Sally I'm going to ask you a question about larkspur seeds but I'll put it in the Seed starting thread because I think that makes more sense. See you there! :)
Yardening 7, March 2014
Can we talk about plant labels again?
I'm thinking about getting some pretty labels for my new herb garden.
Here's an Etsy page of garden markers: http://www.etsy.com/market/herb_garden_markers
I kind of like this one: http://www.etsy.com/listing/113832430/10-custom-metal-herb-garden-marker?ref=market
What are your favorites?
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/272819689896315813/
:)
But seriously though, I love these:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/58897376/herb-garden-markers-set-of-4?ref=market
This message was edited Mar 19, 2014 8:14 AM
LOL! I need that spoon for half of my garden!
We use mainly the metal markers that have a long, U-shaped stake that goes into the ground. The plastic markers tend to snap off, particularly when using the leaf blower. We have yet to find the perfect solution, and I get frustrated when watering or using the blower, as the cord or hose will catch so reliably on the metal markers. Several of them heaved out of the ground this winter, but usually they stay put.
Saw 2 styles on eBay that looked interesting. Links below.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Garden-Shovel-Herb-Markers-Set-of-5-/111274520225?pt=Planters_Pots&hash=item19e87a6ea1
http://www.ebay.com/itm/12-vintage-old-stock-copper-plant-markers-stakes-labels-vegetable-herb-garden-/261422091265?pt=Architectural_Garden&hash=item3cddf88c01
Those little shovels are so cute. I like the old fashion copper ones as well.
Typwc, LOL Mine should read I remember planting it but I don't know what it is. LOL
How about is this a weed or a plant. LOL
SSG when I do actually mark my plants I use the type you are looking at with printed labels that I make with my brother printer. They stay in place and hold up well but they aren't very decorative. I remember years ago that someone painted the markers green and used clear printing tape with white lettering they were much nicer looking.
hehehe yes SSG and Holly, I need all of those too. Especially the "is this a weed or a plant"!
I generally use the cut up sections of mini-blinds method but that only works for one season and let's be honest, they're hideous, but free!
Pat, the old stock copper plant markers are gorgeous. So industrial looking!
typwc, I use those mini blind markers all the time for pots and seedlings or temp markers in the garden.
As far as overall labeling, I've been struggling with the whole thing for years - should I or shouldn't I, what kind, etc...
On one hand, labeling seems to take away from the natural look in the garden. On the other hand, it is so frustrating trying to keep track elsewhere and/or remember what is planted where - not so much for the plant genus in general, more for which specific cultivars.... Even though not knowing the specifics of what is planted doesn't detract from the garden design, it sure does bother the meticulous side of me when something becomes a noid....
Last fall, I started experimenting with the labels that Jill uses - EON Industries E-series and clear Avery labels printed from a laser printer:
http://www.eonindustries.com/products/
I ordered minimum qty to sample from the Earthtone Series - hunter green and yellow green, thinking a green would blend in more naturally. The hunter green blended in better, but the black lettering was not as easy to read as it was on the yellow green. I couldn't figure out any way to print white lettering. Then, I went back and ordered white and a purple from the Vibrant Series. Purple doesn't exactly scream "NATURAL", but I actually started thinking that a little pop of color here and there might be nice.
I think for the most part I will use the hunter green and maybe a very limited amount of purple. I only want to mark specific cultivars and put place markers for bulbs and ephemerals that go dormant later in the season.
For specialty displays, I really like some of those herb markers on etsy. Me, I love the little shovels on that other link Pat posted. I can just see containers with herbs and those markers sitting on the conservatory deck or the kitchen patio that will be in the works come spring. Thanks Pat, like I really need MORE ideas LOL...
This message was edited Mar 19, 2014 1:11 PM
Aspenhill, Try the clear tape with white lettering on those colored markers. It shows up pretty nicely.
Holly, is that from a label maker vs a laser printer?
From her label maker, Teri.
I would like to make some labels or signs to use in the garden, if or when I get time. I think cute plant id tags are an additions to a garden.
I use the Brother P Touch label maker. I make mine out of the white labels with the black printing because I was too lazy to paint the Eon markers green but now that I see they make them in colors I might just change that to the clear with white.
OOH! I love the shovels! Too bad there are only 5 herbs. : /
Typ, I'm a big fan of the plastic mini blinds! That's what I use in the garden, but I need something bigger and more permanent for the herb raised bed.
One of the reasons for the markers is that I need to be able to tell DH "please get me a handful of parsley from the herb garden." So I need permanent markers with very clear letters. :)
I wonder how it would look if I mixed a couple of different types of labels.
I'm Echoeing many of your thoughts on this...I use the cheap ugly mass quantities of mini blinds. I have here and there some nicer signs for things i am more seriously trying to honor. I could never do 'cute' for the hundred different things I have going on.
Labeling is tiresome but I do want things labeled ...}:^P
I don't label anything....and if i do--it is just to mark a spot where something is growing
if it is the kind of a plant that dies back to nothingness...Like my Columbines...DL's...
bulbs--etc...
Generally--I know what everything looks like and where I planted it.
My garden is small enough so I can keep track. G.
I never thought of using mini-blinds - what a great idea! Mine are so dirty that they'll blend into the garden really well.
I love that spoon marker Typwc found. I could also use ones that say "Don't dig here" so I don't dig up ephemerals. I usually don't use markers, but I need to start because I'll be growing unfamiliar plants from the lovely seeds and bulbs I received.
I'm with you Gita, I never mark anything. I like a nice clean look so for me that means no ornaments and no labels. I generally know most of everything that's in the garden except maybe this year as I am planting a ton of new stuff that I have to learn all the names of. As far as where something is when it's dormant: I just assume that I shouldn't guess because something will be dug up...LOL
Jeff---
I have 2 kinds of DL in my "YUK" bed. I need to mark which is which.
In case you do not know what I mean by "YUK BED" it is the long (both ways)
corned bed with my BIG old Silver Maple sitting just a few feet from it.
I cannot dig anywhere in this bed without a huge exertion. Roots everywhere....YUK!!!!
However--in the summer--this bed is full of wonderful things. Lots!
I SO respect any plants that grow and thrive in here...
Here is my nemesis--the close to 50yrs. old Maple--and the "YUK bed surrounding it..
Taken June, 2013.
second pic. from June-2007
Yuk indeed! It is tough to break through those roots for sure. Last year we planted a row of 30 pyracantha and the first 12 or so were within the 1-3" root zone of a large silver maple. It was exhausting cutting through those roots. Luckily we rented a hydraulic hole driller and I had a friend with me. We took turns with the 8lb splitter axe but I was completely exhausted towards the end of the day.
Well---I planted it! I guess in 1970 or 1971 ? We moved into this house in 1969.
New development---everyone wanted quick shade....Didn't know much about
gardening back then either....
There is second, different and smaller Maple a little bit away from the Silver one..
I think it is a red maple?? A Swamp maple??? Never knew for sure...
Leaves turn yellow in the fall--and fall off within a week...
The branch structure is totally different...more "dainty'....
BUT--nothing dainty about this one roots either. They all all over and many
are above the ground...I am always tripping on them....
Yeah maples are tough. We have a 2 1/2" caliper red and it already has surface roots! Silver Maples were all the rage back in the 70's. Our neighborhood was built in the late 70's and those things are planted all over! The one right near our property line in the neighbor's yard is probably 3' in diameter at minimum. It's a rental property but the owners are selling it at the end of April so with any luck the new owners will chop it down or at least trim it considerably as it is hanging on their house.
yup those silver maples....I have at least one classic silver maple, plus several other maples. It seems like the previous owner either did an Arbor day collection, or an amateur collection of some kind. We liked this yard in 1990 for its established trees and shrubs and little else, which seemed a better choice than new home with tiny lollipop trees. Now I've refined my tastes and kinda want to rip most of it out LOL
Seq: 30 pyracantha?! Who needs a guard dog when you have a guard hedge! ;)
Yeah Sally, I hate when the developers go into an area and clear everything out and then once the houses are in, they plant cookie cutter shrubs and trees. It all looks terrible.
Typ: I love thorny things! I have two William Penn Barberry under one of our windows and last year I planted a Grizzly Bear prickly pear cactus. We also have Mahonia bealei. I actually transplanted that baddy this fall and it was somewhat painful.
Below is a pic of what our cactus will eventually look like. I came with 3 small paddles and grew another last summer so it's pretty tiny yet. It's going to be the centerpiece of our xeriscape garden
whoa Seq how beautiful and deadly looking! nice.
I cannot imagine moving a M bealei. How tall? I thought about moving mine last year but ...no way. Only way would be cut off all foliage and let is resprout.
But I did move a six+ foot tall Aralia spinosa. That was fun. Can't wait to see it bloom and berry in its new spot.
Haha...yeah it's about 4' tall and 3' wide. I'm glad I moved it when I did because I think it got shocked. It probably won't flower this season as a result. It was really hard to dig out without stabbing myself and it had a persistent root or two that didn't want to give up. This winter would have trashed it in its original location because it was on the north side with no protection. I am going to let it grow as tall as it wants where it is now. Would be nice to see it around 8' or so.
The SUN the glorious SUN!
We have 2 silvers on the other side of the barn, and they are such a mess. Silvers are susceptible to ice and snow damage, big time. I got a lot of big limbs on the barn roof this winter and have yet to climb up to inspect for damage. The neighbor wants to take them down, which is fine with me. They are so large his son and I could both get a couple seasons of firewood from them. It would cause a lot more heat in the barn, but it would also be dryer. Installing an exhaust fan would remedy that.
Sally you sound a bit like Tito in Fantasy Island. chuckle chuckle
Ric--I have a question for you--since you grow Strawberries....
I have a very small area, maybe 3'x3' on the East side of my shed where I have
Strawberries growing. These did not amount to anything, and I want to dig them up,
pot them up and share them at the Swap.
This space would serve a lot better for one more nice Tomato plant.
My question-----
--How should I go about digging them up--as I know they have runners
--Is it necessary to keep the older plants the runners come from? Everything is green...
--When? Seems like NOW is the time. Just all muddy back there....
Any other advice you can give will be appreciated... Thanks, Gita
April of last year....
Gita, you can pot up all the plants or if the runners are not rooted just the parent plant leaving the runner attached. Either way will work. If you just pot the parents you can set pots next to them and tuck the air roots from the runner into it. Even cutting the plantlet off and potting it is usually successful.
Do you know the variety?
This message was edited Mar 20, 2014 12:27 PM
Gita, strawberries are pretty resilient. Now is a good time to move them. If they haven't started "waking up" yet, you could probably dig them up, wash the dirt off, and store them in your fridge as bare root plants for the swap. No fuss, no muss.
I worked for the USDA-ARS Small Fruits Research lab for almost two years after college. Best. job. ever. Got to dance around in strawberry fields all spring and summer, and do lab work in the winter. Was not quite so fun crawling around counting flower petals when I was 6 months pregnant though.
Then I moved on to the Soybean Research lab and spent 2 summers hoeing morning glory seedlings (hence my utter hatred of the plant). Much harder work but I had one heck of a farmer's tan.
And now I'm not even allowed to have a plant on my desk here because of the regulations.
Ric--Thanks for the info!
I got these at HD--or better--from the "Bonnies" tables. Maybe ??? 3 years ago?
Going from memory here--I know they carry "Sequoia" and, I think, Everbearing ones.
NOT sure here.....
Karen--Thanks for your info as well...
I have NO intention of keeping these! Would you like to have them?
There might be about 8-10 plants...Ric already has a huge bed of strawberries...
Let me know--and I can dig them up and deliver them to you unpotted. Soon....
Saturday will be close to 70*.
I am off on Friday AND Saturday! Might get something done....
Pretty nice day shaping up to be---just windy.
G.
That sure is a pretty prickly pear cactus. I just love pyracantha I would have loved to do a espalier on the side of the barn with a few but I knew it was way too shady. Just hate barberry. When I was a kid they were very popular especially for people that wanted to keep kids from cutting thru their yards. LOL So I was working in Lowes a few years ago and and thinking how really pretty they were and such great color and thinking maybe I might be a bit prejudiced about them. Then I backed into one while helping a customer and decided that I was right about them. I hate them. LOL
Lol...it's not their fault Holly!
You know---I used to have a BIG Pyracantha--semi espaliered-- on the W. side of the house.
It was pretty--but it would rock and scratch on the wall of the house--and I could not sleep.
My BR is right there...After a few years--I got rid of it.
This was a long time ago---my "early" gardening years....
G.
Has anyone noticed the new page format when one is on the Home page?
More "stuff" at the top.....
Thanks for the offer, Gita! Alas, I have no room for them. Love strawberries but I just can't grow them until(if) I get my homestead. I have a sad set of 'Earliglow' berries in pots from last year. They produced very well and all summer long, despite my terrible treatment of them: dry soil, hot heat, but I need to get rid of these so I can grow more flowers. Any takers for the ones that survived the Polar Vortex? Tiny, early berries that don't travel well but they are so full of flavor. Earliglow my favorite among all the varieties we had at ARS. Chandler is a good one too.
Seq, maybe you should get a monkey puzzle tree to compliment your grizzly bear prickly pear?