offers the added bonus of protecting leaves from mold and other pesky diseases. It’s true that this change will cost considerably more than other gardening tips, but it could save you money in the long run.

At Kincaid Plant Markers we know that gardeners are always looking for better ways to grow. We hope you’ll decide to make some green changes in your garden, especially since most are very simple ones. We also hope that you will want to clearly identify all of your plants with our quality markers. Our plant markers are sturdy yet attractive and make your organic home garden a true showcase. Order some today.