Proface

With spring approaching it is a great time to talk about one very popular use for the paddles –that of a garden row marker. For planters, it is always good policy to somehow mark or label a new planting. Whether we’re considering about rows of newly sown seeds or new spring greenhouse plants –if it is not identified, chances are good you will be wondering aloud at some point trying to figure out what you planted.

There is a good selection of garden row markers available that are both fancy and practical. They can also put a dent in your pocket book. Some are not all that cheap. Many gardeners make their own from available materials easily found, that are a bargain when compared.

documenting rows of kale or some brand new asperagus plants can be more interesting using decorative “store-bought” markers and, that’s nice if you have a lot of money and are looking for a place to unload some of it.

I, personally, always try to keep things as simple as reasonably achievable –sort of a ’keep it basic’ approach or, live off the land mentality.

Also, once the plants grow to mature sizes, the markers will be largely unnoticed and not really needed anymore. The markers are only of use in the earlier part of the season. The homemade kind can be re-used each planting season to identify rows of seeds or new plants.

What is the Best Option?

When looking around your home for something good to use, there are a few ideas that gardeners have found work quite well. If these are not easily found in your home, some of these items can be purchased for a reasonable price at a local store.

Something to consider are wood paint paddles –my personal favorite. Wood paint sticks can be obtained at the big home improvement stores –but typically only two or three at a time. Paint stores, of course, carry them too and usually will only let them go with a purchase of some paint or other supplies.

Other ideas we’ve heard include plastic –like plastic ware, or scraps of window blind slats, although they are a little too flexible. You really need something that is sufficiently rigid enough to stick in the ground and big enough to record your data onto.

Wood shims are another option, but they are rough hewn and difficult to write on; additionally, they are not very long.

I go back to wood paint paddles. They are typically twelve inches in length. The best sticks are made of good birch hardwood –which means they’ll last many years.

An image of a good hardwood paint paddle can be seen here: Amazon

Soft woods, when exposed to the weather, do not last as long.

The useful life of the wood paint paddles can be stretched by coating them –which may also satisfy our desire for a fancy garden row marker for a mere fraction of the expense.

There are other types of crafts sticks available that would fit the bill but they are smaller and there is not much room to write upon them.

You can attach empty seed envelopes to the garden row markers or simply record your notes onto the stick marker with a felt tip pen –such as a Sharpie.